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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Rebecca Hume with you on this Friday, August 30th, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
China and ASEAN nations agree to upgrade their free trade area and solve territorial disputes.
Debates on Syrian Military intervention continue around the world
North Korea warns US and South Korea to rein back military exercises
Business
ICBC posts 12-percent net profits
Sports
Chinese Zheng Jie knocks Venus Williams out of the second round at the US Open
Entertainments
American Actor James Spader cast as Ultron in the upcoming movie
Plus
China's National Games gets underway with an emphasis on getting the public to be more active. Special reports takes a look
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
Weather
Beijing will be cloudy today, with a high of 26 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be clear tonight with a low of 16.
In Shanghai, it will see slight rain today, 31 the high, and it will see showers tonight, the low of 23 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will have showers in the daytime the temperature's at 23, and tonight will have slight rain with a low of 11 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 32.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 32.
And in North America
New York, overcast, with a high of 26 degrees.
Washington, sunny, highs of 29
Houston, overcast, 35.
Honolulu, overcast, 31.
Toronto, sunny, 28
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, sunny, 24.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with highs of 23 degrees Celsius.
Top News
Chinese FM hosts foreign ministers from ASEAN group
Anchor
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to upgrade their free trade area and solve territorial disputes.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the announcement Thursday at a press briefing, after a special meeting with his counterparts of ASEAN members and ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh in Beijing.
CRI's Marc Cavigli has more.
Reporter
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ensures controversy over the Nansha Islands sovereignty will not affect relations between China and the ASEAN nations.
Wang Yi promises the dispute is not between China and the ASEAN group and that China and ASEAN are fully capable of safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea.
He goes on to say the common interests of China and ASEAN should not be affected by private interests and stressed a single member's opinion is not the overall stance of AESAN,
"We do not believe one individual position should replace that of ASEAN, and cannot let our own individual relations be affected by one's selfish interests."
The minister says the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has not been and won't be a problem, calling on all sides to nurture peace and stability in the region.
ASEAN nations have been pushing for a code of conduct governing interactions in the area.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says ASEAN has high hopes for September's discussions being constructive.
"We should not only look at the South China Sea issue as an issue of conflict but also as an aspect of maritime sustainability, search and rescue, and also look at the concept of joint development for mutual benefit".
The main topic of the meeting was strengthening China-ASEAN free trade.
The FTA, established in January 2010, is the biggest among emerging economies.
China-ASEAN trade volume topped 400-billion US dollars last year, six times more than a decade ago.
Focusing on "the deepening of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership", the special meeting was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of China-ASEAN strategic partnership.
After the meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi also met with the foreign ministers.
China says no China-Japan defense ministers meeting planned for Brunei
A Chinese defense ministry spokesman says the Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan, has no plan to meet his Japanese counterpart during the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus.
Yang Yujun said the defense minister had a series of bilateral meetings scheduled, but that Japan was excluded.
"He does not have any plan to hold bilateral meeting with Japanese defense minister in Brunei. We have noticed some reports in Japan. Before the evening banquet yesterday, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera greeted minister Chang on his own initiative. Minister Chang told Onodera that it is time for the provoker to correct its mistakes".
The 2nd ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus concluded in Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan on Thursday, with a declaration named after the city signed.
In the declaration, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to enhance peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United States, among others, took part in the meeting along with the ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
More countries take side on no military intervention in Syria
Anchor
Western powers have been debating whether to press ahead with military intervention in Syria in response to a chemical weapons attack carried out in a Damascus' suburb last week.
Many more countries say they are against taking military action in Syria, as a UN investigation team are still collecting evidence.
Reporter
United Nations chemical weapons experts are still carrying out their investigations into last week Wednesday's chemical weapons attack.
UN Secretry-General Ban Ki-moon is asking for more time.
"It's true that I have spoken with (US) President (Barack) Obama yesterday. We discussed how the UN and the world can work together particularly with the United States, how we can expedite the process of investigation. I have also expressed my sincere wish that this investigation team should be allowed to continue their work as mandated by the member states."
Ban Ki-Moon also says the weapons inspection teams will remain in Syria until Saturday.
