新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2013/08/05

 The Beijing Hour

 
Evening Edition
 
Monday, August 5, 2013.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this evening，
China's foreign minister is in Vietnam for talks including issues connected to the South China Sea.
New Zealand company Fonterra has issued an apology in the latest tainted dairy product scandal here in China.
A bombing in Indonesia has targeted one of the biggest Buddhist temples in the country.
In Business，the Chinese government is moving to further liberalize interest rates in this country.
In sports，China in action at the Asian Basketball Championships.
In entertainment，the BBC has unveiled who the next Doctor Who will be.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be overcast tonight with a low of 23 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow thundershowers with a high temperature of 30.　
Meanwhile Shanghai will be clear tonight, with a low of 30,　sunny tomorrow, with a high of 40!!
Lhasa will have showers tonight, 11 degrees the low, also showers tomorrow with a high of 23.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia.
Islamabad, thundershowers, with a high of 33.
Kabul, sunny, 36.
Over in Australia.
Sydney, sunny, highs of 22.
Canberra, rainy, 11.
Brisbane, sunny, 23.
And finally, Perth will be rainy with a high of 20.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China warns against rush to set code of conduct in South China Sea
 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is warning about rushing to set code of conduct in the South China Sea.
The Foreign Minister's comments have come in Vietnam during his official visit to the country.
Wang Yi says China has agreed to work on the code with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
However, he says its unrealistic to expect the deal to be worked out immediately.
He says any new code of conduct must be consensus-based, saying no individual countries should impose their will on others.
The top Chinese diplomat is stressing the importance of implementing the declaration of parties in the South China Sea, particularly its provisions for maritime cooperation.
 
 
Fonterra apologizes for tainted milk powder scare
 
New Zealand dairy firm Fonterra has apologized for its tainted milk powder scandal.
Batches of the whey protein from the dairy giant were allegedly found containing toxic bacteria.
Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings says Fonterra regrets any distress and anxiety that the scare may have caused.
"We deeply apologise to the people who have been affected by the issue, to guarantee to you that food safety and safety of the people of China but also around the world is our first and foremost interest. We totally understand that there is concern of parents and other consumers around the world. Parents have the right to know that infant nutrition and other dairy-related products are 100 percent safe."
He also says Fonterra is committed to China and is working with regulators to address the problem.
At the same time, the government of New Zealand is stepping into the fray, calling on the company to provide "absolute clarity on the situation."
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key.
"When you've got a company that's our largest company, our largest brand, our largest exporter that is the flagship for New Zealand and your whole business is about food safety and food quality you think they'd take such a precautionary view to these things and say if it's testing for some reason in an odd way that it would just be discarded until they were absolutely sure that it's right."
Imports of milk powder from New Zealand are now banned in China.
Around one-third of all the dairy imports here to China this year come from New Zealand.
For more on this, CRI's Rebecca Hume spoke earlier with Mike Bastian, visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics.
…
Back Anchor:
Mike Bastin, Visiting Professor at China's University of International Business and Economics, speaking with CRI's Rebecca Hume.
 
 
Packaged drinking water
 
Anchor:
Medical and industry officials are cautioning people that buying expensive bottled water isn't necessarily a guarantee of good health.
CRI's Li Dong explains.
Reporter:
There is a variety of packaged water that can be purchased at the supermarket. Purified water and mineral water are the main products. At one of the supermarkets in Beijing, there are as much as 15 different bottled water products.
The price of purified water here confuses people, ranging from 1 yuan for a 596 ml package and 1.7 yuan for a 550ml bottle. But a test of the two types of purified water has revealed that the quality of the lower priced water is higher than that of the more expensive option.
Plus, Ding Aizhong, deputy director of College of Water Sciences of Beijing Normal University says that relying on purified water as drinking water on a daily basis is not good for health.
Research by some developed countries show that drinking purified water for a long time may result in insufficient intake of mineral in our body and may cause diseases like bone rarefaction and high blood pressure."
How about bottled mineral water? Mineral water products are labeled as containing valuable minerals and micro-elements that our body needs. The prices of packaged water in this category range from 1.5 yuan per bottle to 35 yuan per bottle.
Ding Aizhong says the price doesn't reflect the quality of the water.
"For ordinary consumers, they mainly refer to the mineral quantity labeled on the bottle. The price doesn't reveal the quality of the water. The main standard for the mineral water in China are strontium, metasilicic acid and some others like carbon dioxide."
Liu Wenjun, professor of Institute of Environment Protection at Tsinghua University says that compared to packaged water, water from taps is safer and more reliable.
"I think that packaged water products don't have any special function as drinking water: they are no different from water from taps. Some people are not comfortable with water alkali. But medical research has found that there is no connection between calculus and water alkali. Actually, a certain amount of water alkali may lower the possibility of cardiovascular diseases."
Experts point out that water from taps is still a safe and economical choice for the public, especially as the function of some packaged water products may be highly exaggerated.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
The U.S. embassy in Kabul reopens
 
