The Beijing Hour
Morning Edition
It's Paul James with you on this Monday, July 7, 2014.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is set to sit down with visiting German Chancellor Anglea Merkel later on today.
Chinese leaders are set to commemorate the 77th anniversary today of the start of the full-scale Japanese invasion of China.
A number of arrests have reportedly been made in connection with the gruesome murder of an Arab teen in Jerusalem last week.
In Business.... Chinese regulators have put out new plans for delisting here in China.
In Sports... Novak Djokovic has taken this year's men's title at Wimbledon.
In Entertainment... anger is brewing over the early release of a new Planet of the Apes film.
First, let's check in with what's happening with the weather....
Weather
Beijing will be cloudy today with a high of 32 degrees Celsius.
Overnight it will see thundershowers and temperatures should drop down to around 24.
Shanghai will be cloudy during the daytime with a high of 30.
It will be cloudy tonight with a low of 24.
In Chongqing, it will be cloudy with a high of 35.
Overnight cloudy and lows are expected to be around 26.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia,
Islamabad will be cloudy with a high of 41.
Kabul will be sunny with a high of 29.
Over to North America,
New York will be cloudy today with a high of 32 degrees.
Washington, cloudy with a high of 36 degrees.
Honolulu, slight rain, 31.
Toronto, Canada, will see slight rain with a high of 25 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be sunny with a high of 15.
And Rio de Janeiro will see slight rain with a high of 26 degrees Celsius.
Top News
Chinese, German PMs to Begin Official Talks
Anchor
German Chancellor Anglea Merkel is set to sit down with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today as part of her official visit here to China. She is leading a high-level economic delegation and has already visited the southwestern city of Chengdu before arriving in Beijing.
CRI's Luo Wen has more.
Reporter
Premier Li Keqiang has already met with Merkel following her arrival here in Beijing over the weekend.
Today's talks are expected to be much more substantive, with the Premier saying he expects to touch on a number of different areas with Merkel, including areas as trade, finance, sustainable development and culture.
The two leaders meet the press following the talks. The Chinese premier Li will also accompany Merkel to visit the Temple of Heaven, a famous scenic spot in Beijing.
Before arriving in Beijing, Merkel began her trip to China with a stop in Sichuan's capital, Chengdu.
There she attended a China-Germany Urbanization Cooperation Forum along with a delegation of top executives from major corporations in Germany.
Those taking part in the forum say the relationship between China and Germany is moving beyond its traditional fields.
"It is not only always machinery, it's not always automation, it's not always automotive. It's more and more... it's also management services which are asked for, logistic services."
"Future plan is to bring over our latest technology to China, to localize our technology and to implement this in the Chinese market."
It wasn't all business for Merkel as part of her time in Chengdu.
The German Chancellor took some time to sample the local cuisine, buying a bag of broad bean paste in an open market and learning to cook Kung Pao chicken at a local restaurant.
Chef Zhang Wei showed Merkel how to cook the dish.
"I'm very excited, so excited. I'm still trying to calm down from all the excitement."
This is Merkel's 7th visit to China as Chancellor.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will also meet Merkel during her China visit.
For CRI, I'm Luo Wen.
China Marks Beginning of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression
Anchor:
Today marks the 77th anniversary of beginning of the eight-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Japan had occupied China's Northeast since 1931.
But its full-scale invasion of China began on July 7th, 1937 after Japanese troops attacked Chinese soldiers near the Marco Polo Bridge in southwest Beijing.
To commemorate the start of the bloody invasion, Chinese leaders and others will gather at a ceremony at the bridge this morning.
CRI will be brining you live coverage of the event, starting at 10 am.
Ahead of today's ceremony, CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King spoke earlier with Yang Bojiang, head of the institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Yang Bojiang, head of the institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, speaking to CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King.
Nanjing Massacre Memorial Website goes online to remember victims
A website connected to the Nanjing Massacre has been launched.
The site is part of the commemorations being held to mark the beginning of the full-scale Japanese assault on China during the 2nd World War.
The new site has three different sections, including one for the relatives of the victims.
Zhu Chengshan is the Curator of the Memorial Hall in Nanjing.
"We have been trying to register the second generation, third generation, and fourth generation of the victims, and we have so far got over 300 such dependents of the victims. It is just a small quantity, so we hope tens of thousands of dependents of the victims could join in the work of passing down the history of Nanjing Massacre by registration before December 13 this year."
