新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/07/11

 Paul James with you on this Thursday, July 11th, 2013.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The first day of this year's China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue is coming to a close in Washington.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has held talks with visiting Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan here in Beijing.
Boston Marthon bombing suspect Dzokhar Tsnaraev has pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance.
In Business, new stats show Chinese exports and imports are both on a downward trend.
In sports... Australia finds itself playing catch-up following Day 1 at the Ashes.
In entertainment.... a new Bruce Lee exhibition has opened in New York.
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will see thundershowers today, with a high of 29 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will see showers tonight with a low of 23.
In Shanghai, it will be sunny today, 37 the high, and it will be clear tonight, the low of 28 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will be cloudy in the daytime the temperature's at 23, and tonight will see slight rain with a low of 13 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 32.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 30.
And in North America
New York, thundershowers, with a high of 29 degrees.
Washington, thundershowers, highs of 30
Houston, overcast, 34.
Honolulu, sunny, 30.
Toronto, overcast, 29.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, overcast, 14.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with highs of 23 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
China, US begin key annual talks
 
Anchor
This year's edition of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue is wrapping up its first day in Washington.
CRI's Washington correspondent Xiaohong has the details.
Ann
Speaking at the opening session of the annual high-level talks between China and the United States, Chinese vice Premier Wang Yang says dialogue is an important tool to accelerate the development of society.
"We would like to have dialogues and listen to different voices, and would accept the correct ideas. In the process of globalization, we had benefited from having dialogues with various stakeholders including the United States. Those dialogues help to detect the problems that had hindered our development and therefore improved our work. However, China, like the United States, will never accept views, however presented, that undermine our basic system or national interests."
The Chinese vice Premier notes that just a month ago President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama held their historical summit at Sunnylands, California and opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.
The talks are designed to try to put the consensus reached between the two leaders into concrete policies.
Wang Yang admits there are misunderstandings and disagreements between the two sides.
However, he says the disagreements can be controlled, noting China-U.S. cooperation is now a global issue.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says he agrees.
"Mechanism like the Strategic and Economic Dialogue plays an important role in managing our complex relationship. If together we get it right, we can leave behind a much better future for our children, and for their children, and quite frankly, for the world."
Biden says U.S.-China relationship will remain both competitive and cooperative, saying both sides share a wide range of opinions.
The annual talks, now in their fifth year, involve senior officials including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi.
Kerry says the talks allow the two countries to speak candidly about their differences to constructively manage them and increase understanding.
Jacob Lew says, as the world's two largest economies, too much is at stake for both the United States and China to let the differences come in the way of progress.
"Now, while we each must guide our economic futures by expanding the middle class of our nations, what we each do domestically matters enormously for the other. Yes, our economies are inter-connected. But what matters is ensuring that our economies are growing in a way that is balanced, beneficial, and mutually compatible."
As part of the two-day-sessions, senior officials from nearly two dozens of government agencies from both sides are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including climate change, energy security and economics and trade.
For CRI, this is Xiaohong reporting from Washington.
 
 
Chinese official hails climate change "new highlight" for Sino-U.S. relations
 
A senior official in the Chinese delegation attending this year's China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue is describing climate change as a "new highlight" of the relationship.
Xie Zhenhua, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, has made the suggestion following the end of the first day of the 2-day meeting in Washington.
The two sides initiated a working relationship on climate change in April as part of US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit here.
Areas under discussion include emmission reductions from heavy vehicles, energy efficiency in buildings and industry and greenhouse gas emission data collection.
 
 
Macro economic policy coordination discussed in the SED
 
Anchor
Chinese economists keeping tabs on this year's S&ED are suggesting both sides should be trying to better coordinate their macro-economic policies.
CRI's Xie Zhao explains.
Reporter
The fifth US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue is considered as the first step toward implementing the consensus reached between the two countries' presidents in California last month.
Wei Liang, is a researcher at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.
He says China and the U.S will attach great importance to macro-economic policy coordination because the Federal Reserve has been planning to quit the quantitative easing policy.
"U.S and China is the two largest economies worldwide according to GDP. Any policy changes in the two sides will have a global effect. If the macroeconomic policy coordination can make one country have low external negative effects for another country, it's obvious that the coordination have positive effects on other countries including China. So it's important for China and U.S to attach great importance to the coordination."
Zhao Xijun, is vice director at the School of Finance at RenMin University of China.
He believes the macro-economic policy discussed in the dialogue not only makes good sense for China and the U.S but also for the global economic recovery.
"The dialogue will be used as a platform for both sides to communicate and exchange opinions and reach commom judgements. Because it is a formal and official dialogue platform, the consensus may be delivered to policy-making departments in the two sides, resulting in substantial effects. When it comes to whether the U.S side will withdraw Q.E policy and following effects on China, this move actually indicates China is making preparations for U.S' retreating from the policy."
For CRI, This is XZ.
 
