Morning Edition

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Hume with you on this Thursday, August 29th, 2013.

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

Coming up on our program this morning...

New government report set to ensure quality and steady growth in the economy.

Botulism ruled out of Fonterra milk formula contamination

Reactions to possible U.S led strike on Syria

Business

China's e-commerce market sees strong growth in the first half

Sports

Li Na makes it through the second round at the US open

Entertainments

This year's 70th Venice Film Festival gets underway in Italy

Plus

This year's Beijing International Book Fair get underway – special reports takes a look

 

 

Weather

 

 

Beijing will be overcast today, with a high of 29 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be cloudy tonight with a low of 18.

In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 36 the high, and it will see showers tonight, the low of 26 degrees Celsius.

Lhasa will be overcast in the daytime the temperature's at 23, and tonight will have slight rain with a low of 9 degree Celsius.

Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia

Islamabad, sunny, 32.

Kabul, sunny, with a high of 33.

And in North America

New York, thundershowers, with a high of 28 degrees.

Washington, thundershowers, highs of 28

Houston, overcast, 33.

Honolulu, moderate rain, 31.

Toronto, overcast, 28

Finally, on to South America,

Buenos Aires, sunny, 22.

And Rio de Janeiro will be overcast with highs of 22 degrees Celsius.

 

 

Top News

 

 

China to ensure quality, steady growth: gov't report

 

A new report from the State Council is suggesting the main task in the second half of this year is to improve the quality and efficiency of economic development in this country.

The report is a review of how economic and social development plans are being implemented.

The analysis says the government will maintain a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy.

Xu Shaoshi, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, has submitted the report to the ongoing bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

"China's economic development fundamentals are good. Potential domestic demand will be boosted by the development of industrialization and urbanization. The deepened reform will continue to release the activity and creativity of market. Relying on independent innovation, transformation and upgrading, some sectors and enterprises own strong anti-risk ability and grow steady. China will work to ensure quality and steady economic growth."

The report says the central government is also going to focus on renovating shantytowns and building more urban infrastructure, energy and transportation projects to increase domestic demand.

 

 

Botulism ruled out of Fonterra contamination: New Zealand regulators

 

New Zealand food safety officials have announced the bacteria found in Fonterra dairy products that sparked an international alert and wide-spread media coverage here in China is not bacterium that can cause botulism.

Scott Gallacher is with the New Zealand ministry for primary industries.

"No boutlinum bacteria has been detected in any product that we have sent to testing."

The bacteria discovered in the samples is said to incapable of producing the botulism toxins.

In fact, the report from regulators in New Zealand says the bacteria in question has no association with food safety.

A batch of products from Fonterra tested at the end of July was originally determined to contain the bacteria which can create botulism.

However, futher tests have determined the original assessment by food safety regulators turned out to be incorrect.

Fonterra products have come under heavy scrutiny here in China and sparked wide-spread media coverage about the safety of food products from overseas.

Conor English is the chief executive of Federated Farmers in New Zealand.

"It's mixed emotions, we're relieved that there wasn't a big problem there at the start but still concerned about the way things have worked out over the past three weeks."

The scare led to the Chinese government briefly banning all dairy products from New Zealand.

The Chinese government has yet to respond to the new report.

 

 

Possible US-led strike on Syria: reactions

 

Anchor

UN inspectors have collected evidence on the alleged use of chemical weapon in Syria last week.

Investigators are expected to conclude their investigation in four days.

At the same time, there have been protests in the UK and US on possible US-led strikes on Syria.

For more on reactions to the Syrian crisis, we go to CRI's Cao Yuwei.

Reporter

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the investigators have collected valuable samples in Syria.

He's also calling on UN Security Council member countries to not go "missing in action" as the Syrian crisis deepens.

"Most of all, the Security Council of the United Nations must uphold its responsibilities, moral and political responsibilities under the charter of the United Nations. Syria is the biggest challenge of war and peace in the world today. The body entrusted with maintaining international peace and security cannot be missing in action. The Council must at last find the unity to act. It must use its authority for peace."