The U.S. embassy in Kabul has reopened after being temporarily closed over the weekend amid a potential threat.
Security in the Afghanistan capital remains tight near the gate to the U.S embassy.
Eight other US embassies and consulates have also been authorized to reopen today, including those in Dhaka, Algiers and Baghdad.
Washington has decided to extend the closure of 19 other posts in the Middle East and North Africa by a week.
The State Department says the extension isn't due to new threats, but rather as a precaution.
Meanwhile, the State Department has issued a global travel warning to US citizens about the threat of an attack.
The alert is expected to last until the end of this month.
The US government says the alert follows intercepted electronic communications among senior operatives of al-Qaeda.
General Martin Dempsey is the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"It is an al-Qaeda affiliated threat. Yes, it is of the al-Qaeda branch. The intent is to attack Western, not just US interests. It is more specific and we are taking it seriously, which I think you'd expect us to do. Yes, there is a significant threat stream and we're reacting to it."
The US says the potential for an attack is particularly acute in the Middle East and North Africa, with possible threats on the Arabian Peninsula.
Officials are pointing specifically to Yemen.
Britain, France and Germany have also announced they will close their offices in Yemen for at least two days.
 
 
Low intensity bomb explodes at Jakarta's biggest Buddhist temple
 
Investigation is underway after a low-intensity bomb explosion at the biggest Buddhist temple in Jakarta, Indonesia over the weekend.
The blast left 3 people hurt.
The explosion took place while around 300 devotees were praying inside the Ekayana Buddhist temple.
National Police Chief Sutarman.
"We are working and searching for evidence at the scene. Another device emitted smoke but failed to explode."
Police are focusing on conflicts between Muslims and Buddhists.
Tensions between Buddhists and the predominate Muslim population have been on the rise in recent months in Indonesia.
In May, Indonesian police arrested two Muslims for allegedly planning an attack on Buddhists.
 
 
New Iranian president Hasan Rouhani speaks of moderation and reconciliation with the West
 
Iran's parliament has inaugurated Hassan Rouhani as the country's President.
Rouhani is promising a government of "prudence and hope" representing all Iranians.
"The respected people of Iran voted positively for moderation and distancing from extremism, the thinking and executing core of the government will be based on moderation and wisdom. Moderation means balance between aspirations and reality, and the preference of national interest above those of the party."
Rouhani, who is a moderate cleric, won a landslide victory in the June 14th presidential elections.
He has already been endorsed by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In his inauguration speech, Rouhani has continued his call for dialogue with the West, while asking foreign powers to respect Iran in its negotiations.
The United States says it can be a "willing partner" of Iran, if Rouhani seeks to resolve their nuclear disagreements.
Iran is currently under United Nations sanctions, as well as unilateral oil and banking sanctions because of its nuclear programs.
 
 
Israel adds 9 West Bank settlements on national priority list as peace talks resumed only recently
 
The Israeli cabinet has approved 91 Jewish settlements onto a national priority funding list.
This includes 9 settlements in the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
"Today we will pass a law, not a law, but a government decision for an updated national priority list of communities. In this list, we will determine which additional communities are entitled to receive a national priority."
It's feared the decision to put 9 more West Bank settlements on the list may hinder recently-renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Peace talks between the two sides were halted in 2010 over Israel's settlement construction.
Israeli and Palestinians negotiators only resumed peace talks this past Tuesday, after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry maneuvered for months to get the two sides back onto the negotiation table.
Earlier, both sides agreed the next round of talks would be held in Israel in the second week of August.
 
