The Beijing Hour
Evening Edition
Rebecca Hume with you on this Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this evening,
China and Russia sign new trade deals including an additional 100 million tons of crude oil to China.
Storms with high winds set to hit Australian wildfires.
Business leaders from China and the U.S meet in Washington.
Business, China's house prices continue to rise.
Sports, Baseball World Series set to start as The Boston Red Sox host the St. Louis Cardinals.
Entertainments, Country legend Dolly Parton announces headline tour of Britain and Ireland.
Plus Special reports explores how China's economic hub of Shanghai is forging ahead in a bid to become a culture and arts center.
Weather
Cold front to hit N China, haze to continue in NE
Forecasters say temperatures in most northern Chinese provinces are set to plunge over the next three days as a cold front approaches.
The cold front is set to sweep across north and northeast China, dragging temperatures down by up to 10 degrees Celsius, bringing strong winds, snow and blizzards to part of the region.
Meantime, fog and haze will continue to linger the northeast.
Beijing will be overcast tonight with a low of 5 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow sunny with a high temperature of 15.
Meanwhile Shanghai will be cloudy tonight, with a low of 16, cloudy sky continues tomorrow, with a high of 22.
Lhasa will be cloudy tonight, 0 degrees the low, sunny tomorrow with a high of 15.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny with a high of 30.
Kabul, sunny, 22.
Over in Australia
Sydney, overcast, highs of 31.
Canberra, rainy, 22.
Brisbane, sunny, 30.
And finally, Perth will be sunny with a high of 25.
Top News
China, Russia sign key oil deal
Anchor
China and Russia have signed over 20 trade agreements here in Beijing, including several key oil export deals.
CRI's Su Yi has more.
Reporter
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his visiting counterpart Dmitry Medvedev witnessed the signing of 21 documents in the Chinese capital.
Medvedev says under the new deal, Russia will supply an ADDITIONAL 100 million tons of crude oil to China over the next 10 years.
The deal is worth 85-billion US dollars.
"Cooperation in energy between our two countries is the flagship. I very much hope that the agreement we signed in the area will be carried out in an orderly fashion. I also very much hope that the cooperation agreements we are currently talking about, including natural gas, can be quickly agreed upon."
Medvedev also says the two countries are planning to build an oil refinery in Tianjin, with a capacity of 16 million tons each year.
The Tianjin refinery will be jointly set up by China National Petroleum Corporation and Russia's biggest oil company Rosneft.
CNPC and Rosneft signed a long-term agreement earlier this year, in which the Russian company would supply 365-million tons of oil to China in the next 25 years.
Official numbers show China imported almost 25 million tons of crude from Russia last year.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says he puts a lot of hope on the trade potential between the two sides.
"As long as put our efforts together, tap potentials, and innovate our means, we can continue to boost economic and trade cooperation and investment between the two countries, not only achieving the goal of having bilateral trade reach 100 billion US dollars by 2015, but exceeding it and moving towards 200 or 300 billion."
Li Keqiang and Medvedev have also co-chaired a regular annual meeting between senior government officials which began back in 1996.
Medvedev is now in China for a two-day visit which will also take him to east China's Anhui.
For CRI, I'm Su Yi.
Indian people want to know more about China
Anchor
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has started his three-day official visit to China.
The visit comes in the wake of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India in May.
It marks the first time since 1954 the Prime Ministers of India and China have visited one-another's countries within one year.
As CRI's Alexander Aucott reports, an increasing number of Indian people say they are eager to learn more about China.
Reporter:
Sumen is a Chinese major from a University in Varanasi, India.
He visited China as a member of the Indian Youth Delegation in May.
"I've been to China for ten days. China is developing rapidly. I visited three cities: Beijing, Wuhan and Shenzhen. I also got to see the Chinese premier Li Keqiang. The roads are so clean and broad in Beijing. I was really impressed. If only India was as developed as this! India is also developing, but not as fast as China. It's good for the two countries to have more exchanges."
Bundy, has worked in Deli for ten years.
"I think China and India are good neighbors. Both countries have a large population. During the visit, leaders would continue talks over a possible deal on managing border disputes. The Indian Prime Minister Singh will also try to close the trade gap with China. Both sides would benefit from it."
There are however still many people who know very little about Chinese society and its culture.
It is widely believed promoting exchanges among the common people from China and India is also important.
For CRI, I'm Alexander Aucott.
