Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.

Coming up on our program this morning...

Chinese president Xi Jingping highlights efforts to boost China's maritime power

China makes its response to Japan ‘Nazi’ comments

Counting begins as polls concluded in Zimbabwe election

Business

U.S. Federal Reserve sticks to current monetary stimulus

Sports

Chinese and South African swimmers triumph at FINA World Swimming Championships

Entertainments

Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage confirmed as a villain in the new X-men film

Plus

Special reports takes a look at a new test scheme carried out in eight Chinese airports to help ease flight delays.

First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...

 

 

Weather

  

 

Tropical storm Jebi to lash S China

 

Tropical storm Jebi is expected to bring heavy rains and strong gales to Hainan on Friday.

Jebi, the ninth tropical storm to hit China this year, is expected to land in eastern Hainan or on the Leizhou Peninsula sometime Friday afternoon or night.

The storm is about 690 km southeast of Hainan.

It is strengthening as it nears the eastern coast of Hainan.

All local fishing vessels have been ordered to return to port to take shelter from the storm.

 

 

Beijing will see thundershowers today, with a high of 28 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will see thundershowers tonight with a low of 22.

In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 38 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 29 degrees Celsius.

Lhasa will be cloudy in the daytime the temperature's at 22, and tonight will have showers with a low of 13 degree Celsius.

Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia

Islamabad, sunny, 34.

Kabul, sunny, with a high of 37.

And in North America

New York, overcast, with a high of 27 degrees.

Washington, overcast, highs of 28

Houston, overcast, 36.

Honolulu, moderate rain, 31.

Toronto, overcast, 24

Finally, on to South America,

Buenos Aires, sunny, 18.

And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with highs of 26 degrees Celsius.

 

 

Top News

 

 

Chinese president advocates efforts to boost China's maritime power

 

Anchor

Chinese President Xi Jinping is calling for more efforts to build China into a maritime power.

He has also promised the country will pursue, "converging interests" with other countries in oceanic development.

Su Yi has more.

Reporter

Xi Jinping made the comments at a study session of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee.

He says China will adhere to the path of peaceful development, but "in no way will the country abandon its legitimate rights and interests, nor will it give up its core national interests."

The Chinese president says China will settle all maritime disputes through peaceful channels.

He says the country will adhere to the policy of "shelving disputes and carrying out joint development" when it comes to maritime disputes with other countries.

The Chinese president goes on by saying oceans and seas have become an increasingly important part in the country's economic development, its opening-up strategy as well as nowadays global competition.

China's top leadership outlined the "maritime power" strategy last November in its key report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The key elements of the strategy include exploiting marine resources, protecting the marine environment and safeguarding China's maritime rights and interests.

For CRI, I'm Su Yi.

 

 

China firmly pursues peaceful development: defense minister

 

Anchor

Today marks the 86th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Liberation Army.

Chinese defense minister Chang Wanquan has reiterated the PLA's defense policy at a reception in Beijing to mark the anniversary.

Jordan Lee has more.

Reporter

Chang Wanquan says China will "unremittingly" follow the national defense policy that is defensive in nature.

The defense minister says the Chinese people love peace and the armed forces will always firmly safeguard peace.

Chang Wanquan is also a member of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China and a state councilor.

He says the Chinese military remains committed to maintaining cooperation and communication with its counterparts from other countries.

When it comes to cross-Strait issues, Chang Wanquan says the military will grasp the trend of peaceful development of relations between the mainland and Taiwan.

He also says the military will continue to safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, as the realization of national reunification is "irresistible".

The People's Liberation Army is the principal body of China's armed forces.

It is comprised of the army, the navy, the air force and the Second Artillery Corps.

For CRI, I'm Jordan Lee.

 

 

China sets up special fund for Ex-soldiers

 

The China Legal Aid Foundation has launched a special fund for soldiers who left the armed-services.

The fund is designed to provide legal aid for the ex-soldiers and to help them better ease into life as a civilian.

Zhen Xiaze is the secretary-general of the China Legal Aid Foundation.

"Because of its special working and living environment, soldiers usually lack understanding of society. When demobilized, some soldiers cannot adapt to new surroundings immediately, and they often come across legal problems which can directly affect their life and work. The aim of this fund is to give demobilized soldiers a guarantee of fair judicial protection and safeguard their legitimate rights and the judicial justice."

