Evening Edition

 

 

Paul James with you on this Tuesday, August 13th, 2013.

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

Coming up on our program this evening.

Logistics are being shut down in advance of a typhoon in southern China, while the northeast deals with some of its worst flooding in decades.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says he feels the Middle East peace process will hold, despite new plans for Israeli settlement construction.

The Indian capital New Delhi is on high-alert ahead of that country's Independence Day celebrations on Thursday.

In Business，the Cabinet has rolled out a new list of items to support small business.

In sports，China earns its 2nd medal at the World Athletics Championships.

In entertainment，Lady Gaga has unveiled a new single.

 

 

Weather

 

 

Beijing will be cloudy tonight with a low of 25 degrees Celsius.　Tomorrow cloudy with a high temperature of 33.　

Meanwhile Shanghai will be clear tonight, with a low of 29,　cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 35.

Lhasa will have thundershowers tonight, 11 degrees the low, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 22.

Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia

Islamabad, thundershowers, with a high of 26.

Kabul, sunny, 29.

Over in Australia

Sydney, sunny, highs of 23.

Canberra, sunny, 16.

Brisbane, overcast, 25.

And finally, Perth will be overcast with a high of 19.

 

 

Top News

 

 

Precautions underway as Utor approaching S China

 

Anchor:

Precautionary measures are being taken as a massive typhoon approaches southern China.

CRI's He Fei has the details.

Reporter:

Typhoon Utor, the strongest typhoon so far this year, is forecast to make landfall in southeast Guangdong sometime Wednesday evening.

As such, shipping and train services on the Qiongzhou Strait, which runs between the mainland and Hainan, have been suspended.

The massive storm is currently tracking toward the Leizhou Peninsula.

It's brining with it winds of around 175-kilometers per hour in the center of the storm.

Utor is already stirring up waves of 3.5 to 4.5-meters in height on Hainan and along Guangdong's coastal areas, bringing heavy rains along with it as well.

The storm is creating swells of up to 10-meters high in the northern part of the South China Sea.

Local authorities in affected regions are being told to remain on duty around the clock.

Forecasters are expecting the storm to continue tracking over the Leizhou Peninsula, where it's expected to weaken significantly into a tropical storm by Thursday.

However, it is expected to dump heavy amounts of rain into parts of Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou before disappating.

For CRI, this is He Fei.

 

 

4 killed as Heilongjiang seeing worst flooding in decades

 

Four people have been killed in some of the worst flooding in Heilongjiang in decades.

The 4 have been killed after the car they were in was washed away in the Nen River, which is about 300-kilometers north of the provincial capital, Harbin.

The local meteorological bureau is forecasting the river will see its worst flooding in some two decades in the coming days.

Over 2-thousand people living along the river have been moved out of harms-way.

Meanwhile, the water level on the Heilongjiang River in the border city of Heihe has reached over 97 meters in height, its highest level since 1985.

Immigration offices and control points along the China/Russia border have also been flooded and forced to closed.

The only entry point in Heihe still open is for Russian freight services.

However, it's been allowing temporary customs checks for travelers.

Yu Changguang is an official at the border checkpoint.

"We have swiftly adjusted our work schedules and deployed more police forces. Everyday we have people on duty around the clock in order to promptly understand the situation of water levels."

So far six entry points between Russia and China along the province have been closed.

The flooding has cut off more 300 roads across the province.

Forecasters are warning the Heilongjiang River, where the province derives its name from, will see even more flooding in the coming 20 days.

 

 

Mideast peace talks will not derail: John Kerry

 

U.S Secretary of State John Kerry is moving to calm concerns about fate of the Middle East Peace Process.

Kerry has issued a statement, saying he doesn't think the recent flap over Israeli settlement plans will derail the process.

"The United States of America views all of the settlements as illegitimate. That is the policy of the United States. And we have communicated that policy very clearly to our friends in Israel and we have worked very closely with the Palestinians in order to try to make certain that everybody understands what the road forward will be like. I think what this underscores, actually, is the importance of getting to the table, getting to the table quickly."

The Palestinians have condemned the Israeli approval of nearly 12-hundred more settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, just days before this week's talks.

A spokesperson for Israel's prime minister says the approval of the new settlements will not prevent the peace talks from moving forward.

However, Palestinian officials say the move is a deliberate blow for peace in the region.

Halting settlement construction is a major Palestinian demand in moving the peace talks forward.

Israel's move has also stirred up conflict between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayeh says Abbas and his Fatah movement have crossed red lines in their negotiations with the Israelis.

