新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2013/08/15

 Thursday, August 15th, 2013.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this evening.
A nation-wide state of emergency has been declared in Egypt, where hundreds of people have been killed in civil unrest.
Authorities in Guangxi are warning of significant flooding in the days ahead because of Typhoon Utor.
The Chinese government has blasted Japanese politicians for visiting the Yasukuni Shrine today.
In Business, the Chinese government is reportedly moving toward more IPO reforms.
In sports, Li Na is through to round 3 at the Cincinatti Masters.
In entertainment, a 3D version of Jurassic Park is set to hit theatres here in China next week.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will have thundershowers tonight with a low of 26 degrees Celsius.　Tomorrow thundershowers with a high temperature of 32.　
Meanwhile Shanghai will be cloudy tonight, with a low of 28,　cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 35.
Lhasa will be cloudy tonight, 11 degrees the low, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 22.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, thundershowers, with a high of 26.
Kabul, sunny, 31.
Over in Australia
Sydney, sunny, highs of 21.
Canberra, sunny, 17.
Brisbane, sunny, 22.
And finally, Perth will be sunny with a high of 17.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Egypt enters into state of emergency after security forces crushed sit-ins: update
 
The interim government in Egypt has declared a month-long state of emergency across the country in the aftermath of the violent clashes in Cairo which have now spread to other parts of the country.
The Egyptian authorities also decided to close Rafah crossing point bordering the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
The closure came in response to the assaults launched by supporters of the ousted president who blocked the international coastal highway leading to Rafah.
The Egyptian Health Ministry is reporting over 400 civilians have been killed in the clashes.
Close to 3-thousand others have been hurt.
The Muslim Brotherhood is describing the clearing of a pair protest camps by government security forces a "massacre" of thousands.
The interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim says the government will not tolerate any more sit-ins.
"I believe that after announcing the state of emergency, and after the president mandated the military to assist police forces, with complete coordination between us and the armed forces, we will not allow any other sit-in in any place in the country, no matter the sacrifice."
In the wake of the bloodshed, Egyptian Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei has resigned.
Police have now taken control of the camps and have reportedly arrested key Brotherhood leaders.
There has been strong international reaction.
The Chinese government is calling on the government of Egypt to exercise restraint and begin talks.
The Chinese foreign ministry has issued a statement, saying the Chinese government is paying "close attention" to the situation, and is "deeply concerned" about its development.
At the same time, the U.S, the EU, and a number of neighbouring Arab states have condemned the violence.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan describing the situation as a massacre.
For more the situation in Egypt, CRI's Rebecca Hume spoke earlier with Shahira Amin, an independent journalist based in Cairo.
…
Journalist Shahira Amin in Cairo, speaking with CRI's Rebecca Hume.
 
 
Typhoon Utor drowns south China, causing casualities
 
Authorities in Southern China are now assessing the damage brought by Typhoon Utor.
The largest Typhoon of the year slammed into southwestern Guangdong yesterday afternoon, bringing heavy winds and flooding.
At least one person has been killed and 5 others are listed as missing in the coastal city of Maoming, where heavy rains created flooding and mountain torrents.
Around 88-thousand people were moved out of the city ahead of Utor's arrival.
Packing high winds and torrential rain, Typhoon Utor had forced the closure of schools, offices, shopping centres and construction sites in cities along its path northwest across Guangdong province.
The storm has since crossed into Guangxi, where it's brought heavy rains which have washed out a number of rail lines.
Rail traffic in the region has since partially-resumed amid the repairs to the lines.
While Utor is now classified as a tropical storm, it's expected to continue lingering in Guangxi through the weekend, brining continued rains and more flooding.
Authorities in Guangxi are warning the major rivers in the region are already running above their danger levels.
 
 
China strongly condemns Japan over shrine visit
 
Anchor:
The Chinese government has issued a strong protest following visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine by a number of Japanese cabinet ministers today.
CRI's Cao Yuwei has the details.
Reporter:
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin have summoned Japan's ambassador to China, Masato Kitera, lodging solemn representations about the issue.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry is describing the visit to the shrine by the Japanese Cabinet ministers as an open challenge to historical justice and human conscience.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also confirmed he sent an ornamental offering bought with his own money to the shrine, rather than going in person.
In response, the Chinese government says whatever form and name Japanese leaders visit the shrine, the nature is that they're attempting to deny and glorify Japan's militarism and history of aggression, on top of challenging the results of World War II.
The Chinese foreign ministry goes on to say Japan can only face the future by looking in the mirror of history.
The Chinese side is also calling on Japan to deliver a commitment to deeply reflect upon its history of aggression and make a real effort toward trying to gain trust from the international community.
The Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo is dedicated to honoring Japan's war dead.
It also enshrines 14 convicted Class-A war criminals from World War II.
Visits to the shrine by Japanese leaders are considered an insult to the countries Japan invaded before and during the war.
For CRI, this is Cao Yuwei.
 