It is said that tens of thousands of ex-military personel face problems every year in finding employment after being released from their military service.

The Foundation has around 2-million yuan set aside in the fund.

Most of the donations are from retired soldiers and from entrepreneur Wu Peng, who himself is an ex-member of the PLA.

"I'm an entrepreneur. I am also a retired soldier. I can never erase my special feelings to my army and to the soldiers. I've always wanted to do something for the ex-soldiers who are in trouble. Upon hearing the news that China Legal Aid Foundation is to establish this fund, I participated in it without hesitation. I believe this is also a common wish of all the donators. The special fund will undoubtedly benefit many demobilized soldiers. "

　

Since 2001, more than 120-thousand demobilized soldiers have landed a job after retirement in China.

 

 

Aso's Nazi remarks alarm Asian nations: FM spokesman

 

Chinese foreign ministry says the recent remarks made by Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso comparing Japan to Nazi Germany are "alarming".

Taro Aso said in a lecture earlier this week that Japan should learn how Germany's constitution under the Weimar Republic was transformed by the Nazis in the early 1930s before anybody knew what was happening.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei says the remarks are alarming Japan's neighbors and the international community about where the country is going.

In his speech, Aso also said it was natural to visit the Yasukuni shrine to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the country.

The shrine to the 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including 14 convicted Class-A war criminals, is widely seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.

Hong Lei says the Yasukuni shrine issue highlights how Japan views its history of aggression and whether it respects the feelings of people of war-victim countries here in Asia.

 

 

UN, EU stress importance of inclusive political process in Egypt

 

UN chief Ban Ki- moon and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton are saying an "inclusive political processs" is crucial in Egypt.

They have issued the call following their meeting in New York.

The comments come after the Egyptian cabinet installled by the military has tasked the interior minister to "put an end to" sit-ins.

Egyptian Minister of Information Doraya Sharaf Al-Din is calling the sit-ins terrorist attacks which threaten national security.

"Relying on the people's mandate to the state to deal with terrorism and violence, which threaten the fall of the state and destruction of the nation, and saving national security and the country's interest, social peace and the people's security; the cabinet has decided to take all means necessary to face these dangers and put an end to it.

The minister also said the cabinet has assigned the minister of interior to take all means necessary to deal with the danger.

Thousands of supporters of the ousted president Mohamed Morsi have been staging sit-ins in protest against his overthrow by the army on July 3rd.

Morsi is still detained pending investigation on charges including murder.

He most recently met a visiting African Union delegation where he reportedly said that his removal from office was unfair.

Earlier Morsi met with the Europrean Union's top diplomat Catherine Ashton, who said the ousted president was doing well.

On Wednesday, Egyptian authorities decided to refer the Muslim Brotherhood's top leader Mohamed Badei along with his two deputies to the criminal court on charges of inciting violence.

 

 

Counting begins as polls concluded in Zimbabwe election

 

Counting of votes has begun following Zimbabwe's Presidential ballot.

The poll chooses a winner between Robert Mugabe and his long-term rival Morgan Tsvangirai.

The elections have so far remained peaceful.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has commended Zimbabweans for conducting a peaceful election and hopes peace will prevail beyond announcement of results.

Olusegun Obasanjo is the head of African Union Observer Mission to Harare.

"So far from observers who went out to the fields the conduct of the elections everywhere they went have been peaceful, orderly and free and fair."

This year's presidential poll showdown between the two is the third time in a decade.

Mugabe, Africa's oldest head of state at the age 89, won the previous two elections which were disputed by his rivals.

The long-serving president, who has been in power for 33 years, has said that he would step down if he loses the election.

Results for the final presidential vote will be announced within five days.

If no candidate wins 50 percent plus one vote, which is required for an outright win, a run-off will be held on September 11th.

 

 

Israeli-Palestinian Interactions under Occupation and "Boycott"

 

Anchor

The European Union is pushing ahead with plans to force Israeli companies operating from the West Bank and East Jerusalem to label the origin of their products.

The new EU guidelines published last month render Israeli entities operating beyond the pre-1967 lines ineligible for EU grants, prizes or loans, from next year.

CRI's Marc Cavigli has more.

Reporter

At Barkan Industrial Park in the West Bank, some 4,000 Palestinian workers work side by side with Jews in over 200 factories.

Yehuda Cohen, a factory CEO, says the EU's labeling plans are a kind of boycott to his company as Europeans may not buy their products out of political concern.