"They crossed all red lines in their negotiations and what you see in the new talks they are talking about the international city of Jerusalem, they deny the right of return and they will transfer the refugees to settle in the Arab countries without their right to return."

A new round of peace talks are scheduled for Wednesday.

The last round of substantive talks was held in 2008.

However, the dispute over settlements has kept the two sides away from the table to this point.

 

 

Israel to Start Releasing Palestinian Prisoners  

 

Anchor:

With the first batch of Palestinian prisoners set to be released later this week, people in both Isreal and the Palestinian territories have been giving mixed responses to the move.

CRI's Jordan Lee has more.

Reporter:

The Israeli Prison Service has published a list of 26 Palestinian prisoners who will be released ahead of the renewed peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Israel agreed last month to free 104 long-term Palestinian and Arab-Israeli prisoners in four stages over nine months, depending on progress at the peace talks.

The decision has been opposed by many Israelis, especially for the bereaved families.

Many have been demonstrating with the pictures of their lost family members.

"It cannot be that they will return home as heroes, and we will remain only with the picture. We are here paying the price of the blood of our children."

Meir Indor, CEO of the Israeli victims organization Almagor, says peace cannot be reached by releasing those who killed people and his organization will do their best to fight against the "big mistake".

"I'm fighting for peace, in a logic way, in a practical way. There is no question in my eyes that you don't contribute to the system of peace with giving up to those murderers. There is a system of law. You did something bad, you have to pay, otherwise the balance of the whole world is destroyed."

However, not all people who lost their family members have the same opinion.

Robi Damelin lost her son David in 2002 when he was serving in the army and killed by a Palestinian sniper.

For her, reconciliation with the Palestinians is a must for reaching real peace and ending the pain.

"Peace does not equal justice. It is painful. It is awful, because justice is the core that glues society together. But in this case, we have to give up on being right. Unless you want to continue the circle of violence forever, and your children, and your grandchildren, and your great grandchildren will continue to kill each other. For what? How many people need to die before we get it?"

On the Palestinian side, although being happy for the release of the prisoners, Qdoura Fares, Director of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, says it is not fair that Israel decides everything.

"The feeling is not good because first of all they don't mention all the names of the prisoners in which stages they will be released. And we don't know about anything. Everything has to wait for the decision of the Israeli community. If they recognize they are partners, they have to tell us what they are going to do."

All the prisoners will return to the West Bank and Gaza Strip according to where their families live.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has stressed the continued effort in releasing all detainees held in Israeli jails, stating the issue is of "top priority".

For CRI, I'm Jordan Lee.

 

 

SKorea says Japanese politicians visiting Yasukuni War Shrine unacceptable

 

The South Korean government is on-record saying any visit to the Yasukuni war Shrine by Japanese politicians is unacceptable.

The comment comes amid word Japanese leaders are planning to visit the shrine in Tokyo to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II on Thursday.

Cho Tai-young is with the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

"The Yasukuni Shrine is a facility which enshrines war criminals together and justifies the war of aggression. Japan's high-ranking politicians worshipping this place is not acceptable. Our government and our citizens cannot accept this whatsoever."

Around 50 South Korean veterans have taken time to gather in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, demanding Japan apologize for its colonization of Korea from 1910-1945.

The Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo is dedicated to honoring Japan's war dead.

However, it 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 invaded by Japan during its years of military expansion.

 

 

Indian capital on high terror alert in run up to Independence Day

 

Indian authorities are on high alert in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations this coming Thursday.

Authorities in the capital, New Delhi, are warning the city's metro system is vulnerable to "terror attacks."

As such, Indian police are increasing security along the line to ensure people's safety.

Some 50-thousand additional personnel are being deployed across different parts of Delhi to try to add additional protection to vital installations around the Indian capital.

Security is said to be particularly heavy around historic Red Fort where Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is due to deliver a speech to the nation on Thursday.

Tensions between India and rival Pakistan have been running high in recent months, leading to increased concerns about potential terrorism.

 

 

Britain Threatens Legal Action Against Spain over Gibraltar Row

 

Anchor

Tensions between the UK and Spain are escalating over Gibraltar.

London is threatening to take "unprecedented" action against Madrid.

At the same time, Spain says it's not backing down on the disputed territory.

CRI's London correspondent Tu Yun has more.

Reporter:

Britain and Spain have been in diplomatic rows since late last month after the Gibraltarian authorities decided to create an artificial reef it claims aimed at replenishing fish stocks.

But Spain said the Gibraltar authorities made the move deliberately to block Spanish fishing boats in the area.

