The Beijing Hour

 

Evening Edition

 

Monday, August 12th, 2013.

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

Coming up on our program this evening.

A Super Typhoon is now swirling in the South China Sea, with an eye toward making landfall in Southern China by mid-week.

The lingering heat and flooding across many parts of China are starting to take more of a toll on agriculture development this year.

Egyptian authorities have announced plans to break-up the pro-Muslim sit-ins in Cairo.

In Business, city banks in Beijing and Shanghai are moving to increase their deposit rates.

In sports, American Jason Dufner is the winner of this year's PGA Championships.

In entertainment, American singer Miley Cyrus has earned her first-ever UK number-1.

 

 

Weather

 

 

Beijing will be cloudy tonight with a low of 24 degrees Celsius.　Tomorrow also cloudy with a high temperature of 32.　

Meanwhile Shanghai will be clear tonight, with a low of 28,　sunny tomorrow, with a high of 38.

Lhasa will be cloudy 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 27.

Kabul, sunny, 31.

Over in Australia

Sydney, sunny, highs of 22.

Canberra, sunny, 13.

Brisbane, sunny, 26.

And finally, Perth will have rain with a high of 18.

 

 

Top News

 

 

Super Typhoon Utor arrives in South China Sea

 

Super Typhoon Utor has now crossed through the northern part of the Philippines, with the eye churning in the warm waters of the South China Sea.

The massive storm is forecast to track in a northwesterly direction from this point on.

Described as the strongest typhoon globally so far this year, Utor struck the northern Philippines through the weekend, dumping heavy rains and leaving at least 23 fishermen missing.

At the same time, More than 8-thousand travellers are still stranded in the Philippines because of Utor.

"This typhoon was really strong. If you compare it to the previous typhoons, it was like double the strength."

Maritime authorities here in China are warning of waves as high as 8-meters.

Forecasters expect Utor will continue to strengthen as it continues its track toward southern China.

Packing winds of over 150-kilometers per hour at the center right now, the Super Typhoon is tracking toward southwest Guangdong.

It's expected have winds of around 175-kilometers per hour when it makes landfall sometime Wednesday evening.

From there, its expected to lose power quickly, but will still bring heavy rains with it to a region already inundated with flooding so far this summer.

 

 

Prolonged heat, floods complicate grain production

 

Anchor:

Grain production here in China is becoming more affected as the scorching heat and flooding in a number of places in the country are taking a growing toll on agriculture.

CRI's He Fei has more.

Reporter:

Monday marks the 19th straight day when the second-highest emergency level for the heat has been issued in the eastern and central parts of China.

The National Meteorological Center says temperatures in parts of the country have once-again topped 42 degrees Celsius.

Official data shows the droughts caused by the heat have left millions of hectares of farmland parched across different parts of the country.

Over 550 medium- and small-sized reservoirs and hundreds rivers have dried up due to the extreme arid weather in Hunan, leaving many farmers without a livelyhood.

"The fields will bear no harvest at all this year."

Provincial drought relief authorities say over three million people in Hunan are in short of drinking water.

Meanwhile in China's northern regions, heavy rains have been pounding Heilongjiang and Liaoning in the northeast.

Heavy downpours have also battered Beijing, Tianjin, neighboring Hebei and parts of Shandong through the weekend, with rain exceeding 10 centimeters in some areas.

One person was also killed by lightening here in the capital.

The inclement weather is triggering concerns the grain market may fall victim to speculation from both home and abroad.

The current heatwave is expected to linger for much of this week in many parts of China.

For CRI, this is He Fei.

 

 

No casualties reported in Tibet quake

 

So far no casualties have been reported following a strong earthquake which hit a remote region of Tibet this Monday morning.

The quake, 6.1 on the Richter Scale, hit along Tibet's eastern border with Sichuan and Yunnan shortly before 5:30 in the morning.

Over 20 homes have been destroyed, along with roads and other infrastructure.

However, authorities are struggling to reach a remote township home to around 35-hundred people at the epicenter of the quake.

Local emergency teams have been put together to try to reach the affected area.

A number of strong aftershocks have also been felt throughout the day in the region.

 

 

S. Korea power plants shutdown fans blackout fear

 

Two South Korean power plants have shut down their operations after technical malfunctions.