Japanese soldiers, frustrated with a stronger-than-expected resistance by Chinese forces during their invasion in 1937, went on a month-long killing spree in Nanjing, the then-capital of China.
In the end, an estimated 300-thousand were massacred by Japanese troops.
Six Jewish Suspects Arrested in Murder of Palestinian teen
Israeli police have reportedly arrested six Jewish suspects in the abduction and murder of a Palestinian teenager this past week.
A closed-door hearing has already been held for the suspects.
Adi Keidar, a lawyer representing the suspects, says the group claims they have no connection to Abu Khudair's murder.
"We do not yet know all the details, according to all the publications and what we have understood, it is difficult at this stage to understand if there is a connection between the suspects and this specific incident. It could be that the police and the General Security Service are stumbling in the dark."
The 16-year old's burnt body was discovered last Wednesday in an area near East Jeruslaem where he was abducted just hours earlier.
Investigators have since determined he was burned alive.
It's believed Khudair's murder is retribution for the abduction and murder of three Jewish teens last month.
The killing of the three yeshiva students has led to a major Israeli crackdown on suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank.
Insurgents acknowledge Slovyansk setback, vow to make a stand
Rebels driven out of a key stronghold in eastern Ukraine over the weekend have regrouped in the industrial city of Donetsk.
Despite being driven out of the encampments by Ukrainian government forces, the rebels are vowing to renew their fight against the government.
"Winning the battle is not the same as winning the war. That's my opinion. With their huge amount of heavy weapons and vehicles they are now winning in the small towns. They had been trying to get Slovyansk for three months. Let them try to come to Donetsk. Then we'll see. War is just starting."
Ukrainian troops this weekend forced the rebels out of Slovyansk, a city that has been at the centre of the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Andrei Purgin, a leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, suggests the Ukrainian government offensive was particularly brutal.
"In this situation exact losses are impossible to estimate. We understand that more than a thousand died. This is one hundred percent certain."
The Ukrainian government re-launched its offensive against the rebels last week after attempts by the international community failed to convince Kiev to extend a ceasefire it had been adhering to the week before.
ISIL displaces 30,000 people in eastern Syria: activists
An overseas Syrian human rights organization claims the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant has forced some 30-thousand people from a region in eastern Syria.
The people have reportedly been forced out of their homes over the weekend in a city called Shahel.
This comes amid heavy fighting between the ISIL and the so-called Nursa Front, which is an al-Qaeda splinter group that has also been fighting for control of the region.
ISIL has already claimed control of much of western and northern Iraq, as well as parts of eastern Syria.
The group has proclaimed a caliphate in the region, and has been calling on Muslims around the world to immigrate there and pledge allegiance to the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Afghan Candidates Spar over the Release of Election Results
Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah has announced he's going to reject any election results released today.
The Afghan election commission is due to release the preliminary results of last month's runoff later on Monday.
Abdullah has alleged that massive vote rigging took place during the runoff.
"What we are asking for is thorough auditing before any announcement, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, or whatever. What we are asking for is thorough auditing and after the completion of the auditing the announcement of the preliminary results will be made."
The preliminary results were supposed to be released last week.
However, the Afghan Election Commission delayed the release to probe the allegations put forward by Abdullah.
Frontrunner Ashraf Ghani is demanding the immediate release of the preliminary results.
Meanwhile, the European Union is calling for a more extensive investigation into allegations of suspect ballot stuffing by supporters of Ghani.
Thousands of refugees flee fighting in Pakistan
Thousands of refugees fleeing an offensive by Pakistan's military are pouring across the lawless border into Afghanistan, stirring unease that Taliban militants may be hiding among them.
Authorities in Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost are trying to cope with the influx.
"There was fighting in our area and were displaced. We left our homes using a truck, which carried us here. While I was on there I received injuries and was bleeding."
Afghan intelligence suspects some of the refugees from North Waziristan may be insurgents.
The UN estimates over 75-thousand people have fled from Pakistan into neghboring Afghanistan since the military offensive first began.
Germany Calls for U.S. Explanation on Suspected 'double agent' Case
The German government is calling for a quick and clear explanation from Washington in connection with a report that US intelligence had been in contact with a German man arrested last week on suspicion of being a double agent.
