The Beijing Hour
Evening Edition
Shane Bigham with you on this Thursday, March 13th, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this evening.
The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane is now in its sixth day.. the Chinese government is asking nations involved in the search to step up their efforts.
The need to create jobs is a major factor in China's target of 7.5 percent GDP growth for 2014.
and Ukraine's interim prime minister says he is still hopeful for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in his country.
In business, China's retail sector is maintaining double digit growth through the first two months of the year, but the rate is down slightly from December
In sports, Li Na faces her Australian Open challenger again.
In entertainment, negative review for the new muppet movie.
Weather
Beijing will be cloudy tonight with a low of 3degrees Celsius. Sunny tomorrow with a high of 16 degrees.
Meanwhile Shanghai will be clear tonight, with a low of 4, Sunny tomorrow, with a high of 15.
Chongqing will be overcast, 10 degrees the low, Cloudy tomorrow with a high of 16.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, overcast with a high of 26.
Kabul, rainy, 11.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, highs of 26.
Canberra, sunny, 27.
Brisbane, sunny, 29.
And finally, Perth will be overcast with a high of 25.
Top News
China pledges unremitting efforts as search for MH370 enters day six
China is once again calling for an all-out effort in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane.
The massive, multi-national search effort is now into its sixth day.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has pledged to continue the search as long as there is a glimmer of hope.
He made the pledge after Chinese satellites spotted debris.
"We are also looking very closely at all clues showing up on our satellite images. The Chinese government urges all parties involved in the search to enhance coordination so as to locate the missing plane as soon as possible. We will thoroughly investigate every clue that is found."
Malaysia's civil aviation authority later confirmed that the plane sent to check the spot where Chinese satellite images showed the debris found nothing.
The multinational search operation has expanded to focus on the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea.
And Malaysia's transport department has given another press conference this afternoon.
We have more from Nadiah Abdul Aziz, a journalist based in Kuala Lumpur.
That is Nadiah Abdul Aziz, a journalist based in Kuala Lumpur.
China concludes annual parliamentary session
The National People's Congress, China's top legislature, has concluded its annual session.
The closing meeting has approved several key documents, including the government work report and both national and local budgets.
During the NPC session, legislators also endorsed the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
Premier hold news conference after NPC closed
Anchor:
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has reaffirmed a 7.5 percent of GDP target set for this year, while stressing the importance of creating enough jobs.
The premier makes the comment at a news conference, following the close of the annual session of the NPC.
CRI's Xie Zhao has more:
Reporter:
Premier Li Keqiang expresses confidence of achieving the target, but stresses that the government is not preoccupied with GDP growth
"The reason why China set the growth target at 7.5% is because of the need to create new jobs, bringing real benefits to the people. We also want to raise urban and rural residents' incomes. We are attaching the importance of people's livelihoods and employment to the growth target."
The premier also responds to renewed concerns on the growth outlook of the world's second largest economy.
"We gained good experience in handling economic development last year and the Chinese economy has tremendous potential and resilience. So I believe that we have the ability and the conditions to keep economic operation within a proper range this year."
The premier notes a spate of complex challenges ahead, including enhancing the quality and efficiency of economic development, tackling pollution and saving energy.
In the premier's government work report delivered to the NPC session last week, the government has vowed to keep inflation at around 3.5 percent.
It also set a target to create 10 million more urban jobs to ensure the registered urban unemployment rate does not rise above 4.6 percent.
To achieve these goals, Li Keqiang says fiscal, tax and financial reforms will be priority on the country's overall reform agenda in 2014.
He says the authorities will continue to streamline administration and delegate power to ensure that the market fully play its role in an effective and well-regulated manner
"We will still continue crack 'hard nuts' in order to better handle the relationship between the government and the market. A market economy is one based on the rule of law. We need to ensure that market energies can do anything not prohibited by law, and government departments must not do anything unless it is mandated by the law."
On top of the internal affairs, Premier Li Keqiang has elaborated on China's foreign policy in 2014, including the Sino-U.S. relationship.
"There is much more that we can do to further unleash the potential of Sino-U.S. cooperation. We need to make the most of our common ground. Wise people will seek common interests, while the unwise will focus on their differences. Whatever change may take place, it should be conducive to both countries and the sound and steady development of Sino-U.S. ties. China and the U.S. need to focus more on common ground in pursuit of long-term benefits."