 
First companion robot heads to ISS
 
anchor:
The International Space Station will soon have another guest.
This time it's a talking robot from Japan.
CRI's Su Yi has more.
reporter:
Meet Mirata, a tiny talking robot.
(...)
Mirata's counterpart Kirobo is now on an historic mission into the space.
(...)
Mirata says "it's one small step for me, a giant leap for robots".
Kirobo is now onboard an un-manned space cargo transporter heading to the ISS, while Mirata, stays on Earth.
The name Kirobo derives from the Japanese words "Hope" and "Robot," while Mirata comes from the word "Future."
While conventional robots in space have usually been tasked with maintenance or mechanical operations, Kirobo's mission is to be a companion to Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata onboard the International Space Station.
Tomotaka Takahashi is the robot creator at the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology.
"Space is such a faraway and extreme environment - the most (challenging) part of it is to make a highly reliable robot, one that is stable."
The robonauts are capable of recognising human voices and speech, have pre-programmed responses and actions to questions, while they can also create verbal responses based on previous conversations.
Kirobo is also equipped with a facial recognition camera, as well as a camera that is capable of recording images.
The project's general manager at Toyota, Fuminori Kataoka, says the Japanese heart of conversation, of listening and responding occasionally with "uh-huh"s　and "ahem"s, are what makes a difference in making a conversation come to life.
"When you communicate with one another with the feeling of compassion, there will be a response, something comes back. I believe Mr. Wakata (Koichi Wakata, Japanese astronaut) strongly feels the same way too, and as someone who holds the trust of many people, I'm hopeful they will be able to communicate well."
Kirobo is awaiting the real astronaut Wakata's arrival at the International Space Station, this November.
Keeping an astronaut company for months will be no small task, but it will be a step forward in realizing Kirobo and Mirata's dream: "to create a future where humans and robots can be friends and live together."
For CRI, I'm Su Yi.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Asian Stock
 
Chinese mainland shares edged higher as the improved activity in services-sector boosted investors confidence.
The Shanghai Composite Index gained 1 percent.
The Shenzhen Component Index advanced 1 percent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index inched up 0.1 percent.
Elsewhere,
Tokyo stocks ended lower this Monday, dragged down by a firmer yen after weaker-than-expected U.S. nonfarm payrolls data for July.
The Nikkei 225 lost 1.4 percent.
South Korea's Kospi eased 0.4 percent.
Samsung Electronics lost 0.9 percent in Seoul following news the U.S. government has vetoed a trade body decision to ban the import and sale of certian Apple products in the U.S.
Singapore's Straits Times index lost 0.4 percent.
And finally Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.1 percent.
 
 
PBOC Vows to Continue Prudent Monetary Policy
 
The Central Bank here in China has decided to keep its prudent monetary policy into the second half of the year.
The People's Bank of China has issued the statement following a weekend symposium.
The PBOC says it will fine-tune the money supply volume at an appropriate time.
The central bank says more moves will be made to stabilize the monetary market and maintain moderate economic growth.
The central bank says the growth rate here in China is at a fair level.
At the same time, the PBOC says it will allocate more resources to support small and micro-sized enterprises in multiple financing channels, including tapping into the financial reserves.
Financial reserves normally refer to a country's gold and foreign currency reserves.
 
 
China lifts cap on life insurance interest rate
 
The 2.5 percent pre-determined interest rates attached to life insurance products here in China have been scrapped.
The move is the latest effort by central government to liberalize the country's interest rates.
The People's Bank of China has already loosened its grip on bank lending rates.
Under the new regulations, insurance companies can set their own rates to a maximum of 3.5-percent.
The rigid 2.5 percent cap left much of the insurance products on offer here in China much the same.
To prevent a policy-triggered price war in the insurance business, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission has also rolled out accompanying measures.
They include policies to boost old-age pension business and moves to support risk prevention.
For more on the issue, we're joined live now by Mark Huges, Executive Business Editor of China Daily.
…
Back Anchor:
That's Mark Hughes, Executive Business Editor of China Daily.
 