 
President gives speech marking 68th anniversary of end of Japanese control
 
South Korea's President has used her country's Independence Day celebrations to call for a renewal of family reunions with North Korea.
Park Geun-hye's speech marking the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japan has also called for the creation of a peace park within the confines of the Demilitarized Zone.
"From now on, through building inter-Korean trust, I expect to establish peace in the Korean peninsula and to prosper together with North Korea."
The South Korean President says she hopes North Korea will "open its heart" and hold family reunions before or after September 19th.
That date is one of the most important traditional cultural festivals in South Korea.
Family reunions had been one of the biggest inter-Korean cooperation projects.
About 22-thousand Koreans were able to meet with loved ones between 2000 and 2010.
However, the meetings were cut off amid the rising tensions on the Peninsula.
A proposal made in July to discuss resuming the reunions fizzled.
The comments come just a day after the two sides came to a series of agreements connected to the reopening of the jointly-run Kaesong Industrial Park.
Meanwhile, on the issue of Japan, Park is calling on Japanese leaders to both apologise and compensate the surviving women who were forced into sexual slavery during World War II.
She also says if Japan doesn't face up to history, it will be difficult to build trust in the future between the two countries.
Japan annexed and attempted to colonize the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to the end of World War II in 1945.
 
 
Pakistan Must Prevent Anti-India Activities for better Ties
 
Anchor:
India's Prime Minister has used the 67th Independence Day celebrations this Thursday to call on Pakistan to prevent anti-India activities, on top of calling for calm within his own country.
CRI's He Fei has more.
Reporter:
Addressing the nation at Red Fort in New Delhi, Manmohan Singh says India is striving for friendship with its neighbors, and has made good headway on creating good relationships around the world.
However, he says ties with long-time foe Pakistan can only improve if it checks its anti-India activities on its own soil.
"For relations with Pakistan to improve, it is essential that they prevent the use of their territory and territory under their control for any anti-India activity."
At the same time, Manmohan Singh says there is no place for narrow and sectarian ideologies in a modern, progressive and secular country.
This comment appears to be focused toward the main opposition's candidate for Prime Minister in the next election.
Narendra Modi is a self-described Hindu nationalist who became a controversial figure in his home state of Gujarat 10-years ago during a deadly string of attacks which left hundreds of Muslims dead.
Singh has also referred the recent killing of 5 Indian soldiers along the Line of Control in Kashmir as a "dastardly" act, saying India will take all possible steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
In his 10th Independence Day address, Manmohan Singh says India has witnessed major changes since independence in 1947, particularly over the last decade.
"In no other decade has our economic development increased as much as in this decade. Democratic forces have been strengthened and many sections of our society have joined the mainstream of development for the first time. The common man has been given new rights which have led to his social and economic empowerment."
Manmohan Singh also admits India is facing economic problems right now, with growth only hovering around 5-percent.
Still, he says he believes the current phase of slow growth will soon be over.
"It is not only our country that is facing economic difficulties. The last year has been difficult for the world economy as a whole…I believe that this phase of slow growth in India will not last long. In the last 9 years, our economy has grown at an annual average rate of 7.9 percent. This pace of development is the highest in any decade so far."
Singh has also used the speech at Red Fort to mourn the loss of the 18 Indian sailors killed in Mumbai on Wednesday in the submarine explosion.
"We are also deeply pained that we lost the submarine, INS Sindhurakshak in an accident yesterday. Eighteen brave sailors are feared to have lost their lives. The accident is all the more painful because the Navy had recently achieved two major successes in the form of its first nuclear submarine, INS Arihant and the aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant."
India was officially granted independence from Great Britian on August 15th, 1947.
For CRI. This is He Fei.
 
