新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2013/08/07

 Wednesday, August 7th, 2013.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this evening,
A high-temperature alert is in place across parts of China, with Shanghai suffering through its hottest day today in some 40-years.
Chinese authorities have handed down massive fines against a group of foreign milk powder producers.
A new round of talks to potentially reopen the Kaesong Industrial park on the Korean peninsula are set for next week.
In Business, Regulators are considering changes which may be a prelude to the reopening of the IPO market here in China.
In sports, China's men's basketball is wrapping up its group action at the Asian Basketball Championships.
In entertainment, its being reported Robert De Niro might be involved in a new Chinese film.
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will have showers tonight with a low of 23 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow cloudy with a high temperature of 34.　
Meanwhile Shanghai will be clear tonight, with a low of 31,　cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 40.
Lhasa will have showers tonight, 11 degrees the low, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 24.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, thundershowers, with a high of 33.
Kabul, sunny, 36.
Over in Australia
Sydney, rainy, highs of 17.
Canberra, rainy, 13.
Brisbane, sunny, 23.
And finally, Perth will have rain with a high of 18.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Shanghai issues fifth red heat alert
 
The national meteorological center here in China is maintaining a high temperature alert for most parts of southern China, including Chongqing and Fujian.
Its' warning some regions may experience temperatures as high as 42 degrees.
The summer heat wave which has been baking the country's southern regions since July has been causing water shortages and significant damage to crops, particularly in the Yangtze River Valley, which is a major rice-producing region here in China.
Meanwhile, Shanghai has experienced its hottest day today in some 40 years, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees today.
Today represents the 5th red-alert for heat in the city so far this year.
"It is too hot, I feel like I am in a sauna room. In Hainan, it is usually very hot during noon time, but the temperature will go down in the afternoons. But here, even at night, the temperature can reach over 30 degrees."
Forecasters are warning the heat is expected to linger in Shanghai until at least Sunday.
Meanwhile, forecasters have also issued an alert for approaching tropical storm Mangkhut, which is bringing large waves and heavy rains to parts of Hainan and Guangxi.
 
 
China fines foreign milk powder makers after price probe
 
Anchor:
Chinese authorities have handed down record fines worth 670 million yuan against foreign milk powder makers for price fixing.
The National Development and Reform Commission is hitting Mead Johnson, Dumex, Abbott, Biostime, Friesland and Fonterra with the fines.
Three other companies involved in the probe have escaped punishment.
Fonterra, Mead Johnson and Biostime have accepted the fine and say they don't intent to contest the penalty.
The NDRC initiated the probe into 9 companies in March amid speculation they were involved in setting minimum resale prices for distributors here in China.
Sales of foreign milk powder brands account for about half of the total volume here in China.
For more on this, we're joined live now by CRI's Financial Commentator Cao Can.
…
Back Anchor:
CRI's Financial Commentator Cao Can.
 
