Evening Edition

 

 

Thursday, August 1st, 2013.

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

Coming up on our program this evening,

China's defense minister is stressing the defensive nature of the military on this, the 86th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army.

A new program is being put in place here in China to try to ease flight delays.

Japan's deputy Prime Minister has been forced to apologize about comments connected to Nazi Germany.

In Business, Manufacturing here in China has continued to expand through this past month.

In sports,This year's Asian Basketball Championships are underway in the Philippines.

In entertainment,Larry David has premiered his new film on HBO.

 

 

Weather

 

 

Beijing will have thundershowers tonight with a low of 21 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow also thundershowers with a high temperature of 30.　

Meanwhile Shanghai will be cloudy tonight, with a low of 29,　sunny tomorrow, with a high of 37.

Lhasa will have thundershowers tonight, 12 degrees the low, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 24.

Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia

Islamabad, thundershowers, with a high of 31.

Kabul, sunny, 33.

Over in Australia

Sydney, sunny, highs of 22.

Canberra, sunny, 13.

Brisbane, sunny, 23.

And finally, Perth will be sunny with a high of 21.

 

 

Top News

 

 

China stresses its defensive military policy ahead of the anniversary of PLA's establishment

 

Anchor:

China's Defense Minister has delivered a speech to mark the 86th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, stressing the defensive nature of China's military strategy.

CRI's He Fei has more.

Reporter:

Speaking at a gathering in Beijing, Defense Minister Chang Wanquan says peace, development and cooperation is the consensus of people around the world.

Yet, Chang notes the world is not yet peaceful.

"China will firmly pursue a path of peaceful development, unremittingly follow the national defense policy that is defensive in nature, strengthen military cooperation and mutual trust with other countries, participate in regional and international security affairs and play a positive role in the fields of international politics and security."

The minister also suggests the Chinese military is becoming more engaged in international peacekeeping.

In May, China offered around 400 soldiers to the new UN peacekeeping mission in Mali.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Geng Yansheng.

"This is the first time that China sends its combat forces to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. It demonstrates China's effort to fulfill its obligations and to safeguard international peace and development."

The Chinese military has working relationships with its counterparts in over 150 countries.

It's also conducted more than 60 joint drills with military forces from some 30 countries.

Chinese forces are currently taking part in a 20-day long joint anti-terrorism drill with Russian forces in eastern Russia.

Rear Admiral Leonid Sukhanov is the Russian navy's deputy chief of staff.

"The drill is aimed at improving the combat effectiveness and readiness of navies from the two countries. China and Russia as two big powers in the Asian-Pacific region can strengthen cooperation to face security threat together. I think the joint drill is held to safeguard our own interests and maintain regional stability. It also sets an example for other countries in the region."

Meanwhile, when it comes to cross-Straits issues with Taiwan, Defense Minister Chang Wanquan says while it's the mainland's hope for peace, any push for Taiwan independence will be "firmly opposed."

The People's Liberation Army was officially formed on August 1st, 1927.

For CRI, this is He Fei.

 

 

Special Fund Set up 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 to 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's said that tens of thousands of ex-military personell 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.

 

 

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.

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, I’m Zhang Shuangfeng.

 

 

Taiwan orders more human vaccine after first rabies outbreak in more than 50 years

 

Authorities on Taiwan have ordered tens of thousands of doses of the rabies vaccine.

The move comes amid the first rabies outbreak on the island in more than 50 years.

Health officials have been struggling to contain the outbreak since July 17th after authorities first confirmed the disease in a ferret.

Since then, 17 more ferrets have been found carrying rabies.

So far no humans have been affected.

The new doses of the human vaccine are expected to arrive in Taipei tomorrow.

Currently health authorities on Taiwan only have 3-thousand doses in stock.

Lin Bin-zhe is with the Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office in New Taipei City.

"The reason we are giving vaccinations to pets in the area near the mountain is because they have a high chances of encountering wild animals. So, to protect these pets from wild animals, we start in this area first. Also shots are given near sea ports because we are worried about smuggled animals from overseas."