This is fueling fears of blackouts in South Korea, a day after leading government official warned the country stands on the brink of a major energy crisis.

One plant was taken offline by mechanical issues and will likely remain shut down for a week.

Technical problems also shut down another nearby power plant this Monday.

South Korea is in the grip of an extended heatwave and a mini crisis in its nuclear power sector.

 

 

Asiana to pay each survivor 10 thousand dollars as initial compensation

 

Asiana Airlines has announced its going to give each survivor of its crash landing in San Franciso 10-thousand US dollars each as initial compensation.

The airline says the amount is to cover the medical and transportation costs for 288 survivors of the crash in early July.

The crash left three Chinese teenagers dead.

Asiana Airlines says compensation for the families of those killed is still under negotiations.

 

 

Morsi supporters continue sit-in despite police warning

 

The interim authorities in Egypt have announced plans to clear the Muslim Brotherhood-backed sit-in's in Cairo within 24 hours.

Supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi have since begun fortifying their sit-in sites.

Tens of thousands have been chanting support for Morsi, waving flags and holding posters of the ousted leader.

Imam Yousef is a member of pro-Morsi National Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy.

"We are determined to continue our sit-in and protest. This is a legal action and people have the right to protest, backed and protected by international law."

Three waist-high barriers of concrete and wood have been built to protect against armoured vehicles.

Security officials say they will set up cordons around the protest sites to bar anyone from entering.

The Interior Ministry says it will take gradual measures, promising to use water cannons and tear gas to minimise casualties.

Despite this, ambulances are going to be on hand to treat the wounded.

Armoured police vans are also being stationed nearby.

 

 

Curfew continues in riot-hit parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir

 

A curfew is being maintained in parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir where rioting has been taking place the past few days.

The fighting broke out between Muslims and Hindu's in a community about 300-kilometers south of the regional capital, Srinigar.

Muslims marking the end of Ramadan were set upon by Hindus, who claim the marching Muslims were chanting anti-India slogans.

The fighting has left 3 dead and at least 20-others hurt.

It's also caused significant damage to properties.

Regional authorities have shut down all schools and colleges as a result of the violence, and are maintaining an evening curfew for the time-being.

 

 

Al-Qaida subsidiary claims responsibility for Iraq bombing wave

 

A group with links to al-Qaeda is claiming responsibility for a series of bombings which ripped through Iraq over the weekend, leaving dozens dead.

A group calling itself the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant is claiming to be behind the series of car bombings which left 60 people dead and over 200 others hurt across the country Saturday.

The attacks, most of which were focused in Baghdad, targeted shops, restaurants and markets where people had gathered to celebrate the Eid holiday, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

In statements, the militant group says the bombings are in retaliation for a crackdown on Iraq's Sunni minority.

 

 

EU and West African Economic observers monitor polling in Mali runoff presidential election

 

The second round in Mali's presidential election has concluded.

Some international observers say the election process has been legitimate.

Louis Michel has been leading an EU observer mission surveying the vote in Malian capital, Bamako.

"In all the voting stations, overall, everything went well. There was nothing dubious."

African observers have also been stationed in Timbuktu, the ancient desert city in Mali's north, to make sure the polling meet international standards there.

Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is taking on ex-finance minister Soumaila Cisse in the second round.

Keita won nearly 40 percent of the vote in the first round.

Cisse came second among the other 27 candidates with almost 20 percent.

The election comes after more than a year of turmoil in Mali which included a coup and a French-led military campaign to oust an Islamic insurgency in the north.

Mali's next president will be tasked with not only rebuilding the country's shattered economy but also resolving a simmering separatist movement in the far north.

 

 

Cambodia opposition party rejects ruling party's win in poll last month

 

Cambodia's main political opposition is rejecting the initial official election results.

These results appear to have confirmed the ruling Cambodian People's party has taken 68 seats in the country's 123 seat parliament.

The main opposition has garnered 55 seats.

The opposition is rejecting the results of the official count, saying alleged voting irregularities have not been looked into.

The opposition claims some 1.3-million people were not allowed to vote because their names were not on the voter lists.

 

 

Philippines, U.S. to start negotiation on increased U.S. military presence

 

The government of the Philippines says it will hold discussion with the United States on increasing American forces in the country.

