新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/07/01

 Paul James with you on this Monday, July 1st, 2013.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
ASEAN foreign minister have wrapped up a meeting in Brunei with a call for better coordination with China when it comes to the South China Sea.
Mass demonstrations are taking place across Egypt marking the one-year anniversary of President Mohamed Morsi taking power.
US President Barack Obama is set to make the 3rd and final stop of his current African tour later today.
In Business, the head of the China Banking Regulatory Commission contends the liquidty crunch in this country's banking system is coming to an end.
In sports... This year's edition of the Tour de France is underway.
In entertainment.... James Cameron is facing another lawsuit connected to Avatar.
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will see moderate rain today, with a high of 26 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will see showers tonight with a low of 22.
In Shanghai, it will be cloudy today, 35 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 27 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will see showers in the daytime the temperature's at 24, and tonight will have slight rain with a low of 11 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 36.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 29.
And in North America
New York, thundershowers, with a high of 27 degrees.
Washington, thundershowers, highs of 29
Houston, overcast, 36.
Honolulu, overcast, 29.
Toronto, thundershowers, 24.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, sunny, 14.
And Rio de Janeiro will see moderate rain with highs of 27 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China willing to work with ASEAN to safeguard peace in South China Sea
 
Anchor
ASEAN foreign ministers are calling for better engagement with the Chinese government when it comes to the various disputes in the South China Sea.
CRI's Su Yi has more.
Reporter
The joint communiqué issued following an ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Brunei mainly focuses on the push for the building of an ASEAN Community by 2015.
But it also touches upon some of the hot regional issues, including the disputes in the South China Sea.
ASEAN foreign ministers are suggesting it's necessary to maintain a "positive momentum" in the interactions among ASEAN countries and the Chinese government over the issue.
For his part, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the Chinese government is willing to work with the ASEAN nations to push forward a broader code of conduct in the South China Sea.
"Both China and other coastal states in the South China Sea are making efforts for a stable South China Sea. I believe any activity taken by individual claimant countries to go against the trend will not enjoy the support of the majority of countries and will not succeed either."
China and ASEAN countries are also promising to hold senior official-level meetings in September in China in connection with the South China Sea.
The meetings are designed to try to develop a more detailed Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
China and the ASEAN nations signed the original Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea back in 2002.
This is meant to serve as a broad-based guideline to solve the various disputes in the region.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.
"The document has made clear that the specific disputes and differences should be resolved through friendly consultation and negotiation by the directly concerned sovereign states."
Wang Yi also says developing stronger ties with ASEAN has always been a "regional diplomatic priority" for the Chinese government.
For CRI, I'm Su Yi.
 
 
Mass demostrations mark Morsi's one year in office
 
Massive demonstrations are taking place across Egypt against the rule of president Mohamed Morsi.
Demonstrations in Cairo and other cities in Egypt are marking the one-year anniversary of Morsi's taking office.
So far 4 people have been killed amid the demonstrations.
Dozens of others have been hurt.
Protesters in Cairo have also set fire to the main offices of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.
"The situation is not getting better, the streets have become filled with rubbish and there is no petrol, everything is becoming scarce and prices are becoming more expensive."
At the same time, Morsi supporters are also on the streets of Cairo.
"The reason for our protest is to reaffirm that we are peaceful, and to reaffirm the legitimacy of President Morsi and the elections. And whoever wants to bring in a president should bring him in through elections."　
While there have been a number of violent acts, the vast majority of the demonstrations have remained mostly peaceful.
Clashes between pro-and anti-Morsi camps have so-far left 8 dead and hundreds injured over the past few days, with many upset with the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi's failure to address Egypt's economic problems and corruption.
For more on the situation in Egypt, CRI's Rebacca Hume spoke earlier with David Siddhartha Patel, professor of government with Cornell University.
(qa with patel on Egypt)
That was David Siddhartha Patel, professor of government with Cornell University, speaking with CRI's Rebacca Hume.
 