He says the plans, as well as the boycott from the Palestinian Authority, destroy his efforts to improve the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians.

"Boycott brings suffering. What we are doing here is a bridge for peace, the bridge for the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians. I believe this is the right thing that we should do between Israelis and Palestinians. No boycott brings what I'm doing here. Any kind of boycott brings suffer and what we are doing here brings hope for the people."

Among the 90 employees in Cohen's factory, 50 are Palestinians. Rasheed Mrar, a Palestinian assembly manager who has worked here for 15 years, says the relationship between the Palestinian and Jewish workers are very good.

For him, boycotts influence sales and salaries of workers, no matter if they are Israelis or Palestinians.

"We are in the same boat. If someone cuts a hole in the boat, we would sink together."

The Palestinians working at Israeli factories can earn two to three times the salaries they may earn at a Palestinian factory.

Ron Jager, an Israeli advisor in the West Bank, says the EU measures may cause failure of the factory and unemployment of the Palestinian workers.

"The factory doesn't understand politics. The factory gives places of work. The factory serves the needs of the people in the area. It doesn't serve the political needs. So why not look at this factory as ensuring that there is a future for the region? Let's encourage giving a solution to human needs. You have lots of people who live here, let them live in a much more developed environment."

David Simha, an Israeli who works to promote the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, says the interactions between the two peoples is helping them get prepared for peace.

"People who live in Israel, especially the young generation, they don't know the Palestinians, they don't know the (Palestinian) young generation. And this is something that we're trying to put people together to understand who our neighbors are and how things can work in a better way."

For CRI, I'm Marc Cavigli .

 

 

Civilian casualties increased 23 percent in Afghanistan in the first half

 

The UN mission in Afghanistan says the number of civilian casualties have spiked in the first half of the year as Taliban insurgents seek to regain lost territory.

Georgette Gagnon is a human rights chief at the mission.

"The armed conflict brought increased suffering and harm to Afghan civilians in the first half of 2013. The number of civilians killed or injured rose by 23 percent compare to the same period last year."

Gagnon says the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan has documented more than 13-hundred civilians dead and more than 2-and-a-half-thousand wounded during the period.

The victims include 106 women and 231 child deaths with 770 wounded.

The UN report attributed 74 percent of the deaths to the Taliban and other insurgent groups.

The Taliban renewed it's armed insurgency as US-led foreign forces started pulling out of the country since mid 2011.

 

 

Snowden's father tells son to stay in Russia

 

The father of fugitive former CIA contractor Edward Snowden, Lon Snowden, has told his son on Russian television to stay in Russia.

"I feel that Russia has the strength and resolve and conviction to protect my son, to keep him out of the reach of those who would wish him harm. That's why I would, if it were me, I would stay in Russia, and that's what I hope that my son will do."

In another interview with the Washington Post, Lon Snowden said he did not believe his son would get a fair trial in the United States.

Edward Snowden has been stranded at Moscow's international airport since he arrived on June 23rd.

He was charged with espionage in the United States for exposing the highly classified intelligence surveillance programme PRISM.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Anchor

First off, a check on the stock market of North America and Europe.

Join me on the desk, CRI's Su Yi.

Reporter

U.S. stocks finished mixed after volatile trading on Wednesday to end the month on a strong note.

The gain came after the U.S. Federal Reserve's announcement of putting its monetary policy in place.

The Dow gained 0.1percent.

The S&P 500 closed almost flat.

The Nasdaq was up 0.3 percent.

In corporate news, Facebook shares surpassed its Initial Public Offering price of 38 dollars a share shortly after the opening bell for the first time.

It was closed at 36.80 dollars by the end of the day.

Meanwhile, Canada's S&P/TSX lost 0.8 percent.

In Europe, European equities rose on Wednesday.

The market kept buoyant by robust data out of the United States and Europe as well as strong earnings releases from major companies.

Germany's DAX was up 0.1 percent.

France's CAC 40 gained 0.2 percent and Britain's FTSE 100 surged 0.8 percent.

 

 

U.S. Fed sticks to current monetary stimulus

 

U.S. Federal Reserve says it will continue with current monetary stimulus moves to bolster slow economic growth and job creation.

The Fed has said in a statement that U.S economic activity expanded at a "modest pace" during the first half of the year.

Labor market conditions have shown further improvement in recent months, but the unemployment rate remains elevated.