 
Chinese Milk Brands Face Challenges Amid Foreign Brand's Scandal
 
Anchor:
The bacterial scare with Fonterra products is starting to raise concerns among Chinese mothers.
CRI's Luo Laiming explains.
Reporter:
The botulism scandal from the New Zealand formula producer has caused doubts against foreign formula among Chinese mothers. Some moms say that they don't know what kind of brand to choose given the current situation.
"I thought foreign brands would be better than Chinese formula, but I didn't realize that they also have problems. Not to mention that the bacteria in the milk powder is lethal. I will be more cautious when choosing formula brands."
"Many mothers are under the impression that foreign brands are more reliable and pure. But such contamination has scared us and dented our faith in foreign brands."
Chinese formula brands seemed to gain some hope in the market right after Fonterra announced the contamination. Domestic brands such as Royal Diary, Sanyuan and Yili witnessed notable increases in the A-share market. But some stock analysts commented that the favoring of Chinese brands is only a short-term response to the recent scandal.
In fact, this is not the first time foreign milk brands have had their problems exposed, but recognition among Chinese consumers remained strong. Given the scare from both domestic and foreign brands, Chinese consumers say they don't have any options left and some have even become wary of domestic brands.
"One of my friends stopped giving her baby any formula milk when Dumex had their problem. She used to buy in bulk, but now she's only feeding her baby Chinese meals."
"I don't think it's fair to be so picky on foreign brands. Under the same strict standards, I don't think domestic brands would survive the examination at all. Given the current situation, I have to choose those with less or minor problems."
For the domestic dairy industry, this is indeed a good opportunity to flip over and regain trust from consumers. Wu Songhang, Vice Chairman of the Beijing Mother-Infant-Child Industry Association says the domestic dairy industry is facing a huge challenge to rebuild their reputation.
"Domestic dairy companies need to put quality as their priority in the process of gaining consumers. At the same time, the government's supervision and inspection needs to be specified and carried out more efficiently. Many domestic brands are merging with foreign ones, and this is a good opportunity to elbow out companies with misconducts. Only through such ways can domestic brands slowly regain trust from Chinese consumers."
Chinese media point out that domestic dairy brands should not celebrate when foreign brands are in turbulence, but rather, learn to improve product quality and release information in time. Others say it is a naive conjecture that more fans of foreign formula brands will turn to domestic ones only because fsome oreign brands have problems.
For CRI, I'm Liu Min.
 
 
DPRK proposes talks on reopening Kaesong complex on Aug. 14
 
South Korean authorities have accepted a North Korean request for a new round of talks connected to the Kaesong Industrial park.
The talks are being planned for next Wednesday.
This will be the 7th round of talks between the North and South Korean sides since the North effectively shut down the facility earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the South Korean government has announced it will pay out insurance to the companies affected by the shutdown of the joint industrial park.
Kim Hyung-suk is with the South Korean Unification Ministry.
"Our government decided to pay insurance claims to companies at Kaesong Industrial Complex after South and North Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council made decision."
In exchange, the 109 South Korean companies with operations at the facility just across the border in North Korea will have to pass ownership of their company assets to the South Korean government.
Some 250-million US dollars will be paid out by the South Korean government.
Seoul's decision to pay out the insurance claims comes amid domestic protests demanding the complex be reopened.
Around 500 South Koreans managing factories in the stalled complex have gathered in the border city of Paju, demanding talks be resumed.
 
 
Nairobi airport closed after a massive fire
 
A massive fire has destroyed the arrivals hall at Kenya's main international airport in the capital Nairobi, forcing the closure of East Africa's largest airport.
No injuries have been reported so far.
The blaze raged for four hours before being contained by local fire crews.
Joseph Ole Lenku is Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for the Interior.
"This fire started at about five at the immigration point and we can now confirm that the fire has been contained. It's no longer spreading out of where it started. Unfortunately we have lost the arrival area and a number of offices have been gutted down."
The cause of the fire is still unclear.
The fire has taken place on the 15th anniversary of the US Embassy bombings in Nairobi and neighbouring Tanzania.
However, there is no indication at this point the fire is an act of terrorism.
Nairobi airport is the busiest airport in East Africa, and its closure will effect flights throughout the region.
 
 
Indian gov't absolves Pakistan from killings of soldiers: main opposition
 
The main opposition in the Indian Parliament is blasting the government for absolving the Pakistani military of this week's killing of 5 Indian soldiers in Kashmir.
The head of the Indian opposition is demanding Indian defense minister A.K. Anthony apologise to the people of Indian.
Antony has gone on record saying the Indian government now believes it was terrorists, with some dressed in Pakistani military gear, who ambushed a group of Indian border guards in a remote section of Kashmir on Monday.
The Pakistani side has denied any responsibility for the attack.
The Indian army initially pinned the attack on Pakistani soldiers.
Meanwhile, the governments of both India and Pakistan have confirmed that a planned meeting at the United Nations next month between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be going ahead.
 