Health workers have also been vaccinating household pets to try to control the outbreak.

There are around 40-thousand animal vaccine doses available on Taiwan.

Another half-million are expected to arrive in just under 3-weeks.

Word of the rabies outbreak has many pet owners on Taiwan nervous.

"It's best not to go out right now, stay home and not taking chances. If we run into Asian rats, then we will have problem, because sometimes dogs would eat those dead animals."

"I am worried because my dog bites and sometimes could be aggressive."

Taiwan's last reported rabies case was in 1959.

Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in warm-blooded animals.

It can spread from one species to another, usually through bites. If untreated, it can be fatal.

 

 

Guangzhou launches 72-hour visa-free stays

 

72-hour visa-free stays are now being issued in Guangzhou.

Under the plan, transit travelers are allowed to freely visit any part of Guangdong for 3-days without a visa.

The visa-free program covers travelers from 45 countries, including France, Germany, the United States and Japan.

The new program is expected to add an additional 5-billion yuan in tourism revenue for the province.

Guangzhou is the third Chinese city to introduce the visa-free policy, after Beijing and Shanghai.

 

 

Japanese Deputy Prime Minister apologizes for Nazi comments

 

Japan's Deputy Prime Minister has been forced to issue an apology about comments he made in connection with Japan and Nazi Germany.

Taro Aso has issued the apology, after he suggested this week the current government of Japan could take lessons from how the Nazi's circumvented the constitution of the-then Weimar Republic to establish an offensive military establishment.

"I would like to retract my analogy of the Nazi government. I feel it is very unfortunate and regrettable that my comments related to the Nazi government are different from my true intentions and have led to misunderstanding."

His comments have come amid expected plans by the current Japan government to try to amend the country's pacifist constitution to create an offensive military.

The Chinese government is describing the remarks as alarming.

The South Korean government is also lambasting the remarks, saying they hurt people.

In reaction to the criticism, the Japanese government has also weighed in.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

"I would like to make it clear that the Abe administration in no way looks positively at the Nazi government. After the World War II, our nation has consistently built up a society which thoroughly advocates peace and human rights, and has contributed to the international community. This direction will remain unchanged, going forward."

Also as part of the speech, Aso says it's natural to visit the Yasukuni shrine to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the country.

The shrine in Tokyo dedicated to honoring Japan's war dead also enshrines 14 convicted Class-A war criminals.

Visits to the shrine by Japanese politicians are widely seen as an insult to countries in the region which were attacked by Japan during its years of military expansion.

 

 

Zimbabwe PM cries foul of "farce" election

 

Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is crying foul of Wednesday's elections.

Tsvangirai, a leading presidential candidate, is describing the election as a "farce," saying it does not reflect the will of the people.

He says it does not meet the international standards for a credible, legitimate, free and fair election.

Tsvangirai is seen the most serious challenger to the country's veteran president Robert Mugabe's 33-year rule.

Election officers are now counting the votes from Wednesday's elections.

Final results are expected within the next 4-days.

 

 

Israeli-Palestinian Interactions under Occupation and "Boycott"

 

Anchor

The European Union is pushing ahead with plans to try to compel Israeli companies operating in 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 starting 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 .

 

 

Honduras declares state of emergency due to dengue fever

 

The government of Honduras has declared a nation-wide state of emergency amid an outbreak of dengue fever.

At least 16 people have died of the disease so far this year.

Suyapa Lopez is the National Director for the "Fight Against Dengue" programme.

"We have an up-to-date total of 12,135 suspected cases of dengue in the country".

Dengue fever is being contracted in the country's 5 largest cities, including the capital, Tegucigalpa.

Health professionals in Honduras have started to fumigate towns and cities to try to eliminate dengue-spreading mosquitoes.

The country's worst dengue fever outbreak was in 2010.

83 people died that year, with some 66-thousand contracting the illness.