The statement is a wrap-up for the Fed's two-day policy meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.

The FOMC is the Fed's powerful interest rate setting panel.

The current monetary stimulus or the bond-buying program is also known as the QE3.

The Fed has also decided to keep the target range for federal funds rate at zero to 0.25 percent.

The U.S. central bank has kept its federal funds rate at the historically low range since the end of 2008.

 

 

Phoning with Cao Can Standard Chartered starts mainland fund business

 

The Chinese arm of Standard Chartered Bank has now rolled out its new mutual fund distribution business on the Chinese mainland.

The British bank was one of the eight overseas banks that received the green light from China's securities regulator earlier this month to start the new business.

Standard Chartered say around 90-percent of its 101 outlets on the mainland have launched the new business.

The scheme will allow Standard Chartered to offer products including stock, bond, money and hybrid funds.

A mutual fund is a collective investment vehicle that pools money from many individual investors to purchase stock, bonds, and other securities.

It is generally considered a safer investment tool due to the expertise provided by professional managers.

For more on this latest openning up of the Chinese financial market, we are joined on the line by CRI's financial commentator, Cao Can.

1. First of all, Standard Chartered say it began to prepare for this business as early as 2008, what are the attractions of the retail fund market here in China?

2. Individual investors here seem to be desperate for a place to put their money and see it appreciate in value, how welcoming is the news to an average investor here?

3. As more overseas banks expand their business portfolio to Chinese investors, do they pose challenges to Chinese banks and Chinese financial regulators in a supervisary sense?

back anchor: Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator.

 

 

China sees capital account deficit in Q2

 

New data shows China's capital and financial account registered a deficit in the second quarter.

It is a swing back from a surplus in the first quarter.

The preliminary data shows China ran a deficit of 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in its capital and financial account in the April-June period.

China posted a surplus of more than 100 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter.

Last year, China registered a deficit in the capital and financial account for the first time since 1999.

In the second quarter, China's current account maintained a surplus of 48.2 billion U.S. dollars.

Figures for the first six months show China's current account surplus reached 95.7 billion U.S. dollars.

The capital and financial account on average registered a surplus of 107.8 billion U.S. dollars.

 

 

Eurozone consumer price inflation stays at 1.6 pct in July

 

New stats show consumer price inflation in the 17-nation eurozone stood at 1.6 percent in July.

The index came in the same as the previous month.

Before July, the CPI had risen for two months in a row in the single currency area.

The June inflation index rose by 3.5 percent year on year.

In July, prices of energy rose 1.6 percent on an annual basis, the same as in May.

Prices of services rose 1.4 percent, stable compared with May.

Prices of non-energy industrial goods increased 0.4 percent.

 

 

Eurozone jobless rate remains at record high of 12.1 pct in June

 

New stats show the unemployment rate of the euro area stood at 12.1 percent in June.

It is the same as last month and also the highest level since such statistics started to be published in 1995.

In June, the overall unemployment rate of 28 EU countries was 11 percent, the same as the previous month.

In both zones, jobless rates have risen markedly compared with June 2012.

The 2012 figures were 11.4 percent in the eurozone and 10.5 percent in the EU respectively.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria at 4.6 percent and Germany at 5.4 percent.

The highest jobless rates were registered in Greece and Spain at over 26 percent.

 

 

WeChat teams up with China Unicom

 

Chinese internet giant Tencent is teaming up with China Unicom to launch the nation's first SIM card customized for its WeChat users.

The customized SIM card will provide for more traffic volume and faster Internet access for WeChat users.

It is going to be available next week.

China Unicom will provide each subscriber with 500 megabytes of free volume a month for services running on WeChat.

This is the equivilant of around 8-thousand minutes of voice time.

Late last year, Chinese telecom carriers blamed Tencent for creating a lot of Internet traffic while being unwilling to share any of the profits.

WeChat boasts over 300 million users, with 70-million of them said to be from outside the mainland.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

Chinese president advocates efforts to boost China's maritime power

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping is calling for more efforts to build China into a maritime power.

He has also promised the country will pursue, "converging interests" with other countries in oceanic development.

The Chinese president says China will settle all maritime disputes through peaceful channels.

China's top leadership outlined the "maritime power" strategy last November in its key report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The key elements of the strategy include exploiting marine resources, protecting the marine environment and safeguarding China's maritime rights and interests.