The US says its military is ready to launch strikes at any time, despite UN investigations on the chemical weapons use in Syria is still underway.

Moscow says it finds it untimely to talk about potential UN sanctions against Damascus before any UN reports are done.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is urging all sides concerned to keep calm and restrained on the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Wang says China is keeping a close watch on the latest situation in Syria, and nobody should interfere with or prejudge the investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

A British government motion is suggesting the country may not take military action against Syria until the United Nations completes its investigation.

Protesters are gathering outside Downing Street in London demanding "No Attack on Syria."

"But they are going to make it worse, they are going to ruin it, and they're going to make it like Iraq and we do not want it to happen there. We don't want Syria to be the same as Iraq. They are not trying to help, they are after something else, everyone knows it. They are not after helping people."

Back into Syria, Prime Minister Wael al- Halqi says treats from the west won't intimidate the Syrian administration.

Syria's neighboring countries such as Turkey and Israel are also preparing for possible military actions.

While Jordan and Lebanon say their territories and airspace will not be used for any military action against Syria.

For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.

 

 

Calling with Alison Meuse on prospect of US-led military strikes on Syria

 

For more on the situation, we spoke earlier to Alison Meuse, a senior editor and Beirut coprespondent for Syria Deeply - a single issue website dedicated to tracking the evolution of the conflict and putting the news in context.

(callin on Syria)

Back Anchor

Alison Meuse, a senior editor and Beirut coprespondent for Syrian conflict-tracking website Syria Deeply.

 

 

Japan' nuclear regulator upgrades Fukushima leaking to serious

 

Japan's nuclear regulator has upgraded its assessment of leaking contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant to a "serious incident".

Some 300-tons of highly-radioactive water leaked from the plant last week.

The contaminated water has been making its way into the Pacific ocean.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority originally only gave the leak a Level One rating.

However, the situation is now listed as Level Three.

Masakazu Shima is with Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority.

"We applied the International Nuclear Event Scale assessment and it was rated as Level Three accordingly. Thus, we shall immediately inform the IAEA and wish this to be known to the public."

The ratings are designed only to inform the international community about the situation.

It has no impact on clean up efforts.

The 2011 Fukushima disaster itself was listed as a Level Seven on the IAEA's International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.

This is the same assessment as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Earlier this week, Japan's industry minister announced the government was taking over cleanup efforts from plant operator TEPCO.

 

 

Obama and Clinton speak on 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech

 

US President Barack Obama and other former Presidents have attended a ceremony for the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's famed "I Have a Dream" speech.

The march of Washington was the place where 250-thousand people rallied for racial equality three decades ago.

"Because they marched, the city councils changed and state legislatures changed and Congress changed and, yes, eventually the White House changed."

Large crowds gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, where the first black US president spoke just after 1900 GMT - the same time that King delivered his spell binding speech.

Host of prominent speakers addressed the crowds before Obama, including Former US President Bill Clinton Jimmy Carter,and King's son, Martin Luther King III.

Members of the King family tolled a bell to echo King's call 50 years earlier to "let freedom ring."

 

 

Five border ports in Heilongjiang temporarily shut down due to flood

 

Five border ports in northeast China's Helongjiang Province have been temporarily shut down due to flooding.

The service facilities at those ports have been damaged to different degrees by the flooding after days of heavy rainstorms.

Peng Li is the director of the Raohe Border Inspection Station.

"We have negotiated with the Russian border inspection authorities to prolong each working day by two hours to ensure the travelers could pass through the customs in time and avoid any stranding."

Boats, travelers and cargoes in the five ports had to pass through customs in 13 other ports, where the border inspection authorities have started emergency plans.

 

 

China Chang'e 3 Lunar Exploration Mission- China to launch Chang'e 3 lunar exploration by end of 2013

 

Chang'e 3, China's lunar exploration program which incorporates a robotic lander and a rover, is scheduled to launch by the end of this year at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

Wu Weiren, general designer of the Chang'e 3 mission says it took six years to develop the mission,

"Chang'e 3 consists of five main systems: rocket system, detector system, measuring and controlling system, ground application system and launching system. Now all the systems have finished developing and designing and entered the stage of preparation for the launching."