The 31-year-old employee of Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency has admitted passing documents to a U.S. contact.
Reports suggest the documents passed on include information about a parliamentary committee looking into allegations by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden that Washington carried out wide-spread surveillance in Germany, including monitoring Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone.
The White House and US State Department have so far declined to comment.
However, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has addressed the issue as part of her current book tour.
"We also have important security and intelligence relationships that should not be put at risk because they are important to the ultimate security of individuals. So let's find out what the facts are and then let's act appropriately but also try to be careful not to undermine the necessary cooperation which exists between us."
The US government has come under international scrutiny after Snowden leaked documents revealing a wide-ranging program of US international surveilence targeting high-level individuals such as Angela Merkel and others.
Hangzhou Bus Fire Caused by Arson: Police
Local police say a bus fire that left 32 people hurt in the city of Hangzhou in East China over the weekend is an arson.
Wang Jinhao is Hangzhou's deputy chief of police.
"The suspect got on the bus with a black backpack and hid it beneath the seat. At 5:06pm, he stood up and poured the flammable substance out from his backpack. Three seconds later, he then ignited it with a lighter, and the fire spread through the carriage."
The flamable liquid is believed to be a lacquer thinner.
The suspect, who was seriously injured in the blaze, is being treated in hospital along with 28 others.
There were around 80 people on the bus at the time the fire broke out.
The motivation behind the arson remains unclear.
Chinese scientists discover shape-shifting liquid metal
Chinese scientists have discovered that liquid metal can shift in various of forms and movement patterns under certain conditions.
The scientists put the liquid metal under control of an electric field by using the alloy of the liquid metal gallium.
Under the low voltage field, the liquid metal can shift from a film to a small sphere, then merge into a big sphere.
Engineers say the discovery could eventually lead to the creation of a liquid metal shape-shifting robot.
Liu Jing, a member of the research team, says their research might also have medical applications.
"It could also be designed to move in the micro tube, such as robot used in blood vessel. If your blood vessel was blocked, this could be used to clean your blood vessel without hurting your body."
Researchers also say techniques based on the discovery could also help repair broken nerves and open up a new direction in the field of bio-medicine.
The discovery has been joinly made by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University.
Biz Reports
Anchor
First off, let's get a preview of what we can expect in the business world this week.
Joining me on the desk, CRI's Fei Fei.
Reporter
Later on this Monday, the European Central Bank is going to release this month's Sentix Investor Confidence data for the European Union.
Japan will also release its June Foreign Exchange Reserve figures.
Japanese machinery orders are also due on Thursday. These are a key indicator of spending in Japan.
Tuesday will see US Consumer Credit figures being released.
However, much of the focus this week in the US will be on Wednesday, when the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting will come out.
The market will be watching this to see how much confidence, or lack there-of, the Fed has with the current state of the US economy, which declined nearly 3-percent through the first quarter.
China's inflation data for June is also slated for release on Wednesday.
The latest Chinese trade figures are due on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, the Bank of England will hold its monthly policy meeting.
Most observers are expecting the BoE is unlikely to shift its current interest rate policy.
The Bank of England's key interest rate currently sits at half-a-percent.
Also this week, top Chinese and U.S. officials will hold their annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
Those discussions will take place Thursday and Friday here in Beijing.
And on Friday, the latest CPI figures for Germany are due out.
China Railway Corporation announces 300 billion yuan plan
The China Railway Corporation has announced plans to begin work on an additional 14 railway lines this year.
The projects are expected to cost over 300 billion yuan.
The China Railway Corporation has already added over 20 new projects to its initial list of 44 put out at the beginning of the year.
The new projects are part of the Chinese government's targeted stimulus programs aimed at keeping the economy moving forward.
Call-in with Mike Bastin
Anchor
Securities regulators here in China have released a draft of potential new rules connected to delisting for domestic companies.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission says the refined delisting system will provide a range of options for companies that are voluntarily hoping to leave the equity markets.
The new rules, among other things, will also force compaines found to be engaged in fraud to be kicked out of the market within a year.
For more on the newly-released draft, we are joined on the line with Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.
Questions:
1. Can you explain to us why would a listed company would seek to leave the markets, especially when the company would do it voluntarily?