Meantime, UN Security Council members discussed the Syrian crisis behind closed doors on Thursday.
However, no agreement was reached on possible military intervention.
For his part Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said his country will defend itself against foreign aggression, stressing determination to "eliminate terrorism" in the war-weary country.
Washington is seeking coordinated military strikes on Syria with its allies, in response to last week's gas attack in Damascus.
The British Parliament has just voted against possible military strikes in Syria with a majority of 13 votes.
In another vote, UK Parliament voted against any intervention should evidence of chemical weapons be confirmed by US investigators.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said they would wait until UN investigators reported their findings.
"If you agree to the motion I have set down, no action can be taken until we have heard from the UN weapons inspectors, until there has been further action at the United Nations and another vote in this house, those are the conditions that we the British government, the British parliament are setting and I think it is absolutely right that we do so."
Opinion polls in Britain, Germany, and Holland are leaning towards not taking military action at this point.
Iraq, Pakistan, South Africa and Jordan are also opposed to military intervention.
Here in China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is calling on all sides to keep calm and restrained over the Syrian issue.
He also says no one should interfere with, or prejudge, the investigation into alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.
For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.
North Korean general warns US and South Korea to rein back its military exercises
North Korea's National Defense Commission has warned the United States and South Korea to scale back military exercises.
General Kim Yong Chol, Vice Chief of the Korean People's Army General Staff, highlighted concerns over nuclear bombers in a joint US-South Korean military exercise in April.
"If they sincerely desire the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, the US should stop its nuclear blackmail against us."
Kim Yong Chol has called on the US and South Korean governments to refrain from any provocation.
"To achieve peace on the Korean peninsula, the US must do something first, and not follow in the same bitter wake of the past five years of relations between North and South. The present authorities in the South must stop their provocative words and deeds and eliminate views full of antagonism, jealousy, distrust, and hostility."
Kim Yong Chol added the military exercise in April was the first time the US sent strategic bombers more than once.
TEPCO boss apologises to leader of fishing association for handling of nuclear leak
President of TEPCO has apologised to the head of the fisheries association for his company's handling of contaminated water leaks.
The company is running Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Radioactive water has been leaking from tanks at Fukushima, some of which may have escaped into the sea through a rainwater gutter.
Chairman of the Japanese Fisheries Cooperatives Hiroshi Kishi says he is gravely concerned.
"The impact on the future of Japan's fishing industry is unfathomable and we are gravely concerned about the situation. The fishermen were hugely disappointed. We would like to urge you to resolve the matter at the earliest possible time."
Japan's nuclear regulator has upgraded its rating of the leak to a "serious incident," or level 3, up from a level 1 on the international scale of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
However, the impact the radiation-contaminated water leaks are having on the Pacific is not known.
Commercial fishing along the coastline near the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant has been suspended since it was damaged by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
China and Africa to build a community of shared destinies: white paper
Anchor
A report out by the Chinese government is suggesting trade between China and Africa has maintained comparatively rapid growth this year, despite the slowdown of the overall global economy.
CRI's Ding Lulu has more.
Reporter
The Chinese government has issued a white paper on China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation.
The paper is meant to underline what's been achieved between China and African countries.
Zhong Manying is the head of the Department of Western Asian and African Affairs with the Ministry of Commerce.
"In terms of investment and financing, we are committed 20b USD of financial support to Africa. We have signed preferential loans and commercial loans contracts with some African countries, to support projects in infrastructure construction, industry, agriculture, transportation, and telecommunication, etc. And China will also help the African countries to improve their investment facilitation, health care, education, culture, human resources training and environment protection."
In 2009, China became Africa's largest trading partner.
In the following two years, the scale of bilateral trade has expanded rapidly.
Through last year, the total volume of China-Africa trade reached close to 200-billion U.S. dollars.
This represents year-on-year growth of over 19-percent.
At the same time, direct Chinese investment in African countries expanded over 20-percent this past year.
Li Jinzao, China's deputy minister of commerce, says despite the recent economic slowdown, many Chinese firms still have their eye on Africa.