During the press conference, Premier Li has also responded to multiple issues, including curbing housing prices, tackling smog and fighting against corruption.
For CRI, This is Xie Zhao.
What does the word "NPC deputy" entail? by Liu Kun
Anchor:
About three-thousand lawmakers attended this year's annual session of the NPC, putting up more than 460 motions.
CRI's Liu Kun visited one attendee from Shanghai to take a closer look at how their suggestions are affecting the lives of Chinese people.
Reporter:
Fifty-five-year-old Shen Zhigang is a professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University and one of the lawmakers at this year's session.
At 9 o'clock in the morning in Jingxi Hotel where deputies from Shanghai stay, Shen is discussing the details of the work report from China's Supreme People's Court with his fellow deputies to examine whether the Court has adequately performed its duties in the past year.
Apart from scrutinizing the work of the central government, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, another important responsibility of China's lawmakers is to deliberate bills and proposals to the presidium of the Congress in an effort to improve the country's legal system.
A bill must get the signatures of at least 30 NPC deputies before the NPC presidium accepts it. But deputies can always hand in their proposals independently.
In December 2013, the standing committee of the NPC formally allowed couples to have a second child if one parent is a single child, representing the first major easing of the three-decades-old family planning policy.
Shen Zhigang is one of the lawmakers that proposed the change to the NPC.
"I was greatly relieved when the new policy came out. I've paid close attention to the issue for a long time. Starting from 2008, I've noticed it in my research and investigations. After the policy was released, at least ten people told me in person that I had done something really good for the people."
Shen handed over the suggestion at last year's NPC session. Then he received a phone call from the National Health and Family Planning Commission, consulting his opinions on the issue.
Eight months after last year's session, Shen's proposal became reality.
Shen says, as a national deputy, he wants to push forward the progress of society as much as he can.
"I always submit bills or proposals with careful deliberation. Before I put forward any suggestions, I've conducted a lot of research, investigations or interviews. I hope that the issues I address are the concerns of the public and in the interests of the country's development and the people's urgent need."
This year, Shen is advocating a regulation on the employment of migrant workers in the hope of solving their unpaid wages.
In 1954, China held the first session of the 1st National People's Congress, at which China's Constitution was created. In the 60 years that followed, China's lawmakers have been making continuing efforts to better the country's laws and regulations.
Shen says the crucial step is to make sure that laws and regulations are effective and that their implementation is supervised by lawmakers and, most importantly, the people.
For CRI, this is Liu Kun.
Political and diplomatic tools still on the table: Ukranian PM
Ukraine's interim Prime Minister says Ukraine still seeks political ways to deal with the current situation in the country.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk makes the remark in Washinton after meeting with US President Barack Obama.
"My country is facing both military and economic challenges. We still believe that there is an option to tackle this military crisis with political and diplomatic tools. As time is going and the clock is ticking, these chances are not as big as they were last week. But these options, these tools are still on the table."
During their meeting, Obama rejected the legitimacy of a referendum on the future of Ukraine's Crimea region and expressed strong support for the new government in Kiev.
Obama said Russia will face a cost if it continues its incursion into Crimea.
The meeting comes as the Crimean regional government prepares for Sunday's referendum on whether to join the Russian federation.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are due to meet in London tomorrow to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
Kerry says he plans to present Lavrov "certain choices" to try to defuse the situation.
The Russian side has signaled it will respect the outcome of Sunday's vote in Crimea.
NATO has dispatched two surveillance planes to fly over Poland and Romania to monitor the crisis unfolding in Ukraine.
India-US diplomat row charges dropped
A US judge has dropped charges against an Indian diplomat whose arrest strained US-India relations.
The judge ruled that Devyani Khobragade had diplomatic immunity at the time of her indictment on visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper.
Khobragade, who has since left the US, said through a lawyer she felt the rule of law had prevailed.
India demanded an apology after she was arrested and strip-searched in December.
S. Korea urges Japan to stop contradictory remarks on "comfort women"
South Korea's Foreign Ministry is urging Japanese politicians to stop making contradictory comments on "comfort women," a euphemism for South Korean women forced into sex slavery in Japanese military brothels during World War II.
This, after comments on Wednesday attributed to Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, apparently suggesting that forced conscription of comfort women did not take place.