 
U.S senators urge Egyptian govt release Brotherhood members
 
A pair of senior U.S. senators are calling on Eypt's military-backed government to release detained members of the Muslim Brotherhood and start negotiations with the group.
Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have made the call after meeting with top military and civilian leaders in Cairo.
Senator John McCain.
"We also urge release of political prisoners. We also urge strongly, a national dialogue, a national dialogue that is inclusive of parties including the Muslim Brotherhood. And at the same time we expect the Muslim Brotherhood to refrain from violence. And we have urged the interim government and armed forces to protect the rights and freedoms of all Egyptians and their right to protest peacefully."
The two senators, sent to Cairo by U.S. President Barack Obama, are also describing the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi as a coup.
However, they say the U.S will not cut the 1.3 billion US dollars in military aid it gives to Egypt every year.
Under current US rules, the US is not allowed to support any government financially if its gained power through a military coup.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the interim Egyptian government is rejecting the Sentors description of Morsi's overthrow as a coup.
The Egyptian government is also rejecting the call to release jailed Brotherhood members, saying they will be dealt with by the courts.
Meanwhile, Hassan el-Prince, a leading member of Muslim Brotherhood, is also rejecting the senators' statements.
"I think John McCain's statement is an attempt from the United States to also keep distance and jump out from the sinking boat of the coup leaders, as the United States has previously supported this coup."
Morsi's supporters have been camping out in Cairo for more than a month, demanding Morsi's reinstatement.
It is feared the current standoff may lead to further bloodshed if the army does move in.
Envoys from the European Union, Qatar and the Unite Arab Emirates are also in the country trying to resolve the standoff.
 
 
Obama says to attend G20 summit in Russia despite Snowden spat
 
US President Barack Obama has confirmed he will be attending next month's G20 Summit in Russia.
This, despite the US government's spat with the Russian authorities over NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Speaking on a late-night talk show, Obama says he's disappointed with the Russian government for giving Snowden one-year's asylum.
Still, he says he will be in attendence at the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg slated for early September.
However, Obama made no mention of a planned sideline meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has been planned.
 
 
U.S. soldier admits to mass shooting at military base
 
The man on trial for going on a mass shooting spree at the Fort Hood Army Base in the US State of Texas has admitted to being behind the shootings.
42-year old Major Nidal Hasan has told the jury at his military trial the evidence will "clearly show" he is the shooter.
The shootings on the Army base in 2009 left 13 soldiers dead and more than 30-others hurt.
The America-born Muslim - who is defending himself - had wanted to argue he shot US troops to try to protect Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
However, the judge overseeing the case isn't allowing that defense.
Hasan released several statements prior to the trial, explaining his motive and criticizing the U.S. government's "anti-Islam" policies.
If convicted, Hasan could be sentenced to death.
The last execution carried out by the U.S. military was in 1961.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Asian Stock
 
Asian stock markets traded broadly lower Wednesday.
Concerns about the US Federal Reserve's stimulus outlook help drive down trading in Asia, after Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said he expects the central bank will begin tapering its asset-purchase program by end of the year.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index finished down 0.7 percent.
The Shenzhen Component Index gave back 0.6 percent.
Despite this, real-estate majors drove gains after China Vanke reported a 22% rise in its first-half profits.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index retreated 1.5 percent.
Tokyo stocks ended sharply lower Wednesday with the Nikkei 225 shrinking 4 percent on the yen's sharp gain.
All 33 sectors declined, led by real estate, warehouse and precision machinery makers.
South Korean shares fell for the 3rd straight day on Wednesday.
The benchmark KOSPI finished down 1.5 percent.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics slid 2.6 percent, and top automaker Hyundai Motor declined 3.2 percent.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index was up 0.2 percent.
In Sydney, the key mining and financial sectors both ended lower.
This pushed the Australian ASX 200 down 1.9 percent.
 