"Africa is China's important overseas markets, investment destination and energy supplier, meanwhile, Africa's development need China's experience, technology, capital and personnel. That's why I say the two parties should build a Sino-African community of shared destinies. Both China and Africa deeply know that we cannot be separated from each other, and we can only cooperate on the basis of equality and mutual benefit."
So far over 2-thousand Chinese companies have investments in more than 50 African countries and regions.
For CRI, this is Ding Lulu.
China's newly appointed ambassador Ma Zhaoxu arrived in Australia to take office
Anchor
The new Chinese ambassador to Australia has arrived in the country to take up his new position.
CRI's Australia correspondent Wang Xiao has more from Sydney.
Reporter
Anyone who has followed news in China for the past few years is likely quite familiar with China's new Ambassador to Australia.
Ma Zhaoxu had been the director-general of the Information Department and the Chinese government's lead spokesperson in foreign affairs from 2009 until last year.
Upon his arrival on Thursday, Ma Zhaoxu says China and Australia are enjoying increasing mutual political trust and strong economic and trade cooperation.
"At present, the Sino-Australian relations are at a new historical starting point. As President Xi Jinping has said, in the face of complex and changeful international and regional circumstances, the common interests of the two countries have not decreased but increased, the scope for cooperation is not shrinked but enlarged, and the shared responsibility is not reduced but added."
The newly-appointed ambassador is also hailing the establishment of the strategic partnership and the leaders' regular meeting plan established this year, saying it will help further upgrade biliteral relations to a new level.
Ma Zhaoxu says China wants to work with Australia to expand pragmatic cooperation in various fields.
"I will work hard with all of you to enhance the sino-australian relations and provide better services to overseas Chinese, Chinese funded institutions and Chinese sutdents here."
China and Australia established diplomatic ties 41-years ago.
Ma Zhaoxu is the 13th Chinese ambassador to Australia.
For CRI, this is Wang Xiao from Sydney.
Tropical Storm Kong-Rey triggers heavy rains and flooding in Taiwan's west coast
Tropical Storm Kong-Rey has blown past Taiwan, causing widespread flooding along the west coast's heavily populated region.
The coastal cities of Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung, are hardest hit, with flooding in some areas reaching second-storey levels.
"I can't go to work or go home right now. I can't do anything. I have to wait till flood water goes away."
There are no immediate reports of fatalities.
Scores of international flights have been cancelled.
A number of high-speed rail services between Taipei and Kaohsiung have been disrupted due to high winds and heavy rain.
Kong-Rey is the second major storm to hit Taiwan this month.
Last week, a severe tropical storm dumped 39 inches of rain on the southern part of the island.
Kong-Rey is now tracking towards Japan's home islands over the next two days.
Biz Reports
Anchor
First off, a check on the stock market of North America and Europe.
Join me on the desk, CRI's Cao Yuwei.
Reporter
U.S. stocks rose for the second consecutive day Thursday, boosted by encourage U.S data.
Stock rose after the government said the country's economy expanded by a stronger-than-expected 2.5 percent in the second quarter.
In a separate report, it said weekly jobless claims fell more than anticipated last week.
When the market closed,
The Dow gained 0.1percent.
The S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent.
The Nasdaq surged 0.7 percent.
Meanwhile, Canada's S&P/TSX gained 0.7 percent.
In Europe, European stocks rebound on Thursday powered by bumper gains among telecom stocks.
The gains came after telecom operator Vodafone confirmed it is in talks with U.S based Verizon to sell out of its U.S. joint venture.
When the market closed,
Germany's DAX rose 0.4 percent.
France's CAC 40 was up 0.6 percent and Britain's FTSE 100 jumped 0.8 percent.
ICBC posts 12.4 pct increase in H1 net profit
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the nation's largest lender, has reported a net profit growth of 12.4-percent year on year in the first half.
ICBC posted a net income of 138.3 billion yuan for the first six months of the year.
Its non-performing loan ratio improved from 0.94 percent at the end of last year to 0.87 percent at the end of June.
Meanwhile, Bank of China, the country's fourth biggest lender, says its net profit is up 12.9 percent to top 80 billion yuan in the first six months.
The country's state-owned "Big Four" banks, including ICBC, have all reported slower growth in net profit in the first half.