 
21 killed in car bombings in Baghdad
 
There's been another round of car bombings in Baghdad.
A series of blasts have taken place almost simultaneously during the morning rush hour, leaving at least 20 people dead and close to 70 others hurt.
"Many explosions took place this morning. What crime have those people committed? Young boys were killed."　　
One explosion hit close to the so-called Green Zone where a majority of the Iraqi government buildings are located.
The bombings are the latest in a string of attacks which have been launched across Iraq over the past month.
The country is gripped in some of the worst violence since the conflict peaked in 2007.
July saw more than a thousand Iraqi's killed in acts of terrorism, making it the deadliest month in more than 5-years.
 
 
WHO chief praise China in containing H7N9
 
The Head of the World Health Organization is throwing some praise toward China.
Doctor Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, is giving the Chinese government for its control of the H7N9 bird flu virus.
"So far H7N9 has not spread beyond China. That speaks volumes of the determination and commitment of the government to contain the disease. "
The H7N9 virus was first identified in eastern China in March.
There have been 135 confirmed cases and 45 deaths.
Only one case has been detected outside the mainland.
That was on Taiwan, though the person who contracted H7N9 had recently traveled from the mainland.
However, Margaret Chan is warning H7N9 could be more active active again this fall.
Meanwhile, Chan is also calling on countries to work toward eventual universal health coverage tailored to each country's situation.
"I believe, personally believe, that universal coverage is the best way to cement the health gains made during the previous decade. It is a powerful social equaliser and the ultimate expression of fairness."
The call has come at the launch of the "World Health Report 2013" in Beijing this Thursday.
 
 
Summer holiday-driving school
 
Anchor:
More and more students and teachers are taking advantage of their summer holiday this year to earn their driver's license here in China.
CRI's Li Dong has more.
Reporter:
In a driving school in Chu Xiong city in Yunnan Province, the instructors are fully booked. Many more students are still enrolling. This situation is common in almost all the driving schools in the city. According to a member of staff at the driving school, most of those enrolling or taking lessons are students and teachers.
One student says the ability to drive is now a useful skill when job hunting as well as being beneficial for one's daily life.
"I passed the written exam in January. The practical training started in July. If I can pass the field test this month, I plan to pass the road test by the winter holiday."
Another learner who comes here is a teacher at a primary school.
"Teachers like me and students are pretty occupied during weekdays. It's not convenient for me to ask for days off to taking driving lessons. The summer holiday is a comparatively good time for me to learn how to drive."
Everyone wants to pass their driving test as soon as possible. Aside from practicing as much as you can, He Jianping, a traffic police office in Chu Xiong city, provides learners with another piece of advice, that people should choose bigger driving schools with more customers.
"We will assign more test quotas to those driving schools which have more school students and teachers. We will try our best to ensure that all the students in driving schools have a chance to take the test."
However, the summer holiday driving school market is also attracting criminals who are attempting to cash in by misleading those who want to learn how to drive. Recently police in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, arrested a suspect who lured university students to part with their cash with the promise of discounted lessons despite the fact that he wasn't a qualified instructor.
Police remind students to be cautious of such schemes. Students should check the qualifications of the driving school and are advised to choose those institutions with a good reputation.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Asian Stock
 
Most Asian markets fell this Thursday after a pullback on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 100 points on Wednesday for the first time since June.
A sharp drop in technology shares and Dow component Cisco in after-hours trading also weighed on Asia.
In China,
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed down 0.9 percent.
The Shenzhen Component Index tumbled 1.3 percent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended flat after being closed on Wednesday because of Typhoon Utor.
Shares of Internet giant Tencent decreased 0.5-percent after its profits fell short of estimates.
Elsewhere,
Tokyo stocks ended sharply lower as sentiment was hurt by the yen's climb and negative comments from government on a possible corporate tax cut.
The Nikkei 225 declined 2 percent.
The South Korean market was closed for the Independence Day holiday.
In Singapore, the Strait Times gave up 0.9 percent.
In Sydney, Australia's ASX 200 slipped 0.1 percent.
 
 
Hong Kong Exchanges quarterly profit up 10%
 
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing is reporting its second-quarter net profits are up 10 percent from a year earlier.
The exchange operator is reporting a net profit of 151 million US dollars through this last quarter.
Through the first half, the company's net profit has risen 5-percent, hitting 296 million US dollars.
Now the world's largest exchange operator by market value, Hong Kong Exchange & Clearing bought out the London Metal Exchange for 2.2 billion US dollars earlier this year.
HKEx says it has plans to offer more Asia-focused products and explore partnerships with mainland trading platforms as soon as next year.
 