 
17 wounded in Turkey during protests backing Gezi Park demonstrations
 
Fresh protests in Turkey have left at least 17 people hurt.
Police have been using water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters in the southern province of Mersin.
The anti-government demonstrations are part of the larger movement which first began in Istanbul a month ago.
So far 5 people have been killed in the demonstrations.
Around 5-thousand others have been hurt in the protests against the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
 
 
Obama unveils initiative to help Africans gain access to electricity
 
US President Barack Obama is promising a new infusion of American cash for Africa.
As part of his current stop in South Africa, Obama has promising a 7-billion US dollar investment in electrical infrastructure.
The infusion of cash is expected to help expand access to electricity in six African countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania.
An additional 9 billion dollars is expected to be invested by private US firms, including General Electric and Symbion.
As past of his time in South Africa, Obama has made a stop on Robben Island where ailing former South African President Nelson Mandela was jailed for 18 years.
In a speech, Obama has called on young South Africans to fulfill Mandela's vision of equality and opportunity.
Obama will leave South Africa for Tanzania later today.
This is to be his last stop on his current 3-nation African tour, which has also seen him make a stop in Senegal.
 
 
Kenyan scholar says Obama's African trip aims to counter China
 
Anchor
Obama's impending arrival in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, is raising eyebrows from observers in east Africa.
CRI's Wei Tong explains.
Reporter
Obama's itinerary coincides, in some aspects, with Chinese President Xi Jinping's earlier visit to Africa in March. Both chose to visit three African countries, among which two were the same, attracting the attention of many residents, particularly academics, in Africa.
Munene Macharia, professor of international relations at the United States International University in Nairobi told CRI that Obama's African trip appears to be China-focused.
"Coming immediately after the president of China visited Africa is an indication that there is a serious concern in Washington, about it losing its influence and prominence in the world. So in terms of projections, the United states has been outwitted by China and that in itself is a concern to United States, which tended to be dominant almost everywhere in the world; that dominance is eroding very fast."
Among the 54 countries in the African continent, both Xi Jinping and Obama have chosen Tanzania and South Africa as their destinations.
According to Macharia, President Xi Jinping's choice is understandable. Macharia says Tanzania is a country that has had very good relations with China even during the cold war.
Going to South Africa also bears a strong a symbolic value. South Africa has the biggest economy in Africa, and is a member of BRICS; indeed, President Xi Jinping attended a meeting in Durban as a BRICS member.
President Xi Jinping was the first to visit Africa and Africa was one of his first destinations since his election; this is a revealing statement in terms of how highly he puts the African Continent on his agenda.
But as for the United States, Macharia says that it is delivering a different message.
"...the message was a very concerned one, that they were losing and that China has shown Africa to be a priority; otherwise, the United States does not think much about Africa. That in itself sends people in Washington to the drawing board on what to do. So they quickly hatched up a plan that Obama has to counter Xi's moves in Africa. And therefore he goes to the same countries that Xi went just to counter that influence. "
According to Macharia, it remains to be seen how far Obama can achieve during this African tour, but nevertheless, it is expected to boost the economic ties between the world's leading economy and the African continent.
For CRI, I am Wei Tong.
 
 
Croatia's entry into EU causes mixed reactions
 
Croatia is now officially the European Union's 28th member-state.
The southeastern European country has officially joined the Union as of this Monday.
The assention into the EU is being met with mixed reactions in the capital, Zagreb.
"The Croation people, especially we young people, expect that there might be more job opportunities. But our country may not be as competitive as other EU members."
"I'm afraid that everything will become far, far more expensive than it used to be. So, I don't think it's going to bring anything particularly useful to us. I hope that it might bring law and order, because that's what we need."
Croatia's economy is still trying to recover from the Bosnian conflict some 20-years ago.
The country is only the 2nd of the 6 former Yugoslav countries to join the European Union.
Slovenia joined the EU in 2004.
 