Wu adds the detector system has completed the final assembly and all kinds of large-scale tests.

Final assembly and first testing of the rocket system is also complete.

Other systems are already able to perform the task.

"The main tasks for Chang'e 3 is to make a soft landing on the Moon, and make the lunar rover explore the Moon. The risks are very high and the responsibility is heavy. We will launch it by the end of this year."

Chang'e 3, which is named after the Chinese goddess of the moon, is a follow-up to the Chang'e 1 and Chang'e 2 lunar orbiters of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Anchor

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

Join me on the desk, CRI's Cao Yuwei.

Reporter

U.S stocks rallied Wednesday following a two-day slip amid an increased worry about a possible U.S.-led military strike on Syria.

The fear over a possible attack sent crude oil prices higher and the rise in oil prices lifted energy shares.

The S&P energy index rose 1.8 percent to lead the top ten S&P sectors.

When the market closed,

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3 percent.

The S&P 500 was up nearly 0.3 percent.

The Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 0.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Canada's S&P/TSX edged up 0.1 percent.

However, in Europe, the risk of an attack on Syria contributed to falls in the shares.

Investors have turned to purchase of traditional safe-haven assets such as government bonds and gold.

The travel stocks bear the brunt by falling 1.4 percent, led by airlines such as Lufthansa.

When the market closed,

Germany's DAX dropped 1 percent.

France's CAC 40 was down 0.2 percent and Britain's FTSE 100 dipped nearly 0.2 percent.

 

 

Oil and gold prices surge amid tensions in Syria

 

Oil and gold prices have surged for a second straight day on Wednesday.

It comes amid speculation of an imminent military strike on Syria, which is raising concern about Middle East oil supplies.

International benchmark Brent crude oil futures hit a six-month high and hit a fresh peak of over 117 U.S dollars per barrel early on Wednesday.

But the figure later eased to around 115 U.S dollars.

Meanwhile, oil futures of Oman crude oil listed on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange surged 4 percent to over 112 U.S dollars per barrel.

It is the highest price level since August 2012.

In gold, the spot price of bullion was up 0.2 percent at just over 14-hundred dollars per ounce in the afternoon, having earlier hit over 14-huindred-33 dollars, the highest price since May.

 

 

China to deepen tax reforms: financial minister

 

Chinese government says it is to further reform its tax systems involving business turnover, consumption, resources and property.

Financial Minister Lou Jiwei says the authorities will widen its pilot scheme of replacing turnover tax with value-added tax to sectors including railway transportation, postal services and telecommunications.

It is being reported the VAT trails have helped businesses save 50 billion yuan in the first half of 2013 in 12 provinces and regions.

China could also impose consumption tax on goods that can cause severe environmental pollution and over-exploitation of resources.

The tax will also be applicable to luxury goods.

Meanwhile, authorities are mulling whether to expand property tax trials in Shanghai and Chongqing.

The trials come as part of China's effort to cool its property market on concerns over runaway housing prices.

 

 

Call-in China's Top Planners Highlight Expansion of Pilot Housing Property Tax Scheme

 

Concerns over the expansion of the housing property tax scheme have been further aroused after the topic was mentioned by two top planners at the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress.

Director of the National Development and Reform Commission and Minister of Finance both attached great emphasis on how to tackle China's runaway housing price.

Both of them said that the expansion of property tax trials will be crucial to easing the pressure.

The increasing of trial cities on the housing property tax scheme are expected to be identified this year.

But the corresponding timetable has yet to be confirmed.

The Property tax pilot was initiated in 2011 in Shanghai and Chongqing.

For more on the issue, we're joined live now by Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator.

Questions:

1 What are the stumbling blocks on extending the housing tax to more cities after the scheme has been rolled out for about 2 years?

--Potential property buyers obviously won't welcome the expansion, but what are the local governments concerns?