Live call-in with Doug Young on corporate news of the week
Anchor:
Let's check in with some of the key events on the corporate front in China this week.
Doug Young joins me on the line, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
What are the highlights this week Doug?
1. Hewlett-Packard Creates China Chairman Position
Background
Hewlett-Packard has declared the appointment of Robert Mao as board chairman of China Region.
The new chairman will now be responsible for HP's unified strategic development zones in China and report directly to HP President and CEO Meg Whitman.
Mao has been engaged in the telecom market for years, acting as senior advisor for the company in the past three years.
HP made a profit in the latest quarter, reversing a huge loss a year ago that stemmed from an US$8 billion charge.
But the technology bellwether's revenue declined amid an ongoing weakness in the PC market.
Suggested talking points:
1) Does the appointment mean HP is ready to make new push into Chinese market?
2) Amid ongoing weakness in the PC market, what changes will we see in HP strategies in China?
2. Huawei and ZTE win bulk of China's Mobile's $3 Bln 4G bonanza
Background
China Mobile has awarded initial 4G contracts worth around 20 billion yuan ($3.2 billion), with Chinese firms securing more than half of the biggest prize.
It is reported that Huawei and ZTE have obtained about 25 percent each of the total 4G procurement in China Mobile's tender this year.
Meanwhile, European vendors Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent SA and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) have obtained a share of around 10 percent each.
China Mobile launched its largest tender ever for 4G network construction in June, planning to purchase equipment for 207,000 4G base stations.
Meanwhile, Apple is expected to unveil its next iPhone and a cheaper version next month that will likely support China Mobile's 4G TD-LTE technology.
Suggested talking points:
1) What will this tender bring to Huawei and ZTE? ZTE posted its first-ever annual loss last year.
2) Does it mean that Huawei and ZTE will now focus on domestic operator's contracts rather than overseas market?
3) Will the China Mobile's 4G program help to secure an iPhone contract with Apple?
Back Anchor:
Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
4 CNPC execs suspended over official investigation
China National Petroleum Corporation has confirmed it will remove its four senior executives under investigation for "serious violation of discipline".
The four executives include Wang Yongchun, deputy general manager of the CNPC and Ran Xinquan, vice president of PetroChina.
Authorities say the four have been relieved of Party-related posts and corporate administrative posts.
The move comes after the authorities started an anti-corruption probe on CNPC and its subordinate PetroChina earlier this week.
Two Chinese oil & gas giants slammed for emission cut failure
China's environmental watchdog is slamming a pair of Chinese oil and gas giants for environmental failures.
Environmental authorities are suspending new project approvals for China National Petrolium Corporation and China Petrolium and Chemical Corportation.
Liu Bingjiang is with the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
"It is the harshest penalty in China ever given to companies for environmental pollution. Pollutants emitted from the two oil and gas companies are major contributors to haze. So we decided to suspend approval for their refining and chemical projects. This decision will also help make the situation known to the public and push the two companies to make a contribution to eliminating haze by cutting emissions and reducing pollution as soon as possible"
The CNPC failed to meet its reduction target for chemical oxygen emissions for last year.
And the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation has failed to reduce its emissions of nitric oxide.
U.S. economy grows 2.5 percent in second quarter
The U.S economy has accelerated sharply in the second quarter, as the country's gross domestic product grew at a 2.5 percent the annual rate in the April-June period.
That is more than double the pace reported in the prior three months.
The government initially estimated that GDP expanded at a 1.7 percent rate in the second quarter.
The Commerce Department says the growth shows positive contributions from personal consumption, exports and housing investments.
Personal consumption expenditures increased 1.8 percent in the second quarter, with durable goods leading the advance by growing 6.1 percent.
Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of the overall U.S. economic activity.
Outlook for PC shipments worsens: IDC
The outlook for the struggling personal computer industry has worsened as popularity of smartphones and tablets continue to grow.
Market research firm IDC has cut its 2013 forecast for global PC shipments for the second time.
The firm says worldwide shipments of PCs are likely to fall 9.7 percent this year, as consumers continue to favor mobile gadgets.
The forecast is worse than IDC's prediction in March that PC shipments will fall 1.3 percent this year.