 
Lenovo doubles mobile device sales
 
Chinese computer maker Lenovo says its profits from smart phone sales have jumped 23-percent through the 2nd quarter.
Lenovo says it's smart phone sales have doubled through Q2.
Net profits have come in at 174 million US dollars.
That is 33 million dollars more than the first quarter.
Also this marks the first time the sales of its smartphone and tablet arms have outperformed its PC sales.
Lenovo is now claiming to be the second-biggest smart phone retailer in China, with its shipments increasing over 120-percent from a year ago.
Lenovo overtook Hewlett-Packard to become the world's top PC maker this year.
 
 
China Poised to Further Deepen IPO System Reforms
 
Regulators here in China are said to be working on new measures to reforms on the current IPO process even further.
Internal sources are suggesting policymakers are doing research on the possibility of resuming the new share allotment system.
The system will allow IPO shares to be offered online, based on their market prices.
Meanwhile, the same sources are also suggesting the reforms may include a trial run of shelf regulation.
Shelf regulation is designed to try to provide more flexibility to companies in terms of their issuing times.
It also allows companies to list themselves on various exchanges.
 
 
China eyes information consumption to boost domestic demand
 
Anchor:
Chinese authorities have announced plans to try to make the information technology sector a key domestic driver of the economy.
The State Council is targeting information products and services leading consumption, which the government suggests could be a 3.2 trillion yuan sector over the next 2-years.
It is hoped the much anticipated release of 4G licenses will help boost information consumption.
For more on the issue, CRI's Rebecca Hume spoke earlier with Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator.
…
Cao Can, CRI's Financial Commentator, speaking with CRI's Rebecca Hume.
 
 
China Intensifies Probe into Pharmaceutical Bribery
 
The Chinese government is cranking up its probe into the pharmaceutical and medical services sector.
The authorities have announced they're extending their investigation for another 3 months.
It's being reported the regulators are looking into bribery, fraud and anti-competitive practices.
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce has also issued a statement, saying the authorities will impose severe punishment on those caught bribing people in the bidding process.
It's also being suggested the low salary base for doctors here in China has partly contributed to the rampant corruption in the industry.
 
 
China Expected to Bring in Long-term Regulation Mechanism on Real Estate
 
It's being reported the Chinese government is planning to roll out a new set of long-term regulations for the real estate sector by the end of this year.
The vice-President of the China Real Estate Industry Association has told a forum in Hainan the new rules are expected to cover three areas.
He says they will include new regulations which deal with legal and economic issues.
They will also reportedly put an emphasis on government-subsidized housing projects and deal with construction planning and management.
Addressing the forum in Boao, Zhu Zhongyi with the Real Estate Association is also calling on the government to overhaul the rules surrounding residential land use and taxation.
He has also suggested the central authorities need to allow local governments to be more flexible in their decision making.
 
 
China Jan-July FAI in Transport Reaches CNY 751 Bn
 
Fixed-asset investment in the transport sector here in China has hit 751-billion yuan through July.
This is up about 10 percent year on year.
The Ministry of Transport is also reporting total inland vehicle passenger volumes have increased 5.5 percent to 21.5-billion passenger trips so far this year.
Waterway passenger transport is up 1-percent reaching 143-million passanger trips through this past month.
Cargo volume transported by roads is up 11-percent to around 20-billion metric tons.
2.8 billion tons of cargo has been transported by waterways.
 
 
U.K. retail sales rise 1.1% in July
 
Retail sales in the UK are up more than 1 percent in July, with summer clothes sales, food and alcohol consumption boosting the figures.
This marks a 3-percent jump on an annualized basis.
Analysts had only been forecasting a UK retail sales rise of 0.7 percent for the month and 2.5-percent for the year.
The annualized rise in sales is the biggest jump since January 2011.
 