The talks are planned for later this week.

Voltaire Gazmin is the Defense Minister of the Philippines.

"This will enable the Philippines and US to conduct activities such as bilateral exercises, including the pre-position of equipment for disaster response and development of Philippine facilities among others."

Increasing the rotational presence of U.S. forces on the Philippines is part of the Obama administration's ongoing re-balancing in Asia.

Hundreds of American troops already have been stationed in southern Philippines for counter-terrorism training since 2001.

The US and Philippine sides are currently retooling Subic Bay, which was a major US forces base on the Philippines.

It's being handed over to Filipino control.

 

 

India launches its first indigenous aircraft carrier

 

India has launched its first indigenous aircraft carrier.

It is the biggest warship built in the country.

Speakign at the launch of the "INS Vikrant", Indian Defence Minster AK Antony says it marks India's entry into a select club of countries capable of designing and building a carrier of its size.

"Launching of the indigenous aircraft carrier is a milestone. So far, only five countries are able to make it through. India now becomes the sixth country. "

Antony says the carrier will help strengthen the Indian Navy's power in the coming years.

"Today's launch marks just the first step in a long journey, but the same time an important one. We must continue the process of developing indigenous capability to secure our maritime interests."

The launch of the warship is behind schedule by 3-years.

It is set undergo trials in 2016 before being put into active service by the end of 2018.

The "Vikrant" carrier can deploy over 30 planes and helicopters, along with other modern weapons systems.

 

 

Garbage Treatment in China

 

It's being reported around a third of all Chinese cities struggling to deal with their garbage, given limited options for the disposal of urban garbage.

Despite a continuous government push, a greener way to deal with municipal waste that requires garbage classification has never really gotten off the ground.

So to that end, CRI's Zheng Chenguang spoke earlier with Professor Morton Barlaz.

He is the head of the Department of Civil Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University.

…

Professor Morton Barlaz with the Department of Civil Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University, speaking with CRI's Zheng Chenguang.

 

 

Counterfeit Money Detector market emerges in China

 

Anchor

With counterfeit notes becoming increasingly difficult to detect here in China, industry observers are suggesting counterfeit money detectors need to be improved and better regulated.

CRI's Li Dong has more.

Reporter:

According to the police, a new type of fake bank note recently found its way to the market. Different to previous versions, it looks easy to identify because it is made by sticking different parts onto one note. But media report says the amazing thing is that after several rounds of tests, some of these notes passed the authentication process when passed through currency detectors. These detectors are used in most banks.

Gu Zikun, a counterfeit money expert says banks and ordinary consumers are actually the victims of the low quality currency detectors.

"Distinguishing fake money is not the profession of the banks or ordinary people.

The responsibility actually belongs to the currency detector manufacturers."

According to the national standard of currency detectors issued in 2010, the A level currency detector must meet at least 9 out of the 12 standards including optical authentication and magnetic imaging sensory technology.

Currently, only 28 enterprises are eligible to produce A-level currency detectors in China. Gu Zikun says most of the other manufacturers do not possess the core technology required. They also do not follow the national standards, which explain why the currency detectors they produce are inferior.

"Some are OEM manufacturers. Some just buy separate parts and assemble them together, the money in some ATMs ends up being fake."

Liu Yongquan, manager at a currency detector manufacturing firm says the currency detector industry lacks supervision.

"The industry lacks regulation. Some enterprises pay no attention to product research and development and just copy what others have. The quality of the product is compromised. They make profits by using sub-quality products and lowering the price. I think it does no good for the future development of this industry."

Chen Baoshan, standing deputy director of the Office of National Anti-Counterfeit Money says that the currency detector manufacturers should not put their own interests before those of the consumers. Furthermore, they should be responsible to consumers who rely on their products to safeguard financial security.

For CRI, I am Li Dong.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Asian Stock

 

Most Asian markets rose on Monday on the back of last week's upbeat data from China.

Chinese stocks surged to a one-month high with the Shanghai Composite adding 2.4 percent.

The Shenzhen Component surged 2.6 percent.

New loans and the money supply here in China in July has come in higher than expected, pushing up investor confidence.

The People's Bank of China reported last Friday that new bank loans stood at nearly 700 billion yuan in July, 160 billion more than the same period a year earlier.