Fears storm with high winds could accelerate spread of wildfires
Officials in Australia's New South Wales fear storms with high winds are on their way towards the front of the fire in the Blue Mountains and may accelerate the spread of wildfire.
It is believed the storm will probably only bring up to two millimeters of rain, but also lightning and strong winds on Wednesday.
Shane Fitzsimmons is the local Fire Service Commissioner.
"We're tracking a fairly active storm cell or some storm activity near Bathurst heading towards the back end of the Blue Mountains. It's tracking toward the Blackheath area, which is where they're doing that very critically important back-burning."
Fire fighters have linked two major fire fronts to try to control the situation, following aggressive backburning operations overnight.
More than 60 active blazes have been raging in New South Wales since Thursday.
13 of them are uncontained.
The fires have killed one man, destroyed 208 homes and damaged another 122.
The wildfires have been extraordinarily intense and early in an annual fire season that peaks during the southern hemisphere summer.
This year's unusually dry winter and hotter than average spring have led to perfect fire conditions.
Obama mad at website glitches
Anchor:
US President Barack Obama is moving to defend his landmark health care program, known as Obamacare, despite the technical problems people have been encountering in trying to sign onto the program.
CRI's Washington chief correspondent Xiaohong explans.
Ann:
During a White House speech , President Obama has acknowledged the newly launched website, healthcare.gov, hasn't been working as smoothly as it is supposed to.
"The website has been too slow. People have been getting stuck during the application process. And I think it's fair to say that nobody is more frustrated by that than I am. We're doing everything we can possibly do to get the websites working better, faster, sooner. We've got people working overtime, 24/7, to boost capacity and address the problems. We've had some of the best IT talents in the entire country to join the team. And we're confident that we'll get all the problems fixed."
Since its launch on October 1st, the new website immediately became the target of critics due to its low speed and the failure to handle the tens of thousands of applications it's been receiving.
Among those taking shots at the new system is Republican Senator and former Presidential candidate John McCain.
"It's been a fiasco. Send Air Force One to Silicon Valley. Load it up with smart people, bring it back to Washington and fix this problem. It's ridiculous, and everybody knows that."
Responding to attacks from the Republicans and other critics, President Obama says the Affordable Care Act will provide protection and benefits for millions of once-uninsured Americans.
"But I just want to remind everybody that we did not wage this long and contentious battle just around the website. That's not what this is all about. We wage this battle to make sure that millions of Americans in the wealthiest nation on earth finally have the same chance to get the same security of affordable quality healthcare as anybody else."
It's believed that around 500-thousand people have already signed up for the new health care exchanges online.
Xiaohong, CRI, Washington.
Business leaders from China and US met in Washington
Business leaders from China and the U.S are gathering in Washington for the fifth "China-US Former Senior Officials' Dialogue".
China's former Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan has attended the two-day-meeting which began Monday.
He says the new round of talks will focus on improving the bilateral investment environment.
"After the meeting, both sides will achieve some agreements on relative aspects. As a significant fruit of this round of talks, we will also provide suggestions to both governments on bilateral trade and investment negotiations. We hope this can help further develop the new major-country relationship in business and trade domain."
The Chinese side also briefed the newly established Shanghai Free Trade Zone at the event.
CEO of the U.S Chamber of Commerce Thomas J. Donohue says their mission is simple, to promote bilateral relations.
China and US have been seeking cooperation not only in business, but also in international affairs, despite differences in their iplomatic doctrines.
Now for more on how the two nations cooperate on international issues, CRI's Zheng Chenguang spoke earlier to Dr. Yu Wanli, Associate Professor at Peking University's School of International Studies.
…
That was Zheng Chenguang speaking to Dr. Yu Wanli, Associate Professor at Peking University's School of International Studies.
Bicycle renting in Beijing
Anchor:
Municipal authorities here in Beijing are working to try to correct a number of problems which have been cropping up as part of the city's bicycle rental program.
CRI's Li Dong explains.
Reporter:
A trial public bicycle rental and returns system has already been established in Beijing.
Anyone who wants to rent a bicycle can make use of this service at any public transportation card charging booth with their personal ID card.
The deposit is 200 yuan for local residents and residents with temporary residence permits.
Using these bicycles is free if you return them within an hour.
If you use the bicycles for more than one hour, a minimal fee is charged at 1 yuan per hour.
The upper limit for a whole day's usage comes to no more than 10 yuan.