 
Gold demand hits 4-year low in Q2 despite eager consumers – WGC
 
The World Gold Council is reporting gold demand has hit a four-year low through the 2nd quarter.
Gold prices have declined by one-fifth this year, hitting a 3-year low in June of 11-hundred-80 dollars an ounce.
The World Gold Council says investors have been spooked by the US Federal Reserve's plan to ease its asset purchase program later this year.
The WGC says it expects gold purchases will only come in at around 300 to 350 tons this year.
Last year the volume stood at 544 tons.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China urges restraint in Egypt
 
The Chinese government has added its voice to those calling on the government of Egypt to exercise retraint and begin talks.
The Chinese foreign ministry has issued a statment, saying the Chinese government is paying "close attention" to the situation, and is "deeply concerned" about its development.
The comments come amid word that over 400 people have been killed in Wednesday's clearing of protests camps by police in Cairo and Giza.
Around 2-thousand others have been hurt in the violence.
Egyptian authorities have ordered a one-month state of emergency in the wake of the violence.
The government has also gone on-record saying it will not tolerate any further protest camps.
In the wake of the move, interim Egyptian Vice President Mohammed Elbaradai has resigned from the government in protest.
 
 
Typhoon Utor drowns south China, causing casualities
 
Authorities in Southern China are now assessing the damage brought by Typhoon Utor.
The largest Typhoon of the year slammed into southwestern Guangdong yesterday afternoon, bringing heavy winds and flooding.
At least one person has been killed and 5 others are listed as missing in the coastal city of Maoming, where heavy rains created flooding and mountain torrents.
Around 88-thousand people were moved out of the city ahead of Utor's arrival.
The storm has since crossed into Guangxi, where it's brought heavy rains which have washed out a number of rail lines.
Rail traffic in the region has since partially-resumed amid the repairs to the lines.
 
 
IBK elected Mali's president with 77.61 pct of vote in runoff
 
Ibrahim Boubarca Keita is elected president of Mali with 77.61 percent of the votes in Sunday's presidential runoff election.
 
His rival Soumaila Cisse has obtained 22.39 percent of the votes. The turn-out rate was 45.78 percent, according to the provisional results announced Thursday by Minister of Territorial Administration, Moussa Sinko Coulibaly.
 
 
S.Korean president proposes family reunions, peace park in DMZ with DPRK
 
South Korea's President has used her country's Independence Day celebrations to call for a renewal of family reunions with North Korea.
Park Geun-hye's speech marking the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japan has also called for the creation of a peace park within the confines of the Demilitarized Zone.
She says she hopes North Korea will "open its heart" and hold family reunions before or after September 19th.
That date is one of the most important traditional cultural festivals in South Korea.
On the issue of Japan, Park is calling on Japanese leaders to both apologise and compensate the surviving women who were forced into sexual slavery during World War II.
Japan annexed and attempted to colonize the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to the end of World War II in 1945.
 