 
EU anger at US bugging
 
European officials are railing against reports US intelligence agencies have bugged EU offices on both sides of the Atlantic.
European Parliament president Martin Schulz.
"I am shocked in case that it is true, I feel treated as a European, a representative of a European institution like the representative of the enemy. Is this the basis for a constructive relationship on the basis of mutual trust?　I think no."
It's being reported US surveillance agents have been targeting various European officials.
The US National Security Agency has been under heavy scrutiny following the leaks by whistleblower Edward Snowden, who revealed the NSA has been collecting and reviewing vast amounts of foreign Internet traffic.
The US government has been defending its so-called PRISM program, arguing it has helped prevent terrorist attacks.
The US government has been trying to track down Snowden, who is still believed to be holed-up at Moscow's main airport.
He's been trying to find asyslum in Ecuador.
That country's government is currently reviewing his asylum application.
 
 
Locals condemn terrorist attack in Xinjiang  
 
Anchor
Authorities in Xinjiang say they've apprehended all those involved in last week's rioting near the city of Turpan.
CRI's Lucy Du with more on the terrorist attack.
Reporter
38-year old Usman Tuerxun lives in the city of Turpan, which is about 65 kilometers away from the township where the terrorist attack took place.
An ethnic Uygur, Tuerxun makes his living growing grape and running a small business.
Though unaffected by the attack, he describes those involved in the attack as villains.
"Don't you think so? Aren't they villains as they killed innocent people? Villains should be caught by the police and imprisoned."
Authorities are describing the 17 people involved in the attack as religious extremists.
One was arrested a day prior to the incident.
Police say the rest of the group, fearing their plans might be revealed, launched the assault on the local police station in Shanshan County.
They also attacked a construction site and a number of other local businesses.
In the end, 24 people were killed, including 2 police officers.
21 others were hurt in the assault, which saw the attackers hack away at people with knives.
Usman Tuerxun says the unrest is unusual for the area.
"I was worried at first. But now the government has dealt with it and we were told that the situation has been back to normal in the county. We don't need to worry any more."
Local authorites have been carrying out 24-hour armed patrols since the attack took place on Wednesday.
The deadly assault is already starting to take its toll on the local tourism industry.
Lu Chunjing is the deputy mayor of Turpan.
"Turpan is an open city, a tourist city, so the tourism industry was affected directly. Like after the riot in July 5th, 2009, the tourism industry was the first economic sector to be affected, yet it was also the first to recover. People in the region have a strong resolution and confidence in a harmonious and stable life, so they have come together to try to maintain social stability."
For CRI, this is Lucy Du.
 
 
PLA hosts annual open day in Hong Kong
 
The Chinese military has held its annual public opening in Hong Kong this weekend.
Sunday's open-house at the PLA headquarters in the city yesterday has been held to mark today's 16th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China from British control.
On top of opening up the doors to the public, the People's Liberation Army has also taken part in anti-terrorism drills.
"I feel very proud. Our country is so strong, and that is thanks to the soldiers who work hard to help and serve us behind the scene."
The PLA bases have been hosting open houses since Hong Kong was repatriated on July 1st, 1997.
A large-scale celebration marking the handover is to be held later on today in Hong Kong.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Market preview
 
Anchor
Let's preview of what's happening in the business world this week.
Here's CRI's Su Yi.
Reporter
Data this week should increase the chatter about when the U.S. Federal Reserve will start scaling back its stimulus.
At the same time, a new string of economic stats are due to be released here in China.
Fed policy makers have sent mixed messages since Chairman Ben Bernanke's June 19th announcement that the central bank is on course to end its bond buying program.
Several officials have tried to reassure the markets this past week that the phase-out of the central bank's asset purchase program will depend on the economic data, not the date.
He also stressed the need to take a long view of the improvement in the economy.
It's being projected 166-thousand U.S. non-farm payroll jobs have added in June.
This is expected to bring the US jobless rate down to 7.5-percent.
The U.S. Institute of Supply Management's June manufacturing survey isn't expected to signal a boom either.
Economists expect the index will rise modestly to 50.5 from 49.0 in May.
Meanwhile, China's official poll of purchasing managers is expected to come in at 50.
This would singnal expansion from contraction.
Mark Carney, the ex-Bank of Canada chief who takes over at the Bank of England on Monday, is a firm proponent of forward guidance.
 