 
Beijing Mulls More IPO Regulations
 
Securities regulators here in China are working to try to close loopholes in the current initial public offering process.
Internal sources say major adjustments will be made to how stocks can be issued.
The moves are also expected to streamline underwriting procedures and improve the way information is disclosed.
The moves by the China Securities Regulatory Commission could be in preparation for the much-anticipated reopening of the IPO market.
The CSRC has yet to set a time-table for the potential resumption of IPO's here in China.
 
 
China commerce ministry to step up inspection of all imported dairy products
 
In the wake of the Fonterra contamination scare, the Ministry of Commerce here in China is stepping up inspections of all imported dairy products.
The move comes after New Zealand diary giant Fonterra determined that human error resulted in its products being tainted with a potentially-deadly bacteria and shipped around the world.
At the same time, the Ministry of Commerce says separate investigations are being launched into pricing and bribery allegations by a number of drug makers.
The Ministry says the probe is not specifically targeting foreign companies.
 
 
Obama pitches mortgage overhaul as housing market rallies
 
US President Barack Obama is proposing a major overhaul to the country's mortgage financing programs.
Obama is proposing replacing the two largest government-backed mortgage financing firms, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, with a private sector-led mortgage financing system.
"All these steps will give more middle-class families the chance to either buy their own home now or eventually buy their own home. It's going to give more relief to responsible homeowners. It gives more options to families who aren't ready to buy."
If Obama's plan goes through, it would mean the private sector would be fully responsible for mortgage defaults.
"For too long these companies were allowed to make huge profits buying mortgages knowing that if their bets went bad taxpayers would be left holding the bag. It was heads we win, tails you lose and it was wrong. "
Fannie and Freddie buy mortgages from lenders then package them as bonds, guarantee them and then sell them to investors.
The two currently own or guarantee half of all US mortgages and back nearly 90 percent of new ones.
 
 
Implications of state debt for the US economy
 
A new study in the United States is suggesting state governments are carrying both total and future liabilities in the range of between 1 to 4 trillion US dollars.
The Harvard Institute of Government report suggest the debt at the state level is a result of pension and health care programs for government workers.
These future liabilities are in addition to the money that individual state governments may have already borrowed.
US policy makers are now being confronted with the challenge of trying to reduce the debt loads without causing any drastic consequences for people's lives.
For more on this situation, CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King spoke with Professor Geoffrey Garet, founder of the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
…
Professor Geoffrey Garet, founder of the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, speaking with CRI's Nathan Wakelin-King.
 
 
British central bank to keep interest rate at 0.5 pct until unemployment falls
 
The Bank of England (BoE), the central bank of Britain, said Wednesday that it would keep the interest rate at record low 0.5 percent until British unemployment drops to 7 percent or below.
 
BoE new governor Mark Carney, who took the office in July, unveiled the new strategies of Britain's monetary policy in his first inflation report.
 
Carney said the bank rate would be kept at 0.5 percent, unless inflation threatened to get out of control or there was a danger to financial stability.
 
 
Soros pours US$150m into Brazil telco
 
Billionaire financier George Soros is investing 150 million US dollars into a Brazilian telecom company.
Soros Fund Management is putting the money into On Telecom, which is a Sao Paulo-based firm.
The company is involved in trying to speed up 4G high speed internet services in Brazil.
The company is set to invest 217 million US dollars in the internet project over the next 3-years.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Wave alert in S.China; Shanghai in heat alert
 
A tropical storm in the South China Sea is beginning to affect Hainan.
A high-wave alert is in place for areas in the south and west of the island province.
Waves of 3 to 4 meters in height are being stirred up because of tropical storm Mangkhut.
Forecasters are also warning the storm will bring waves of over 3-meters in height to the southern shores of Guangxi this evening and into Thursday.
Meanwhile, Shanghai has been embroiled in a red-alert today, with temperatures in the city peaking above 40-degrees.
The city has already lived through its hottest July on record.
 