Previously, China and other developing economies had been a source of strong demand for PCs in the face of falling sales in the Untied States and Europe.
However, the report says shipments in China and other developing countries are now set to decline this year even more than in developed regions.
Headline News
Chinese FM hosts foreign ministers from ASEAN group
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to upgrade their free trade area and solve territorial disputes.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the announcement Thursday at a press briefing, after a special meeting with his counterparts of ASEAN members and ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh in Beijing.
Wang Yi ensures controversy over the Nansha Islands sovereignty will not affect relations between China and the ASEAN nations.
He goes on to say the common interests of China and ASEAN should not be affected by private interests and stressed a single member's opinion is not the overall stance of AESAN,
More countries take side on no military intervention in Syria
Western powers have been debating whether to press ahead with military intervention in Syria in response to a chemical weapons attack carried out in a Damascus' suburb last week.
Many more countries say they are against taking military action in Syria, as a UN investigation team are still collecting evidence. The British Parliament has just voted against possible military strikes in Syria with a majority of 13 votes.
UN Secretry-General Ban Ki-moon is asking for more time.
For his part Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said his country will defend itself against foreign aggression, stressing determination to "eliminate terrorism" in the war-weary country.
Egypt arrests senior Muslim Brotherhood member Beltagi
Egyptian police have arrested a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Mohamed al-Beltagi was arrested in Giza governorate and transferred to Tora prison complex.
In July, Egyptian prosecutors filed charges against Beltagi.
He was accused of inciting violence and murdering peaceful protesters.
4 plead guilty at trial of Chinese tenor's son
The trial in which a well known Chinese army tenor's teenage son is accused of gangrape, has ended at a Beijing district court.
In February, a woman reported to the police that she was raped by five men after drinking.
The son of Li Shuangjiang, a renowned PLA singer, is one of the suspects.
Four of the five defendants pleaded guilty yesterday.
Prosecutors say four of the defendants are still juveniles, and they should receive less severe punishments.
China roasts in highest temperature since 1961
The country's weather authorities says China has experienced it's highest temperatures in August since 1961.
Most parts of China saw temperatures higher than or close to average levels.
Remarkably high temperatures were reported in eight provincial-level regions.
The average temperature was about 2.8 degrees Celsius higher than that of the same period in previous years.
Newspaper Picks
South China Metropolitan Daily
Headline: Beijing gang rape trial of PLA singers' son finishes without verdict
Summary:
The two-day trial of the gang rape case involving a PLA singer's son has concluded without immediate verdict.
During the trial, four of the five suspects pleaded guilty and three of them apologized to the victim.
Li, the singers' son, is the only one who refused to plead guilty.
Beijing News
Headline: Court sentences 56 for telecom scam
Summary:
56 people have been sentenced for large transnational telecom scams.
All of the defendants were arrested in 2011 in Cambodia.
Most of them are poorly educated young people from the Chinese mainland.
Their handlers were from Taiwan.
More than 180 victims from 10 provinces were cheated out of 15.56 million yuan.
Beijing Times
Headline: Bulldozer kills little girl
Summary:
A four-year-old girl was killed by a bulldozer in southeast China.
She was killed as the family tried to block construction crews from "forcibly flattening the land", her father said.
Local officials and police argued that the girl was killed accidentally.
The driver of the vehicle involved in the accident is in police custody.
Global Times
Headline: Headline: Govt halts power giant approval
Summary:
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has suspended approval of refinery and chemical projects for two Chinese oil and gas giants as a punitive measures for their failure to meet emission reduction targets.
The two petrochemical giants, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), were the only two that failed.
Yanzhao Metropolitan Daily
Headline: Officials held accountable for pollution
Summary:
Officials from the seven municipalities and provinces near Beijing will be held accountable if more than three consecutive heavily polluted days occur in the coming winter as a result of their poor performance in prevention.
China Daily
Headline: New exit-entry regulation takes effect in Sep.
Summary:
Foreigners' original visas will remain valid when they intend to extend their stay in China starting in September.
Currently, if foreign nationals want to prolong their stays, their original visa must be canceled.