 

 

Aso's Nazi remarks alarm Asian nations: FM spokesman

 

Chinese foreign ministry says the recent remarks made by Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso comparing Japan to Nazi Germany are "alarming".

Taro Aso said in a lecture earlier this week that Japan should learn how Germany's constitution under the Weimar Republic was transformed by the Nazis in the early 1930s before anybody knew what was happening.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei says the remarks are alarming Japan's neighbors and the international community about where the country is going.

 

 

UN team to travel to Syria to probe alleged use of chemical weapons

 

UN inspectors are scheduled to travel in Syria to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons.

A UN spokesman says the team will go "as soon as possible".

The announcement comes following the visit by senior disarmament officials to Damascus.

Some 27 people were killed in attacks allegedly involving chemical weapons in a town outside Aleppo earlier this year.

 

 

U.S. Fed sticks to current monetary stimulus

 

U.S. Federal Reserve says it will continue with current monetary stimulus moves to bolster slow economic growth and job creation.

The Fed has said in a statement that U.S economic activity expanded at a "modest pace" during the first half of the year.

The statement is a wrap-up for the Fed's two-day policy meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.

 

 

Guangzhou becomes 3rd 3-day visa free city in China

 

Overseas travellers from 45 different countries are now eligible for 3-day visa-free stays in the city of Guangzhou.

Guangzhou is now the third Chinese city to allow visa-free stays, after Beijing and Shanghai.

Tourists holding third country visas and plane tickets are allowed to apply for a transit without visa in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.

Over a thousand people have applied for the transit visa waiver in Shanghai since the program was launched at the beginning of this year.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

CHINA DAILY

Headline

Wire show to be staged at the Bird's Nest

Summary

Acrobats are rehearsing a wire performance at the Bird's Nest to be staged at the stadium from Sept 12 to Oct 7.

The organizer of the show says 31 male and female acrobats will tumble and fly on wires in a performance renowned for its difficulty worldwide.

GLOBAL TIMES

Headline

China tightens supervision of allowance issuance

Summary

A new regulation targeting improper issuance of official allowances will take effect on Thursday.

The government has released the regulation to punish officials who improperly hand out allowances, a kind of hidden or tacit corruption.

The State Council, or cabinet, has long stressed prohibition of illicit issuance of allowances.

SHANGHAI DAILY

Headline

More fast rides to Nanjing, Hangzhou

Summary

The Shanghai Railway Bureau has announced it will add more services.

This includes four more services on the Shanghai-Nanjing line-two each way and three more on the Shanghai-Hangzhou line with one from Shanghai and two retun trips from Hangzhou.

BEIJING NEWS

Headline

Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei hit hardest by pollution

Summary

According to a report released by the Environmental Protection Ministry, air pollution is most severe in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province,

The report says almost 40 percent of the 74 cities with publicized readings for fine particles have failed to meet the national standard for three months or more during the first half of 2013.

BEIJING TIMES

Headline

Guangdong at heart of China's illegal narcotics trade

Summary

South China's Guangdong Province is reportedly home to one sixth of China's drug addicts and produces more illegal narcotics than any other province.

By the end of June, the number of registered addicts in Guangdong had reached more than 373,500, about one sixth of the country's total.

Police have vowed to combat the drug trade in the area.

BEIJING MORNING POST

Headline

Police smash fake VAT invoice gang

Summary

Police say a fake VAT invoice scam in Shanghai, worth 4.4 billion yuan has been uncovered after an investigation.

More than 20 suspects, led by two men surnamed Fan and Lou, set up more than 70 shell companies by registering or purchasing readymade corporations that were no longer conducting business.

The scam, set up in 2011, charged around 8 percent of the amount listed on the invoices.

YANZHAO METROPOLITAN DAILY

Headline

Ozone adds to dangers of pollutants

Summary

Ozone has reportedly become a major air pollutant in addition to fine particles, posing an even higher risk.

An official with the Ministry of Environmental Protection.says ozone is more hazardous to human health than PM2.5, more complicated and harder to control.

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

Test scheme in eight airports to ease flight delay

 

Anchor

A new plan to increase the efficiency of air traffic controls here in China is being carried out in 8 major Chinese airports to try to ease flight delays.

However, aviation experts concerns about the effectiveness of plan, and about possible safety concerns.

CRI's Zhang Shuangfeng has more.