According to CCTV, more than 62 thousand public transportation cards have been used to access the bicycle rental service. However, interviews conducted on the street have revealed that malfunction problems with the automatic rental system are very common.
"All the docking stations are broken. I can't return the bike here. I've been using the system for a year. The malfunction rate of both the docking system and the bicycles themselves is high. The chains slip and the seat position can't be adjusted."
The bicycles located in downtown districts can be returned at any bicycle rental spot. But bicycles rented further out from the center of the city can only circulate within nearby areas.
Mao Baohua is a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University. He says renting and returning bicycles at any rental spot should be a basic standard for a public bicycle rental system.
"People will not see the convenience of the service if such a network doesn't allow you to rent and return the bikes at any rental station, whatever the location. The government should take this as a basic standard in the beginning phase of the system's design. There may be many companies competing for the bicycle renting business, but the fundamental standard should be universal. In this way, the public won't encounter any difficulty with regards to renting and returning."
Jiao Tongmin, director of leasing at the Transport Administration of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport says they are doing all they can to perfect the bicycle rental system.
"We've carried out a number of measures, like reminding the bicycle rental companies carry out maintenance work. The ability to limit the rate of malfunctions is one of the standards by which we evaluate bicycle rental companies."
According to CCTV, less than 20 percent of people in Beijing use bicycles to commute to and from their place of work. This rate is continually declining by 2 to 4 percent every year.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
Biz Reports
Stocks
Asian stocks fell, with regional benchmark index retreating from a five-month high, as investors are awaiting the release of delayed U.S. payrolls data to gauge when the Federal Reserve will starting trimming record stimulus.
Chinese shares snapped a two-day winning streak as investors moved to lock in profits.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.8 percent, while the Shenzhen Component Index lost 1.4 percent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng is down 0.5 percent.
Elsewhere in Asia,
Nikkei ended 0.1 percent higher.
South Korean shares closed up 0.2 percent.
Singapore's Straits Times Index was up 0.5 percent.
And Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.4 percent.
China's house prices continue to rise
Recent official data shows prices of both new and existing homes have continued to rise in most Chinese cities in September.
National Bureau of Statistics, says in 70 major Chinese cities, 65 saw a month-on-month rise in the cost of new homes, down from 66 in August.
While 63 cities reported month-on-month price gains in existing and second-hand homes in September, compared to 58 in August.
The cost of new homes rose in 69 cities last month, the same as the August year on year figure.
68 reported higher year-on-year prices for existing homes last month, also the same as the August number.
Growth rates in first-tier cities were significantly higher compared to second- and third-tier cities.
New home prices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen rose by an average 1.4 percent month on month while those in 35 third-tier cities rose by 0.6 percent on average.
Draft consumer rights law revision pledges higher compensation
Anchor:
The latest revision of the Chinese government's new consumer rights legislation is likely to go to the vote this week at the bi-monthly session of the NPC Standing Committee.
The new revisions to the draft include protections for both consumers and businesses when it comes to e-commerce transactions.
Under the revised rules, e-shoppers will have the right to return products they purchase within 7-days for a full refund.
However, consumers will have to foot the bill for shipping the items back.
At the same time, the new legislation also sets out a list of items which can't be refunded.
The list includes things such as tailor-made items, perishables and a number of other selected items.
For more on this, CRI's Paul James earlier spoke with Mark Huges, Executive Business Editor for China Daily.
…
Back Anchor:
That was Mark Huges, Executive Business Editor for China Daily.
Shanghai releases mergers, acquisitions index
Shanghai has released a report on its corporate merger and acquisition index.
It shows the newly-built pilot free trade zone, or FTZ has become a hot spot for foreign investment.
Ji Guanglin, is general manager of the Assets and Equity Department at the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange:
"Overall trade, investment including funds started to move into Shanghai after the establishment of the free trade zone, which makes Shanghai become a financial and market center".
The Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange says any project involving the FTZ can command a high price at auction.
Take one project in Waigaoqiao Bonded Area for example, it set an opening bid of over 10 million yuan but got a final price of more than 40 million.
Ji Guanglin adds that the FTA has stimulated more active merger and acquisition activities.
"After the free trade zone was set up, we have seen freer inflow and outflow, especially the freedom of investment access as well as a higher rate of foreign investment, stimulating more active merger and acquisition activity".
The financial landscape index has also been announced, showing a rapid increase in financial innovation.
This will undoubtedly help build Shanghai into an international financial center.