The coal industry led Monday's rises on the mainland bourses.

Shares Yanzhou Coal Mining and Yunnan Coal & Energy both jumped by the daily cap of 10 percent.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng advanced more than 2 percent.

However, stocks in Japan fell to a six-week low, with the Nikkei 225 closed 0.7 percent lower.

The decline follows the release of softer-than-expected second-quarter GDP figures.

In South Korea, the benchmark KOSPI gained 0.2 percent.

In Singapore, the Strait Times Index advanced 0.1 percent.

In Sydney, Australian miners posted solid gains following an increase in metals prices.

Newcrest Mining jumped 7.9 percent, despite posting a record annual loss and scrapping its dividend payment.

The Australian S&P/ASX 200 finished 1.1 percent higher.

 

 

Commercial Banks Raise Deposit Rates to Lure Cash

 

Commercial banks in Beijing and Shanghai have raised their medium and long term deposit rates by 10 percent to attract cash amid fierce competition locally.

City commercial banks and joint-stock banks including China Guangfa Bank, China Everbright and Ping'An are all making the move.

The standard 2 year deposit rate now stands at 3.75 percent.

The 5 year deposit rate is at 4.75-percent.

However, the four major state-owned banks have yet to adjust their rates.

Official data shows deposits in the big four banks shrunk by nearly 1 trillion yuan last month.

 

 

Beijing Mulls Pension System Reforms

 

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has revealed the country's top planners are crafting an overall plan to reform the current dual-track pension system.

The ministry also set to begin soliciting public opinions.

Government employees are covered by a separate scheme under the current pension system here in China compared to those in the private sector and people from rural areas.

The government is moving to break down the tiered structure.

The ministry says its ultimate goal will be to replace the two-track system with a unified program.

 

 

Tesco to merge its China business with China Resources

 

Anchor:

Britain's biggest retailer Tesco is in talks with China Resources Enterprise, or CRE, to merge their supermarkets and hypermarkets here in China.

The move will combine Tesco's 131 stores in China with CRE's almost 3 thousand stores.

Under the proposed deal the state-owned Chinese conglomerate will control around 80-percent of the venture, while Tesco will take the other 20-percent.

At this point, both parties say there is no guarantee a deal will be reached.

Tesco, which is the world's third-largest retailer, has been operating in China since 2004.

Last year it closed four stores and another this year.

Tesco's isn't the only international chain struggling in the Chinese market.

French supermarket chain Carrefour was forced to shut two of its stores last year while U.S retail giant Walmart shut down 5 of it's operations last year.

Rumors have been circulating suggesting Carrefour has been considering selling its Chinese business.

Now for more on the potential deal between Tesco and CRE, CRI's Rebecca Hume spoke earlier with Mike Bastian, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.

…

Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics, speaking with CRI's Rebecca Hume.

 

 

China Starts Construction of 5 Mn Low-Income Housing Units in Jan-July

 

Official data is suggesting the Chinese government has created 80 percent of its annual goal for low-income housing.

New stats show 5 million low-income housing units have begun construction through the first 7-months of this year.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development is reporting 2.8-million units have already been finished.

Investment in the sector came in at 620-billion yuan through July.

The government has plans to finish 4.7 million units of low-income housing this year.

 

 

Japan's economy up only 2.6 percent for quarter

 

Japan's economy has grown in a less-than-expected pace in the second quarter.

Japan's GDP has increased by 2.6-percent compared with the same period last year, despite the ultra-loose monetary policy adopted by the Abe administration.

Though the data marks a third straight quarter of expansion for the world's third largest economy, it is still well below the forecast of 3.6 percent and the 4.1 percent registered in the first quarter.

The slowdown in growth is now raising questions about Japan's scheduled sales tax.

Yoshito Sakakibara is the Executive Director of JP Morgan in Japan.

"The results were indecisive so to speak. Probably the number was not strong enough for the government to convince people that the economy is very strong, therefore it can get along with tax hike. But as I said it's not weak enough that really convince the government to postpone the tax hike."

A final decision about the implementation of the new sales tax is expected by early October.

 

 

General Motors plans pullout from South Korea

 

Media reports are suggesting General Motors is considering pulling out from South Korea amid growing labor costs in the country.