Dengue normally causes high fever, joint pains and nausea.

However, the hemorrhagic version of the virus can lead to internal bleeding, liver enlargement, circulatory shutdown and eventually death.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

China's July manufacturing PMI rises to 50.3

 

Anchor:

Manufacturing activity here in China has been increasing through this past month, with the official PMI still expanding.

CRI's Hu Jia with the details.

Reporter:

China's purchasing managers' index has come in ahead of market expectations, increasing to 50.3 in July.

This is up from 50.1 in June.

Any figure above 50 indicates expansion.

This is the 10th month in a row the manufacturing PMI has been in expansion.

Cai Jin is the vice chair of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

"The figures showed that we had laid a solid foundation for the stable economic growth in the future. It also marked a good beginning for the latter half of this year."

Most of the sub-indices in the PMI analysis are also showing expansion.

The sub-index for new orders increased 0.2 points from a month earlier.

Zhao Xijun is the Vice President of the Finance Department at Renmin University.

"Market expectations to new orders has shown some positive signs hence brought in growth in raw material purchasing and employment."

The sub-index measuring new export orders is up by 1.3 points.

Zhang Liqun is with the Development Research Center of the State Council.

"Besides, more positive signs appeared in export, since the appreciation of Chinese currency RMB has been curbed and more export-boosting policies have been launched including the facilitation of Customs formalities."

Other key sub-indices have also shown slight growth.

The employment sub-index has edged up 0.4 points.

The business outlook sub-index is up 2.3 points.

This sub-index had been declining the previous three months.

The new figures for July appear to support the Chinese government's expectation the economy will stabilize through the 2nd half of this year.

China's economy has been stuck in a protracted slowdown, easing to 7.5-percent growth in the second quarter from 7.7 percent in the first three months.

For CRI, I'm Hu Jia.

 

 

Standard Chartered starts mainland fund business

 

Anchor:

The Chinese arm of Standard Chartered has rolled out a new mutual fund distribution business here on the mainland.

The British bank is one of the eight overseas banks that has been given the green light from China's securities regulator to start the new business.

Standard Chartered says around 90-percent of its over 100 outlets on the mainland have launched the new business.

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

For more on this, the Beijing Hour's Rebecca Hume earlier spoke with CRI's financial commentator, Cao Can.

…

back anchor: Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator, speaking with the Beijing Hour's Rebecca Hume.

 

 

Average Home Price in 100 Cities Rises for Fourteenth Straight Month

 

Average home prices in 100 major cities here in China have risen for the 14th month in a row in July.

The China Index Academy is reporting home prices in 100 cities it monitors averaged 10-thousand-347 yuan per square meter in July.

This is up 0.9-percent month on month.

On an annualized basis, the increase on home prices is up almost 8 percent.

The average home price in the ten major cities monitored, including Beijing and Shanghai, has come in at 17-thousand-609 yuan per square meter in July.

This is up 1.3 percent month on month and 11 percent year on year.

Among the 100 cities reviewed, 61 have reported a monthly increase.

 

 

S.Korean automakers' sales rise on domestic demand

 

New auto industry data from South Korea shows a rebound in sales this past month.

South Korea's 5 automakers sold just under 643-thousand vehicles last month.

This represents a 3.4-percent increase from a year earlier.

July's increase includes a rise in domestic automobile sales in South Korea, with local car sales expanding nearly 3-percent.

Overseas sales this past month increased 3.7-percent.

South Korea's 5 automakers include Hyundai, Kia, GM Korea, Renault Samsung and Ssangyong.

 

 

Japan's new vehicle sales plunge 13.5 pct in July

 

Vehicle sales are down significantly in Japan through this past month.

New stats show new vehicle sales have dropped by 13.5-percent through July.

Just over 284-thousand new cars were sold in Japan last month.

Vehicle sales in Japan came in down just under 11-percent through the first half of this year.

 

 

Goldman Sachs downgrades India to 'underweight'

 

Goldman Sachs has downgraded its expectations for the Indian stock market.