The Shanghai FTZ started operation on Sept. 29, launched as a test bed for the Chinese leadership's drive of deepening market-oriented reforms and boosting economic vigor.
Headline News
China, Russia sign key oil deal
China and Russia have signed over 20 trade agreements here in Beijing, including several key oil export deals.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his visiting counterpart Dmitry Medvedev witnessed the signing of 21 documents in the Chinese capital.
Medvedev says under the new deal, Russia will supply an ADDITIONAL 100 million tons of crude oil to China over the next 10 years.
The deal is worth 85-billion US dollars.
Medvedev also says the two countries are planning to build an oil refinery in Tianjin, with a capacity of 16 million tons each year.
Li Keqiang and Medvedev have also co-chaired a regular annual meeting between senior government officials which began back in 1996.
Medvedev is now in China for a two-day visit which will also take him to east China's Anhui.
First-tier Chinese cities see housing price jump
Official figures show China's first-tier cities witnessed a jump in home prices through September.
Beijing saw new home prices increasing 20.6 percent year on year, while Shanghai saw the average price jump by 20.4 percent year on year.
Compared with August, new home prices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen rose by an average 1.4 percent.
In general, prices of both new and existing homes continued to rise in most Chinese cities in September.
National Bureau of Statistics says in 70 major Chinese cities, 65 saw a month-on-month rise in the cost of new homes.
Market watches say the recent year-on-year price hike is largely due to the low base number of last year.
China issues white paper on Tibet's development
Chinese central government has issued a white paper on the development of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
According to the white paper the development of Tibet "results from the innate logic of its social and historical environment".
The government document claims some people including the 14th Dalai Lama are trying to "keep Tibet in a backward primitive state forever".
The white paper states that the per capita net income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet has maintained double-digit growth for 10-consecutive years.
The region's economy has seen an 8.5 percent annual growth in average since 1951.
32 ministerial-level officials under graft investigation since 2008
A new report just published has released details of the number of ministerial-level officials investigated for corruption.
It states a total of 32 ministerial-level officials were investigated between January 2008 to August 2013.
According to the report from the Supreme People's Procuratorate, about 167-thousand people were prosecuted under embezzlement and bribery charges during this period.
Newspaper Picks
Shanghai Daily
"Beijing drops English as a major subject for exams"
Beijing education authorities are moving to limit the influence of English, one of the three "major" subjects for college entrance exams.
From 2016, the total score for the English test — one of the three majors along with Chinese and mathematics — will be lowered from 150 to 100 in college exams held in Beijing.
The move is being described as one of the series of measures to relieve the burden on children.
China Daily
"Urban residents have little time off"
A survey released on Monday shows urban residents have insufficient leisure time even on weekends.
The survey by the China Tourism Academy said daily leisure time for urban residents during the work week was less than 4 hours per person while the number for weekend days was 5 hours.
About one third urban employees polled by the survey indicated that they spent more than eight hours a day at work.
One fourth of respondents chose to travel during their holidays.
In 2013, the total annual leisure time for male urban residents reached 1,600 hours per person and the number for females was 1,500 hours.
The result was based on a poll of 3,500 respondents in 10 major cities in China.
AFP
"US toilet restaurant rides 'poop' publicity wave"
A restaurant billed as America's first toilet-themed eatery has just opened in Los Angeles.
The Magic Restroom restaurant, where customers sit on ceramic bathroom bowls and eat from toilet-shaped tableware, did brisk business on its first fully open weekend.
Some might wonder who would want to eat surrounded by reminders of where the food ends up. But Friday's grand opening was by all accounts a huge success, fueled by media interest from around the world.
The idea comes from China's Taiwan.
The food the serve there its actually normal, it's typical Taiwan food, like for example beef stew noodle.
Special Reports
Q&A Interview with John Howkins, "Father of Creative Industry"
Anchor:
China's economic hub Shanghai is forging ahead in its bid to become a cultural and arts center.
The ongoing Shanghai International Arts Festival forms part of that push.
The festival brings together experts and insiders from at home and abroad.
One theme discussed in one of the festival forums was "cultural diversity."
Questions on how Shanghai can balance modern and traditional culture, as well as big business and cultural innovations were addressed.
To that end CRI's Zhang Ru spoke to John Howkins, Director of the John Howkins Research Centre on the Creative Economy.
…
That's CRI's Zhang Ru speaking with John Howkins, Director of the John Howkins Research Centre on the Creative Economy.