 
Chinese shipbuilding industry implements new 3-year transition and upgrading scheme
 
A new scheme to promote the shipbuilding industry here in China has been released by the State Council.
As part of the program, the government is pressing the industry will shift to high-end product development by scrapping old ships at the same time.
Cao Yousheng is the department chief of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
"Our advantage is still with three main ship types: tanker ship, bulk freighter, and container vessel. As for high-end ships and maritime engineering ships, our competitiveness is still far behind South Korean."
The new scheme also encourages financial institutions to bulk up their credit support for the ship building industry.
In announcing the program, the State Council also concedes the current ship building industry here in China has a lot of over capacity.
Of all the 8 listed shipbuilding companies, only one has made money so far this year.
 
 
Euro-Zone Business Activity Grows for First Time Since Jan 2012
 
Business activity in the euro zone has grown for the first time in July in a year-and-a-half.
New stats show the purchasing managers' index for the manufacturing and service sector has risen to 50.5.
This is up from 48.7 in June.
Strong production activity has offset the slight contraction in the service sector, which has allowed the PMI figure to move above the boom or bust line of 50.
Factory activity in Germany showed the strongest performance.
 
 
HSBC Holdings plc : HSBC First-Half Net Profit Rises 23%
 
British lender HSBC has posted a whopping 23 percent increase in its net profit for the first half of the year.
HSBC has earned 10.3 billion US dollars through the first two quarters on the back of significant cost-cutting.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China warns against rush to set code of conduct in South China Sea
 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is warning about rushing to set code of conduct in the South China Sea.
The Foreign Minister's comments have come in Vietnam during his official visit to the country.
Wang Yi says China has agreed to work on the code with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
However, he says its unrealistic to expect the deal to be worked out immediately.
He says any new code of conduct must be consensus-based, saying no individual countries should impose their will on others.
The top Chinese diplomat is stressing the importance of implementing the declaration of parties in the South China Sea, particularly its provisions for maritime cooperation.
 
 
China lifts cap on life insurance interest rate
 
The 2.5 percent pre-determined interest rates attached to life insurance products here in China have been scrapped.
The move is the latest effort by central government to liberalize the country's interest rates.
The People's Bank of China has already loosened its grip on bank lending rates.
Under the new regulations, insurance companies can set their own rates to a maximum of 3.5-percent.
The rigid 2.5 percent cap left much of the insurance products on offer here in China much the same.
To prevent a policy-triggered price war in the insurance business, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission has also rolled out accompanying measures.
They include policies to boost old-age pension business and moves to support risk prevention.
 
 
Aging circuit causes Xinjiang bus fire
 
Authorities are blaming an aging circuit as the cause of a fatal bus fire this morning in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi.
One person is dead and at least 6-others were injured after the bus caught fire while on the road.
The bus driver suffered serious burns in the fire.
Others injured on the bus may have sought medical treatment on their own, meaning the number of injured may be higher.
 
 
4 killed, 22 wounded in marketplace blast in S. Afghanistan
 
At least 4 people are dead and 22 others wounded in a bombing at a marketplace in southern Afghanistan.
The blast has taken place in the crowded market while people were shopping for an upcoming Muslim festival.
The provincial government is blaming the Taliban for the attack.
No military target was at the area when the explosion took place.
 