Goldman now rates Indian stocks as underweight.

The investment bank is citing concerns over weak growth and rising vulnerabilities in the Indian.

Goldman is pointing to the high current account deficit as a major risk for Indian economy.

The rising current account deficit has put sharp pressure on the Indian rupee, which is trading at a near record-low against the US dollar.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

Drought affects 27 mln people in China

 

The Ministry of Civil Affairs says areas of China home to more than 27-million people are being affected by drought right now.

The ministry's new analysis also says over 5-million people in these areas are running short of drinking water.

Emergency response programs are underway in Hunan and Guizhou.

Drought is also affecting over 2.5-million hectares of crops across the country.

Economic losses are already estimated at over 12 billion yuan.

 

 

China issues yellow wave warning for tropical storm Jebi

 

Authorities in southern China have issued a wave warning in advance of tropical storm Jebi.

Jebi is expected to hit eastern Hainan or the Leizhou Peninsula in southern Guangdong tomorrow afternoon or early evening.

The storm is expected to create huge waves off the coast of Hainan.

All local fishing vessels have been ordered to return to port.

 

 

China's July manufacturing PMI rises to 50.3 percent

 

China's purchasing managers' index for the manufacturing sector is up slightly through this past month.

The PMI has come in at 50.3 in July.

This is up from 50.1 in June.

This keeps the manufacturing PMI above the expansion line of 50 for 10 straight months.

It's being suggested the slight rise could be signaling a stabilizing trend in the country's economy.

China's economy has been stuck in a protracted slowdown, easing to 7.5-percent growth in the second quarter from 7.7 percent through the first three months.

 

 

S.Korea approves Hyundai Asan businessmen's visit to Mt. Kumgang

 

South Korea's government has given the green light for a group of businessmen to visit the Mount Kumgang resort in North Korea.

The group are planning to hold a memorial ceremony there for late Hyundai Group chair Chung Mong-hun.

38 South Koreans have been given the nod to travel to the resort, which is located along the east coast of North Korea.

The group will cross the demarcation line on Saturday morning.

They'll return the same day.

Tours to Mount Kumgang, which is run by Hyundai, were halted in 2008 when a South Korean tourist was shot and killed by a North Korean soldier after allegedly venturing into an off-limit area.

 

 

Bangladesh's largest Islamist party declared illegal

 

A high court of Bangladesh has declared the Jamaat-e-Islami party as illegal.

The verdict comes after a petition was filed in 2009 calling for the party's registration to be cancelled.

The petition argued Jamaat is a religion-based political party and does not believe in the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.

The cancellation of registration means Jamaat cannot take part in the forthcoming parliamentary elections slated for early next year.

The verdict comes amid growing demand for Jamaat to be cited for war crimes during the fight for independence from Pakistan in 1971.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

China Daily

"Ozone adds to dangers of pollutants"

A new report has showed ozone has become a major air pollutant in addition to fine particles, posing an even higher risk.

The air quality report from the Ministry of Environmental Protection covers three key areas and 74 cities during the first half of 2013.

The average levels of ozone in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, the Yangtze River Delta area, and the Pearl River Delta area all exceeded the national level by about 20 percent from January to June.

Although ozone in the stratosphere blocks high levels of ultraviolet from reaching Earth, it is highly destructive to the respiratory tract.

High levels of ozone are also irritating to the eyes and may cause irreversible damage to the lungs and central nervous system.

Experts say ozone is more hazardous to human health than PM2.5, more complicated and harder to control.

China Daily

"Guangdong volunteers to care for homeless youth"

The Guangdong Provincial Committee of Communist Youth League will organize regular activities for young volunteers to visit rescue centers to help and care for homeless youth.

Relevant departments have been urged by the league to establish files for every homeless child in the province.

The plan came after a growing number of child beggars have been registered in the southern province, which borders Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, in recent years.