 
China issues record anti-trust fines to formula firms
 
Chinese authorities have handed down record fines worth 670 million yuan to six baby formula companies for price-fixing.
The six companies being fined include Biostime, Mead Johnson, Dumex, Abbott, Friesland and Fonterra.
The country's top economic planner says the companies maintained milk powder prices at a high level, restricted competition in the market and harmed the interests of consumers.
The move follows an antitrust probe by authorities.
Three other companies involved in the probe have been exempted from punishment, because they cooperated with the government investigation.
 
 
China commerce ministry to step up inspection of all imported dairy products
 
In the wake of the Fonterra contamination scare, the Ministry of Commerce here in China is stepping up inspections of all imported dairy products.
The move comes after New Zealand diary giant Fonterra determined that human error resulted in its products being tainted with a potentially-deadly bacteria and shipped around the world.
At the same time, the Ministry of Commerce says separate investigations are being launched into pricing and bribery allegations by a number of drug makers.
The Ministry says the probe is not specifically targeting foreign companies.
 
 
DPRK proposes talks on reopening Kaesong complex on Aug. 14
 
South Korean authorities have accepted a North Korean request for a new round of talks connected to the Kaesong Industrial park.
The talks are being planned for next Wednesday.
This will be the 7th round of talks between the North and South Korean sides since the North effectively shut down the facility earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the South Korean government has announced it will pay out insurance to the companies affected by the shutdown of the joint industrial park.
In exchange, the 109 South Korean companies with operations at the facility just across the border in North Korea will have to pass ownership of their company assets to the South Korean government.
Some 250-million US dollars will be paid out by the South Korean government.
 
 
Nairobi airport closed after a massive fire
 
A massive fire has destroyed the arrivals hall at Kenya's main international airport in the capital Nairobi, forcing the closure of East Africa's largest airport.
No injuries have been reported so far.
The blaze raged for four hours before being contained by local fire crews.
The cause of the fire is still unclear.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
Global Times
"Electronic registration to stop Internet overuse"
Internet cafes in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province are required to install electronic real-name registration systems that will prevent users from staying online for more than 24 hours.
The system will electronically retrieve information from the identification cards of Net users and register them in a network that monitors all Internet cafes in the city.
The system will also force users to log off once they have been found active online for over 24 hours.
Those who are forced offline have to wait at least eight hours to log back on to computers in Internet cafes.
A local officer said the system can help users fend off illegal online games or websites and allow law enforcement officers to remotely monitor the situation in the cafes.
Xinhua
"Young Chinese place high importance on looks: survey"
A new poll by the China Youth Daily shows more than 75 percent of young people believe that being physically attractive can give them a competitive edge in society.
The paper polled some 18,000 people, most under the age of 33. Half of respondents said they have considered getting a facelift at some point.
Nearly 60 percent of respondents said social values that place great importance on one's appearance have fueled young people's desire to get plastic surgery.
He Lun, a professor at Southeast University, said obsession with one's appearance can lead to "lookism," or positive stereotypes and preferential treatment given to physically attractive people, and therefore trouble people who are not as attractive.
AFP
"Dolphins remember friends' whistles for decades: study"
A study on Wednesday said Bottlenose dolphins can remember each other's signature whistles for more than 20 years, the longest social memory ever observed in an animal.
Previous research had shown that dolphins design unique signature whistles to identify themselves, and answer when called by "name".
They use these whistles like we identify people by their faces.
In this study, Biologists found dolphins got bored quickly listening to signature whistles from dolphins they don't know.
But familiar calls often elicited an immediate response.
The reaction was not affected by how long the animals had lived together, nor their sex or kinship status.
In the wild, bottlenose dolphins have an average life expectancy of about 20 years, though some can survive for 45 years or longer.
Long-term social memory may help animals assess threats and opportunities for hunting alliances while preventing inbreeding.
AP
"Aging America: People skeptical of research to extend lifespan; most don't want to reach 120"
A new poll by the Pew Research Center explores attitudes about a scientific quest: Creating treatments that one day might let people live decades longer than is normal today.
Scientists already can extend the life span of certain laboratory animals — mice, worms, flies — with various techniques. They've also tried with monkeys, although the evidence in that species is mixed.
But with the field growing, Pew found most Americans wouldn't want a treatment that would let them live to 120.
Fifty-six per cent said no thanks.
Few expect such a radical idea to become reality, at least by 2050, although most of those surveyed expect other medical advances that could more gradually extend life expectancy, such as better cancer care.
When asked about living to 120 or beyond, the survey found 51 per cent of people said that would be bad for society. They worried about a strain on natural resources, and that such treatments probably would be available only to the rich rather than to everyone.
 