The South Korean side is pointing out that while Japan is still recognizing the Kono Statement, an official apology issued in 1993, its government is denying victims were forced into sexual slavery.
The comment comes after the first vice ministerial-level diplomatic talks in about eight months between the two countries, held Wednesday in Seoul. The dialogue ended fruitless.
South Korean Foreign Ministry Spokesman Cho Tai-young.
"We will definitely have a talk with Japan, if Japan changes and creates a condition for constructive talks. It is important that a productive talk should take place between leaders of the two countries, not a talk for the sake of a talk. To create a constructive talk, it is important that Japan takes sincere action on historical issues as soon as possible."
Ties between Seoul and Tokyo have been strained since Abe returned to power in December 2012. Abe infuriated Asian neighbors by a visit in December to a notorious shrine that honours convicted war criminals.
Abbas demands Israel halts Gaza 'escalation'
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is demanding Israel halt its military operations in Gaza, after militants pounded southern Israel with rockets and the Israeli army hit back with air strikes.
The Islamic Jihad claimed it had fired at least 90 rockets at Israel in response to an air strike on Tuesday that killed three of its militants in southern Gaza.
Israel said its warplanes carried out raids on 29 targets in Gaza.
There are no immediate reports of casualties.
6 dead in NY building blast
The death toll from an explosion which leveled two buildings in New York City has risen to 6.
Several others are missing and scores injured after a gas leak sparked the powerful blast.
The utility company, Con Edison, says a resident in a nearby building reported smelling gas shortly before the explosion.
Search and rescue efforts are continuing.
Truck collision injures 9 soldiers in western Canada/xinhua
Nine soldiers have been injured in an accident at a military base in western Canada.
Two trucks collided at Canadian Forces Base Shilo in Manitoba, late on Wednesday.
The collision happened during a training excercise.
No details of the injuries have been provided. 9 of the 10 soldiers riding in the trucks were taken to hospital for treatment.
Biz Reports
Stocks
Stocks on the mainland wrapped up the day trading in positive territory following the closing of the NPC meeting. The rally was led by bank stocks amid speculation that the securities regulator will allow companies to sell preferred shares for the first time.
The Shanghai Composite Index added 1 percent
The Shenzhen Component Index rose by 1.4 percent.
Over in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 0.7 percent.
Elsewhere in Asia,
Japan's Nikkei dropped 0.1 percent
Singapore's Strait Times Index lost 0.5 percent
South Korea's Kospi edged up by 0.1 percent
Australia's ASX 200 gained 0.5 percent.
China economic data for Jan- Feb
Meanwhile the National Bureau of Statistics today released the latest data on the performance of the Chinese economy.
For the first two months of this year, China's retail sector saw sales growth slow to 11.8 percent year on year.
This is down from growth of 12.3 percent in December.
In the break down, urban consumption in the January to February period went up by 11.7 percent year on year, whilst rural consumption growth stood at 12.8 percent.
Meanwhile, industrial added value rose by 8.6 percent for that period year on year, a slight improvement of 8 percent expansion clocked in December.
The growth was disappointing compared to the Bloomberg survey of economists median estimate of 9.7 percent.
The gauge measures output of large enterprises which have annual turnover of at least 20 million yuan, or 3.26 million US dollars.
Elsewhere, the growth rate of China's urban fixed-asset investment saw a 17.9 percent expansion for the first two months of 2013.
This was down from the 21.2 percent growth registered for the same period last year and dwarfed by the economists median projection of 19.4 percent.
Local government measures to curb the rise in the value of homes reigned in home sales, with the value of homes sold falling 5 percent for January to February compared to the previous two months.
China to expand VAT reforms
China will expand a pilot reform to replace turnover tax with value-added tax (VAT).
The move by the Ministry of Finance aims to reduce companies' tax burdens and curb double taxation.
VAT reform will expand to cover more sectors, including the telecommunications, construction, real estate, finance and living service sectors.
Living services refer to services that meet people's daily life needs, such as catering, accommodation, hairdressing and photography services.
Following regional experiments since the beginning of 2012, VAT reform in transportation and some modern service sectors was rolled out throughout the country on Aug. 1, 2013.
This January, the reforms were expanded to cover the railway and postal sectors.
The Ministry added that by the end of 2013, the reform reduced companies' tax burdens by more than 140 billion yuan (23 billion U.S. dollars).