 
Liquidity shortage eases in Chinese banks
 
The China Banking Regulatory Commission says the liquidity shortage in this country's banking system is starting to ease.
CBRC Chair Shang Fulin has made the suggestion over the weekend at a financial forum in Shanghai.
"As of June 28, the total excess reserve of all financial institutions reached 1.5 trillion yuan, more than double the normally demanded amount for payment and clearing services. The deposit reserve ratio stands at around 20 percent, indicating adequate position for payment. In recent days, the liquidity shortage among banks has started to ease and will not affect the stable operation of Chinese banks."
Chinese banks have been struggling with record-high interbank interest rates in recent weeks.
The Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate, or SHIBOR, spiked from the normal rate of around 3-percent to nearly 13.5-percent around a week ago.
The SHIBOR is now hovering around 5-percent following a pledge by the central authorities this past week to provide targeted liquidity injections for certian banks.
The Chinese government has been pressing the country's banking system to tighten its own liquidity controls amid fears of a slowdown in the economy, on top of concerns about the growing amount of debt being held by local governments.
 
 
Think Tank Summit Chinese Economy - China's slower GDP growth in reasonable range: economists
 
Economists attending this year's Global Think Tank Summit in Beijing this weekend have been suggesting this country's GDP growth is still within a reasonable range.
Chinese growth through the first quarter came in at 7.7-percent.
Paula Suba Qi, director of International Economics Research at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, suggests this rate of growth is what we should expect for an economy in transition.
"China has the potential to grow. And I think a growth rate within 7.5 and 8 percent is actually good and appropriate for China. In fact it has actually slowed down the economy compared to previous years. It has somehow mitigated some of the problems of the overheating, soaring inflation, overcapacity and so on."
More than 300 representatives from international organizations, think tanks and former senior government officials have attended the two-day summit, which wrapped up yesterday here in Beijing.
 
 
Live call-in on China Economy with Mike Bastin
 
Anchor
Chinese economic observers attending this year's Global Think Tank Summit are suggesting China's days of relying on exports is over.
Those attending the sessions are suggesting the days of China relying on low labor costs are over.
The Chinese government has been trying to create a more consumption-based economy.
But questions have been raised at the Summit as to how well the Chinese economy will make the transition.
For more on this, we're joined live on the line with Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.
Question:
1. Are the days of an export-based economy truly behind China?
2. Is it possible for the government to force-create a consumption-based economy?
3. What is a reliable GDP figure for a consumption-based economy?
Back Anchor:
That was Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.
 
 
NDRC increases natural gas prices for industry
 
Non-residental natural gas users here in China are facing a 15-percent increase in prices in just over a week.
Starting July 10th, average prices for natural gas are going to rise from 1.69-yuan per cubic meter up to 1.95-yuan.
Gas prices for residential users will not change.
Non-residential gas consumption is expected to increase by 10 percent this year.
The National Development and Reform Commission says the move will help end overcapacity in the industrial sector.
It's also hoped the move will help increase natural gas imports.
Around 27-percent of the natural gas consumption here in China depended on imports last year.
China National Petroleum Corporation signed a deal last week with Russia's second-biggest independent gas producer, Novatek, to acquire a 20 percent stake in a Liquified Natural GAs project in Russia's Arctic region.
 
 
Major online retailer uses electronic invoicing
 
Chinese e-commerce giant 360buy has begun using electronic invoicing for individual buyers.
Officials with Jingdong Mall say the new invocing is available to customers buying books and video products here in Beijing.
Customers can choose between either paper invoices or electronic ones.
Industry observes say this should help the government with its plans to begin taxing the e-commerce sector.
Online retail sales here in China reached 1.32-trillion yuan last year.
This represents a rise of nearly 65-percent compared to the previous year.
 