Reporter

The Civil Aviation Administration is reporting flight punctuality over the first 5-months of this year has come in at 71.7 percent nationwide.

This is 3-percent lower than the same period last year.

Late departures due to issues with air traffic control are said to be increasing the number of disputes taking place between passengers and airlines.

To try to tackle this, a new program is being adopted at 8 major airports in cities including Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, where over half of the flights depart and land every day here in China.

Flights at these airports will not be subject to air traffic control.

Zhang Qihuai, secretary-general of the Aviation Law Committee, says while your flight might leave on time, it doesn't necessarily mean your trip will be shortened, noting an early departure may just mean more time in the air.

"The good thing is that flights don't have to wait, and the departure time can be shortened. But there are also disadvantages. If there are too many flights in air simultaneously, there would be higher possibility of accidents. Longer flying time might also cost more oil and generate more emissions. Also passengers will feel more anxious if they were stuck in air."　

Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, notes the new plan might mean more congestion in the air.

"If you want the flights to be on schedule, the whole management on air routes has to be accurate, scientific and on a timely manner; without this kind of management, it is impossible to make all the flights punctuated."

Here in China, many flights are delayed because of military restrictions or because the destination airport is too busy.

Wang Yanan suggests more should be done to try to optimize the use of airspace here in China.

"For example in the US, 10 planes can fly in a single air route while in China, the number is only 6 or seven. Given that number, we could see that the airspace has not efficiently used in China yet. "

Zhang Qihuai with the Aviation Law Committee also says the supervision and management of civil aviation departments needs to be improved.

He also notes better cooperation among passengers while boarding their flights is also a key factor in ensuring flights take off on time.

For CRI, this is Zhang Shuangfeng.

 

 

Sports

 

 

Chinese and South African swimmers triumph at Worlds

 

It was a good day for Chinese and South African swimmers yesterday at the FINA World Championships,

China's Sun Yang claimed his second gold after posting the fastest time of the year in the mens 800 meter freestyle.

Sun's win gives China its third consecutive world championship gold in this event, which equals the winning streak of the Australian team between 2001 and 2005.

Sun just needs gold in the 1500 meter freestyle to complete a treble in the event.

South African Chad Le Cros made history by becoming the first non-european or American swimmer to win a world championship gold in the 200 meter butterfly.

China's Wu Peng won bronze in that event, becoming the second man to medal four times in that event. He shares that honor with Michael Phelps.

Another South African Cameron Van der Burgh also took gold in the mens 50 meter breakstroke, beating Australia's Christian Sprenger by a mere one hundredth of a second.

America's Missy Franklin won the womens 200 meter freestyle.

And Orlando Duque of Colombia took gold at the mens high dive. He is the first world champion in that discipline for the men, since this is the first time in history that the high dive has been included in the FINA world championships.

 

 

Michael Clarke thinks Australia can win the third Ashes test at Old Trafford

 

Australia and England's cricket teams trained indoors as rain fell at Old Trafford just a day ahead of the Third Ashes test.

With Australia down 2-0 in the series, the general opinion is that an Aussie comeback is out of the question.

The last time England blew a 2-0 series lead was in 1936. But Aussie captain Michael Clarke has unshaken confidence in his team's ability to win.

"I honestly believe we can win this series, yeah. I know there's a lot of people out there who would laugh at me saying that, but I wouldn't be here today if I thought this team wasn't good enough to have success. If I didn't think I could get the best out of these players I certainly wouldn't be captain of this team. Like I say the reality is our backs are against the wall, there's no doubt about it, but if we play our best cricket I think we'll give it a real shake the rest of this series."

This week the Australian team was joined by cricket icon Shane Warne during their final training session. Warne was quick to echo Clarke's positivity.

"They've got the talent and the capabilities of going out and doing it, it's just a matter of them going out. England are a very good side, they've played well, they're two-nil up so in this test match Australia have just got to go in with that mindset of we can win this test match and win the series. And if they think they can do that they're half a chance."

England's star batsman Kevin Pietersen took part in the training on Wednesday, which boosts his chances of playing in the third test after injuring his calf at Lords.

On the Australian side,

batsman David Warner has been recalled from his exile on a touring squad in South Africa, and is expected to resume his place in the lineup. And there's also the possibility of Australia's using two spinners Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar.

The test at Old Trafford gets underway today at 11am local time.