Iron Ore panic over China
Anchor:
Recent weak data out of China has been having a significant impact on the iron ore market, prompting panic selling.
Iron ore this week has suffered its biggest drop in more than four years, compounded by a surge in stockpiles.
The price for iron ore for immediate delivery to China yesterday slid 8.3-percent to 104-dollars-70-cents a tonne.
The spot price for iron ore has fallen 22-percent so far this year.
Facing tighter credit and the possibility of higher interest rates on loans, China's steel manufacturers and consumers have seen a marked decline in activity in recent weeks.
For more on this, CRI's Paul James spoke to Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator.
…
That was CRI's Paul James speaking to our financial commentator Cao Can.
China Overseas Land profits climb
China's biggest developer, China Overseas Land and Investment, announced that profits climbed 23 percent over the course of last year.
The gains are attributed to property revaluations and sales.
The company's strategy to focus on first-tier cities paid off, as property prices in Beijing and Shanghai gained more than 15 percent year on year in December.
Net income surged to HK $23 billion, just under $3 billion US.
This out performed a Bloomberg analyst's estimate of a rise of HK $22 billion.
However, the cooling economy and tightened credit market pose obstacles for property developers in the year ahead.
China Overseas Land saw contracted sales fall 4.7 percent in the first two months of this year compared to the same period a year earlier.
South Africa's trade with China surges by 32 pct in 2013
South African authorities are reporting a 32-percent rise in bilateral trade with China this past year.
South Africa's Trade and Industry Minister says trade between the two countries has increased from 19-billion U.S. dollars in 2012 to 25-billion dollars last year.
Chinese investments in South Africa have also continued to grow.
Between January of 2003 and January of 2014, a total of 38 foreign direct investment projects from China have been launched in South Africa.
These projects represent a total capital investment of about 1.2-billion dollars.
That represents an average Chinese investment of 33-million dollars per project.
US Fed Nominee Fischer says Easing still needed
The nominee for the role of vice Fed Chair says that the US economy still needs easing amid high unemployment.
Stanley Fischer, the former bank of Israel governor, says that the 6.7 percent unemployment rate remains too high.
Headline News
China pledges unremitting efforts as search for MH370 enters day six
Malaysian transport minister has denied reports the missing Malaysian jetliner may have kept flying for four hours after its last communication.
The Malaysian side also confirmed that no subjects belonging to the missing plane has been found in area spotted by the Chinese satellites.
Earlier, Chinese satellites have found three floating objects in the suspected site of the missing plane, which appear to be close to where the initial search took place.
Meanwhile Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has pledged to continue the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.
Speaking at the start of his first press conference as premier, Li Keqiang says China has asked all relevant parties in the ongoing search to enhance coordination to investigate the cause and to locate the missing plane as soon as possible.
The multinational hunt for the Boeing 777 now enters Day 6 with no solid leads about its whereabouts.
Premier says GDP target flexible, stresses employment
Also at today's press conference following the conclusion of the annual legislative session, Premier Li Keqiang said there is a level of flexibility for the government's growth target at around 7.5 percent this year, stressing rather the importance of creating enough jobs.
The Chinese premier also responded to renewed concerns on the growth outlook of the world's second largest economy.
He said the government is confidence to keep economic operation within a proper range this year.
But he also noted a spate of complex challenges for this year, including enhancing the quality and efficiency of economic development, tackling pollution and saving energy.
Political and diplomatic tools still on the table: Ukranian PM
Ukraine's interim Prime Minister says Ukraine still seeks political ways to deal with the current situation in the country.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk makes the remark in Washinton after meeting with US President Barack Obama.
During their meeting, Obama rejected the legitimacy of a referendum on the future of Ukraine's Crimea region and expressed strong support for the new government in Kiev.
The meeting comes as the Crimean regional government prepares for Sunday's referendum on whether to join the Russian federation.
The Russian side has signalled it will respect the outcome of Sunday's vote in Crimea.
NATO has dispatched two surveillance planes to fly over Poland and Romania to monitor the crisis unfolding in Ukraine.
Shanxi road accident death toll rises to 31
The death toll of a truck collision and aftermath explosion in north China's Shanxi has been updated to 31
Nine people are still listed as missing.
The accident happened on March 1 in the city of Jincheng.