Shanghai Daily
Headline: Hospitals report rise in school phobia
Summary:
With the new semester starting, local hospitals have reported a rise in the number of children suffering from school phobia.
About 20 percent of patients treated at the local pediatric hospitals had symptoms of school phobia, a type of anxiety disorder.
Doctors say parents should be concerned if their children are too sick to go to school.
Special Reports
China's National Games turns frugal
Anchor
China's quadrennial National Games have long been seen as a major test of local sports authorities, a prime opportunity for the country's elite athletes and Olympic hopefuls to showcase their abilities.
This year's event, however, is more to encourage the general public to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle.
CRI's Su Yi reports from the 12th National Games in Shenyang.
Reporter
These retired aunties may have never thought they would have the chance to bring their Taichi routines to the opening ceremony of the largest sporting event in China.
"We have been working out together everyday here since retirement. We are very proud that the games are being held here in Shenyang. We never thought we could have had this opportunity."
No big stars, no fireworks, no fancy LED light shows – the opening ceremony is poised to be a giant showcase of every-day sports enthusiasts.
Additionally, the ceremony will take place in the daytime for first time in over 20 years.
Some say this is all because of China's central government pushing frugal campaign that China's central authorities have been promoting in the past few months.
From a certain perspective, it is indeed hard to argue, since the event's budget is 78 percent less than the previous one in Shandong.
Also, organizers for the opening and closing ceremonies only manage to get 10 percent of their promised budget.
However, the rationale behind this frugality can be interpreted from a different perspective.
Organizers say over 90 percent of the venues are refurbished instead of newly-built.
Also 85 percent of tickets sold were priced below 100 yuan, or 16 US dollars.
While the budget for this year's games took a huge drop, more money has been designated to build public sports facilities across Liaoning Province for the games.
Additional funds were earmarked to ensure that the sporting venues are open to public use after the two-week event concludes.
Local residents, including this retiree playing ping pong in a college gymnasium, feel that this outcome is a victory for all.
"I just need more time to practice…I hope I can play with the players of the National Games."
The bigger picture surrounding this story might be related to the shifting mindset of Chinese people regarding Olympic competition.
What sports fans here want to take away from this year's games may be a simpler, yet more rewarding, venture: a good game, to take pride in the glory of their hometown athletes and, most importantly, to be inspired to play sports themselves.
Luckily, that is exactly what the organizer of this year's National Games is looking for.
So, this Saturday, come and play!
For CRI, I'm Su Yi reporting from Shenyang.
Sports
Zheng Jie knocks Venus Williams out of US Open in second round
At the US Open Venus Williams has been knocked out in the second round by China's Zheng Jie. The world number 56 world Williams down with impressive stamina and powerful returns winning the third set tie-breaker to take the match 6-3 2-6 7-6.
Following the match the American praised her opponent:
"I definitely wish that I was playing in the third round but it's not to be for me this year. I tried. Really, she plays well. she just went for every shot. Unfortunately, I, you know, didn't play consistently enough."
But immediately after the match it was still taking time for Zheng to realize what she had achieved:
"I don't know. I till feel tight because in the tie-breaker, the points is very close. I feel so tight. so after I win the match I still feel is so tight. So exciting for me of course, yeah."
Chelsea sign Eto'o
In football transfers, Chelsea have signed Cameroon striker Eto'o on a free transfer from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.
This deal now closing the door on chances that Manchester United's Wayne Rooney will be moving to Stamford Bridge.
Eto'o became the highest paid player in the world when he signed with Anzhi in 2011, but the clubs billionare owner is trying to significantly reduce the clubs budget.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinio has worked with the four-time African player of the year before, as he was part of the Inter Milan team when they won the Champions league.
Shandong Luneng try to close gap on Guangzhou Evergrande
In the Chinese Super League, second placed Shandong Luneng will take on Shanghai Shenxin later today trying to make a dent in the massive 14 point lead of Guangzhou Evergrande.
But they better watch out as third placed Beijing Guoan could close the gap to within six points if when they play Changchun Yatai away at the same time.
China unbeaten so far in the Volleyball World GP
On day two of the Volleyball World GP finals, China had to fight another tough match this time against Italy.