--Or how do you say people's willingness to play much a bigger role in the expansion of the tax?

2 How effective would a tax like this actually be to act as a cooler to China's real estate market?

3 If it is extended, the heat is likely to be faced by existing houses or newly constructed homes?

4 What cities do you think would be incorporated into the second batch of pilot program?

Back Anchor:

That's Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator.

 

 

China's e-commerce market hits 711 bln USD in 1H

 

China's e-commerce market has grown strongly in the first half of the year.

A report released by China e-Business Research Center shows the turnover of the country's e-commerce reached 4.35 trillion yuan or 705 billion U.S dollars in the January-June period.

That is up 24.3 percent from a year earlier.

Online retail sales rose 47.3 percent to over 754-billion yuan.

It is estimated online retail sales for the year could reach over 1.7 trillion yuan.

Among all provincial-level regions, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Beijing ranked in the top three with the largest number of firms engaged in e-commerce.

Analysts say strong growth comes as small and medium-sized companies shift their focus to the domestic market amid a weak global demand.

 

 

Agbank sees slower H1 profit rise

 

The Agricultural Bank of China, the country's third-largest lender, has posted a year on-year 14.7 percent increase in net profits during the first half of this year.

The bank reports net profits reached over 92-billion yuan in the first six months, up from 80.5 billion a year earlier.

But growth slowed from a 21-percent rise a year earlier.

Its net interest income rose 7.3 percent to 180-billion yuan in the first half.

That is 76 percent of its total operating income.

Meanwhile, the bank managed to reduce its non-performing loans by 1.2 billion yuan by the end of June.

Its bad loan ratio improved to over `1.2 percent from 1.3 percent at the end of last year.

However, it is reported the ratio is still higher than all commercial banks' average of 0.96 percent.

 

 

U.S. pending home sales down 1.3 percent in July

 

Pending home sales in the U.S have continued to edge down for a second consecutive month in July.

The National Association of Realtors says its index of pending home sales dropped 1.3 percent from the prior month to 109.5.

The index measures the number of contracts that have been signed for but not yet closed for purchasing previously owned homes.

The July figure is a steeper decline than most analysts have expected.

Economists say the decline comes as higher mortgage interest rates and rising home prices impact on contract activity in the high-cost regions of the Northeast and the West.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

China to ensure quality, steady growth: gov't report

 

A new report from the State Council is suggesting the main task in the second half of this year is to improve the quality and efficiency of economic development in this country.

The report is a review of how economic and social development plans are being implemented.

The analysis says the government will maintain a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy.

Xu Shaoshi, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, has submitted the report to the ongoing bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

 

 

Possible US-led strike on Syria: reactions

 

UN inspectors have collected evidence on the alleged use of chemical weapon in Syria last week.

Investigators are expected to conclude their investigation in four days.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is calling on UN Security Council member countries to not go "missing in action" as the Syrian crisis deepens.

At the same time, there have been protests in the UK and US on possible anti US-led strikes on Syria.

 

 

China, Vietnam pledge to resolve dispute in South China Sea

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh in Beijing.

Both sides pledged to resolve their dispute in the South China Sea.

Wang reiterated China's stance, saying the two countries should push ahead with maritime cooperation and work together to control the dispute and turn challenges into opportunities.

Pham said the Vietnamese side is ready to resolve the dispute and work with China for stability in the area.

 

 

China, U.S. defense ministers meet ahead of regional meeting

 

Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan has met with his U.S counterpart Chuck Hagel ahead of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-plus.

Both sides have stressed the need for cooperation and dialogue.

Both Chang and Hagel will attend the biennial Defense Ministers' meeting, set to be held on Thursday in Brunei Darussalam.

The ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-plus is attended by defense ministers from the ten ASEAN members, plus China, the United States and a number of other countries.

 

 

Individual Taiwan tourism for seven more cities

 

Residents in seven cities in the Chinese mainland have been given official permission to apply to travel to Taiwan as individuals under a cross-Strait agreement.