 
Bjh/top/with soundbite/Chinese, Nigerian presidents hold talks on ties
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan here in Beijing.
The two have discussed both bilateral and Sino-African issues.
Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"Both China and Nigeria share the same goal of achieving prosperity for both countries, and this shared task brings our two countries together."
Goodluck Jonathan is being flanked on his trip by a dozen of his cabinet ministers.
"China is a very good country, has a very robust economy. And that's why when I was coming, I came with quite a number of cabinet ministers and other very senior government functionaries."
Goodluck Jonathan and Xi Jinping have also overseen the signing of a number of agreements in areas including trade, finance and culture.
 
 
Top Muslim Brotherhood official on issue of warrant for his arrest
 
The Muslim Brotherhood is condemning Egyptian authorities for issuing arrest warrants for some of its leading officials.
Prosecutors have issued warrants for the arrest of the Muslim Brotherhood's 10 top leaders.
The move comes just a week after the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi.
The military already has jailed 5 Brotherhood leaders and shut down its media outlets.
The arrest warrants come on the heels of president Adly Mansour appointing economist Hazem el-Beblawi as the interim Prime Minister.
Leading opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradai has been tapped to be the interim Vice-President.
 
 
Egypt's economy and Ramadan
 
For more on the economic impact the political uncertianty is having in Egypt, CRI's Rebecca Hume spoke earlier with CRI's special correspondent David Keyton in Cairo.
David Keyton, CRI's special correspondent in Cairo, speaking with CRI's Rebecca Hume.
 
 
S. Korea, DPRK fail to reach Kaesong deal, agree to hold further talks
 
A new round of talks connected to the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Park in North Korea has been held.
The talks between the North and South on Wednesday failed to reach an agreement about the so-called 'normalization' of the facility.
While the two sides have agreed to reopen the industrial complex, they've failed to reach an agreement about how and when it can be shut down.
They have agreed to continue talking on this issue.
The jointly-run facility has been shut down since early April after North Korea withdrew the 54-thousand workers.
The North withdrew its workers over anger about joint military exercises being held at the time between the US and South Korea.
A new set of joint military drills between the South Korean and US militaries is scheduled for August.
 
 
DPRK reiterates demand for dissolution of UN Command on Korean Peninsula
 
Amid the current push to try to get the six-party Korean nuclear talks restarted, North Korea has resumed its call for the disolution of the United Nations Command on the peninsula.
The UN Command was the broad-brush name for the combined forces which fought North Korean and Chinese troops during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
The call for the UN Command to be dismantled has been made by the permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva, So Se-pyong.
"If the United States has a real intention to put an end to hostile relations with my country and set up and conclude a peace treaty, it should make the right decision to dissolve U.N. Command and replace the armistice agreement with a peace pact as proposed my country of origin when we mark the 60th year since the armistice was signed."
The renewed call to dislove the UN Command comes just over 2-weeks ahead of the 60th anniversary of the armistace which ended the fighting.
North and South Korea are still technically at war, as the armistace only ended the armed conflict, but failed to produce a treaty to end the war.
 
 
U.S. requires more flight hours for pilots after Asiana crash
 
In the wake of the weekend crash of the Asiana Airlines jet at San Franciso airport, the US Federal Aviation Administration has announced plans to increase the required flying hours for co-pilots.
The FAA is now going to require 15-hundred flight hours for their certification to fly passanger jets in the United States.
This marks a significant increase from the current standard of 250-hours.
The new regulations will also require first-officers to have additional training and testing for specific types of planes.
The move by the US FAA comes as investigators continue to probe the reason why the Asiana Airlines flight fell short of the runway in San Franciso on Saturday, leaving two Chinese teenagers dead.
Investigators are focusing on why the Boeing 777 was underspeed while landing.
It's since been learned the pilot landing the plane only had 43-hours of flight-time on the Boeing 777.
 
 
Boston Marathon bombing suspect pleads not guilty
 
Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
Tsarnaev has entered the plea as part of his first public appearance in court.
He is facing 30 different charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction.
The April bombing left 3 people dead and over 200 others hurt.
One of those killed was a Chinese student studying in Boston.
 