Sports
World Series preview, Red Sox face tough challenge against St Louis Cardinals who are 'complete' team
In Baseball,
The World Series will start swinging tomorrow.
The Boston Red Sox will host the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park, the fourth World series meeting between them.
Boston will be hoping for a repeat performance of 2004, when they never trailed during a four-game sweep of the Cardinals and won their first championship since 1918.
But Red Sox manager, John Farrel said the Cardinals will not be a push-over:
"We're going up against a very complete team. We're still in our own process of getting familiar with them. They have very good young pitching. They have very good pitching in general. Just what I've looked at so far, they're well balanced. Obviously they hit with men in scoring position like no other. And they look to put guys in motion with the hit and and run quite a bit. And they've got a very complete team. How we neutralize Carlos Beltran for one, Matt Holliday another, whose swinging the bat very well and what impact Yadier (Molina) will have against us and our running game remains to be seen, but this is a, it's a very, very, good team that we're going up against."
Elsewhere, Jim Leyland has announced his retirement as manager of the Detroit Tigers after eight seasons.
Under his stewardship the Tigers won three division titles and made two trips to the World Series, but they missed out this year after losing to the Red Sox on Saturday.
Chelsea to face FC Shalke in decisive Champions League double header
The next round of Champions League matches are due to kick off in about six hours time where one of the highlights will be Chelsea v Shalke in a potentially decisive double header in Group E.
A two time Champion's League Winner with other clubs, Chelsea manager Jose Marinho has his heart set on winning for a third time with Chelsea.
To take control of the group they must beat the German side who have the maximum points from two games.
Chelsea Captain John Terry said that egos and reputations mean nothing and all of the players have to work hard if they want to get on the pitch.
'It is pretty simple - you play well, you are in the side. If not, you won't play. And that is the same for everyone in the team. That is the way it was when the manager was here before. And that is sort of what he demands from his players on a daily basis which hopefully he is happy with and he is getting at the moment from everyone. Which proves his job difficult then to then pick his side. But it is down to us as individuals to then make that decision from him difficult - who plays on the weekend and who doesn't."
Shalke have a turbulent record against English they beat Arsenal a year ago but lost heavily to Man U at the Champions League semi-finals back in May 2011.
McIlroy hopes for better result at BMW Masters in Shanghai
In Golf,
World number six Rory McIlroy says he hopes to put in a strong end to the season ahead of this weeks BMW Masters in Shanghai.
Sanctioned by the European Tour, the 7 million dollar event which attracts some of the world top players will take place from Thursday to Sunday this week.
Mcllroy arrived in Shanghai on Sunday night after he finished tied for second place at the OneAsia Korean Open last weekend.
After taking part in a Chinese drumming display, the Northern Irishman said he doesn't feel under pressure to win any of the final events and is just looking forward to next year:
"There is no panic and no sense of urgency. If I end the season without a win, whether I win or not this season, I am going to look out at it with disappointment anyway. So it would be nice to win but it's not going to be the end of the world, I just have to prepare as best as I can for 2014 and go from there but I am excited about the next few weeks- I got five great tournaments left and I am looking forward to finishing the year strongly."
The BMW Masters tournament is the first event in the Final Series of the Race to Dubai, only those who have played at least two of the three preceeding events can qualify for the DP world Tour Championship in Dubai - and challenge for the Race to Dubai title.
Russian teenager Kvyat gets drive with Toro Rosso F1 team
Formula one team Toro Rosso has announced it will have a 19-year-old driving for it next season.
Russian driver Daniil Kvyat is upgrading from GP3 to partner Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne.
He is taking the seat of Daniel Ricciardo, who is being promoted to Red Bull following the departure of Mark Webber, who will leave the sport at the end of the season to begin competing in Porche endurance racing.
Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost said Kvyat had earned his place following a strong performance in July testing.
He said the teenager gave "very informative feedback" at the young driver test at Silverstone, suggesting he has strong foundations on which to grow as a driver.
Colombian football team wear knock-off shirts after forgetting to take them to away game
And finally,
Colombian football team Independiente Santa Fe had to play in counterfeit versions of their own shirts after forgetting to take their away kit to a game at Boyaca Chico.
Boyaca refused to help resolve the situation by switching their own shirts so Sante Fe began the match in their grey training tops, adding numbers with surgical tape.