 
Blast hits train in Pakistan, killing one and injuring 20
 
At least three people are dead and over 15 others hurt after a bomb went off inside a train in eastern Pakistan.
It's being reported the train was on its way to the eastern city of Lahore when the blast went off.
It's believed the bomb, which contained around 7-kilograms of explosives, was placed in a bag in one of the compartments of the train.
Several of the injured are reportedly in critical condition.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
Xinhua
"China nabs 169 train ticket scalpers"
The Ministry of Public Security is saying 169 train ticket scalpers have been caught since it launched a crackdown on July 1.
Police have cracked 157 ticket scalping cases and uncovered 11 dens involved in speculative reselling of train tickets as of Aug 2.
Nearly 5,700 tickets have been confiscated, with a face value of more than 900,000 yuan.
Security at ticket booths and railway station ticket offices has been beefed up since July 1.
Police usually launch crackdown campaigns against ticket scalpers during major festivals, during which millions of Chinese people use trains to travel or go home.
The summer travel rush starts from July 1 to Aug 31.
China Daily
"GPS devices to tackle food waste problem"
Food waste collection trucks and trash cans will be outfitted with a computerized weighing and GPS device in Wuhan to deal with the problem of "gutter oil", illegally recycled cooking oil.
Operations will start on Dec 1 when a regulation that requires integrated collection and processing of kitchen waste takes effect in the Hubei capital.
According to the regulation, all waste, including food remnants, scrap materials and edible oil wastes from food and beverage facilities, canteens and factories involved in food production and processing will be monitored by the integrated system.
The regulation also defines edible oil waste as a mixture of water and oil retrieved from kitchen ventilators, oil-water separators or sewage facilities.
Companies will be set up in each (city) district for collection and transport.
Companies or individuals who are not affiliated with the designated companies will be subject to fines.
France 24
"UK scientists to serve up world's first in-vitro burger"
A corner of west London will see culinary and scientific history made on Monday when scientists cook and serve up the world's first lab-grown beef burger.
The in-vitro burger, cultured from cattle stem cells, will be fried in a pan and tasted by two volunteers.
The burger is the result of years of research by Dutch scientist Mark Post, who is working to show how meat grown in petri dishes might one day be a true alternative to meat from livestock.
The meat in the burger has been made by knitting together around 20,000 strands of protein that has been cultured from cattle stem cells in Post's lab.
The tissue is grown by placing the cells in a ring, like a donut, around a hub of nutrient gel.
Its creator says this example could provide an answer to global food shortages and help combat climate change.
Japan Daily Press
"Japanese toilets can be hacked through smartphones"
Security firm Trustwave has released an advisory that warned consumers that anyone with an Android smartphone and a My Satis app can remotely operate any Inax Satis toilet. This is due to the fact that the company hard-coded their Bluetooth PIN with "00000″.
The My Satis app can remotely make your toilet flush and can also activate the bidet and drying functions. What's more, it can even access the detailed defecation records stored in the commode.
Trustwave says a hacker can increase your utility bills by continually flushing your toilet. And if you forget to put the lid down, it can even cause water damage to the bathroom.
High-tech toilets are very common in Japan and tourists are always surprised and confused with all the different functions that they offer.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
China's film industry booming
 
Anchor: China's film industry has grown rapidly over the past decade and is set to become the world's largest movie market as companies focus on expanding their businesses, improving quality and tapping into the global market. Li Dong has the details.
Reporter: There are now 15,500 movie screens across China and the golden age of China's film industry is bringing unprecedented opportunities and profits to Chinese film enterprises, investors, distributors and cinema owners.
Many large Chinese film groups are looking to expand their businesses throughout the supply chain.
Huayi Brothers Media Corporation is investing in the cinema market alongside film products, while Beijing-based theater chain New Film Association is planning to invest in film production and distribution.
Huang Qunfei is general manager of New Film Association.
"We want to expand our business into the upstream sections of the film industry, such as production and distribution. We also want to try out downstream activities such as ticketing and advertising to optimize our services and develop the enterprise."
Wang Changtian, CEO of Enlight Media, says that China's film industry was only truly marketized 10 years ago and that since private enterprises have begun investing in film products, the industry has grown by an average of 35 percent a year.
One week of box office takings in 2013 is worth more than that of a whole year only a decade ago; Wang Changtian says that with government support the film industry will continue to develop in the future.
"We are still far behind the United States in terms of box office takings. However, our market is growing quickly and the gap with the United States is quickly narrowing. With such a large potential market, I think China will be able to compete with the U.S. movie industry in certain areas."
Gao Jingdong is chairman of Shanghai Jimei Film.
"China will become the world's biggest film market in five or six years. We must be aware that this market needs high quality films, so we need to increase communication with international filmmakers and learn from each other to achieve better mutual development."
Zhang Zhao, CEO of Le Vision Pictures says that film is a global product and that China's film market should produce films aimed at the global market in addition to the Chinese market.
Zhang Zhao says China's domestic market may be very big, but the global market is even bigger. China needs to learn more about it and bring new value to it.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Sports
 
 
China basketball team compete with Kazakhstan
 
China's men's basketball team is starting its second round against Kazakhstan today at the Asian Basketball Championship.
China suffered two losses in the first round.
Yi Jianlian is still sidelined because of a leg injury.
In earlier action, Qatar remains undefeated in the tournament so far, dumping Jordan 75-61 to start its second round.
Qatar, which is 3-0 in Group E, will take on the host the Philippines on Tuesday.
In other action, it was Iran hammering India 102-58 in their Group F matchup today.
 