2. The compulsory delisting is highlighted by many analysts as not a single company has ever been delisted due to fraudulent practices. What does this rule mean to the markets, especially considering the authority's determination on reform?
3. Would delisting bring losses to minority and individual shareholders? What procedures would a company have to go through for delisting, to protect interests of shareholders?
Back Anchor:
Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.
IMF confident about global economic recovery
The head of the International Monetary Fund is suggesting global economic activity should strengthen in the second half of this year and accelerate into next year.
But Christine Lagarde is also cautioning the momentum could be weaker than expected.
Speaking to a conference in France, Lagarde says countries around the world should be trying to stimulate their respective economies by investing in areas such as infrastructure, education and health.
Lagarde also says the forthcoming IMF global economic outlook, which is due later this month, will be slightly different from its previous forecasts.
In delivering the speech, the IMF chief has also said she doesn't expect a sharp slowdown of the Chinese economy.
The IMF has projected a range of between 7 to 7.5-percent growth for China.
France not worried about U.S. probe of other banks: minister
France's finance minister says he is not worried about the fallout of French banks being investigated by U.S. authorities.
Michel Sapin's comments come amid word French banks Societe Generale and Credit Agricole, along with Germany's Deutsche Bank, are being investigated for potentially violating U.S. economic sanctions.
The report comes on the heels of French banking giant BNP Paribas being fined nearly 9 billion U.S. dollars last week for violating U.S. sanctions against Sudan, Cuba and Iran.
Daimler expects sales to surpass Audi, BMW in China this year
German automaker Daimler now says it expects its Mercedes-Benz division to overtake Audi and BMW in China this year.
The optimism comes amid plans to launch around 20 new or upgraded models in China over the next two years.
Daimler says it hopes the new plan will increase vehicle sales to around 300-thousand a year by next year.
Daimler is also working on launching a new electric car, jointly developed with Chinese partner BYD, by the end of this year.
Previous momentum Mercedes-Benz had here in China stalled in 2012, with the brand's sales volumes falling far behind BMW and Audi.
Demand for luxury vehicles here in China is forecast to surpass the U.S. by 2020.
Samsung faces successive falling of profits
It's being reported Samsung is poised to announce a downturn in profits through this past quarter.
Market observers are expecting the South Korean handset maker to report a downturn in profits of around 12-percent.
Market watchers say part of the reason for the expected decline in profits is the rise in sales here in China from compeditors Huawei and Xiaomi.
Sales of the company's Galaxy 5S haven't been strong enough to out-do its lower-end Chinese competitors.
Samsung is set to report its latest quarterly results tomorrow.
Headline News
Li Keqiang to host Merkel in Beijing talks
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to sit down with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang today as part of her official visit to China.
Merkel is leading a high-level economic delegation and has already visited the southwestern city of Chengdu.
The has said he expects to touch on a number of different areas with Merkel, including trade, finance, sustainable development and culture.
Merkel is on her seventh visit to China as chancellor.
Israeli air kills 2 Palestinians in Gaza
Two Palestinians have been killed as Israeli jets launched air raids targeting central Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian health ministry says the two men were killed in the strike in the central Gaza Strip refugee camp of al-Maghazi.
The two are believed to be militants who were attempting to fire rockets into Israel.
Earlier Israeli drones carried out two raids in Gaza targeting Palestinian militants.
Tensions have been running high in the region after Israel accused Hamas of kidnapping and killing three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank.
Insurgents acknowledge Slovyansk setback, vow to make a stand
Rebels driven out of a key stronghold in eastern Ukraine over the weekend have regrouped in the industrial city of Donetsk.
Despite being driven out of the encampments by Ukrainian government forces, the rebels are vowing to renew their fight against the government.
Ukrainian troops this weekend forced the rebels out of Slovyansk, a city that has been at the centre of the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Gunmen kill at least 29 in latest raids on Kenyan coast
Gunmen have killed at least 29 people in two coastal areas of Kenya in raids.
Kenya's deputy President William Ruto indicated on Sunday the attack was the work of political rivals, despite Somali Islamists al Shabaab claiming responsibility.
The raids will hammer Kenya's beleaguered tourist industry after a wave of militant attacks and will deepen public frustrations about poor security.
Germany urges U.S. to explain suspected 'double agent' case
The German government is calling for a quick and clear explanation from Washington in connection with a report that US intelligence had been in contact with a German man arrested last week on suspicion of being a double agent.