Internal sources are being quoted as saying the US automaker has shifted its popular model Cruze's lead development team out of South Korea to Detroit.

At the same time, the same sources say GM also has similar plans for the Buick Encore and the Opel Mokka.

Right now South Korea is GM's fifth largest global production base.

Labor costs for General Motors have jumped nearly 120-percent over the past decade in South Korea.

Meanwhile, the strengthening South Korean won is also creating challenges for GM.

GM Korea reached an annual wage settlement with the local labor union last month which includes a pay raise of some 9-thousand US dollars for each union member.

GM made South Korea one of its main production hubs after its purchase of the local brand Daewoo Motors in 2002.

More than 80 percent of GM cars made in South Korea are for export.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

Super Typhoon Utor arrives in South China Sea

 

Super Typhoon Utor has now crossed through the northern part of the Philippines, with the eye now churning in the warm waters of the South China Sea.

Maritime authorities are warning of waves as high as eight meters.

The massive storm is forecast to track in a northwesterly direction from this point on.

Forecasters expect Utor will continue to strengthen as it continues its track toward southern China.

Packing winds of over 150-kilometers per hour at the center right now, the Super Typhoon is tracking toward southwest Guangdong.

It's expected have winds of around 175-kilometers per hour when it makes landfall sometime Wednesday evening.

From there, its expected to lose power quickly, but will still bring heavy rains with it to a region already inundated with flooding so far this summer.

 

 

No casualties reported in Tibet quake

 

So far no casualties have been reported following a strong earthquake which hit a remote region of Tibet this Monday morning.

The quake, 6.1 on the Richter Scale, hit along Tibet's eastern border with Sichuan and Yunnan shortly before 5:30 in the morning.

Over 20 homes have been destroyed, along with roads and other infrastructure.

However, authorities are struggling to reach a remote township home to around 35-hundred people at the epicenter of the quake.

Local emergency teams have been put together to try to reach the affected area.

A number of strong aftershocks have also been felt throughout the day in the region.

 

 

Asiana to pay each survivor 10 thousand dollars as initial compensation

 

Asiana Airlines has announced its going to give each survivor of its crash landing in San Franciso 10-thousand US dollars each as initial compensation.

The airline says the amount is to cover the medical and transportation costs for 288 survivors of the crash in early July.

The crash left three Chinese teenagers dead.

Asiana Airlines says compensation for the families of those killed is still under negotiations.

 

 

Commercial Banks Raise Deposit Rates to Lure Cash

 

Commercial banks in Beijing and Shanghai have raised their medium and long term deposit rates by 10 percent to attract cash amid fierce competition locally.

City commercial banks and joint-stock banks including China Guangfa Bank, China Everbright and Ping'An are all making the move.

The standard 2 year deposit rate now stands at 3.75 percent.

The 5 year deposit rate is at 4.75-percent.

However, the four major state-owned banks have yet to adjust their rates.

Official data shows deposits in the big four banks shrunk by nearly 1 trillion yuan last month.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

Shanghai Daily

"Tap into new water quality app"

A free water quality app was launched yesterday after a recent water census showed more than half of the city's rivers and lakes are heavily polluted and much of their soil beds seriously contaminated.

The Our Tap Water app — still in beta version — will be updated daily and include average quality, turbidity, the chlorine level and amount of bacteria in the water.

The Shanghai authority plans to include more information on the app in the future including notices about supply stoppages due to maintenance and price adjustments.

The information on the app will be gathered from all of the city's water sources and utilities.

It is currently only available in Chinese on the Android platform.

Global Times

"Uni campus clones world landmarks to add 'culture'"

A university in Hubei Province claiming their collection of copycat Western monuments brings international culture to campus has stirred online discussions.

Replicas on the Wuhan International Trade University (WITU) campus include an Arc de Triomphe from France and an Egyptian Sphinx, complete with pyramid-shaped library.

WITU is just one of the increasing number of campuses and cities throughout China cloning the world's architectural masterpieces to add a perceived touch of sophistication.

Tu Hongbin, former president of WITU, said that he intended under his management the school would become one that bears international culture.

However, some netizens commented he would have better served the university if the money had gone to improving the quality of teaching.