 
China Poised to Further Deepen IPO System Reforms
 
Regulators here in China are said to be working on new measures to reforms on the current IPO process even further.
Internal sources are suggesting policymakers are doing researche on the possibility of resuming the new share allotment system.
The system will allow IPO shares to be offered online, based on their market prices.
Meanwhile, the same sources are also suggesting the reforms may include a trial run of shelf regulation.
Shelf regulation is designed to try to provide more flexibility to companies in terms of their issuing times.
It also allows companies to list themselves on various exchanges.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
 China Daily
"Air-conditioned vests offer relief from the heat"
An air-conditioned vest that can cool workers in the heat has become popular and sold out during the current heat wave in southern China.
Wang Yan, a 40-year-old businessman in Nantong, Jiangsu province, invented the vest.
The device now can lower the temperature around the wearer by up to 20 degrees.
The vest is made of impermeable fabric to lock in the cool air. Cool air is distributed through small tubes with tiny holes that are inside the vest.
The key to the device, is a vortex tube that produces cool air.
Compressed air is delivered into the vortex tube, swirls quickly and forms a funneled airflow, like a tornado, causing hot air to sink and cool air to float. The cool airstream is distributed through the vest through a tube, while the small amount of hot air is emitted."
Each vest sells for about 200 yuan.
China Daily
"New WeChat game becoming painfully popular"
A new mobile phone game on WeChat, a social network app in China, is proving so popular that it's causing hand injuries for many Chinese users.
The game, which was recently introduced to WeChat's 400 million subscribers, allows users to compete online with their friends in aircraft battles.
Within two hours after the release of the game on Aug 5, there were more than 180 million downloads.
But Zou Cheng, an orthopedic doctor said he has received at least five patients this week with symptoms of tenosynovitis, an inflammation of tendons. Zou Cheng said the five patients were ill because they played the game too much.
Most of them, the doctor said, are women, and the site of injury usually occurs on the thumb.
AFP
"Too late to stop extreme heat waves: study"
A study Thursday said climate change will trigger harsher and more frequent heat waves in the next 30 years, regardless of the amount of Earth-warming carbon dioxide we emit.
But targets adopted today for curbing greenhouse gas emissions will determine whether the pattern stabilises thereafter, or grows even worse.
The study said high temperatures and heat waves in the last decade are widely blamed on climate change that occurred over the last 50 years -- amounting to global warming of about 0.5 degrees Celsius,
And they are predicted to become harsher and more frequent as the Earth continues to warm over the course of the 21st century.
Based on climate modelling, the study projects that extreme heat waves like those that hit the United States in 2012 and Australia in 2009 will by 2020 affect about 10 percent of total land area -- double today's figure.
By 2040, it would have quadrupled.
The Telegraph
"Health ministers want to take the alcohol out of wine"
Low-alcohol wines are set to become the next weapon in the government's war on problem drinkers.
Ministers have launched a campaign across Europe to redefine "wine" to include drinks that contain little or no alcohol.
The government is pressing supermarkets and other retailers to stock more low-alcohol products and has promised to step up efforts to rewrite European Union rules on the minimum strength for drinks to be classed as wines.
Ministers want the minimum strength of still wine to be reduced from 8.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent alcohol-by-volume (ABV), about one-third the strength of many typical table wines today.
The latest round of EU negotiations failed to reach an agreement on redefining wines to include alcohol free drinks after opposition from other wine-producing countries, likely to have included France, Italy and Portugal.
However, the minister promised to "continue to work hard to bring this topic back onto the EU wine policy agenda as soon as possible".
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Mobile Phone Applications Targeting At Delayed Flights
 
Anchor:
With flight delays in China on the rise, more and more mobile phone applications specializing in-flight information updates are emerging.
CRI's Liu Min has more.
Reporter:
Travel and Flight applications give brand new frequent flyers special experiences compared with starring at the big screen in the airport to get information.
These apps can provide you with a map locating the flight and as well a prediction about whether your flight will be on time.
In addition, some applications have also become linked to social media. Flyers on the same flight can make comments and complain to each other about the delayed flight.
Some enable the travelers to choose their seat in advance. Digital boarding cards, hotel reservations, and luggage claim services have also been included on some flight related applications.
Xu Hongtao is a vice president of Flight Manager Digital Company.
"For example, if your friend has arrived in Beijing, but you don't have time to pick him up, then you could use our app to send him some flowers to welcome him. Or you could book a taxi to pick him up through our service. We are trying to be innovative to seek for potential growth in this area."
According to statistics, the total number of passengers taking civil flights in the year 2012 exceeded 320 million, and 40 to 50 million are frequent air travelers.
Bo Manhui, manager of umetrip.com, the first aviation travel service application in China, says the application has to be very strong in information collection and analysis to win over more users.
"We process more than 60 million pieces of data or information every day. And I believe the number will continue to climb as we improve the system."
China Merchants Bank promoted a special service, and it's called Pei Ni Deng in Chinese, meaning the bank will accompany you in waiting for delayed flights.
Zheng Hongfeng, CEO of veryzhun.com says the application produced by his company has helped users to get timely compensation in cooperation with China Merchants Bank.
"The bank used our database to help passengers get compensation on delayed flight occasions. In the past, passengers who bought this kind of flight delaying insurance needed to collect evidence by themselves before they could receive compensation, but now passengers can receive the money right away when the flight becomes delayed."
Currently, many applications are free. These digital companies have spent money on technology development, database maintenance, and labor, but most haven't made a penny yet.
Since a wide variety of apps that make life on the go seem a little less chaotic already exist, many passengers say they'd rather see less delayed flights and make comments on these apps about their positive flight experiences instead.
For CRI, I'm Liu Min.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Li Na through in Cincinatti
 