Madrid responded by increasing border controls and suggesting that a 50 euro, or some 66 US dollar fee could be imposed on every vehicle entering or leaving Gibraltar through its border with Spain.

After weeks of discussions British Prime Minister David Cameron says Britain is now considering legal action through the EU against Spain.

A Downing Street spokesman has called the move "unprecedented", but has not given any details on what the action would be.

But Spain insists it will not back down, defending its border control measures as "legal and proportionate".

On Monday, British Royal Navy warships set sail for the Mediterranean.

The journey will include a stop in Gibraltar.

But Britain has stressed it's a routine exercise and has nothing to do with the row over Gibraltar, which is currently under British control but also claimed by Spain.

For CRI, I'm Tu Yun in Londo

 

 

UN human rights envoy arrives to investigate sectarian tensions plaguing Myanmar

 

A United Nations human rights envoy has arrived in Myanmar's state of Rakhine, where sectarian tensions continue to plague the country.

The UN envoy Tomas Quintana's trip to the western section of Myanmar comes days after police opened fire on protesters who were trying to gain access to the body of a Rohingya Muslim fisherman.

One person was killed and 10 others wounded in the incident last week.

Demonstrators have been protesting Quintana's visit, calling him a Rohingya instigator.

Quintana, for his part, says he's in Myanmar to offer support.

"My intention was always, even from the time of the military government, to protect you."

Myanmar, which is home to a Buddhist majority, has been grappling with religious violence for more than a year. in the country's west, which is home to a large population of Muslims.

More than 250 people have been killed in the sectarian violence over the past year, which was originally sparked by the alleged rape of a buddhist woman by members of the minority Muslim population in Rakhine.

 

 

South Korean wedding companies woo rich Chinese

 

Anchor:

A growing number of Chinese couples are choosing to go to South Korea for their wedding photo shoot.

CRI's Lucy Du explains.

Reporter:

The bride sits patiently as her makeup is applied and her tiara fixed in place.

After choosing the South Korean company to shoot their pre-wedding photo online, Yang Candi and her fiance have travelled to Seoul from their home in China.

"In China, the photo shoots are more likely to be in traditional Chinese style or European style. Compared to those, South Korean photo studios are very simple and express their own stories. So it was unique."

These photo shoots are big business for South Korea's 15-billion US dollar wedding industry.

It's also a sign of the rising purchasing power of Chinese people, whose exposure to South Korean pop culture brings them to Seoul with high expectations.

The service normally costs between 2 to 4-thousand dollars US.

Lee Su-sun is Deputy Director of Partner Relationship Management at "iWedding", a prominent South Korean wedding planner hosting Chinese tourists.

"Our Chinese customers coming to Seoul total around 40 to 50 couples per month, and those going to Jeju island total 20 to 30 couples per month on average."

He adds that strict Chinese visa regulations means that normally only the elite can afford to travel.

Song Sung-uk, professor of South Korean pop culture studies at the Catholic University of Korea says this is an economic effect that has - in part - been generated through South Korean soap operas.

"I think self-empathy and envy of Chinese people towards a wedding or a romantic relationship that appeared in South Korean soap operas, leading to a very happy family, naturally led to wedding photo shoots in South Korea. This is an economic effect on tourism that South Korean soap operas have created."

South Korean wedding planners cater primarily to domestic couples.

But there are some companies, such as iWedding, which are hoping to further tap the Chinese market.

South Korea's tourism ministry estimates more than 2.5 million Chinese tourists spent an average of 21-hundred-50 US dollars per person, per trip to South Korea last year, which is more than any other nationality.

For CRI, this is Lucy.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Asian Stock

 

Japanese stocks jumped this Tuesday, leading Asian markets higher on the back of a weakened yen and speculation the Abe administration is considering a cut in corporate taxes.

Here in China, property shares added to their recent gains, following a Reuters report that the eastern city of Wenzhou has become the first to ease restrictions on real-estate purchases.

Shares of China Overseas Land & Investment gained 1-percent.

China Resources and Land gained 3.1-percent.

When the market closed,

The benchmark Shanghai Composite was up 0.2 percent.

The Shenzhen Component added 0.1 percent.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng rose 1.2 percent.

The Nikkei 225 ended up 2.6 percent higher.

Among the major movers, shares of Fuji Heavy Industries climbed 3.4 percent.

Softbank added 4.3 percent.

South Korea's Kospi added 0.6 percent.

In Singapore, the Strait Times Index advanced 0.4 percent.

In Sydney, shares of Stockland declined 2.5-percent after the developer and real-estate investor posted a 79-percent drop in full-year profits.

Despite this, the Australian ASX 200 ended up gaining 0.1 percent on the day.