Meanwhile an assistant went outside the stadium to pick up shirts from street vendors selling knock of versions of the kit, which they wore later in the game.
Santa Fe got their own back though, they defeated Boyaca Chico two-nil.
Entertainment
Cee Lo Green goes to court
US singer-songwriter Cee Loo Green is appearing in an LA court on charges of supplying ecstasy.
The five-time Grammy winner contests the charges.
If convicted Green stands to face up to four years in prison.
Green allegedly supplied a woman with the drug over a dinner date in July of last year.
The 39 year old begun his career with Souther hip hop group Goodie Mob.
However, Green's break through came with Gnarles Barkley, his collaboration with Danger Mouse which spawned global hits such as the 2006 smash hit "Crazy".
Green's bail is set at $30,000 and he stands to face another hearing next month.
Dolly Parton to tour UK
Country legend Dolly Parton has announced a headline tour of Britain and Ireland.
The "Blue Smoke World Tour" will take be sweeping through Europe next Summer.
The 16 date tour will begin at Liverpool's Echo Arena in June, wrapping off in Nottingham in July.
The tour will be in support of Parton's upcoming album, Blue Smoke, released through the singer's own Dolly Records.
The 67 year old multi-instrumentalist says she is as excited to return to Europe as when she first set foot there many many years ago.
Parton's five decade long career has included movie roles, a theme park named Dollywood and the honour of having the first cloned animal named after her.
In other Dolly news, the star was involved in a car crash in her native Tennessee yesterday.
Her and two other passengers were all taken to the hospital for treatment.
However, Dolly is now back at home recovering from what turned out to be only minor injuries.
Q Music Awards
The annual Q Magazine Awards hit London last night.
Ronnie Woods, Tinie Tempa and Robbie Williams were just some of the music royalty joining in the festivities.
The reader-voted awards honours the best movers and shakers in the music industry and often comes full of surprises.
This year, Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro triumphed over superstar David Bowie and Daft Punk to clench the Best Album award.
Suede, who recently played here in Beijing, took home the Icon award while Robbie Williams was voted Q Music Idol.
Former boyband member Williams returned to the live music circuit this year after the birth of his daughter last year.
Upon the win, Williams says that he has never enjoyed his job as much as now.
Other winners include Ellie Goulding for Best Solo Act and Arctic Monkeys whose song "Do I Wanna Know?" was named the best track of the year.
Kelly Clarkson marries in Tennesee
Kelly Clarkson has married music manager Brandon Blackstock.
The pair, who had been dating for two years, tied the knot at Blackberry Farms in Tennessee over the weekend.
The singer made the announcement on Monday, tweeting a photo of herself and her new husband.
Since becoming the first ever winner of "American Idol", Clarkson has become a three-time Grammy winner with five albums under her belt.
Damien Lewis to star in "Queen of the Desert"
British actor Damien Lewis has signed on for upcoming Gertrude Bell biopic "Queen of the Desert".
The "Homeland" actor will play war hero Lt Col. Charles Doughty-Wylie who begins an affair with the titular character, to be played by Nicole Kidman.
Bell was an English traveller, writer, archelogist and spy who helped establish the Hashemite dynasties in modern day Jordan and Iraq.
"Queen of the Desert" will be helmed by renowned German auteur Werner Herzog.
James Franco and Robert Pattinson complete the all star cast.
The film is poised for release in 2015.
This is not the only Bell biopic in the pipelines.
"Prometheus" director Sir Ridley Scott is also working on a Bell-biopic with Angelina Jolie as the lead.
Scott's film will be penned by "The Constant Gardner" writer Jeffrey Caine.
Tim Burton to direct Beetlejuice 2
Tim Burton is reportedly set to direct a sequel to his 1988 classic Beetlejuice.
The original starred Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis as ghosts hauting their former homes.
Michael Keaton played Beetlejuice, a bio-exorcist from the underworld who goes around scaring away living humans from houses.
The upcoming project has been in development since last year and Keaton is expected to return for the sequel as the flamboyantly formidable Beetlejuice.
Burton has said in the past that he would be up for directing given that the script was good and that Keaton gets on board.
The director is currently said to be in talks with Warner Brothers, who will be producing the film.
A quick recap of headlines before we go.
China and Russia sign new trade deals including an additional 100 million tons of crude oil to China.
Storms with high winds set to hit Australian wildfires.
Business leaders from China and the U.S meet in Washington.
Business, China's house prices continue to rise.
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