According to a survey conducted by the league, the province has registered 46,000 child beggars, 130,000 idle teenagers, 40,000 minors who have undesirable conduct, 35,000 juvenile delinquents and another 980,000 left-behind children in the countryside.

BBC

"New antibiotic that attacks MRSA found in ocean microbe"

A completely new and unusual antibiotic compound has been extracted from a marine microorganism found in sediments off the coast of California.

US scientists say the new compound, called anthracimycin, seems to be effective at killing MRSA and anthrax.

The unique chemical structure of the compound could lead to a new class of antibiotic medicines.

Leader of the team of researchers, William Fenical, commented: "The real importance of this work is that it has a new and unique chemical structure. The discovery of truly new chemical compounds is quite rare. This discovery adds to many previous discoveries that show that marine bacteria are genetically and chemically unique."

Initial testing of the antibiotic compound has demonstrated it efficacy in attacking anthrax, a bacterium that has been used as a bioterrorism weapon. But it also showed significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus, the MRSA superbug.

AP

"Starbucks to partner with Google to upgrade Wi-Fi"

Starbucks says it's reached a deal to partner with Google that will allow it to offer its customers dramatically faster Wi-Fi service.

Starting in August, new U.S. company-operated Starbucks stores will begin to receive up to 10 times faster network and Wi-Fi speeds. And over the next 18 months, Starbucks will convert more than 7,000 U.S. stores to the upgraded service.

Starbucks says the improvements will help ensure that its customers can easily access the internet.

 

Special Reports

 

 

Online Care Business Arouses Debate

 

Anchor:

Debate is growing here in China about new elderly care services being offered on online shopping site Taobao.

CRI's Xu Fei explains.

Reporter:

More than 100 new online elderly care service providers have been registered since a Chinese law requiring family members to visit their aging parents regularly came into effect. The amended Law for the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly came into force on July 1.

Such services offer an alternative for young Chinese people to carry out their filial duties when they are too busy to visit their elderly relatives. The costs of the services range from 10 to 2,000 yuan.

However, Sun Chunchen, an expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, doubts the market potential for this new business, saying that filial piety cannot be commercially traded.

"Some see visiting elderly people on their busy children's behalf as a profit-making business opportunity. However, we shall wait and see whether this new business can win a market. In my opinion, filial piety is an ethical value that interacts with emotions based on blood ties and family affection. Filial piety is not and will never be a trade."

In fact, most of the online care businesses were met with no trade at all. According to one such store owner, many people are inquiring into the details of the business, but not many of them made an order; the owner will continue to wait patiently for business.

Regarding the online elderly care industry, ordinary citizens have expressed different views.

"I think that visiting one's parents is a personal filial responsibility that shouldn't be fulfilled by someone else."

"I don't think there is any problem in it. Although it could hardly be equivalent to the visit by children to their parents, at least the new businesses may provide a solution that comforts both parents and their children.

Lawyer Tian Maotong, with Jiangsu Jie-ren lawyers' office, points out that new problems will arise along with the new business, since the deal between customers and Taobao store owners will be guaranteed with a contract.

"In the process of fulfilling the contract, if the service provider causes injuries to senior citizens, then that Taobao store should bear the responsibilities. The Taobao store is also held responsible if an accident takes place during a paid visit to a senior citizen."

According to a report by China Research Center on Aging, the number of people aged 60 or above is expected to reach 202 million by the end of this year, or 14.8 percent of the total population, while the country's working population is shrinking.

Many elderly people suffer from loneliness and depression as their needs are largely neglected.

For CRI, I'm Xu Fei.

 

 

Sports

 

 

Chinese men's basketball team face South Korea at the 27th Asian Championships

 

China's men's basketball team has opened this year's Asian Basketball Championships in the Philippines with a 59-63 over South Korea.

The Chinese squad is the defending champion.

China is in Group C with South Korea, Iran and Malaysia.

In other action in Group C, it was the Iranians hammering the heavy underdog Malaysian team 115-25 today.