News.com.au

"The town of Green Bank, with no mobile phones, TV or wi-fi"

There's a town in West Virginia, United States, where you can't use your mobile phone, there's no wi-fi, and your radio dial will never find a signal.

Green Bank might sound like hell to some, but the offline community (population 149) has become a mecca for people who say they suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

It's a disease that scientists don't officially recognise, but those who say they suffer from it experience headaches, fatigue and nausea from electromagnetic fields and radiation that are recognised as safe.

So the tiny town sounds like the ideal home for sufferers.

Nestled among mountains, the town is inside the US National Radio Quiet Zone, where electromagnetic radiation is banned, and that includes radio and TV, wi-fi, mobile phone signals and Bluetooth.

The ban is to prevent interference with the world's largest steerable radio telescope, which has a 100m dish and its high sensitivity picks up radio waves from around the universe.

The India Express

"Soon, robotic plants that can grow roots"

Italian researchers unveiled a project called PLANTOID to build a machine that grows roots - just like a plant does.

The team plans to use bespoke soft sensors for underground exploration, tips that grow by unwinding material and a mechanism to reduce friction when penetrating the soil.

The artificial plant system will be equipped to detect gravity, water, temperature, touch, pH, nitrate and phosphate.

In addition to mimicking a single root, researchers are also looking at how roots interact with each other, coordinating their movements through soil.

The system could produce more energy-efficient robots that can adapt to their environment.

Plant-like robots can be used in environmental monitoring, and their knack for exploration and ability to anchor themselves could have applications in space.

Such a system can also find use in medicine, for example as flexible, growing endoscopes that can move easily inside a human body.

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

Why Chinese Consumers Leave without Tax Refunds

 

Anchor:

It's being reported Chinese shoppers in Europe are foregoing collecting some 800-million yuan worth of tax refunds they're eligible for every year.

CRI's Zhang Wan on why so many Chinese consumers leave the airport without their tax refunds.

Reporter:

In 2012, the total amount of tax refunds for Chinese consumers reached a record high of 3 billion Euros.

Based on the average tax refund rate of 10 percent, the total amount of tax refunds for Chinese consumers should total 2.4 billion yuan in 2012. However, nearly one third of that amount was not refunded.

Why are there so many Chinese consumers giving up their tax refund which could save them money?

"The procedure of getting a tax refund is very complicated. Consumers are required to fill out various application forms, however, you also have to go through the check-in at the airport, and tax refunds usually take more time than you expect. Once, I missed my flight because of a tax refund."

Most consumers say they are aware of tax refunds, however, some say they don't bother to go through the relevant procedures as they are too complicated and usually take too much time. Other consumers say they have no credit card which would allow them to claim the refund.

Zhang Wei, senior manager of the marketing department at Global Blue explains.

"Some consumers apply for tax refunds with their debit cards or payment cards; however, we only support international credit cards during tax refunds or standard China UnionPay credit cards, with numbers starting with 62."

Other consumers say they don't want to apply for tax refunds but find that they are not entitled to such a refund.

Meanwhile, there are also some people who say that they have wrapped up their shopping items perfectly in order to give as gifts to friends and family back home and therefore they don't want customs at the airport to open for checking purposes, hence why they refrain from getting a tax refund.

There are several tips related to tax refunds: First, you should shop at stores with tax-free signs, which mean consumers can get a tax refund on the items they buy.

However, there are some items without value added tax which may not be eligible for a tax refund, such as books and children's costumes.

Second, make sure that you have enough time to carry out the procedure of claiming a tax refund at the airport, as the procedure usually takes at least one hour. Last but not least, ask for the necessary stamps on these tax refund forms from the local customs office before you leave the airport if you want to process the tax refund back in your home country.

For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.

 

 

Sports

 

 

Jason Dufner wins the PGA Championship

 

American Jason Dufner has taken this year's PGA Championships in New York.

Dufner, who entered the final round one-stroke back of Jim Furyk, ralled to win his first major championships with a 2-stroke victory over Furyk.

Dufner finished the tournament at 10-under.

"It feels great(be a PGA Champion). Probably hasn't sunk in. Been running around here. Today was a tough day. The golf course, again, played pretty tough. Me and Jim, can kind of came down to a two man race there at the end. He's a great champion and he's played so well in so many Majors, and he's been there before. So it was a tough test for me. The golf course was tough, but you know, like you said, my name will always be on this trophy, and nobody can take that away from me, so it's a great accomplishment for me and I'm really excited about it."