 
News Corp officially splits in two
 
News Corp has officially split into two separate companies.
The two companies will begin trading separately in New York this Monday.
News Corp's entertainment arm, including its film studio arm, is being spun off under the name of 21st Century Fox.
The publishing arm is retaining the News Corp brand.
This company will continue to run the Sun and The Times in the UK, and the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post in the United STates.
The News Corp publishing arm recorded a $2.1-billion loss in the last financial year.
 
 
Onyx explores possible sale, rejects Amgen offer
 
Onyx Pharmaceuticals is reportedly looking for a merger after rejecting an unsolicited bid by rival Amgen.
Amgen offered Onyx 120-US dollars per share in cash.
This represents a 38 percent's premium on Onyx's closing price as of Friday.
However, Onyx says the offer significantly undervalues its prospects.
Onyx now says it's "actively exploring" the possibility of combining with another company.
Onyx has a market cap of over $6.3-billion US dollars.
Amgen is the world's largest biotech company, with a market cap of about 74-billion US dollars.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China willing to work with ASEAN to safeguard peace in South China Sea
 
ASEAN foreign ministers are calling for better engagement with the Chinese government when it comes to the various disputes in the South China Sea.
ASEAN foreign ministers are suggesting it's necessary to maintain a "positive momentum" in the interactions among ASEAN countries and the Chinese government over the issue.
For his part, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the Chinese government is willing to work with the ASEAN nations to push forward a broader code of conduct in the South China Sea.
China and ASEAN countries are also promising to hold senior official-level meetings in September in China in connection with the South China Sea.
 
 
Fugitive of Xinjiang attack captured
 
Authorities in Xinjiang say they've apprehended all those involved in last week's rioting near the city of Turpan.
Authorities are describing the 17 people involved in the attack as religious extremists.
One was arrested a day prior to the incident.
Police say the rest of the group, fearing their plans might be revealed, launched the assault on the local police station in Shanshan County.
They also attacked a construction site and a number of other local businesses.
In the end, 24 people were killed, including 2 police officers.
21 others were hurt in the assault, which saw the attackers hack away at people with knives.
 
 
2 killed in Egypt's anti-president protest
 
Massive demonstrations against the rule of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi are continuing to sweep across the country.
The demonstrations in Cairo and elsewhere across the country have been launched to mark the one-year anniversary of Morsi's taking office.
So far two people have been killed amid the demonstrations.
Dozens of others have been hurt.
Protesters in Cairo have also set fire to the main offices of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.
While there have been a number of violent acts, the vast majority of the demonstrations have remained mostly peaceful.
 
 
Uganda tanker explosion kills 29
 
At least 29 people are dead following a tanker explosion in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
Dozens of others have been hurt in the blast.
A tanker truck, filled with gas, collided with another vehicle.
Many of those killed were trying to collect the spilling fuel when the explosion took place.
 