 

 

China Reiterates Financial Support for Small Enterprises

 

Anchor:

The State Council here in China has detailed a new list of targets to try to support small and micro-sized businesses here in China.

CRI's Hu Jia with the details.

Reporter:

China's Cabinet is throwing more support behind small and micro-sized businesses by emphasizing more financing innovation and credit for the cash-thirsty private sector.

8 detailed targets have been released by the State Council, clarifying the credit growth rate to SMEs can't be under the national average lending rate.

At the same time, the incremental amount shouldn't be below what was lent last year.

Tan Yaling is head of the China Foreign Exchange Investment Research Institute.

She says policy makers have made a point of reiterating the policies to show the government's resolution in supporting small and micro-sized businesses.

In truth, she notes all of the 8 policies put forward in the new detailed list have already been issued this year.

They include the recent scrapping of the value-added tax for businesses with monthly revenues under 20-thousand yuan, among other moves.

However, Tan Yaling points out the biggest issue for small companies in China is getting access to credit, as many banks are reluctant to lend to companies which won't provide a large return in interest payments.

She stresses the coordiantions between small financial institutions and SMEs.

"Financial institutions over the course of their developments have not address the SME financing woes or just ignore their demands. This time the State Council has specifically cited small financial institutions to tackle the problem faced by SMEs"

At the same time, private banks, financial leasing companies and consumer financial firms are being encouraged to set up branches in areas where small businesses are concentrated.

Policymakers have also vowed that more will be done to prevent unreasonable charges on small businesses.

Zuo Xiaolei with China Galaxy Securities.

"All in all we need to actually do it. I mean, many problems here in China are actually the problems of implementation. I expect more actual implementations, or a punishment mechanism to be set up if those goals are missed."

With the economy slowing through the past few quarters, the Chinese government has been gradually shifting its focus toward small businesses expansion in an attempt to try to expand domestic needs and employment.

Official data shows 99 percent of companies registered in China are small or medium-sized companies.

They provide 80 percent of all employment in urban areas, and make up 60 percent of China's economic output.

For CRI, I'm Hu Jia.

 

 

China to Cut Administrative Fees Starting October

 

Chinese authorities have decided to cut administrative fees for 20-different items starting in October.

Fees will be reduced in areas such as public security and in judicial departments.

The transport and agriculture ministries are also going to reduce their administrative fees.

Vehicle registrations, passports, property notarization and agricultural inspections are also going to be cheaper.

The reductions are expected to cost the various government departments around 200-million yuan in revenue.

The exact reduction of individual fees has not been detailed.

 

 

Yingli and DEK to build solar power research center

 

Chinese solar energy giant Yingli and British company DEK Solar are set to jointly build a research center in Baoding City, Hebei Province.

 

DEK Solar will provide its most advanced research apparatus to a Yingli lab, and the two companies will work on technologies essential to the solar energy industry.

 

Chinese solar panel makers suffered great losses due to overcapacity, and a recent trade dispute with the European Union worsened prospects for the profitability of the industry. 

 

 

German inflation rate rises to 1.9 pct in July

 

Consumer prices in Europe's largest economy continue to rise.

New stats show the inflation rate in Germany has edged up slightly in July to 1.9-percent.

This is up slightly from the 1.8-percent rise in prices in June and the 1.5-percent inflation rise in May.

Food prices are up 5.7-percent compared to July of last year.

While inflation is rising in Germany, it's still below the European Central Bank's stability maintenance target of 2-percent.

A rise in inflation in Europe's largest economy may put added pressure on Chinese exporters, as consumers may be less willing to spend money on imported Chinese products.

 

 

UK Inflation Cools in July

 

Inflation in the UK has eased up a bit through July.

Britain’s Office of National Statistics is reporting the rate of inflation has come in at 2.8-percent this past month.

This is down from the 2.9-percent in June.

However, officials in Britain had been expecting July's inflation to drop to 2.7-percent.

This is fueling speculation the Bank of England is going to keep its interest rates at their current record lows until unemployment dips below 7-percent.

Britain's May unemployment rate has come in at 7.8-percent.

 

 

Mexico proposes private firms in oil industry

 

Mexican President Enrique Nieto has put forward a new proposal to allow the private sector into the country's oil industry.

Right now, Mexico's oil sector is completely dominated by state-run firms.

"This will allow the government of Mexico to sign contracts of joint usage with the private sector, when, and if, it is in the national interest to do so, and with that, create cheaper energy for all Mexican families."

Pedro Joaquin Coldwell is Mexico's Energy Minister.