 

 

Guangzhou Evergrande defeats Beijing Guoan 3-0

 

In the Chinese Super League,

Guangzhou Evergrande confirmed their position at the top of the league by a 3-0 home victory over Beijing Guoan yesterday.

Guangzhou dominated early on, with midfielder Sun Xiang opening scoring in the 11th minute.

Sun and six of his teammates had just returned from playing in the East Asian Cup last weekend.

Guoan was crippled in the 34th minute when goalkeeper Yang Zhi was sent off on a red card.

That makes 16 wins and two draws for Guangzhou since the start of the season.

 

 

Sendai defeats Kofu 1-0

 

In Japan's top football flight, Vegalta Sendai defeated Ventforet Kofu by a single goal in their midweek clash.

Sendai's hopes of getting back into the upper half of the J. League table hinged on a victory.

Striker Wilson Rodrigues scored the only goal of the match off a neat pass from midfielder Yuki Muto.

Sendai now has 25 points after eighteen season games, while Kofu is in the bottom tier with 14 points.

 

 

Alex Rodriguez faces lengthy suspension for his part in Biogensis case

 

Major League Baseball is identifying which players will be disciplined in connection with Biogenesis case.

The most recent casualty is the New York Yankee's Alex Rodriguez, who could face the longest suspension for his part in recruiting players to the clinic.

The three-time MVP third baseman could also be pegged with hindering the MLB's investigation.

50 games is the standard consequence for a first offense. But players who are tied to other allegations, such as lying to MLB investigators, could face stiffer penalties.

 

 

Uighur man sets world record for tightrope walking in the sky

 

A Chinese tightrope walker has earned the distinction of being the world's fastest man to walk on a high-wire suspended between two hot air balloons.

Aisikaier Wubulikaisimu, who is of Uighur descent, held a metal bar to help him balance and was attached by a rope in case he fell.

It took him just 38.35 seconds to complete the walk, which is his sixth Guinness World Record for tightrope walking.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

Photo of Peter Dinklage in New Xmen Film

 

Long standing rumors about whether Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage would be playing a villain in the new X-men film have finally been confirmed.

(xmen clip)

A new image of the US actor in full wardrobe for the evil scientist Bolivar Trask has been revealed.

The new film X-men Days of Future Past will feature Dinklage as a military scientist who develops the sentinel robots whose sole purpose is to destroy everyone's mutants.

A viral website for the villain's fictional company Trask Industries has also been set up to promote the film.

The site features a video demonstrating the capabilities and goals of the evil corporation which will feature heavily in the new film.

An insanely amazing ensemble cast will appear in the film including Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, among several others.

The new film battles its way into theaters summer 2014.

 

 

3D Films Revenue at All Time Low

 

The revenue for 3D films has hit an all time low in the US.

(wolvering trailer)

The Wolverine and Turbo which were both released last week have had the worst 3D performance at the box office yet.

However, these films aren't the only 3D projects to suffer.

Monsters University and World War Z's 3D screenings also accounted for about 32-percent of both films total gross.

However, 3D ticket sales in China and Russia indicate some audiences enjoy donning the glasses for the experience.

In these countries 3D sales account for 80 to 90-percent of a film's box office take.

 

 

Blondie is Not Breaking Up

 

US band Blondie has denied rumors they are breaking up.

(blondie clip)

Lead singer and founding memory Debbie Harry was rumored to be about to call it quits after drummer Clem Burke hinted at her departure.

Burke indicated the 68-year old Debbie Harry is 11-years older than the rest of the band and retirement is on her mind.

However, the band has now released an official statement claiming rumors of a breakup hold no truth.

The rock band which was founded in 1974 is still going strong having just completed a UK tour and about to play several North American dates.

Harry says she is excited for the future of the band and fans can expect much more including an upcoming album Ghosts of Downloaded expected later this year.

 

 

JK Rowling's Birthday, Receives Settlement from Law Firm

 

Harry Potter author JK Rowling is celebrating her 48th birthday today.

(potter clip)

She also shares a birthday with the wizard she created who has swept the entire world Harry Potter who would turn 33 today in the books.

Rowling has accepted damages from law firm Russells that recently revealed her pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

The author released a well-received crime novel under the pen name, but her true identity was revealed after a Russells partner let his wife in on the secret who in turn told a journalist over Twitter.

Following the settlement Rowling donated the entire amount to the Soldier's Charity.

She has also accepted the apologies of all the parties involved in the betrayal of trust.