Today was also a good start for Chinese Taipei.

Overcoming a 10-point defecit in the 3rd quarter, Chinese Taipei got past Jordan 91-87 in its tournament opener.

Lin Chih-Chieh finished with 27 points to lead the team.

Chinese Taipei is in Group A with Jordan, the host Phillipines and Saudi Arabia.

Group B is made up of Hong Kong, Japan and Qatar.

It was Qatar opening it tournament with a win today, edging Japan 75-74.

Lebanon was supposed to be taking on Hong Kong today in the other Group B match.

However, Lebanon isn't at this year's tournament after being suspended by the FIBA.

Group D includes Kazakhstan, Thailand, Bahrain and India.

The top three teams coming out of this year's tournament will earn a berth in next year's Basketball World Championships in Spain.

 

 

World Swimming Championships continue in Barcelona

 

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang is now preparing to try to earn his third gold medal at this year's FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

This, after he took gold last night in the men's 800-meter freestyle for his 2nd gold medal of the event.

"It's hard for China Men's Swimming Team to compete with the U.S and Australia at a world level. It's not due to my effort alone. I'm honored to get gold medals and stand on the podium. Everyone expresses themselves in differnet ways. I just use my own way in return for them. I think my tears are happy tears. I want to thank my parents and relatives and people who support me."

The 15-hundred meter men's freestyle event will take place on Sunday.

In other action in the pool, South Africa's Chad Le Clos has taken gold in the men's 200-meter butterfly.

South Africa's Cameron Van der Burgh has taken gold in the men's 50m breaststroke finals.

China's Wu Peng claimed bronze in that event.

In the women's competition, American Missy Franklin has won her first gold medal of the championships in the 200 meter freestyle.

 

 

World number one eyes historic Grand Slam at British Open at St Andrews

 

This year's Women's British Open is underway in St. Andrews, Scotland.

World number one, South Korean Inbee Park struggled today.

After opening up her front 9 at minus 5, Park hit three bogeys through the tail-end of her back-9 to finish at minus-2.

Park is looking to become the first golfer in history, woman or man, to win 4-majors in one season.

"Well it will feel very special if I can inspire a lot of young golfers, I try not to put too much pressure on myself saying I have to win this week. Three wins, three major wins this year is very good for me, something that I really never expected to happen. Having this kind of opportunity at the British Open is just, the fact I could have this opportunity is just very special. This is some experience that I will never experience for ever. mean if it happens it will be something that I will never forget, my name will be in the history of golf forever even after I die so it will be some special feeling."

The 25-year old has already won the US Woen's Open, the Women's LPGA Championships and the Kraft Nabisco Championships this season.

The top Chinese competitor in this year's Women's British Open is Feng Shanshan from Guangdong.

 

 

Brazilian side Santos prepare for Barcelona friendly

 

Players on Brazilian football side Santos are taking part in another day of training ahead of their friendly with Barcelona.

The match is set to take place on August 2nd in Barcelona.

Neymar is set to make his debut with a Barca squad led by new head coach, Argentinean Gerardo 'Tata' Martino.

Santos Defender Leonardo Bastos.

"A very complicated game for Santos. Facing Barca is usually difficult and even more so with Neymar in it. It turns much more complicated. We have to play are best and try to occupy the free spaces so we can also attack Barca."

This will be the Brazilian side's second appearance in the local tournament following its appearance there in 1998.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

Larry David premieres new HBO film!

 

Larry David has premiered his new HBO film "Clear History" in LA.

Written by David, the title comes from the computer command of clearing one's internet browsing history.

David plays an executive who quits an electric car company just before the company hits the big time.

The film then follows David's character on his hunt for revenge against former colleauge, played by "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm.

David says that the project had been in his head for a while.

"It's an idea I had been thinking about for a while and then I read about the guy from Apple who sold 10 percent of his shares before the company took off. And I thought yeah, this might be a good time to do it now."