 
2013 Badminton World Championships begin in Guangzhou
 
This year's Badminton World Championships are underway in Guangzhou.
China is represented by 26 players.
In men's singles action, Chinese star Lin Dan made easy work of an American wild card.
World Number 1, Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, has also moved easily into next round.
The two won't meet one-another until either make it into the finals.
Also in action on the first day of competition is 3rd seeded Du Pengyu of China.
He needed three sets to get past South Korea's Shon Wan-ho.
In mixed doubles, Japanese pair Kenichi Hayakawa and Misaki Matsumoto have advanced after downing a pair of opponents from the Czech Republic.
In Women's doubles, Chien Yu-Chin and Wu Ti-Jung from Taiwan have gone down to a pair from Japan in straight-sets.
 
 
The FINA World Championships have come to an end
 
This year's World Swimming Championships have come to an end.
In the final day of the competition, Chinese swimmer Sun Yang earned his 3rd gold medal in the 1500 meter freestyle.
"I knew the competition would be fierce. Before the competition, I didn't get enough aerobic training. As such, I didn't start out too fast at the beginning. As such, I took on a strategy of coming from behind. My competitors swim very well, which made the plan even more difficult. But I had faith, and that allowed me to persevere."
Sun and American Katie Ledecky have been named Best Male and Female Swimmers at this year's championships.
In other action on Sunday in Barcelona, Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho took his 3rd consecutive world championship in the mens 50-meter freestyle.
Chad Le Clos of South Africa took gold in the 100m butterfly.
Jeanette Ottesen Gray of Denmark won the womens 50m butterfly. Chinese swimmer Lu Ying came in second in that competition.
 
 
Chelsea beat AC Milan 2-0 in New Jersey
 
Chelsea set up a showdown with Jose Mourinho's former club Real Madrid yesterday after downing AC Milan 2-0 in the semi-final of the International Champions Cup pre-season tournament in the United States.　
Chelsea secured the victory with a goal in the first half and the 2nd in penalty time in the second half.
Chelsea now goes into final against Real where former coaches of both teams will face each other.　
Realcoach Carlo Ancelotti was in charge at Chelsea between 2009-10 and Mourinho only just left Real to start his newest challenge at Stamford Bridge.
 
 
Cristiano Ronaldo holds press conference in Los Angeles
 
Cristiano Ronaldo's future with Real Madrid still remains somewhat unclear.
This, after he refused to confirm reports in Spain that he has agreed a new five-year contract with the club.
"Well, I'm not going to confirm nothing. I just do my job, like I always did all year. My future, I don't know. In this moment I'm a player in Madrid. In the future, I really don't know. Lets see what is going to happen. But in the moment, I'm good. I am."
Speaking to reporters in Los Angeles, Ronaldo has also refused to discusss Real Madrid's pursuit of Tottenham's Gareth Bale.
"Well, I'm not going to speak about that because I'm not the right person to say if he deserves that money, if it is a good deal or not. I'm just here, I'm happy here. I think the players I have beside me - they are great. We have an excellent team, I'm not going to speak about the other players."
Ronaldo is in Los Angeles with Real Madrid as part of their tour of the United States.
Real Madrid has won both games they've played in the United States so far this summer, downing the LA Galaxy and Everton respectively as part of the Guinness Champions Cup.
Real will be facing Chelsea in the final of the tournament on Wednesday.
 
 
Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina won Citi Open
 
Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro overcame a shaky opening set to defeat big-serving American John Isner in the final of the Citi Open in Washington, DC.
His 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory has earned him 1.3-million US dollars.
Del Potro converted four of six break-point chances to win in just under 90 minutes.
This is the first tournament Del Potro has played since losing to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
"Well believe me I'm very surprised with myself, I've been playing five matches in a row very good opponents and I beat all of them and it's a very good start to my hardcourt season."
The victory in Washington is Del Potro's 3rd in Washington, DC.
His win comes as the players prepare for the U.S Open, which gets underway on August 26th.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Ellen DeGeneres to host next year's Oscars
 
Ellen DeGeneres is to have her second stint as the host of the Academy Awards,
The Oscar ceremony producers made the announcement over the weekend.
With over 40 million viewers this year, the ceremony is often the most watched US TV event after the Sueprbowl.
A TV industry establishment DeGeneres' daytime talk show has garnered 45 Emmys during its decade of broadcast.
The producers accredited her appointment to her "great warmth and humanity."
This follows last year's controversial host choice of "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlene, whose risque routine caused somewhat a bit of a stir.
The next Oscars awards ceremony will take place on March 2nd of next year.
 