Latest investigation shows the explosion damaged 42 vehicles in a tunnel
Newspaper Picks
China Daily
"Beijing hospitals to launch pharmacy counseling"
Bian Baosheng, a deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals, said on Thursday that Beijing hospitals will set up counseling rooms to help people take their medicine correctly.
Bian made the statement at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, where workers from other hospitals were invited to visit the counseling room.
Set up in 1998, the counseling room at Anzhen Hospital has eight pharmacists who instruct people on how to take prescribed medicines.
Those who don't feel well after taking medication, are pregnant, need to be medicated for a long time or need to take several kinds of medication at the same time are all encouraged to consult the pharmacists, as the doctors who write the prescriptions may be too busy to give detailed instructions.
The counseling room provides the service for free, and also helps people who are not patients at the hospital but want professional guidance.
Shanghai Daily
"Appeal of studying overseas leveling off"
Officials on Wednesday said the number of Chinese people going abroad to study grew at a much slower rate in 2013 than in previous years.
Official figures show over 410,000 Chinese mainlanders went overseas to study last year — up 3.5 percent from 2012.
But this increase was far smaller than the 15 percent rise in 2012 and the 20 percent hike in 2011.
One official said Chinese families are becoming more rational when choosing overseas studies, instead of simply following a trend.
The official added China's good economic environment and job prospects contribute to the dramatic increase of returnees.
The Independent
"Europeans have 'gotten whiter' due to natural selection in past 5,000 years, scientists say"
Scientists say European humans have become "whiter" in the past 5,000 years, undergoing a distinct change in their DNA due to natural selection.
In research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, experts analysed DNA taken from ancient skeletons and compared it with the current European human genome.
The research found that there were striking differences over time in the genes which are associated with hair, skin and eye pigmentation.
The report authors said there were a number of possible explanations for why this change came about. University College London's Professor Mark Thomas said: "Perhaps the most obvious is that this is the result of adaptation to the reduced level of sunlight in northern latitudes."
Thomas explained that the amount of vitamin D taken in through UV exposure by lighter skin compared to darker skin might have made the former "the best option".
Medical Daily
"Does Selfless Caregiving Make You Happier? Taking Care Of Sick Spouses Improves Women's Well-Being"
A survey of middle-aged and older Americans has found that women who cared for disabled husbands actually saw an increase in their own well-being. Husbands, however, did not appear to have a greater sense of well-being when caring for ill wives.
The researchers used data from a 2009 phone survey that reviewed 400 married couples.
The survey recorded how certain activities — categorized either as "chores" or tasks done to "care" for a spouse — affected happiness levels. The participants rated the activities based on how happy they felt after doing them.
The study found that women's happiness levels actually increased by over one-third of a point at average if they had to care for their husband.
Special Reports
Bookworm Literary Fest Gets Underway
Anchor:
The Bookworm Literary Festival now being held in Beijing has gathered more than a hundred writers and thinkers from China and abroad, to share their insights on literature.
CRI's He Fei has more.
Reporter:
For bibliophiles in China, the Bookworm Literary Festival is a must-see. Each year, it provides a first-hand experience for readers to communicate face-to-face with their literary heroes.
Launched by the namesake bookshop, the festival covers many literary activities, such as book talks, panel discussions, readings, and writing workshops.
But according to Peter Goff, the managing director and the founder of Bookworm, this cultural event is more than that.
"Obviously the core is literature, but then on top of that we do a lot of film festival events, we do comedy, we do music, and magic, and dance, and screenings, and different things as well, which complements the literary festival."
Now in its 8th year, the festival has been programming more than 300 events in eight major cities around China, inviting more than 110 guests from over 25 countries.
Many names stand out in the roster, such as the Man Booker Prize short-listed Chinese writer, Yan Lianke; Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Ian Johnson; and Tim Clissold, whose book "Mr. China" won the Economist Book of the Year; as well as the comedian Mark Roswell, who is best-known in China by his stage name, Dashan.
Fans are earger to meet these celebrities.
A Germany doctor comes to Beijing for business. Despite tight schedule, she has managed to buy several tickets.
"I brought this and on Monday, I have this one: Ways of Telling the Past. Tuesday, I am at home. Wednesday, I have this one."
According to the staff, many entry tickets have been sold out days ahead of the events. For voracious literature consumers, the festival seems to be a grand banquet to satisfy the appetite.
For Yu Lian, a PhD student interested in Chinese feminism, the festival acts as a forum to deepen understanding to her research.