It brings the total such mainland cities to 26.

Newly added cities include Shijiazhuang, Changchun, Hefei, Changsha, Nanning, Kunming and Quanzhou.

The cities have a total registered population of 200-million.

The ban on traveling to the island was lifted by Taiwan authorities in July 2008.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

South China Metropolitan Daily

Headline: Singers' son pleads not guilty

Summary:

The teenage son of two well-known PLA singers pleaded not guilty to gang rape, claiming he was drunk and didn't have sexual relations with the female plaintiff.

Li Tianyi, 17 years old, is charged with participating in the gang-rape of a woman, along with another four suspects.

He was detained on Feb 20.

Beijing Times

Headline: Famous investor involved in sex parties

Summary:

A social media celebrity who has been detained in Beijing for hiring a prostitute is also allegedly involved in sex parties.

Xue Manzi, also the Chinese-American angel investor, was detained by police along with another 26 suspects in Beijing.

The crackdown follows repeated tip-offs from residents.

Xue admitted he has a problem with his addiction to soliciting prostitutes.

Global Times

Headline: Professor suspended for law breach

Summary:

Zhang Xuezhong, a professor with the Shanghai-based East China University of Political Science and Law, has been suspended from teaching.

The university said that Zhang had expressed political opinions that go against the law, and he would be suspended from the first semester of the academic year.

Zhang reportedly published his opinions into a pamphlet titled New Common Sense.

Shanghai Daily

Headline: Police deny eye-gouging linked to trafficking

Summary:

Police in Fenxi County of Shanxi say they have video footage from a surveillance camera which showed a woman, with dyed yellow hair, with the six-year-old boy whose eyes she later gouged out.

Police deny the eye-gouging is linked to trafficking.

Doctors say the boy is likely to be blind for life. They plan to implant artificial eyeballs.

China Daily

Headline: Supplement maker and foundation aim to improve rural nutrition

Summary:

Chinese nutritional supplement maker By-Health Co and the China Youth Development Foundation have launched a three-year program to improve the nutrition of rural students.

By-Health is set to spend nearly 10 million yuan ($1.63 million) for the program.

Beijing Morning Post

Headline: College student attempts to sue parents

Summary:

A student in Jiangsu province has attempted to sue his parents because they were unable to pay his tuition fees.

He requested that the court order his parents to pay his tuition and living expenses.

The mother is the family's breadwinner as the father suffers from ill health and is confined to a bed.

The judge says that parents are not obligated to shoulder costs for children aged above 18.

Beijing News

Headline: Rubber duck to float in Beijing

Summary:

The giant rubber duck designed by a Dutch artist will be in Beijing from September to October.

It will float at Beijing Garden Expo Park and at the Summer Palace.

It will be taller than the version displayed in Hong Kong

The artwork is a gift to the city of Beijing from Amsterdam — this year's Beijing Design Week Guest of Honor.

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

The 20th Beijing International Book Fair Kicks off

 

Anchor

This year's Beijing International Book Fair is underway at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing.

CRI's Lucy Du has more.

Anchor

This year's book fair is held with a principal of "introducing excellent books from around the world into China and leading Chinese books to the world."

The 5-day conference focuses on communication among publishers around the world.

Li Yinghong, is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China CITIC Press.

"I think this platform works well, as an international book fair, the conference aims at copyright trading. Through the trade, we can meet publishers from abroad to know about each other's advantages and books. I hope to let more foreigners know about a more abundant and specific China through the books."

Over 2-thousand publishers from around 70 countries and regions are attending this book fair.

Saudi Arabia is participating in this book fair as the Country of Honor.

The Kingdom's exhibition area is about a thousand square meters, making it the biggest exhibit at this year's conference.

Dr. Saleh Alqasoumi is Saudi Arabia's Cultural Attaché at the embassy in China.

"We spent acturallymore than 1 year to organize Saudi's participation in Beijing Book Fair. We have 13 departments, they reflect the Saudi culture and Saudi heritage. ."