 
Special Reports
 
  
Animal performance forbidden
 
Anchor:
Despite new guidelines banning animal acts at zoos here in China, many of the facilities across the country are still using the animals in the now-illegal performances.
CRI's Zhang Wan has more.
Reporter:
Media reports say that animal performances can currently be seen at around 50 percent of zoos in cities and 90 percent of wildlife zoos. Meanwhile, various other entertainment venues, such as the World Park in Beijing, also provide animal performances.
Performances require animals such as elephants to demonstrate their balancing and jumping abilities, which "might seriously impair the animals' physical and psychological health".
Huang Chengming, researcher from the Institute of Zoology, China Academy of Sciences explains:
"Judging by the animal's appearance alone, it would be hard to tell their pain. Usually, the animals, upon correctly completing a movement instructed by their trainers, are given a reward. Otherwise, the animals would be punished."
Actually, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a circular back in 2010 banning animal performances nationwide, but the rule does not apply to aquariums.
However, as the circular didn't specify penalties, and considering the huge profits to be made from animal performances, it's very difficult to wipe out the practice. It remains a common practice in many zoos across the country.
Here is an employee at a zoo in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.
"We did receive the circular by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. But animal performances are still included in our entry ticket. Usually, during the May Day holiday, we would suspend the animal performances because it tends to be too crowded for visitors watch it during this peak season. However, visitors would file complaints about the cancellation; they like these performances so much."
Researcher from the Institute of Zoology, China Academy of Sciences, Huang Chengming points out that people should do things that really are good for animals.
"Animal performances aim to entertain people; however, people should consider from the perspective of animals, and do things that really are good for them."
Some people say a zoo should be a site demonstrating animal protection efforts. However, a total ban on animal performances would take time and require public cooperation as well as a change in attitudes.
For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.
  
 
Sports
 
 
China in action at Asian Basketball Championships
 
Today is the final day of the 2nd group phase of the Asian Basketball Championships.
China has finished the round-robin with a 3-2 record after downing Bahrain 88-66 this evening.
This puts them through in Group F.
Also through in Group F is Iran, who remains undefeated in the tournament with a 5-0 record after dumping Kazakhstan 85-53 earlier today.
Despite the loss, Kazakhstan still moves through thanks to China's victory over Bahrain, who needed the win to secure the 4th spot from the group.
Bahrain finished its tournament with a 1-4 record.
In other action, Jordan upset Japan this afternoon to secure the final spot in Group E with a 65-56 win.
This gives Jordan a 2-3 record, and moves them through to the quarter-finals.
Chinese Taipei's perfect record at the tournament was snapped this afternoon, after going down to Qatar 71-68.
Chinese Taipei still advances to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 record in Group E, along side Qatar, which also finishes at 4-1.
The Philippines, who are in action right now against Hong Kong, will also advance into the quarter finals, as they currently have a 3-1 record.
Hong Kong hasn't won a game in the tournament.
 
 
BWF World Championships continue in Guangzhou
 
Chinese shuttlers have been performing well today at the World Badminton Championships in Guangzhou.
Top seeded Chinese women Li Xuerui and Wang Shixian both moved through to the next round with victories today.
Wang Shixian had to fight hard to get past Pai Hsiao-ma from Taiwan in a 3-set marathon which lasted 1-hour-23-minutes.
On the men's side, Chinese singles player Chen Long is through to the round of 16 after getting past Japan's Sho Sasaki.
In the women's double's competition, China's Bao Yixin and Zhong Qianxin are also through.
Japan's women's doubles hopes were dashed today after 2nd seeds Misaki Matsumoto and Ayaka were eliminated by a pair from Thailand.
 