"I just want to hear different opinions and try to understand the thoughts of those who share the same interest with me. I don't ask that all the participants here be sophisticated or mature. I just came here to listen to their ideas, as it may help me to solve my own problems. "
From March 7 till March 21, these literary celebrities will bring rich and diverse international voices to book shops, universities and libraries across China.
Their destinations are not limited to coastal cities, but also expanded to inland Chongqing, Chengdu and Kunming.
BACK ANCHOR:
That is CRI's He Fei reporting.
Sports
Guangdong battles Beijing in winner-takes-all Game 5 of their semi-final series
Onto basketball,
In action now is the winner-takes-all game between Guangdong Southern Tigers and the Beijing Ducks in their best-of-five semifinals series.
Guangdong managed to level the series at 2-2 on the road in Beijing on Tuesday, forcing a fifth and deciding game.
The winner tonight will go on to face the Xinjing Flying Tigers in the CBA post-season final.
Xinjing earlier swept the Dongguan Leopards 3-0 in their semi-final matchup.
Paul Pierce inspires Nets to edge past Miami 96-95
And there were eleven games in the NBA.
In Miami, Paul Pierce scored 29 points, including 17 in the third quarter to inspire the Nets in a 96-95 triumph over Miami.
With this latest win, Brooklyn now boasts a 3-0 record against the defending champions this season.
The Heat fell two games behind Indiana in the Eastern Conference race.
Over in San Antonio, Patty Mills scored 15 points, Tim Duncan added 10, as the Spurs eased past Portland 103-90 and extended their winning streak to eight.
And more bad news for the Trail Blazers, they lost LaMarcus Aldridge to a bruised back early in the second half.
Aldridge's status is unknown after X-rays on his back were negative.
And in California, Blake Griffin poured in 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the L.A. Clippers drubbed Golden State 111-98, their ninth victory in a row.
In other action, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and moved into sole possession of the No. 12 spot on the all-time NBA scoring list as Dallas fought off Utah 108-101.
Philadelphia suffered its 18th straight loss, 115-98 against Sacramento.
Elsewhere, Memphis topped New Orleans 90-88.
Charlotte romped past Washington 98-85.
Toronto thumped Detroit 101-87 and Denver defeated Orlando 120-112.
Li Na plays Cibulkova for her semifinal ticket at Indian Wells
From tennis action at Indian Wells,
Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska and sixth seed Simona Halep are now set to meet in the semifinal after each posted wins in the quarterfinals earlier today.
Polish ace Radwanska claimed a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jelena Jankovic in the last eight while her next opponent Halep breezed past quarlifier Casey Dellacqua in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.
And later tonight, top seed Li Na will meet Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova for her ticket in the semifinal.
It will be a rematch of the Australian Open final, where Li Na bested Cibulkova in straight sets to take the crown.
On the men's draw,
South African Kevin Anderson put an end to Australian Open champion Atanislas Wawrinka's perfect season with a three-set win and set up a quarterfinal match against Roger Federer.
Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov looked inspired as he dispatch Italian Fabio Fognini in two straight sets 6-2, 6-4 and will next face Milos Raonic in the last eight.
Dolgopolov took some time to talk about situation back in his country.
"Well now it's cooled down, so it's better, I mean, when I was in Brazil it was quite bad, and people were dying, now people are not dying so it's more getting political, at least, that they are talking not doing something and as you know, the president left the country there, so it's a mess."
The lone American left in the men's draw, John Isner, is also into the quarter-finals.
Isner will next face Ernest Gulbis after the Latvian beat Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets in round 4.
Barca and PSG move to the last eight of the champions league
European football news from last night's champions league action:
Spanish champions Barcelona ended Manchester City's dreams of a comeback, taking a 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp.
Lionel Messi and Dani Alves struck for the Barca, who will now progress to the quarterfinals 4-1 on aggregate.
In the night's other last 16 draw, French Ligue One champions Paris St Germain eliminated German side Bayer Leverkusen with the same second leg score.
PSG already had a commanding advantage, having won their away game 4-0.
And over here in the Asian champions league,
Title holders Guangzhou Evergrande were held to a 1-1 draw away at Yokohama Marinos.
Guangzhou now seat second in the group, trailing South Korea's Hyundai Motors.
Another Chinese Super League side, Guizhou Renhe lost at home to Australian Western Sydney 1-0.