The 31-year-old employee of Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency has admitted passing documents to a U.S. contact.
Reports suggest the documents passed on include information about a parliamentary committee looking into allegations by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden that Washington carried out wide-spread surveillance in Germany, including monitoring Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone.
The White House and US State Department have so far declined to comment.
Newspaper Picks
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
Subway suspended by fire
Summary
Line 13 on the Beijing Subway had to be suspended last night after fire engulfed a protective screen on an aboveground section of the line.
Its unclear what sparked the blaze.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Xinjiang mine explosion
Summary
At least 17 miners are still thought to be trapped after a coal mine explosion in Xinjiang on Saturday night.
Three of the miners underground at the time managed to make it out alive.
Rescuers are now trying to clear the mine of gas.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Bus accident in Southwest China
Summary
Six people are dead and 36 others injured after a bus overturned in Chongqing Saturday night.
The bus flipped after one of its tires blew out.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Police attacked in Southwest China
Summary
Fifteen people accused of being involved in a pyramid scheme have been detained after they assaulted and wounded three police officers in Sichuan.
Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
PEOPLE'S DAILY
Headline
Smuggling stats
Summary
Customs authorities here in China say they've investigated over 73-hundred cases of smuggling across China through the first five months of this year.
Over 50 of the cases involve illegal firearms.
Special Reports
Trial of digital waste recycling model in Chengdu
Anchor
A trial program is underway in Sichuan's capital, Chengdu, which gives the locals a chance to reward themselves for recycling through advanced technology.
CRI's Ding Lulu explains.
Reporter
Liang Xiuqing is a resident in the southwestern city.
Like many others in her residential community, as well as in many other Chinese cities, she classifies the daily garbage.
"What I mainly do is to divide the plastic wastes and aluminium tins from the wastes and put them in one bag. And then put the wasted paper plates in another bag. In dividing these wastes, it will be easier for the recycling center to classify them and also good for the environment."
But now there's another step to do before sending these bags to the garbage station.
She sticks one Quick Response code to each of these bag.
These QR coded stickers contain the resident's personal information and will be converted to reward points to them once scanned at a garbage center.
The more finely the garbage is classified, the more reward points one can obtain.
Residents can then exchange the credits for groceries offered by recycling firms in their community.
Li Li is the deputy general manager of the Chengdu-based, waste recycling firm, Green Earth.
He says this model can encourage the residents to classify their garbage, as well as benefit the the recyclers.
"They (residents) can turn trash into treasure by separating the recyclable and the non-recyclable. We will give them back, in the form of gifts. Part of the money made from the sales of classified wastes goes to these gifts, and we use the other part to cover our operation expenses. It can thus be a sustainable model."
But to Liang Xiuqing who has conducted this practice for a while, the new mode has made gabage-classification more interesting.
"This kind of waste recycling is just like playing a game. The more efforts I put into it, the more reward points I will get. The greater the amount of reward points I get, the more motivated I am in waste recycling. I am excited to get what I need every time they (recycling firms) come for gift exchanges in the community, which gives me strong incentive to classify wastes."
The trial of this waste recycling model is now involving nearly 60,000 households in Chengdu.
And it is expected to expand to all the residential communities in the city by 2017.
For CRI, this is Ding Lulu.
Sports
Djokovic downs Federer in epic Wimbledon final
Having lost five of his last six grand slam finals, Novak Djokovic has finally emerged triumphant, taking down Roger Federer to win his second Wimbledon crown and seventh grand slam title.
The five-set thriller is being dubbed one of the most memorable Wimbledon finals of all time.
The Serb was pushed all the way by the 32-year-old Federer, losing the first set and letting a championship point slip in the fourth set.
Djokovic eventually outlast Federer 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.
He says winning Wimbledon comes at a crucial time in his career.
"Very special, the most special grand slam final I've played and at the time of my career for this grand slam trophy to arrive is crucial, especially as I said after losing several grand slam finals in a row. I started doubting a little bit and I need this win a lot and I'm going to try to use it in the best possible way and for my confidence to grow for the rest of the season and the rest of my career."
The win also denies Federer a record 8th All England Club trophy.
Federer, magnanimous in defeat, admits he's disappointed not to have secured the victory.