 
28 killed, over 60 injured in suicide attack in SW Pakistan
 
Close to 30 people have been killed in a suicide bombing in Pakistan.
The attack has taken place in the southwestern city of Quetta.
A suicide bomber has reportedly targeted a Shia religious seminary in the city
Authorities say they fear the number of deaths is going to rise, as many of the roughly 60 others hurt are said to be in critical condition.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Parental visits now legal
Summary
A law demanding people visit their elderly parents regularly is now in effect as of today.
The new legislation makes it illegal for people to neglect the "spiritual needs" of their parents.
The move codifies attempts by the Chinese government to try to improve the well-being of the elderly in this country.
China Daily
Headline
Ministry drafts child welfare law
Summary
The Ministry of Civil Affairs is said to be putting together a comprehensive child welfare system to provide universal welfare protection for children.
Children are going to be categorized as either orphans, in plight, from underprivileged families or from ordinary families.
Each will be offered different standards of welfare services.
The Beijing News
Headline
Infant Formula inspections
Summary
This country's food and drug safety watchdog says infant formula will go through 66 random tests after it goes to the market.
Tests will try to determine whether infant formula includes antibiotics, heavy metals or other potentially hazardous chemicals.
South China Metropolitan Daily
Headline
Guangdong removing highway tolls
Summary
Provincial authorities in Guangdong have removed 10 highway toll gates and have stopped charging on 31 other highway projects as of today.
Over 650 kilometers of formerly-tolled highways are now free.
This includes the controversial Jiu Jiang Bridge in the city of Foshan.
Beijing Morning Post
Headline
Summer travel rush begins
Summary
The summer travel rush is officially underway as of today.
The traditional holiday season runs until the end of August.
Many university students are returning home amid the summer break.
Beijing Railway Administration is anticipating 46-million passengers during this period.
The majority of the travel is expected to take people to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, on top of other scenic spots and summer resorts.
SHANG DAILY
Headline
Agencies try 'travel now, pay later' tours
Summary
A number of travel agencies in Shanghai are testing a "travel now, pay later" business model before a new tourism takes effect next month.
The "travel now, pay later" model allows travelers to refuse to pay for a trip if they are not satisfied with the service.
It's being suggested the approach is being well-received by customers.
So far no one has refused to pay.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Toronto Film to dedicate this summer to Chinese cinema
 
ANCHOR
The history of Chinese Cinema is being put on display in the Canadian city of Toronto.
CR's Marc Cavigli has more.
REPORTER
The Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world's largest and most popular film festivals, is dedicating this summer to celebrating the history of Chinese cinema.
A Century of Chinese Cinema is a major film retrospective 3-years in the making and comprised of over 80-Chinese films ranging from contemporary pieces to films made in the 1930s.
Noah Cowan, the artistic director for the event, articulates the complicated nature of Chinese film history.
"Chinese cinema has always been multipolar. It has always come out of different places different regions different cities. This program really sought to connect these various Chinese cinemas together in ways that haven't been before."
Unlike the US' cinema history which is predominantly rooted in Los Angeles, Chinese film production has occurred across the entire country creating a mosaic of culture and style.
The festival partnered with the China, Hong Kong, and Chinese-Taipei Film Archives to bring new, digitally restored, and archival 35mm prints to Canadian audiences.
However, finding a blend of films to represent Chinese film history was no easy task.
Cowan points out what he and his team looked for.
"This program ended up at 80 films it could've easily been 280. We were guided by several motivations. The key one is that there's just a base of films that are unmissable when you're dealing with Chinese film history just because of their significance of the time the critical significance."
When determining which films to screen Cowan also explored how films functioned within a cross-regional conversation.
For example, how a film produced on the mainland in the 1950s relates to a film produced 10-years later in Hong Kong.
This retrospective is much more than a film screening though.
The Century of Chinese Cinema also incorporates visual art exhibits to engage participants by dissecting and challenging our concept of film form.
Cowan believes the popularity of going to the cinema to watch a film is flagging and gallery installations may offer a glimpse into the evolution of film.
"We're looking to the future of cinema and I think part of the future of cinema will be in the gallery and China has been a real leader in that respect. And we have one of the great artists in the world right now Yang Fudong who's done a beautiful piece, called New Women which harkens back to the 1930s and this moment of openness in cinema that's so important in understanding Chinese cinema history."
Rounding out the retrospective are special guest panels including Chen Kaige, Johnnie To, and Jackie Chan.
An Asian Film Summit is also set to take place this September for the festival's ongoing commitment to build a bridge between Asian cinema and Western audiences.
A Century of Chinese Cinema is running now and will continue until August 11th.
For CRI, I'm Marc Cavigli.
 