In Tennis action from Cincinatti Masters...
Chinese ace Li Na is through to the next round after dumping American Lauren Davis.
Li Na stumbled out of the gate a bit against the Wild Card entry, dropping the first set.
However, she recovered, downing the young American 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
She's now set to take on 9th seeded Angelique Kerber, who advanced in a straight-sets victory over Russian Kleybanova.
In other action from the women's draw, it was top seed Serena Williams also struggling a bit to start her 2nd round match.
However, she also recovered, dumping Canadian qualifier Eugenie Bouchard 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Most of the rest of the seeded players advanced into round 3, for the exception of Marion Bartoli and Maria Kirilenko.
16th seeded Kirilenko went down to Mona Barthel of Germany 6-4, 6-4.
8th seeded Bartoli fell to Romania's Simona Halep 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Shortly after that match, the 28-year old Bartoli announced her retirement from professional tennis.
"Yes I just felt that it was time for me to call it a career and you know, my body just really can't do it any more. I've already had a lot of injuries since the beginning of the year and I felt that I really pushed my body through the limits to win this Wimbledon and I just can't do it anymore."
Bartoli won her first WTA title in 2006 in Auckland.
She claimed her first-ever Grand Slam victory at Wimbledon this year.
Meanwhile, on the men's side...
Most of the top seeds have moved through to the 3rd round in Cincinatti.
However, there were a couple of upsets.
8th seeded Richard Gasquet of France was dumped by American John Isner 7-6, 6-2.
9th seeded Stanislas Wawrinka was dumped by Spain's Tommy Robredo 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Top seeded Novak Djokovic cruised through to round three with a 7-5, 6-2 straight-sets victory over Juan Monaco.
2nd Seeded Andy Murray made short work of Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-2.
Last week's winner in Montreal, Rafael Nadal hammered German Benjamin Beckerr 6-2, 6-2.
And last week's runner-up, Canadian Milos Raonic, got past Serbian Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 7-6.
 
 
International football friendlies
 
Several international football friendlies have taken place on Wednesday.
Goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega helped lift Argentina to a 2-1 victory over Italy at Olympic stadium in Rome.
Argentian's head coach, Alejandro Sabella.
"It's been a good game, the team played well together, with the right attitude and a strong will. Everybody played for the team for the whole 90 minutes, and this has been really positive".
Italian striker Mario Balotelli and Argentine Lionel Messi were two notable absentees from the match.
Both missed the game because of injury.
In other action on Wednesday,
A late Cristiano Ronaldo tap-in managed to salvage a 1-1 home draw for an injury-ravaged Portugal side against Holland.
Portugese coach Paulo Bento was forced to line up a makeshift midfield due to injuries to several players.
Germany had to recover twice to draw 3-3 at home against Paraguay.
Old rivals Belgium and France finished goalless in Brussels on Wednesday night.
Chile hammered Iraq 6-0 in their international friendly.
England bounced backed to down Scotland 3-2 at Wembley Stadium.
 
 
European team look ahead to the Solheim Cup
 
In Golf, this year's edition of the Solheim Cup is set to get underway in Colorado this coming Friday.
The Solheim Cup is the women's version of the Ryder Cup, which pits European golfers against North American players.
European captain Liselotte Neumann, a six-time veteran of the Solheim Cup, says she's hoping to make history as the captain of the first European team to secure a win on US soil.
Her side includes six rookies.
The youngest is 17-year old Charley Hull from England.
Europe has only won the tournament 4 times since it was first launched in 1990.
Meanwhile, the PGA stop this week is in Greensboro, South Carolina for the Wyndham Cup tournament.
A lot of Fed Ex up points are up for grabs at this tournament.
One of the leading groups golf fans will be watching is Bill Haas, Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson.
All three rank inside the top 30 in the FedExCup.
Haas, who won the FedExCup in 2011, is the highest-placed at Number 6.
He's only 30 points out of the all-important top five that control their own destiny at the Playoffs finale, the TOUR Championship.
20-year-old Jordan Speith, who won the John Deere Classic last month, is Number 16 and Johnson, who is riding the momentum of four straight top-10s, ranks 23rd.
 