"All petro-chemicals will be open to the private sector as well as refinement where we need investment to end or reduce the importation of gasoline, and as well the transport and storage."

The proposal form Nieto will need to secure two-thirds of the vote in the Senate to pass.

Mexico sends 85-percent of its oil exports to the United States.

 

 

BP sues U.S. gov't over suspension from new federal contracts

 

Media reports are suggesting BP is suing the US government to try to re-secure bidding rights for new Federal Government contracts.

British Petrolium has reportedly filed the suit with the district courts in Houston, Texas.

BP has been banned from bidding on new US federal government contracts since pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with the Deepwater Horizion explosion in 2010.

That explosion eventually led to the Gulf oil spill, which is the worst oil spill in US history.

BP is reportedly suing the US Environmental Protection Agency for the right to start bidding again on new contracts.

While its existing contracts with the US government remain in-place, the company's inability to bid on new work could reportedly cost it billions of dollars in potential lost work.

 

 

BlackBerry may put itself up for sale

 

BlackBerry is reportedly mulling options that could include a joint venture, partnerships or an outright sale.

The Canadian Smartphone maker has set up a committee to review its options.

The debate has reportedly been over whether the company is more valuable as a whole, or worth more snapped up piece by piece by competitors or private investors.

It's being reported Fairfax Financial Holdings, BlackBerry's top shareholder, is exploring ways to take the company private.

Analysts say the smartphones that bear the company name now have little or no value.

It's being reported it may cost $2 billion US dollars to shut the Blackberry Phone unit down.

BlackBerry, formerly known as Research In Motion, once pioneered on-your-hip email with its first smartphones and email pagers.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

Typhoon Utor cancels S China shipping, trains

 

Shipping and train services on the Qiongzhou Strait, which runs between the mainland and Hainan, have been suspended.

Logistics are being shut down ahead of the advance of Super Typhoon Utor.

The massive storm is currently tracking toward the Leizhou Peninsula.

It's brining with it winds of around 175-kilometers per hour in the center of the storm.

Forecasters are still anticipating Utor will make landfall in southeast Guangdong sometime Wednesday evening.

It's already stirring up waves of upto 10-meters high.

Utor rolled through the northern Philippines over the weekend, killing at least six person, while over 30,000 families were displaced by heavy rains and flooding

 

 

China Reiterates Financial Support for Small Enterprises

 

The State Council here in China has detailed a new list of targets to try to support small and micro-sized businesses here in China.

8 detailed targets have been released , clarifying the credit growth rate to SMEs can't be under the national average lending rate.

At the same time, the incremental amount shouldn't be below what was lent last year.

Meanwhile private banks, financial leasing companies and consumer financial firms are being encouraged to set up branches in areas where small businesses are concentrated.

Policymakers are also vowing that more will be done to prevent unreasonable charges on small businesses.

 

 

Mideast peace talks will not derail: John Kerry

 

U.S Secretary of State John Kerry is moving to calm concerns about fate of the Middle East Peace Process.

Kerry has issued a statement, saying he doesn't think the recent flap over Israeli settlement plans will derail the process.

The Palestinians have condemned the Israeli approval of nearly 12-hundred more settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, just days before this week's talks.

A spokesperson for Israel's prime minister says the approval of the new settlements will not prevent the peace talks from moving forward.

However, Palestinian officials say the move is a deliberate blow for peace in the region.

The dispute over settlements has kept the two sides away from the table to this point.

 

 

Indian capital on high terror alert in run up to Independence Day

 

Indian authorities are on high alert in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations this coming Thursday.

Authorities in the capital, New Delhi, are warning the city's metro system is venerable to "terror attacks."

As such, Indian police are increasing security along the line to ensure people's safety.

Some 50-thousand additional personnel are being deployed across different parts of Delhi to try to add additional protection to vital installations around the Indian capital.

Security is said to be particularly heavy around historic Red Fort where Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is due to deliver a speech to the nation on Thursday.

Tensions between India and rival Pakistan have been running high in recent months, leading to increased concerns about potential terrorism.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

China Daily

"Naked marriage gaining acceptance: survey"

More than half of taxi passengers in major cities in China picture themselves getting married before the age of 29.

This is according to a survey by Touchmedia, a major in-taxi media company in China.

The survey, the results of which were timed with Chinese Valentine's Day, polled 1.6 million taxi passengers in five cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou over the past month.

When it comes to a "naked marriage", meaning getting married without a house and car, 45 percent of those polled "approve of the idea", but less than 30 percent would "practice a naked marriage".

More than 70 percent of the interviewees said they are ready to share their mortgage payments with their spouse after marriage.