 
 
Sports
 
 
Brazil leads at Confederations Cup final
 
The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup final between Brazil and Spain is in its final minutes right now at Marcana Stadium in Rio.
Just two minutes in, Fred scored the quickest goal in final history to give Brazil an early lead.
Then Brazilian poster boy Neymar scored off a pass from Oscar in the 44th minute, to the delight of a boisterous home crowd.
Fred got a second goal two minutes into the second half, putting Brazil up 3-0. The pro-Brazil energy inside Maracana stadium has got to be tough on the Spanish team.
This final is the first time the two football powerhouses have met in over a decade, the last time being in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Brazil won that game 1-0.
Authorities were expecting major protests to erupt around the time of the final, but so far reports are that the demonstrations are largely peaceful. Although AP reported that police had to use tear gas on several thousand protestors who marched to within 100 yards of the stadium.
 
 
Draws set for the fourth round at Wimbledon.
 
Week 2 at Wimbledon features more unfamiliar names than usual after major first week upsets sent top players like Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova packing.
Fourth seed David Ferrer survived a five-set clash with Alexandr Dolgopolov to advance to the fourth round.
Also advancing are Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Juan Martin del Potro.
For the women, no. 1 seed Serena Williams posted her 600th career win after dispatching 42-year old Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm.
And Li Na reached the fourth round after defeating Czech player Klara Zakopalova.
 
 
New Zealand sweeps at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013
 
New Zealand dominated at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 in Moscow over the weekend, leaving with both the mens and womens titles.
The All Blacks men had a magnificent final day of play. They dispatched defending champions Wales in the quarterfinals, then held their old rivals Fiji scoreless in the semifinals, winning 17-0.
And then the final match wasn't even close. The All Blacks decimated England 33-0 to claim the cup and top off their dominant international sevens season.
Tim Mikkelson opened scoring with an easy break through Canada's line. Tomasi Cama and Mikkelson added two more tries before the half.
England's defensive pressure was better in the second half, but they failed to score.
The All Blacks Waisake Naholo and Gillies Kaka got two tries in the second half to cement their victory and claim their second rugby sevens World Cup .
In the womens final, New Zealand beat Canada 29-12 to win their first world cup title.
 
 
Australia forces final test decider after beating the British and Irish Lions in the second test
 
Also over the weekend,
Australia beat the Britisih & Lions 16-15 in the second test to level the series, and thwart the touring squad's attempt to win their first series since 1997.
Wallabies Captain James Horwill helped his team come from behind in the final moments of the game.
"We just knew what we had to do. We had to get over the stripe. We were obviously down by six So we had to build pressure and I felt that was a time to take that opportunity (take a scrum instead of a shot at goal) and try and, you know, put pressure on them down there because we hadn't had a lot of ball inside their twenty two to make them defend."
The final-Test decider will take place in Sydney this weekend.
 
 
Jans Bakelants wins second stage at 100th Tour de France
 
The 100th Tour de France got underway over the weekend, with Germany's Marcel Kittel claiming the coveted first yellow jersey.
This year's Tour suffered an unusually chaotic opening stage.
A team bus became stuck at the finish line, forcing organizers to improvise then cancel a last minute course change.
Shortly after that, a nasty crash brought down several major contenders, including Mark Cavendish and Alberto Contador.
Belgian cyclist Jan Bakelants won stage two yesterday, which gives him a one second overall lead ahead of Britain's David Miller.
Cyclists will tackle a hilly third stage later today.
 
 
Vancouver trades Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils
 
The NHL Draft is taking place today, and in a surprising move, the Vancouver Canucks are shipping goaltender Cory Schneider to New Jersey.
The trade solves the Canucks goaltender issues, but not in the way most people were expecting.
Schneider has a.931 save percentage over the last three seasons, which is the best for goaltenders with at least 75 games.
But because the Canucks have been unable to move out current goaltender Roberto Luongo and his hefty contract, Schneider has been stuck as backup.
In return, Vancouver got the no. 9 overall pick, which they used on London Knights forward Bo Horvat.
 