Dufner is the 3rd first-time major champion of the year

Other noteables include defending champion Rory McIlroy, who ended up tied for 8th.

This is his first top-ten finish of the year in a major.

Tiger Woods' drought at the majors has now reached 18 in a row.

He finished his tournament in Rochester at 4-over par, tied for 40th.

 

 

Serena Williams wins her third Rogers Cup

 

In Rogers Cup,

It was Spainyard Rafael Nadal easily dumping home-favorite Canadian Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

Nadal needed just one hour, eight minutes to breeze past the hard-serving Canadian.

"It was a very emotional victory for me in Montreal. The second victory here in Montreal, third in Canada. An important one after losing in the third round in Wimbledon. Without having the chance to play in seven weeks and coming back and win a title is amazing for me. I'm very, very happy and enjoying a lot the 2013 season. It is being very, very special for me and today, I just want to congratulate Milos (Raonic) for a fantastic tournament here at home."

The Spanish star also won the tournament in 2005 and 2008.

With the win, Nadal stretches his record for wins in Masters series tournaments to 25 with his fourth this year.

On the women's side,

Serena Williams has won her 3rd Rogers Cup in Canada.

This after crushing unseeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the final 6-2, 6-0.

"I think it's exciting when I know there's room for improvement, or if I've played my best and I know I can't play any better then it's like... (pulls face), you know. I'm 31 and I still have room for improvement, and for me that's a good sign."

Cristea made her way into the finals of the tournament after upsetting 4th seed Li Na in the semi-finals with a straight-set victory.

 

 

Lin Dan win at the world championships for the fifth time

 

Chinese badminton ace Lin Dan says he hopes his victory at the World Championships in Guangzhou this weekend should be proof of his resiliance in the sport.

Lin took the men's single's final on Sunday after world number-1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia withdrew with a knee problem.

"After I stayed away from the court for some time, many people started to question my ability. As a player, there must be some support, coming along with some disbelief in me. But that was not important to me. I didn't know what result I could get before the event started. But every match I play, I play with my attitude."

Lin Dan came into the World Championships as a wild-card, having taken a year off from competitive badminton.

In the other competitions in Guangzhou, China's women's doubles team of Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli beat an eighth seeded South Korean team for the title.

Chinese number-1 Li Xuerui was defeated in the women's singles final by Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon.

The men's double's competition was taken by a pair from Indonesia.

Top seeded Chinese pair Ma Jin and Xu Chen fell to a duo from Indonesia in the Mixed Doubles final.

 

 

Usain Bolt talks about doping issues after 100m win

 

Usain Bolt has lived up to his billing, taking the gold medal in men's 100 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.　

Speaking at a post-race news conference, the best sprinter in the world took questions about the IAAF's latest moves to ban athletes who violate the anti-doping rules for upto 4-years.　

"I really don't know the name of any substance and we just give it to my team and let my team to checks all the things out and they clear it to make sure with everybody that it is not on the IAAF, WADA, and any problem?　We have no problems with it."

The reigning Olympic champion clocked a personal season best of 9.77 seconds for the victory.

Chinese sprinter Zhang Peimeng set a new national record at 10 seconds in the semifinal, but still failed to make the final.

"I felt very sorry today, as I was so eager to enter the final of the World Championship. It felt like something already in my hand flew away. "

Meanwhile, Chinese Olympic champion Chen Ding took silver in the men's 20-kilometer race walk.

"To be honest, I am very satisfied with my performance in the race today. I was not on good form today - I couldn't sleep last night and could not have a good rest this morning - I was not fully prepared for the race today. However, I think I made it today and achieved what I want."

In the womens discus throw, Tan Jian finished the competition in sixth.

 

 

Manchester United beat Wigan 2-0 in the Community Shield

 

Manchester United has taken this year's Community Shield match with a 2-nil win over Wigan.

Striker Robin Van Persie net in both goals for Man-U.

Van Persie has been Man-U's leading striker amid the current absense of Wayne Rooney.

Rooney has been out with injury, and has been pressing for a move out of the club.

The match was United's first time playing at Wembley Stadium without Alex Ferguson since 1985.