 
2 Guns goes in at top of US Box Office
 
Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington have gone in at No. 1 in the US box office with their latest film "2 Guns".
Based on a Boom! Studios Comic by Steven Grant, the film follows two undercover agents who unite to infiltrate a drug ring.
The movie has raked in over 27 million US Dollars during its opening weekend.
Director Baltasar Kormakur's outlaw flick pushed "The Wolverine" down to second place.
The sixth installment in the X-men franchise sees Hugh Jackman's Logan travel to Japan, losing his immortality and battling his inner demons.
Since opening late last month, the latest Marvel Studio flick has brought in over quarter of a billion dollars internationally so far.
The performance seems to suggest that cinema goers are no where close to losing their appetite for superhero adventures.
Elsewhere, Sony Pictures Animation's "The Smurfs 2," only managed half of the sales figures projected by the studio's.
"The Smurfs 2" finishes at No 3, followed by horror movie "The Conjuring" at four, and "Despicable Me 2" at fifth place.
 
 
Peter Capaldi cast as new Doctor Who
 
After much anticipation, the BBC has finally unveiled the new Doctor Who.
Scottish actor Peter Capaldi was confirmed as the 12th Time Lord on Sunday.
Best known as Malcolm Tucker in the political sitcome "The Thick of It", Capaldi is also the director of Oscar-winning short film "Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life".
At 55, Capaldi will be the oldest Doctor since William Hartnell back in 1963.
The self-proclaimed life-long Doctor Who fan has described the casting as a "wonderful priviledge."
The incumbent Dcotor, Matt Smith will leave after a November episode to mark the show's 50th anniversary.
A Christmas special that will see him regenerate into Capaldi, whose first full episode will air next year.
 
 
Li Keran retrospective opens this week at National Art Museum
 
A major retrospective of Chinese painter Li Keran arrives at the National Art Museum of China this week.
Li set a record among Chinese painters when his masterpiece 'Wan Shan Hong Bian' fetched 46 million US dollars at the Beijing Poly auctions this spring.
Li, who passed away in 1989 was instrumental for adapting traditional methods for the modern era whilst observing Western realist elements into his work
Often considered the most important Chinese artist of the latter half of the 20th Century, Li's lasting influence on Chinese painting is commemorated in the exhibition.
The show opens this Wednesday and runs until the 19th August.
 
 
Han Hong apologises for weekend driving offences
 
Han Hong has issued a pubic apology for breaching traffic rules.
The acclaimed singer said sorry via Weibo after being fined 5000 yuan for driving offences over the weekend.
Han was caught using her mobile at the wheel and driving an unlicensed Land Rover bearing a license plate belonging to another car.
Many have criticised Han as a prominent public figure who has greater responsibility to observe the law and set a good example.
Han has expressed deep shame for her behaviour in her online post on Sunday.
The 41 year old was a key performer at the 2008 Olympics closing ceremony and is a household name here in China, where she is known for her brand of folk-influenced pop.
 
 
UK Singles chart round up
 
Over to the UK for a look at this week's single's charts.
Avicii has stayed on top for the third week with 'Wake Me Up'.
The Summer anthem sold 120,000 copies this week, pushing it past the half million mark.
John Newman rises two places to two with former number one 'Love Me Again', while Robin Thicke stays put at three with 'Blurred Lines'.
Elsewhere, Lana Del Rey leaps 28 places to four with the Cedric Gervais remix of 'Summertime Sadness'.
Another big rise is Jay Z and Justin Timberlake who climbs up six places with "Holy Grail" at number 11.
Elsewhere, this year's festival fixture Disclosure climbs 21 with "F for YOU" at 28 and Eliza Doolittle's "Big When I was Little" is this week's highest new entry at 12.