Xinhua

"Apartment owner told to dismantle roof-top oasis"

Photos of an elaborate, but illegal garden built atop a 26-story building in downtown Beijing have been feverishly shared and forwarded online since Monday.

Photos show the top of the 26-story building covered in a man-made mound dotted with artificial rocks, greenery and a swimming pool.

The villa was built by a man named Zhang Biqing, the owner of the duplex penthouse on the top floor of the building.

According to property management staff, Zhang has paid the property management fees for his apartment, which had a floor space of more than 340 square meters before the roof-top villa was built.

Neighbors have long complained that the construction of the villa, which started in 2007, has caused gas and water leaks that have affected several apartments on lower floors. They are also concerned about potential safety hazards brought on by the construction.

The urban management bureau has deemed the man-made rooftop oasis as a piece of illegal construction.

Channel News Asia

"Not afterlife, but brain activity say scientists of near death experiences"

Scientists say they may have the scientific explanation for the vivid near-death experiences, such as seeing a shining light, that some people report after surviving a heart attack.

A new study say the brain keeps on working for up to 30 seconds after blood flow stops.

Scientists did their research on nine lab rats that were anesthetized and then subjected to induced cardiac arrest as part of the experiment.

In the first 30 seconds after their hearts were stopped, they all showed a surge of brain activity, observed in electroencephalograms (EEGs), indicating highly aroused mental states.

Senior author George Mashour at the University of Michigan said at near-death, many known electrical signatures of consciousness exceeded levels found in the waking state, suggesting that the brain is capable of well-organized electrical activity during the early stage of clinical death.

About 20 percent of people who survive cardiac arrest report having had visions during a period known to doctors as clinical death.

The Telegraph

"Children are suffering from rise of the 'Gameboy Back'"

UK Surgeons say increasing numbers of children are suffering spinal problems caused by prolonged use of gaming consoles.

Experts say children and teenagers are being left with injuries and curvatures because of a phenomenon they have dubbed "Gameboy Back," after too many hours hunched over addictive computer games.

Doctors say that increasing numbers of children are developing serious spinal problems, such as slipped discs, because they slump for such long periods.

The surgeons said the scale of the problems today was akin to that more than a century ago, when child labour was common.

Experts in this country said prolonged period on games consoles, and time hunched over smartphones, is damaging the posture of children, and would leave some with lifelong problems.

The surgeons said parents should not ban the devices, but pay more attention to their children's posture when they use computers or games

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

Qi Xi Festival

 

Anchor:

Today marks the Qixi Festival here in China, which is otherwise known as Chinese Valentines.

CRI's Li Dong on how the 7th day of the 7th lunar month on the Chinese calandar is viewed today.

Reporter:

Today, August 13, is Qixi Festival.

According to a Chinese folk love story, the Qixi Festival is the day when Niulang, a cowherd, and Zhinv, a beautiful weaver girl, meet annually. But in a modern society, celebrating the Qixi Festival may mean little more than spending money.

Retailers and shop owners have been ready for days, stocking up on flowers and offering tempting discounts on chocolate bars, shoes, jewellery and other romantic gifts. On Taobao.com, China's biggest online retail site, more than 550 thousand results return from a search for "Qi Xi Gift".

Whilst, to attract more visitors, the Beijing Garden Expo Park will tonight distribute 50 thousand roses to lovers who choose to visit the park.

Many young people say they accept Qi Xi as just another excuse to spend money and are not particularly concerned about the cultural meaning of the festival.

"It's nothing special. The festival is commercialized. Just some businessmen want to make more money."

Another interviewee says that the Western St Valentine's Day is more meaningful.

"Many movies give me the impression that the lovers' day in the west is more romantic."

The 2,000-year-old Qixi festival originated from a folk tale that a fairy called Zhi Nv married a mortal called Niu Lang. Shortly after the Goddess of Heaven, who opposed their marriage, sent the couple to heaven as two stars, separating them by the vast Milky Way.

According to the story, magpies feel sympathy for the lovers and so they fly up to heaven every year to form a bridge. It is across this bridge that the lovers can reunite for a single night.

Couples who are separated by work or study, celebrate their love on the date of the lovers' annual reunion.

Qi Xi was listed as an intangible cultural heritage by China's State Council in 2006.

Xiao Fang, professor of Folklore Research Institute of Beijing Normal University says that Qixi is primarily about courting with expensive gifts.

"Qi Xi is not lovers' day. In the past, Qi Xi was an occasion to show someone…your skill, like sewing and making clothes. Nowadays, these are skills not in common usage. But you can make…a personalized gift."