 
The Philadelphia 76ers appoint Brett Brown as head coach
 
In some basketball news off-the-court...
The Philadelphia 76ers have finally replaced their head coach.
Brett Brown is set to take over the reigns of the team, after the resignation of Doug Collins in April.
Collins stepped down after the Sixers went 34-48, a year after advancing to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The 52-year old Brown admits he's got a lot of work ahead of him.
"I feel like personally, given the experiences that I have had, I'm not saying that it's going to be fine - it's real, it's hard sitting there going through a normal rebuild process - but I think that you have to just make sure you stay focused on what you're really here for. Make sure that your defence is sound, ,make sure you retain your fitness base, make sure the pace is one that we want to play with. The pieces I think can be a good compass for me and, again, really not paying that much attention to the result."
Brown had been an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich since 2002.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Jennifer Aniston premieres new movie "We're the Millers"
 
Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis lit up London yesterday with the European premiere of their latest comedy "We're the Millers".
Sudeikis plays a pot dealer forced into smuggling drugs across the Mexico border into the US.
To pull off the crime, he subsequently gathers a crew of misfits to play his family to evade suspicion.
Jennifer Aniston plays a stripper enlisted to pose as Sudekis' wife.
The 44 year old thinks it's a very heart warming story.
"I just thought it was a fun idea to play a stripper with a heart deep down under and it was sort of an opportunity to do sort of a theme that we've seen, which is a road trip family film, but just kind of have this underlying dark side. Eventually they all find each other and find a family and safe each other, so it was kind of a very sweet story."
This is the first time the two stars have worked together since Horrible Bosses and both say they are thrilled to be reunited again on the big screen.
Directed by Rawson Marshal Thurber, the film also features Emma Roberts and Will Poulter.
"We are the Millers" hits cinemas in Eastern Europe, Iceland and Australia today, before opening across the world through September.
 
 
Jurassic Park 3D comes to China
 
Steven Spielberg's groundbreaking Jurassic Park is coming to China in 3D.
The 1993 classic sci-fi adventure is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, who also co-wrote the screenplay.
The film revolves around the wildlife park of cloned dinosaurs created by genetic scientists on the fictional Isla Nublar.
Having won 3 Oscars and grossed over $900 million at the box office, it was the most successful film released at the time.
The release of Jurassic Park in 3D follows the mammoth success of the re-release of Titanic in 3D here in China.
Jurassic Park in 3D is set to arrive in Chinese cinemas on 20th August.
Director Steven Spielberg, who is currently working on Jurassic Park 4, has expressed desire to work with Zhang Yimou, whom he called his "dear friend".
Spielberg says he is keen to produce a international picture that takes place here in China.
The 67 year old added that he thinks China's rich history is a great source of inspiration for film makers the world over.
 
 
Eminem premieres new song
 
Eminem has unveiled a rare new track, "Survival".
The track gives fans a first glimpse at the rapper's highly anticipated 8th studio album.
The album has been a long time in the works, with recording having completed back in March.
The song features vocals from singer Skylar Grey and is produced by DJ Khalil.
DJ Khalil also worked on Eminem's last studio album, 2010's Recovery, which spawned hits like "I Love the Way you Lie" with Rihanna.
Fans can catch Eminem headlininng the upcoming Reading and Leeds Festival in the UK from 23-25th August.
 
 
Nile Rodgers confirms collaboration with Chase and Status
 
Disco legend and Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers has confirmed that he is collaborating with Chase and Status on new material.
The seemingly unlikely team up follows the success of his collaboration with Daft Punk and Pharrell on the summer hit "Get Lucky" earlier in the year.
Chase and Status have been the leaders of the early 2000s Drum and Bass take over, with hits like the now iconic Eastern Jams.
Having formed in 2003, pair have been instrumental in bring Drum and Bass from the underground into popular culture.
They have since gone on to work with major pop artists such as Rihanna, Cee Lo Green and Plan P.
Yesterday, Rogers tweeted a photo of himself working with Chase and Status in the studio, adding that finishing touches will soon be in place.
This will definitely be an interesting collaboration to keep our eyes on.
 
 
V&A acquires Vivien Leigh Archive
 
London's Victoria and Albert Museum has acquired the archive of Oscar-winning actress Vivien Leigh.
The archive contains many never-before-seen items, including affectionate letters between the "Gone With The Wind" star and her husband, Laurence Olivier.
It also features diaries, photographs, annotated film, theatre scripts and her numerous awards.
A changing selection of those material will be on display from this autumn.
The archive was acquired by the V&A from Leigh's grandchildren.
It covers all aspects of her life and career.
The actress meticulously catalogued more than 7,500 personal letters, some of which were from T.S Eliot, Marilyn Monroe and Winston Churchill.
The V&A will also make the archive available for research once cataloguing has been completed.
Digital records will also be available on its website.