The 71-year-old retired in May after nearly 27 years as manager.

This year's Premier League is set to get underway this coming weekend.

The first match will see Liverpool take on Stoke.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

Teen Choice Awards

 

The Teen Choice Awards took place over the weekend in California.

Glee star Lea Michele made her first public appearance at the event since the traggic death of her boyfriend and co-star Cory Monteith.

31 year old Monteith, who co-hosted the event back in 2010, died of a heroin and alcohol overdose last month.

Michele won the Choice TV actress comedy award, which she dedicated to Monteith.

The actress also thanked Glee fans, whom she lauded as the "greatest in the world".

Glee creators recently announced plans for a tribute episode to Monteith and his character Finn Hudson.

Whilst next series' filming schedule will go ahead, the future of the series remains uncertain due to the crucial nature of Monteith's character.

Elsewhere at the event, One Direction and Selena Gomez ranked amongst those honoured.

The Teen Choice Awards were hosted by Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale and Glee's Darren Criss.

 

 

"Monsters Unviersity" stars inaugurated into Disney Legends list

 

The stars of "Monsters University" John Goodman and Billy Crystal are to be honoured with the title "Disney Legends".

The actors were amongst 8 new additions, which includes animator Glen Keane and the late TV presenter Dick Clark.

The list was created in 1987, since when a total of 249 people have been inducted into the honorary league.

The animated "Monsters" franchise has been a huge box office success, spurning the recent sequel "Monsters University".

The follow up has Goodman and Crystal return to their roles as Mike and Sulley, while Steve Buscemi takes on the role of Randy.

Having grossed a global total of over $630 million dollars, it has been a feted success.

Disney is having a tough financial year with the major failure of Johnny Depp viehcle the Lone Ranger.

 

 

"Now You See Me" gets sequel

 

Louis Leterrier's magician thriller "Now You See Me" has been confirmed for a follow up.

Lionsgate announced that production for the next instalment will begin some time next year.

The original film follows a group of magicians who use their skills as illusionists to carry out bank robberies.

Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo and Woody Harelson are all reportedly on board for the project.

The original scored over $270 million at international box offices, a success story that the producers would surely like to reproduce.

 

 

Miley Cyruys gets her first ever UK No 1

 

Former child star Miley Cyrus has scored her first ever UK number 1 with "We Can't Stop".

The past week saw 128,000 copies being sold, propelling it to the top spot.

The song is also Cyrus' first UK top ten single.

The 20 year old recently announced that her new album will be called "BANGERZ".

Elsewhere in the charts, Avicii drops to number two with Wake Me Up while Tinie Tempah and 2 Chainz goes in at 3 with "Trampoline".

Meanwhile, the Cedric Gervais remix of Summer Sadness by Lana Del Rey clings on at four.

Rounding of the top five is, of course, "Blurred Lines" from Robin Thicke.

 

 

Usher's ex-wife loses custody battle

 

US RnB singer Usher has won a legal challenge from ex-wife Tameka Foster over primary custody of their two children.

Foster's court case follows a recent accident during which the couple's eldest child, Usher Raymond V was hospitalised following a swimming pool accident.

The five year old is currently recovering in hospital in Atlanta.

Foster, who was married to the "Burn" singer for two years, argued that Usher was negligent of his parenting duties due to excessive travelling.

The judge dismissed the proposed transferance of primary custody to the children's mother as he saw the accident as providing insufficient premise.

 

 

Justin Bieber may buy Neverland

 

Justin Bieber is reportedly considering buying Michael Jackson's former home Neverland.

It has been reported that the 19 year old mega star wants somewhere quieter to avoid the flashing bulbs of LA.

This follows months of media scandals, including alleged violent behaviour, offesive tweets and even spitting on fans.

Despite the controversies, Bieber's popularity seems far from waning.

The singer recently became the first ever person to reach 12 million US single sales with the track "Baby".

Bieber has reported said that if he was to own Neverland, he wants to restore it to its former splendour in honor of his idol, Jackson.

Jackson lost Neverland in 2008, a year before his death.

Since then the estate has been heading slowly into disrepair before being appropriated by a privatge equity firm.

Bieber currently lives in a ?4 million mansion, 2 hours away from Neverland, in the LA suburb of Calabasas.