Meanwhile, many who oppose a commercialized Qixi also confess a paradox; without commercial interest, the festival may well be forgotten and become a mere relic of the past.

For CRI, this is Li Dong.

 

 

Sports

 

 

China's Gong Lijiao after bronze in the women's shot put

 

China has earned its 2nd medal at this year's IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

Gong Lijiao has claimed the bronze medal in the women's shot put event.

"As for the result, I don't think the distance I put is the one that I expected. As for the medal, I think it is precious that I can win a bronze medal for my country. I did have big pressure as most of my competitors have better performance in the qualification, so I am feeling not confident enough, by anyway, I think I beat the pressure in the end."　　

New Zealand's Valerie Adams took gold in the event.

China's Chen Long took Silver in the men's 20-kilometer race walk on Sunday for China's other medal at the event.

In other action from Moscow.

In the men's 110-metre hurdles,

The United States finished one-two in the men's 110-metre hurdles, with David Oliver taking the gold.

Oliver took the event in 13.00 seconds flat, the fastest time of the year.

"I don't really know what happened in there, but any time you cross the line first it is a great race. But I will look and see if there is anything I can improve, but I am not even worried about that right now. I am just celebrating this Championship."

Ryan Wilson took silver in 13.13-seconds.

In the women's 400-meters event, Christine Ohuruogu has set a British record in the 400 metres to regain the World Championship title she first won in 2007.

"I heard the crowd screaming, and I was facing the other way. And I was thinking: 'I hope they are screaming for me!' and then I turned around and I saw. I said: 'Thank God, thank you Jesus I made it!' I think I still got some life in me left. I think I'll keep going for a bit."

On the medal table, the United States leads with 3-golds and 6-medals overall.

Germany sits in 2nd with 4-medals, including one gold.

 

 

Querrey defeated by Tipsarevic at Cincinnati Masters

 

Tennis action is back underway on both the ATP and WTA tours.

This time, the men and women are in Cincinatti, Ohio for the Western & Southern Open.

In first round action on the women's side...

Hsieh Su-wei from Taiwan has seen her tournament come to an early end.

Despite taking the first set, she eventually went down to Romania's Simona Halep 6-7, 6-1, 6-2.

In other action in women's singles,

It was Australian Samantha Stosur getting past Russian Svetlana Kunetzova 6-1, 7-5.

Rising American star Sloane Stephens was given a tough test in her first-round match, but eventually prevailed over the Croatia's Petra Martic 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Her tournament isn't going to get any easier, as she takes on 3rd seed Maria Sharapova in the next round.

Chinese ace and 5th seed Li Na, coming off her semi-final loss in Toronto this past weekend, had a bye through the first round.

She's set to take on American Wild Card qualifier Lauren Davis, who upset the Czech Republic's Klara Zakopalova in the first round, 7-6, 7-6.

First round action on the men's side has already seen a number of upsets.

It was 16th seeded Jerzy Jankowitz of Poland going down to American James Blake 6-1, 7-5.

Serbian Janko Tipsarevic managed to fight through the home-crowd support for America Sam Querrey, getting past him in a 3-set battle.

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov upset 13th seeded Spainyard Nicholas Almagro 7-6, 6-4.

German Phillip Koelshrieber got past American Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-2.

He's going to face Roger Federer in the next round.

14th seeded Italian Fabio Fognni has been bounced early from Cincinatti.

He went down to the Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek 6-2, 6-4.

And it was American Ryan Harrison getting past hard-hitting Ukranian Alexandr Dogopolov 7-6, 6-4.

 

 

Spain team arrive in Ecuador ahead of friendly international

 

The Spanish national Team has arrived in Ecuador for a friendly.

The last time the two-teams faced one-other was ten years ago, in Madrid, when the current World Champions beat the South Americans 4-nil.

Attacking midfielder Cesc Fabregas is going to miss the match because of an injury he picked up while touring with Barcelona in Malaysia.

The match will be Spain's first outing since losing the Confederations Cup final 3-nil to Brazil.

The match will also honour Christian "Chucho" Benitez.

The Ecuadorian footballer died of heart failure on July 29th while playing for a club team in Qatar.

He was only 27.

 

 

Lakers star Kobe Bryant relishing injury rehab challenge

 

Kobe Bryant has wrapped up his tour of China.

The soon-to-be 35-year old Bryant has been on a promotional tour through a number of cities on the mainland.

He's concluded his time with a stop in Hong Kong.

Because Bryant is still recovering from an injury to his Achilles Tendon, the LA Lakers star took it easy in Hong Kong, posing for pictures and taking questions from young players.