 
More baby formula firms annouce plan for price cuts
 
Anchor
Despite promises by foreign infant formula makers to slash their retail prices, consumers are still expressing caution about what they'll be adding to their shopping lists.
CRI's Zhang Shuangfeng explains.
Reporter
U.S based Abbott Laboratories have announced plans to cut prices of their infant-formula brands by between 4-percent and 12-percent.
The announcement comes after Nestle, Danone and Friso released statements saying they would cut the prices of their baby formula.
China's National Development and Reform Commission started an investigation last week for possible price fixing among international formula makers.
So far, only MeadJohnson Nutrition has not issued any price cuts.
Ms Fu is a public relations officer at the company.
"The investigation is ongoing, and we have submitted related information to the National Development and Reform Commission. We will cooperate with the probe. And since we are a listed company, I can't comment on whether the company will lower the price in the future. So far, we haven't received any notice to adjust our product prices."
Despite the promise of lower prices, customers remain cautious about whether they really can pay less for what they need.
"I read it in the newspaper that there will be a price cut. So I come here to check out. But I don't find the formula I need any cheaper."
"I heard the news, but I haven't checked out the price yet. Sometimes I bought the formula via online shops, it could be cheaper. My boy is now drinking Friso products, and a 900g formula costs about 199 yuan. I hope there will be at least 20-yuan's cut."
Chinese demand for foreign milk formula has risen over the year, with foreign companies accounting for half of the top 10-sellers.
It is reported the gross margin of some high-end formula can exceed 60-percent.
Song Liang is a dairy industry researcher with the Distribution Productivity Promotion Center of China Commerce.
"In the domestic market, consumers tend to believe that the more expensive the formula is, the safer it will be. It is a lucrative industry. There are a huge number of players out there and the competition is fierce. As a result, big firms have invested a large sum in product promotions. But the increase in costs does not justify the companies' practices of overpricing. And the current investigation will serve as a warning for the big players."
However, Song says that the price drop will only be temporary, as there is a huge demand among consumers who take food safety as their priority.
For CRI, I'm Zhang Shuangfeng.
 
 
Strong rainstorms hit SW China
 
Torrential rains has left 7 people dead and 48 missing in Sichuan and Yunnan.
More than 36-thousand people have been moved out of their homes amid the risk of landslides and flooding.
Parts of Sichuan have been hit with around 600 millimeters of rain this week.
The water levels in 8 different rivers in the province have risen above the warning level.
Three bridges have been washed away by the flooding.
Authorities have been able to restore some traffic and communication lines cut off earlier this week.
 
 
China to issue red alert for Typhoon Soulik
 
Marine forecasters have issued their highest alert ahead of the approach of Typhoon Soulik.
The massive storm is currently churning in the East China sea.
The storm front is expected to start affecting Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait this Thursday.
Forecasts have the eye of the storm reaching northern Taiwan tomorrow.
The projected track of Soulik has it crossing over the northern tip of Taiwan before slamming into Fujian/Zhejiang provincial border on Friday evening.
Heavy wave warnings are already being issued.
The storm is already packing winds of upto 275-kilometers per hour.
While it is forecast to slow down when it reaches Taiwan and the mainland, Typhoon Soulik is still expected to bring gusts of upto 180-kilometers per hour through Friday and Saturday.
Forecasters are predicting the Typhoon will make landfall on Friday evening, then veer north along the east coast of the mainland.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Anchor
First off, a check on the stock market of North America and Europe.
Join me on the desk, CRI's Su Yi.
Reporter
U.S. stocks ended mixed on Wednesday with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq notching a five-day winning streak.
The newly released minutes of the Federal Reserve's June policy meeting show further improvement in the labor market would be needed before the Fed's tapering of its bond buying.
The Dow lost 0.1 percent.
The S&P 500 closed almost flat.
The Nasdaq added 0.5 percent.
Meanwhile, Canada's S&P/TSX gained 0.1 percent.
In Europe---
European shares closed a touch higher in thin trade on Wednesday, led by luxury brand Burberry after a robust update, while weak China trade data weighed on mining stocks.
Germany's DAX rose 0.1 percent.
France's CAC 40 was down 0.1 percent and Britain's FTSE 100 also down 0.1 percent.
 