The "Seinfeld" creator is probably now better known for his groundbreaking comedy improve series "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

This is David's first feature length project, and he kept to his usual style by avoiding a full script.

Kate Hudson, who plays the wife of Hamm's character in the movie, says she was far from put off by this.

"I love Larry David so much. It was one of the reasons why I didn't even read whatever it was they were going to give me. They didn't really give me anything. It was sort of like, 'Do you want to come do a Larry David movie? And here's this outline of what the movie is, because there's no script.' I didn't even read the outline. I just sort of went, 'Well what am I doing?' 'Play Jon Hamm's wife.' All right, I'll come. I'm going to come. Do I get to work with Larry? Yeah. All right, I'll do it."

Bill Hader, Michael Keaton and Amy Ryan round up the almost outrageously stella cast.

"Clear History" airs on HBO on 10 August.

 

 

American Hustle premieres first Trailer

 

David O Russell has premiered the first trailer for his new film "American Hustle".

The director of "Silver Linings Playbook" is bringing Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence back together for his latest project.

The crime drama revolves around the Abscam sting operations in the 1970s and 80s.

Cooper plays an FBI agent who recruits con-man Irving Rosenfeld, played by Christian Bale, to help him crack a corrupt government official.

The film also features "The Fighter" star Amy Adams, Robert De Niro and Louis CK.

American Hustle is slated for release this December.

 

 

Denzel Washington returns to Broadway

 

Oscar-winner Denzel Washington is set to tread the boards again in New York's Broadway.

The actor is set to star in a revival of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun".

Having made its debut back in 1959, the play tells a black family's experiences of racial discrimination in Chicago.

This will be the 58 year old actor's first time on stage since his Tony-winning turn as Troy Maxson in August Wilson's "Fences" back in 2010.

Before that, the star played Marcus Brutus in the Broadway production of Julius Caesar in 2005.

The actor, who has called theatre his first love, joked that he wanted to keep up his wife Pauletta Pearson in his decision to take time off the big screen.

Pearson, a prodigious stage actress, is currently starring in the award-winning Power Play at the National Black Theatre in North Carolina.

Washington can be seen alongside long-term friend Mark Wahlberg in new action film "2 Guns", which opens in the US tomorrow.

 

 

Rihanna Wins $5 million Topshop Court Case

 

Superstar Rihanna has won a $5 million lawsuit against high street chain Topshop.

The star sued the Arcadia Company, who owns Topshop, over a t-shirt bearing her image.

The photograph was taken during the shoot for Rihannah's music video for "We Found Love" back in 2011.

Ri Ri's lawyers told London's High Court that the chain deceived fans and caused damage to the singer's reputation.

The court ruled that a "substantial" number of buyers may have bought the t-shirt under the "false belief" that it was made with the singer's approval.

Whilst conceding that the taking of the photograph was not a breach of privacy, the judge believed that it was an act of passing off in the case of Topshop's sale of the T-shirt.

Topshop responded to the ruling stating they were "surprised, disappointed and perplexed."

The store added that whilst there was no intention to suggest endorsement by the singer, the brand's on-going relationship with Topshop may have damaged their case.

Interestingly, Rihanna's first highstreet collection for TOPSHOP's rival River Island hit the market earlier this year.

 

 

Lady Gaga to release free ARTPOP app.

 

Lady Gaga has unveiled the first details of her new iOS and Android App.

The app, named after her upcoming album ARTPOP, will be free and is part of a larger multimedia project.

Taking to Twitter to spread the news, the singer said that the app is "in essence, an interactive jewel case".

Enigmatic.

Gaga, who already has her own social networking site, says that fans will also be able to keep in touch using her new app.

The forward thinking mogul that she is, Gaga was recently named the top earning celebrity under 30 by Forbes magazine, bringing in $80 million dollars in the past 12 months.

Earlier this week, Gaga revealed that the first single from her 3rd studio album will be called "Applause".

Fans hold tight as the accompanying music video is set to drop on August 19th.