 
Paul Casey triumphs at Irish Open
 
In golf,
Paul Casey came from being four shots behind in the final round to win the Irish Open at Carton House. The Englishman finished on five under par 67.
At the PGA's AT & T tournament, Bill Haas took first place after a final round of 5 under 66.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Hong Kong filmmakers shoot first film about Snowden
 
Four Hong Kong filmmakers have made the first film on Edward Snowden.
The mavericks have beaten Hollywood to produce the first film about the tense intrigue that swept across the city where the intelligence leaker first sought refuge.
The amateur filmmakers shot the film in just under a week on a shoe string budget.
They none-the-less managed to feature all the major locations in the story, and even casting a friend of a friend who is said to bear uncanny resemblance to Snowden – after a haircut of course.
Entitled 'Verax', after Snowden's code name, the short re-imagines the build up to Snowden's revelations on the operations of the NSA, for whom he was contracted as an IT technician.
Cinematographer Edwin Lee told the press that the four are all awaiting a Youtube hit from the man himself.
Lee added that the break-neck production speed was invigorating and guerilla film making at its rawest.
The film has been published on Youtube and the team says that what they would like the most is a thumbs up from the man himself.
"The Quiet American" director Phillip Noyce recently said that he was already planning to shoot a film about Snowden, with Liam Hemsworth in the starring role.
But sadly for Noyce, he can no longer claim to be the first.
 
 
James Cameron sued for $50 million over Avatar
 
James Cameron is facing a $50 million court case over his 2009 film Avatar.
(Avatar)
Artist Roger Dean accuses Cameron of stealing aspect of his body of work, which was created over a period of 40 years.
Dean, who designed album covers for Yes and Asia, claims that the Tree of Life and Home Tree of the Na'vi are "willful and deliberate" copies of elements in his work.
The film include vast computer generated floating islands, jungle wildlife and tree-dwellings
Avatar made cinematic history as the first film to gross over$2 billion at the box office and still holds the title of the highest-grossing film of all time.
The film, known for its use of cutting edge 3D technique, earned an impressive 9 Oscar nominations and three wins.
Cameron faced and triumphed in two cases of intellectual property theft last year, and is currently facing accusations of script theft from screenwriter Bryant Moore.
Two sequels to Avatar are already in pre-production, with first expected in December 2014 with the second to follow in 2015.
 
 
Glastonbury Festival brings out Rolling Stones, Mumford and Sons and Bruce Forsyth
 
The biggest date in the festival descended on England over the weekend.
Over 180,000 revelers flocked to the Glastonbury festival in the Somerset country side.
The famously mud-drenched musicevent was this year blessed with glorious sunshine.
One of the key highlights was the historic Glastonbury debut of rock legends the Rolling Stones.
(Stones)
The band closed the stage on Saturday nights, stirring up a flurry of praise for their "astonishing" performance in the Sunday media.
This is the first time organizer Michael Eavis has managed to persuade the Stones to swap the stadium for the rolling fields despite reported having tried for many years.
Meanwhile, headliners Mumford and Sons took to the stage despite earlier concerns over the health of bass player Ted Dwane.
(Mumford)
Dwane received surgery earlier this month for a blood clot in his brain, which caused many to fear that the band may not perform in the end.
However, the recent Grammy winners cheerily reassured fans that they were "match fit" for their first ever headliner set on the iconic Pyramid Stage.
The eclectic line up this covered all the basis, featuring sets from Chase and Status, Elvis Costello, Rita Ora and the Smashing Pumpkins just to name a few.
Organisers also brought on board TV entertainer and British national treasure Sir Bruce Forsyth, who – at the age of 85 – is the oldest performer in Glasonbury history.
(Bruce)
Brucey's repertoire of music hall gems caused quite a stir, bringing a crowd so large that security had to step in to managed the hundreds that oozed out of the performance tent.
Despite this little hiccough, security and police say that it has been smooth sailing with crime rates down by 33% compared to the last Glastonbury back in 2011.