 
Venus Williams out at Rogers Cup
 
There's been a significant upset on the women's draw at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Canada.
13th seeded Belgian Kirsten Flipkens has downed world-number 1 Venus Williams in a three-set battle in Toronto.
Williams dominated the first set, taking it 6-love.
However, Flipkens fought back, taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-2.
The match was Williams' first since her back injured in the quarter finals of the French Open.
In other action, it was Slovak Dominika Cibulkova downing 8th seeded Angelique Kerber in a 3-hour, 3-set victory.
Ana Ivanovic has breezed her way into the next round with a convincing win over Hsieh Su-Wei from Taiwan.
On the men's side, world number one and two-time Rogers Cup winner Novak Djokovic is into the third round with a straight-sets pounding of Florian Mayer 6-2, 6-1.
Kei Nishikori is also through to round three after getting past Andreas Seppi in a three-set battle.
11th seeded Canadian Milos Raonic is also through after getting past American Jeremy Chardy in three sets.
 
 
Inter Milan beat Juventus 9-8 on penalties in the International Champions Cup
 
Two Serie A giants - Juventus and Inter Milan - have gone head to head in the International Champions Cup in Miami.
With the score tied at 1 after regulation, penalties decided the outcome.
And with the scores in the shootout level at 5, it came down to sudden death.
Inter Milan goalkeeper Juan Carrizo was the hero for Inter, saving a spot kick before converting his own goal in the next attempt.
Inter Milan finished seventh in the tournament with the 9-8 win.
Juventus finished last in the tournament.
 
 
Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers hold a press conference in Norway
 
The future of Liverpool's Luis Suarez has once-again up for discussion.
Speaking to reporters in Norway, Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers says the club has recieved a few offers for the sometimes-troubled striker.
"We have obviously had a couple of bids from one club that has been nowhere near the valuation, I repeat: nowhere near the valuation of what he is worth in this market and in the world game. So... there is no change to that. It is the same with any of our players. We are very much a team that is trying to build and go forward and for that we want to keep pour best players and certainly, we have no intention of selling one of the top players in the world to one of our rivals so the message is very clear. "
Meanwhile, Rogers has also confirmed that Suarez has been sidelined for the time being with an injury.
"Luis (Suarez) picked up an injury. We had an open training session yesterday at Anfield and him and a number of the other players unfortunately, it was too much of a risk to take them so he, along with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel and Glenn Johnson. We are just seeing this game as too much of a risk for them so they have stayed back and are getting treatment."
Suarez has been demanding a move out of Liverpool amid a series of conflicts with the club connected to his actions both on and off the pitch.
Liverpool finished 7th in the Premier League last year, despite having one of the game's most talented strikers on the roster.
 
 
Tiger Woods looks forward to 95th PGA Championship
 
The world's best golfers are getting ready for the last major of the year this week.
All eyes are on Tiger Woods as he heads into the 95th PGA Championship looking for his fifth tournament win of the year and his 15th Major victory.
"It's been probably the longest spell that I've had since I hadn't won a major championship. I came out here very early and got my first one back in '97. "　
Though he hasn't won a major in five years, he comes into Oak Hill in impressive form, having won 5-victories in 11 starts this year, including a 7-stroke victory last weekend at the Bridgestone Invitational.
"Well, do I feel good? Well, obviously I feel pretty good about winning by seven and coming here. I feel like my game's pretty good. As I was saying to a lot of you guys last week, that's how I played at the British Open. Only difference is I made more putts last week. I hit it just as good at Muirfield, and didn't make any putts the last three days. At Firestone, I putted well, but I hit the ball just the same."
Woods has four previous PGA Championship victories, in 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007.
A victory this weekend would see him inch even closer to Jack Nicklaus' major victory record of 18.
Round one of this year's PGA Championships from Oak Hill in New York gets underway on Thursday.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Angelababy premieres new film "Crimes of Passion"
 
Superstar Angelababy lit up Beijing yesterday with the premiere of her new film "Crimes of Passion".
Angelababy plays a police officer investigating the mysterious disappearance of a prized artifact.
Korean hearthrob Jae Hee co-stars as Angelababy's love interest.
Meanwhile, Angelababy's off-screen boyfriend Huang Xiaoming plays a policeman.
The stars were joined by director Gao Qunshu and singer Na Ying, who provided the theme tune.
"Crimes of Passion" arrives at cinemas across China tomorrow.
 