After five close sets, the Chinese outserved the Italians to take the match Three – Two, meaning they have won both their finals matches so far while Italy have lost both of theirs.
Meanwhile, China's opponents from day one, Serbia, secured a surprise victory against the USA. It was another closely fought contest that went right to the wire, but at the end of the last game, the Serbians beat the US defensive line with a clean shot to take the match 25 – 23.
Brazil beat hosts Japan in their match to go undefeated after two days.
Day three will see Italy take on the USA, Brazil vs Serbia and China against Japan.
NFL offer 765 million dollar concussion settlement
In America, the National Football League and players association have agreed a 765 million dollar settlement, after claims that they hid the dangers of concussion.
The NFL says the money will go towards paying concussions related compensation as well as medical exams and further research.
The class action launched by more than 4,500 former players accused the NFL of concealing the risk of long-term brain damage while glorifying and promoting violent play.
While they are paying compensation, the terms of the settlement mean the NFL will not have to admit liability or admit that the footballers injuries were caused by playing football however.
Australia beat England in 20/20 cricket
Fresh from defeat in the ashes Australia have come back in fighting spirit against England in the first of their two 20/20 matches against England.
Aussie batsman Aaron finch smashed a world record 156 as Australia beat England by 39 runs.
The opener hit 14 sixes and 11 fours to help Australia record their first win of the summer against their great rivals.
Shane Watson's 16 ball 37 lifted Australia to 248-6. the second highest T20 international score.
England ended on 209-6.
Entertainment
James Spader to Appear as Main Villain in Avengers 2
US Emmy award winning actor James Spader has been cast as the main villain in The Avengers: Age of Ultron.
(avengers trailer)
Spader will appear as the artificial intelligence powered robot Ultron in filmmaker Joss Whedon's superhero sequel.
The actor is known for his work in Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln and character Robert California in The Office.
Whedon recently teased fans with how Ultron will fit into the highly anticipated sequel, saying the villain's pain will be the driving force behind the less than typical way he challenges The Avengers.
The film is set to slam into theaters early summer 2015.
Entertainer Rolph Harris Charged with Sex Offenses Against Children
Australian entertainer Rolph Harris has been charged with a total of 13-counts of sex offenses against children including indecent assault and making indecent images.
The assault charges against the 83-year-old TV presenter stem from the 1980s and the indecent images are alleged to have been made last year.
Harris is due to appear in court at the end of September. He nor his lawyers have not released a statement regarding the issue.
The chief crown prosecutor claims there is sufficient evidence for Harris to be charged with 9-counts of assault and 4-counts of making images.
Matt Damon Latest Addition to Interstellar Cast
US actor Matt Damon is the latest giant name to be added to the ever growing cast of characters for filmmaker Christopher Nolan's upcoming mind-bending film Interstellar.
Damon joins the likes of Anne Hathaway, Matthew McConaghey, and Ellen Burstyn among others in the new film written and directed by Nolan, best known for the Dark Knight trilogy and Inception.
(inception trailer)
Though the plot remains a secret, the story is reported to follow fearless travellers as they enter a wormhole and travel to alternate dimensions.
The film is expected to blow audiences mind's in winter next year.
Meanwhile, Damon can now be seen in the dystopian scifi-thriller Elysium starring alongside US actress Jodie Foster, and is about to make his directorial debut directing and acting in a conspiracy thriller called A Foreigner.
Inventor of Foam Finger Angered by Miley Cyrus Performance
Steve Chmelar, the creator of the giant foam finger, a staple of sporting events, has said Miley Cyrus' performance at the MTV Music Video Awards, or VMAs, has degraded his invention.
Cyrus and singer Robin Thicke sang a duet of Thicke's controversial Blurred Lines song as Cyrus gyrated on Thicke and caressed both his and her own body with the foam finger at this year's VMAs.
(blurred lines clip)
Cyrus shocked audiences and fellow stars alike with a hyper sexual and bizarrely explicit performance during the duet.
The inventor says she misrepresented the foam finger's intent, which is to encourage team support and camaraderie.
He went on to confidently insist the foam finger has been around long enough to not suffer any lasting damage.
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