"l kept believing and kept, you know, trying to play offensive tennis and I'm happy it paid off in some instances so as you can imagine I am very disappointed, you know, not being rewarded with victory, but it was close, you know. Novak deserved it at the end clearly but it was extremely close."
With the victory at Wimbledon, Djokovic will also reclaim the world number one ranking from Rafael Nadal.
Over the weekend, in the women's final on Saturday, it was the Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova crushing Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-0 in just 55 minutes to claim her second Wimbledon title.
Taiwan's Chan Hao-Ching and her Belarussian partner came up short in the mixed doubles event, falling to Australian Sam Stosur and her Serbian partner in the final in straight sets.
American Jack Sock and Canadian Vasek Pospisil, playing together for the first time, stunned the top-ranked Bryan brothers in a 5-set marathon to take home the men's doubles crown.
China didn't go home empty handed from Wimbledon.
16-year old Ye Qiuyu and her partner from Indonesia captured the girl's double's crown on Sunday.
Germany, Brazil anticipate semi-final
Football's World Cup is now into the final week.
First up will be a clash between Germany and Brazil in the first semi-final on Wednesday morning, Beijing time.
Hosts Brazil will be without star striker and national hero, Neymar, who had suffered a fractured vertebra in the teams quarter-final victory over the weekend against Colombia.
Despite the apparent advantage, Germany's assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick contends the loss of Neymar may actually make Brazil a stronger team.
"He played a great World Cup and tragically he has been injured but I think that these things can bring a team together and there are 200 million Brazilian fans who are now even more behind the team than before so there will be some strengths missing in the team and we are prepared for a strong Brazilian team."
Brazil might also have to take on Germany without their captain, Thiago Silva, who has been tentatively suspended following his 2nd yellow card.
Brazil is appealing.
FIFA's disciplinary committee is "analysing materials" submitted by the Brazilian football confederation.
But Brazil's chances of a successful appeal appear limited as, historically, only red cards have been rescinded.
Hamilton wins British GP
In Formula 1,
Home-town favorite Lewis Hamilton coasted to victory in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
With the win, Hamilton closes to within four points of Nico Rosberg in the drivers championship.
The race itself was delayed for nearly an hour for barriers to be repaired following a high-speed crash involving Kimi Raikkonen and Philipe Massa.
Raikkonen spun out on the first lap and slammed into the barrier, then took out Massa in the aftermath.
Both escaped without serious injury.
Williams' Valtteri Bottas ended up in second.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull finished third.
Graeme McDowell retains French Open title
In golf,
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell has retained his French Open title after overnight leader Kevin Stadler blew a four-shot advantage on the final day.
The 34-year-old McDowell started the day eight shots adrift of Stadler.
However, a final-round 67 has given him the one-stroke victory.
The win improves McDowell's chances of securing a place on the European Ryder Cup team in Gleneagles in September.
--
The LPGA is heading into a major this week, with the Women's British Open set to begin on Thursday.
American Stacey Lewis comes in as the defending champion.
Lewis tops the money list so far this year.
Guangzhou's Feng Shanshan heads into the British Women's Open ranked 18th on the money list so far this year.
Ukraine's Polivoda triumphs in Tour of Qinghai Lake first stage
This year's Tour of Qinghai Lake cycling event is underway.
Ukranian Olexander Polivoda with team Kolss cycling has claimed victory in the first stage, which is a 121-kilometer, seven-lap race in Qinghai's capital Xining.
This year's Tour of Qinghai Lake will last 14 days, and covers a total distance of nearly 36-hundred kilometers.
Entertainment
3D Effects Will Wow Audiences of "House That Never Dies"
Hong Kong actor Francis Ng Chun Yu said that the 3D effects in the coming Chinese thriller, "The House That Never Dies," will wow theater-goers.
(sound bite: 140706Wu3.mp3)
"Hello. I'm Francis Ng Chun Yu. I played two roles in the film, namely Huo Lianxiu and Zhao Yitang. Stories happening in 1910s are more like stage play; while the stories happening in modern time are more close to real life because the people that I contact with are from publishing house. The have their ways of expressing themselves. It's a 3D thriller film. I hope audiences could feel the thrilling better."
Raymond Yip, the movie's director, was joined by Yu and actor Tony Yang from Taiwan at a press conference for the film in Beijing on July 4th.
The film also stars actress Ruby Lin from Taiwan, who plays the lead.