On top of traditional publishing, this year's fair is also focused on digital publishing. Marc Boutet is the CEO of De Marque, a book distributor based in Canada.

"I was excited about the conference and attend the digital conference of program and also its my first time in Beijing, also since it's my first time in Beijing, it's very enjoyable to discover the city, I think it's both interesting business and personal experience for us."

Over the past twenty years, the Beijing International Book Fair has become a major international publishing event in Asia.

Just under 33-hundred contracts have been signed at last year's event, marking an increase of close to 12-percent over the previous year.

For CRI, this is Lucy Du.

 

 

Sports

 

 

Li and Radwanska are early winners in the womens second round

 

Let's go first to tennis, rain is interfering with some of the first and second round matches on day three at the US Open.

But some women made it through their second round before rain halted play.

China's Li Na slipped into the final 32 after defeating Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden in straight sets.

Fifth seeded Li got off to a strong start and wore Arvidsson down with her powerful forehands.

"Last time I played her was like very tough second set.　So, I mean after win looks like easy match, but is not really easy.　Yeah, I was like today I was improve a little bit serve and come to the net.　Also serve/volley, as well."

Li could meet Great Britain's Laura Robson in the next round. The teenager was responsible for eliminating Li out of last year's US Open in their first meeting.

Another early second round winner was Agnieszka Radwanska who creamed Maria Teressa Torro of Spain in the first set. Radwanska faltered in the next set, but pushed through to win 6-0, 7-5.

"Actually, I really like the crowd here.　There is a lot of support every match.　So I think for me it's more the surface, I think.　I really like the grass.　That's why I think I have the best results is at Wimbledon.　I like the hard court at Australian Open, as well.　It's a little bit different than here."

Some of day-three games have to be reschduled tomorrow.

 

 

Chinese divers are competing in Liaoning

 

China's National Games will officially begin this Saturday in Liaoning province, but the diving competitions are already underway.

Olympic champion Qin Kai and his partner Zhang Sen won the mens three-meter springboard synchronized gold earlier this week.

Guangdong diver He Chong and his younger brother He Chao were in second place going into the final round, but a mistake by He chao in the last round caused the duo to plummet to last place.

Olympic champion He Zi and her partner Zhong Jiawei managed a mediocre seventh place finish in the womens three-meter springboard final on Tuesday.

In other news from Shenyang,

World discus champion Li yanfeng will compete in the games despite a waist injury that has interfered with her training.

The 34-year-old was a world titlist at the 2011 IAAF championships in Daegu.

 

 

Brazil defeats America at the first day of the Volleyball World Grand Prix finals

 

The first day of the Volleyball World Grand Prix finals saw the big guns go head-to-head as top ranked Brazil took on world number two the USA.

It was a tight match at first with the score level at 10-10 early in the first set, but the Brazilians found another gear managing to take the Americans 25 – 19.

After this, the USA started to really struggle against a dominant Brazilian side, and Brazil won the next two sets 25-12 25-10 to claim victory.

.................

Elsewhere, China finally turned the tables on the Serbian team, who had defeated them in two out of their last three matches.

This time they were determined to get even and, in a closely fought battle, outblocked and outserved the Serbs to win by three sets to one.

China will face an Italian squad next, who were defeated in straight sets by Japan on the first day.

 

 

Fenerbahce two year ban upheld

 

Fenerbahce have been expelled from the UEFA Europa League and barred from next year's Champion's League, after the Court for Arbitrition for Sport upheld a UEFA imposed two year ban for match fixing on the Turkish club.

Fenerbahce and fellow Istanbul club Besiktas were banned in June after a UEFA inquiry into scandals that emerged in 2011.

The suspicions surrounded their 4-3 victory against Sivasspor, which clinched the league championship on the final day of the season.

On September 7, the International Olympic Committee is set to vote on whether Istanbul, Madrid or Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics, so the timing of the announcement delivers another blow to the tarnished image of Turkish sport.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Turkish Athletics Federation suspended double European 100m hurdles champion Nevin Yanit for drugs violations, just weeks after similar bans were given to 31 other local athletes.

