Hourly News updated 10:00 2011/11/08

 Jury reaches verdict in Michael Jackson doctor's manslaughter case

Michael Jackson's personal physician has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a jury in California.
Murray showed no emotion as the guilty verdict was read out in court in Los Angeles.
The jury in the case took some 10 hours to deliberate the case against Conrad Murray.
The jury has determined 1 that Murray acted recklessly in administering a sedative 2 to Michael Jackson which ultimately led to his death in the summer of 2009.
Murray could face up to 4-years in prison, and has been remanded into custody 3 to await sentencing.
Sentencing has been set for November 29th.
 
 
Railways deny asking for 800b rescue
The Ministry 4 of Railways is denying suggestions that it is pleading for 800 billion yuan from the central government.
An industry insider says the Ministry needs trillions of yuan to fund a gap in the construction of railway projects in this country.
At least one expert is suggesting the ambitious plan to build a high-speed rail network has led to heavy costs.
The expert contends that none of the rail lines opened after 2008 are making a profit, leading to a widening funding gap.
 
 
China to increase domestic supply of iron ore
The central authorities are now planning to supply 45 percent of this country's iron ore use by 2015 through domestic supplies.
That would be a sharp increase from last year's 32 percent.
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has set the target in its latest Development Plan for the iron and steel industry.
The move is believed to be designed to break the monopoly of the three major global iron ore suppliers, namely Vale, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.
China imported 618 million tonnes of iron ore in 2010, taking up more than 68 percent of its consumption.
 
 
Chinese president to meet Obama at APEC summit
Chinese President Hu Jintao is set to meet again with U.S President Barack Obama at this coming weekend's APEC Summit.
The two-day meeting is due to open on the 12th in Hawaii.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hailong says members of the grouping tend to agree with the U.S. positions in various fields, including green growth and innovation.
However, he says that some of the United States' expectations are beyond the capacity of the developing members of APEC.
 
 
Silvio Berlusconi denies resignation rumours 5
Italy's prime minister is denying reports that he is about to step down, saying the rumors 6 were "baseless."
Earlier, two journalists close to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had reported that Berlusconi was set to resign in hours.
Berlusconi's government faces a possible defeat in a procedural vote on last year's budget report later on Tuesday.
Pullella says if Berlusconi loses the vote, he could either resign or face a confidence vote.
Meantime, Berlusconi is also scrambling 7 to gain enough support to pass urgent economic reforms demanded by the EU.
 
 
Violence claims at least one in Liberia capital ahead of run-off
At least one person has been reportedly killed in fighting between supporters of the main opposition 8 party in Liberia.
The battles between supporters of the Congress for Democratic Change and the ruling Unity 9 Party comes just hours before the voting in the presidential run-off.
There are reports of spurratic gunfire throughout the capital Monrovia.
Rioting has broken out ahead of the run-off, which the opposition is boycotting 10, with the opposition making allegations of fraud in the previous vote.
 
 
Gaopeng says sold fake Tissot watches
Groupon's Chinese daily deals site Gaopeng says it's discovered the merchant that supplied the website with the fake Tissot watches that it had been selling.
The company says it was inadvertently given fake agent qualification documents, exposing the failure of its quality control personnel in the examination and vetting 11 of its merchants.
The website says it will refund 12 customers an additional 200 yuan to the full refund it has been giving out.
The counterfeit 13 Tissot watches were sold on Gaopeng.com last month for 690 yuan, less than one-fourth of what a real one would cost.
 
 
Yao Ming Enjoys the Beginning of His University Career
Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming has enrolled 14 at university in Shanghai as a management-school freshman 15, four months after his retirement 16 from the game.
The former Houston Rockets center told reporters that he had a "strong desire" for academic study and that university life was purely 17 for personal fulfillment.
His agent, Zhang Mingji, previously 18 said Yao, like every other student at the university, would only receive his degree after earning credit and passing necessary examinations.
 
 
Gao Xiaosong Released after 6 Months in Jail
After 184-days in jail, Gao Xiaosong has been released from jail in Beijing.
The 42-year-old singer, music producer and director was found guilty of drink driving on May the 9th, after a car crash which resulted in a four vehicle pile up.
He has became the first celebrity 19 to be punished under tough new traffic rules which came into effect on May the 1st.
Whilst serving time in the jail, Gao also wrote the theme song "Like a Dream" for his film "My Kingdom" which was released in September.