The 3D thriller is based on the legendary mansion at No. 81 on Chaoyangmennei Street in Beijing, which local legend says is haunted by the ghost of a Kuomintang official's wife, who committed suicide in the home around the time of the Cultural Revolution.
The film follows Xu Ruoqing (Ruby Lin), a woman whose presence in the notorious mansion draws up the spirits that have taken residence there.
"The House That Never Dies" haunts screens in China on July 18th.
Ning Caishen released from detention center
Chinese playwright, Ning Caishen, was released from a detention center on Sunday after being detained for drug-use in late June.
Ning, whose birthname is Chen Wanning, was arrested after police raided his apartment in Beijing's Chaoyang district for suspected drug-use.
There, police reportedly found the playwright using narcotics, along with a bag of methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia.
The playwright confessed at the detention center that he had been using drugs since the end of 2013. Ning said that the drugs helped him combat his fatigue from writing.
Shortly after his release, Ning wrote on his Weibo account that he deeply regrets his drug use and promises to stay drug-free.
Ning first earned nation-wide fame when writing for the sitcom, "My Own Swordsman," which aired in 2007.
S. Korean Filmmakers Angry Over Early "Planet of the Apes" Release
South Korean filmmakers are in an uproar over 20th Century Fox Korea's announcement to screen "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" a week earlier than expected.
They claim that the amount of screens slated to show the American sci-fi franchise film will be taken from smaller movies released that week.
The Korea Film Producers Association has filed an official complaint regarding the change, which pulls the film's screen-date from July 16th to July 10th.
The association says such an abrupt change in the release date of a Hollywood blockbuster movie "goes against film business ethics" and causes "chaos" to the film market and "damages to others."
The new release-date is expected to affect ticket sales for a number of movies in South Korea, including that of domestic action hit, "The Divine Move", which strategically screened two weeks ahead of the original "Planet of the Apes" date and a week after "Transformers: Age of Extinction", according to the Hollywood reporter.
Rolf Harris Sentenced to Five-Plus Years for Sexual Abuse
Australian-born television entertainer Rolf Harris, who for decades cultivated an image of the affectionate uncle on numerous children's television programmes in Britain, was sentenced in London on Friday (4 JULY) to five years and nine months in prison for a string of abuses against young girls.
The court ruled that Harris must spend time behind bars for the 12 counts of abuse that took place from the 1960s to the 1980s, ignoring appeals from the defence that the trial has punished the performer enough.
The sentence represents a spectacular fall from grace for the celebrity, who had been well respected in both Britain and Australia.
Harris' sentence has been referred to the Attorney General under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.
His conviction follows investigations into historic sex abuse by a number of British celebrities, including the late BBC TV host Jimmy Savile, who was a friend of Harris.
Harris' high-profile trial has prompted new allegations against him to emerge.
Police are investigating the new claims.
Two New Actors Join Cast of "Star Wars: Episode 7"
Disney announced on Sunday that two new actors will be added to the cast of "Star Wars: Episode 7."
American actress Crystal Clarke and British actor Pip Andersen are the two new additions to the next tale in the epic space saga.
It has not been revealed what roles Clarke and Andersen will play in "Episode 7," but Disney did put out a casting-call for two characters, "Rachel" and "Thomas," back in November.
The notice called for a "beautiful and athletic" 17-to-18-year-old female to play "Rachel"; while the ideal "Thomas" was a "handsome, smart and athletic" 19-to-23-year-old male.
It's not out of the ordinary for relatively unknown talent to be called up for a "Star Wars" production. One of the current leads of "Episode 7," Daisy Ridley, currently has a sparse acting resume.
The announcement also contained an update regarding actor Harrison Ford, who is reportedly "doing well" after breaking a leg on set (that's literally, not figuratively). However, due to Ford's injury, production will be halted for two weeks in August, according to the statement.
"Star Wars: Episode 7" is expected to hit theatres on December 18 next year.
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is set to sit down with visiting German Chancellor Anglea Merkel later on today.
Chinese leaders are set to commemorate the 77th anniversary today of the start of the full-scale Japanese invasion of China.
A number of arrests have reportedly been made in connection with the gruesome murder of an Arab teen in Jerusalem last week.
In Business.... Chinese regulators have put out new plans for delisting here in China.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James in Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.
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