 

 

Celtic make champion's league come back

 

In the Champions League Celtic managed to overcome a two goal deficit beating Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan three-nil to send them through to the group stage.

In a dramatic finish, a strike by James Forrest in injury time sent the Scottish side through to the next round.

The club's manager, Neil Lennon, called it the greatest night of his footballing life.

Real Sociedad, AC Milan and Zenit St Petersberg also go through.

Elsewhere Tottenham Hotspur player Gareth Bale, who is the subject of a world record 86 million pound bid from Real Madrid, has failed to turn up for training for a second day according to the Spurs manager.

The club must now decide whether it will fine the 24-year-old Welshman.

Under rules laid down by the Professional Footballers' Association, a player can only be fined two weeks' wages, which in Bale's case would amount to around 160,000 pounds.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

Bernadro Bertolucci; Gravity Film Opens Venice Film Festival

 

Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci is serving as President of the Jury at this year's 70th Venice Film Festival.

The Academy Award winning director has opened up about what he expects from filmmakers this year.

"I hope that the surprises that we will have from the festival this year will be beyond my hopes. Risk brings with it, as we all know, strength. Certainly it is the courage to dare."

Filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron's new 3D drama-thriller Gravity kicked open this year's festival.

Actors Sandra Bullock and George Clooney appear in the film as astronauts who are set adrift in space following an accident in which their space shuttle is hit by debris.

The trailer is tense, heart-racing, and in true to form Alfonso Cuaron style, consists of only one dramatic take.

20 films are competing for this year's Golden Lion award, the most coveted award at the world's oldest film festival.

Contenders for the honor include Tsai Ming-Jian's film Stray Dogs and Terry Gilliam's The Zero Theorem.

The festival runs until September 7th.

 

 

US Musician Gary Lucas to Perform Old Shanghai Songs

 

US guitarist Gary Lucas is set to take the stage for a performance of old Shanghai songs.

(lucas clip)

The upcoming show titled The Edge of Heaven will feature Lucas reinterpreting songs originally by Bai Guang and Zhou Xuan, two mega Chinese film and music stars from the 1930s.

Visual projections of old Shanghai and various items from the time will be displayed behind the musician to create a vivid landscape.

Lucas says his love for old Shanghai songs first developed in 1976 when he lived in Taipei.

The concert will be held at the beginning of October at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.

 

 

New Michael Jackson Album on the Way

 

According to US record producer Timbaland, we can soon expect a new album from the late king of pop Michaelf Jackson.

(jackson clip)

Timbaland has revealed he is working on a track titled Chicago which features Jackson's vocals.

The producer announced the news through video streaming site Youtube and described the collaboration as two kings working together.

During the announcement, Timbaland mentions he spoke to Jackson on the phone before his death 4-years ago.

A new album would be Jackson second posthumous record with Michael being released at the end of 2010.

Jackson's vocals recently leaked online for a new track collaboration with Justin Bieber titled Slave 2 the Rhythm.

 

 

New BBC Beatles Anthology

 

Beatles fans rejoice, the BBC has announced they will release a second volume of the Beatles Anthology.

(beatles clip)

This autumn, previously unreleased songs from the mid-1960s on BBC radio will be available.

The new album follows the first volume from 1994, which contained 56-songs and 13-dialogue tracks from the group's appearance on the BBC.

The BBC will also release a book titled The Beatles: The Archives 1962-1970 to supplement the new album.

The Beatles reportedly pulled in 43.5-million US dollars in sales last year.

 

 

Morgan Freeman Opens Up About New Batman Film

 

US actor Morgan Freeman admits he was surprised to hear the sequel to this year's Man of Steel Superman film would feature a new Batman.

Freeman who appeared as Batman's-ally Lucius Fox in the recent Dark Knight Batman trilogy expected the movie studios to wait awhile before reintroducing Batman.

However, he wishes actor Ben Affleck who recently signed on to appear as Batman good luck.

Freeman doesn't think it's likely he will return to his role as Fox in the new film.