The loss condemned Guizhou to the bottom of its group, reducing their chances to advance to the knockout stage to almost nothing.
Ding Junhui takes on Shaun Murphy in the last 16 tie
And in snooker,
World number two Ding Junhui is now battling Englishman Shaun Murphy for a berth in the last eight of the Haikou Open.
Ding staged a stunning 5-4 comeback last night, putting Thai champion Rankaj Advani out of the tournament.
Murphy advanced to the last eight following a victory over Mark King.
Marco Fu of Hong Kong will later play Australian Neil Robertson in another last 16 matchup.
Earlier, Chinese player Liang Wenbo went down to former world number one Mark Selby 5-1 and failed to make it to the last 8 at Haikou.
Entertainment
Zhang Yimou speaks about his latest film
Famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou says he hopes to deliver his thoughts on culture, consciousness and people with his latest film "Coming Home."
"The film tells a simple story about going home. It's adapted from Yan Geling's works and is both a joyful and tragic love story. I want to express my thoughts on history and culture through Gong Li and Chen Daoming's excellent performances."
Zhang attended the 2014 Le Vision Pictures Summit held in Beijing on Thursday. He says that it has been his dream for many years to shoot this film. Now that he has joined LeVP, he can be fully devoted to making films.
"Coming Home" will hit Chinese screens in May and will reportedly compete at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
"Muppets Most Wanted" receives negative early reviews
Early reviews of "Muppets Most Wanted" say the film is a weak sequel. The 2011 first film "The Muppets" delighted critics and grossed more than $165 worldwide. The sequel, which will hit theaters on March 21st, has been called hokey and lacking the irreverence and sincerity that made the 2011 film such a delight. Some suspect that the missing ingredient is Jason Segel, whose departure took with him necessary writing, acting and singing talents pivotal to reviving the franchise.
"Muppets Most Wanted" picks up where the Muppet gang left off in 2011 and sends the gang on a grand tour of Europe. So far, those disappointed with the film has mentioned its repetitive storyline and that it does not meet its comic potential.
However, not every review has been so critical. More positive critics say that it is clear the human stars are having a great time, which redeems the film as a whole.
Once the film hits wide release, the public audience can decide for themselves if "Muppets Most Wanted" lives up to their expectations.
The Rolling Stones perform in Shanghai
British rock sensation The Rolling Stones played a concert at the Shanghai Mercedes-Benz Arena on Wednesday night as part of their 14 ON FIRE Tour.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood performed on a stage shaped like the band's tongue and lips logo, which extended out into the audience.
The Rolling Stones emerged in the early 1960s to become one of the most successful groups in rock and roll history. They rounded off their show last night with hits "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Satisfaction.
Thousands of fans were present to cheer on their heroes. Fan Archer Zhai says he has listened to The Rolling Stones since his childhood and the Shanghai concert was one of the best moments of his life.
"For us, The Rolling Stones's songs are orthodox rock music which affects our growth. Their status and their words are still full of energy after several decades. This trip as a whole is worthwhile. I feel like time passes so fast."
With the rock stars all over seventy years old, fans cherish every opportunity to see them live in concert.
Disney releases track-list for EDM remix album
Disney fans across the world will be intrigued to hear that Walt Disney Records has released a track-list of 14 songs that will be included in a compilation album which places Disney tunes, both beloved classics and newer songs, into the hands of EDM stars. The album will be called "Dconstructed" and big names in electronic dance music, including the likes of DJ Armin van Buuren and Avicii, will make contributions.
Among the songs set to be redone, the soaring showstopper "Let It Go" from "Frozen" will be included. Songs are being pulled from older Disney films as well, such as "Dumbo," "The Lion King" and "Toy Story."
"Circle of Life" from "The Lion King" will be remixed by Israeli producer DJ Mat Zo while Kaskade will be turning "Baby Mine" from "Dumbo" into a house remix.
"Dconstructed" will be released April 22 and is currently available for pre-order through Amazon.
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane is now in its sixth day.. the Chinese government is asking nations involved in the search to step up their efforts..
The need to create jobs is a major factor in China's target of 7.5 percent GDP growth for 2014。
and Ukraine's interim prime minister says he is still hopeful for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in his country.
In business, China's retail sector is maintaining double digit growth through the first two months of the year, but the rate is down slightly from December.
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