 
Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro to reunite on screen
 
Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro are to join forces on the film adaptaion of the smashhit novel "The Good House".
Ann Leary's best seller takes a comic look at a Boston woman's struggle with alcoholism.
The Good House will be Streep and De Niro's fourth pairing on the big screen.
The previously worked together on the seminal 1978 war film The Deer Hunter as well as on
The screenplay will be adapted by Pulitzser prize winning writer Michale Cunningham.
Cunningham was awarded the prestigious award for his 1998 novel The Hours, which follows three generations of women affected by Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway.
The Hours was later turned into an Oscar winning film starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore.
The Good House is currently in pre-production and who will don the director's hat remains up in the air.
 
 
Robert De Niro to join upcoming Jiang Wen film?
 
Hollywood heavy weight Robert De Niro is expected to join the cast of upcoming Chinese film "Gone with the Bullets"
"Gone with The Bullets" will also star Chinese superstars Gongli, Wen Zhang and Ge you.
The project is a follow up to 2010's "Let The Bullets Fly".
"Let The Bullets Fly" is adapted from a novel by famous Sichuanese writer Ma Shitu and it's sequel will pick up loosely where it left off.
Also set in the 1920s, "Gone With the Bullets" is expected to have an equally sumptuous cinematography and tense plotline
Director Jiang Wen will also star in the film opposite Gong Li, 25 years after the two of them worked together on Zhang Yimou's Red Sorghum.
The film is expected to start shooting in September of this year.
 
 
Lone Ranger to cost Walt Disney millions
 
What was meant to be a summer blockbusting megaflick has turned instead into a big hole in the pocket.
With Lone Ranger flopping at the box office, Walt Disney has been warned that it stands to lose between $160-190 million.
Part of the loses are down to the failure of the costly promotional vehicle designed to boost ticket sales.
However, the almost universally bad reviews has left audiences distinctly unimpressed.
The Gore Verbinski film cost the studios over $220million dollars to make and has failed to recuperate its cost a month after opening.
However, the dint is not as big as it could be as the success of Iron Man 3 and Monsters University will partially bridge the gap.
 
 
George Duke dies aged 67
 
American Jazz legend George Duke has passed away at the age of 67.
Discovered whilst studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Duke was approached to record his debut album at the age of 20.
The record kick started a career that saw him compose tracks for the likes of Gladys Knight and Miles Davis.
A pioneering keyboarist with plenty of pop sensibilities, Duke's body of work boasts some 30 solo albums.
The Grammy-nominee remains a touchstone for modern day artists.
Samples of Duke's work can be heard on hits by the likes of hip hop artists like Ice Cube, Kaze and MF Doom.
Borrowed bars from Duke also feature on Daft Punk's smash hit "Digital Love"
Outside the studio, Duke also acted as musical director for the landmark 1988 Nelson Mandela concert at London's Wembley Stadium.
Duke died in hospital in Los Angeles and is survived by sons Rasheed and John.
 
 
Sigur Ros premieres Instagram-made video
 
Icelandic band Sigur Ros have premiered the new music video to their latest single Stormur.
For the video, the Icelandic band called for fans to upload interpretations of their song onto the photo sharing website Instagram.
Any submission has the chance of featuring in the video for the single, which will constantly be morphing in response to new entries.
The current version can be seen on the band's official webiste.
Stormur is the latest single to be ripped from the album "Kveikur".