Asked about his own fitness, Bryant says he should be ready to go when the NBA season gets underway in October.

"Because it's a challenge, it's a challenge. So like right now, when I hurt my achilles, I look at it as a challenge. So when I get up it's very easy for me to get motivated to train to get ready to come back. Especially when people say that you can't do it. That gives you more motivation. That's why I can walk around now and I can bounce on my toes. I have that drive."　

The LA Lakers will be without Dwight Howard this year.

The disgruntled star center has shipped his services to the Houston Rockets this season.

Despite the loss, Bryant says he feels the Lakers will still have a shot at a title.

Bryant's tour of China has seen him make stops in Shenzhen, Xian, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

REM to put out rare Charity Box Set

 

It has been reported that REM are planning a fan club-only charity box set packed full of rarities.

REM parted ways amicably in 2011 after a 3 decade career that produced classic songs such as "Man on the Moon" and "Losing my REligion".

Guitarist and founding member Peter Buck told the press that the band have produced a limited edition two-track single every year from 1988-2011.

Only 6000 copies of each track was pressed and give to members of the band's fan club.

Buck says that he would like to collect the 50 odd tracks together as a box set for charity.

The collection would include rare and previously unreleased material and is tentatively pencilled for release before early next year.

Fans can expect spoof Christmas tunes and collaborations with the likes of Radiohead.

 

 

Daft Punk confirms new single

 

French electronic duo Daft Punk have confirmed "Lose Your Self to Music" as their next single.

The track will be the second to be taken from their fourth studio album "Random Access Memory".

The record, which made Platinum in both the UK and Australia, has been the band's greatest commercial success yet.

Random Access Memory spawned the International Summer hit of the year "Get Lucky" earlier this year.

Pharrell Williams, who is featured on Get Lucky, can also be heard on the latest cut.

Daft Punk recently had to back out of a much anticipated appearance on American talk show the Colbert Report due to scheduling conflicts.

Instead of appearing on the show, the band is rumoured to be making a surprise appearance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards on 25th August in New York.

 

 

Lady Gaga unveils new single "Applause"

 

Following a crop of clips from her new single surfacing online, Lady Gaga has decided to unveil "Applause" ahead of schedule.

The singer declared it a "Pop emergency" after hackers started revealing snippets of her highly anticipated single.

Gaga unveiled the track in full yesterday, 8 days ahead of its planned unveiling.

The track has so far received a somewhat luke warm response from critics.

Some deem it too run-of-the-mill to warrant the hype that has preceded it, while others praise it as a pleasing amalgamation of Gaga's past styles.

 

 

Breaking Bad's series opener gets record audiences

 

US series Breaking Bad has gone into its final series, with the first episode getting record ratings.

The AMC show drew in nearly 6 million viewers for the opening episode of the final series.

The achievement is the second highest audience level for the channel this year, only trumped by zombie drama "The Walking Dead" which managed over 8 million viewers.

The show follows the moral decay of a chemistry teacher turned crystal meth dealer, played by Bryan Cranston.

Since debuting in 2008, Breaking Bad has reached cult status after spreading through word of mouth and critical acclaim.

The show has won five Emmies and is in the running for a further 8 prizes at this year's event, which is set to take place on 22nd September.

 

 

Cara Delevigne auditions for 50 Shades of Grey role

 

Supermodel of the moment Cara Delevingne has reportedly auditioned for a role in the upcomiong Fifty Shades of Grey film.

Directed by British artist Sam Taylor, the film adaptation of E L James' best selling novel has been the talk of the industry lately.

Delevinge is a close friend of Taylor's husband, actor and "Anna Karenina" star Aaron Johnson.

While the 20 year old is not going in for the lead role of Anastasia Steele, it has been rumoured that she may even have a part written in especially for her.

Delevingne, who has worked for everyone from Victoria Secret to Chanel, has always cited acting as her first love.

"50 Shades of Grey" is scheduled for release next August.

 

 

Kirsten Dunst to join Jeff Nichols' "Midnight Special"

 

Kirsten Dunst has been cast in upcoming Jeff Nichols film Midnight Special.

Dunst stands to join Michael Shannon and Joel Edgerton in the Warner Bros production.

The film follows a father and son who go on the run following the discovery of the child's special powers.

The project is penned by director Nichols, who says he drew inspiration from John Carpenter's 1984 film "Starman".

Nichol's last outing as a director was with 2012's Mud, starring Matthew McConaughey and Tye Sherridan.

The film revolved around the relationship between two boys and a fugitive on the run from bounty hunters.