 
Q&A With Mike Bastin on China's trade data in June
 
New stats show Chinese exports took a hit last month, dropping 3.1 percent from a year earlier.
The General Administration of Customs is also reporting imports also decreased 0.7-percent in June.
Foreign trade growth here in China has been slowing down in through the first half of the year.
Foreign trade increased 13.5 percent in the first quarter.
2nd quarter results show growth only increased 4.3-percent.
Observers are attributing this to the government's crackdown on speculative capital inflows, which are often masked as trade.
For more on the numbers, CRI's Rebecca Hume spoke earlier with Mike Bastin, Researcher with Nottingham University.
(Q&A)
Mike Bastin, Researcher with Nottingham University, speaking with CRI's Rebecca Hume.
 
 
Phoning China to allow foreign exchanges to set up warehouses in Shanghai's Free Trade Zone
 
It's being reported the Chinese government is going to allow foreign exchanges to set up commodities warehouses in the country's free-trade zones.
The London Metal Exchange is reportedly going to be the first foreign exchange operator to open warehouses in the free-trade zone in Shanghai.
The london-based institution is owned by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing.
Observers say the move to allow the LME to operate in Shanghai will give authorities on the mainland more say over the pricing of global raw materials.
For more on this, we now cross live to CRI's financial commentator Cao Can.
1. The current regulations ban foreign bourses from setting up depots in mainland China, why now scrap those regulations for good?
2. Would the new foreign exchanges linked with warehouses challenge the dominance of the local rival, the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE)?
3. Will this move have any effect on promoting the yuan as a global currency?
back anchor: CRI's financial commentator Cao Can
 
 
US judge finds Apple guilty of conspiring to fix e-book prices
 
Apple has been found guilty of conspiring with book publishers to raise electronic book prices.
A US judge has ruled Apple played a "central role" in a conspiracy with the biggest book publishers in the US to fix prices.
The case is one of the biggest anti-trust lawsuits ever brought by US federal authorities.
Apple says it's planning to appeal.
The 5 publishers involved have already reached out-of-court settlements.
The fine Apple is facing hasn't been decided yet.
The courts have determined Apple and the publishers conspired to try to challenge Amazon's dominance in the e-book market.
 
 
U.S. wholesale inventories down 0.5 percent in May
 
New stats show U.S. wholesalers have scaled back their restocking of inventories through May, despite a month-on-month increase in sales.
Inventories at the wholesale level in May edged down 0.5 percent.
This marks the sharpest decrease in wholesale inventories since September 2011.
The declines in inventories is broad based, ranging from long-lasting manufactured goods to groceries and farm products.
The fall in durable goods is the largest since December 2009.
News of this comes despite an increase in wholesale sales in May.
Sales at the wholesale level through the month rose 1.6 percent.
Wholesale sales are up 4.1-percent year-on-year.
 
 
British government announces plan to sell national mail service
 
The British government is privatizing the country's national mail service, the Royal Mail.
The sale of the mail service is expected to raise 2 to 3-billion pounds.
It's expected to be sold-off sometime in the fall.
The privatization is the largest sale of a public asset in the UK in more than 20 years.
The move comes amid the current austerity measures being undertaken by the Conservative government in the UK.
It's unclear what might happen to the roughly 150-thousand people who work for the Royal Mail service.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China, US begin key annual talks
 
This year's edition of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue is wrapping up its first day in Washington.
Speaking at the opening session of the annual high-level talks, Chinese vice Premier Wang Yang says dialogue is an important tool to accelerate the development of society.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says U.S.-China relationship will remain both competitive and cooperative, saying both sides share a wide range of opinions.
The annual talks, now in their fifth year, involve senior officials including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi.
 
 
DPRK reiterates demand for dissolution of UN Command on Korean Peninsula
 
Amid the current push to try to get the six-party Korean nuclear talks restarted, North Korea has resumed its call for the disolution of the United Nations Command on the peninsula.
The UN Command was the broad-brush name for the combined forces which fought North Korean and Chinese troops during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
The call for the UN Command has been made by the permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva So Se-pyong .
The renewed call to dislove the UN Command comes just over 2-weeks ahead of the 60th anniversary of the armistace which ended the Korean War.
 
 
Boston Marathon bombing suspect pleads not guilty
 
Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
Tsarnaev has entered the plea as part of his first public appearance in court.
He is facing 30 different charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction.
The April bombing left 3 people dead and over 200 others hurt.
One of those killed was a Chinese student studying in Boston.
 
 
China to issue red alert for Typhoon Soulik
 
Marine forecasters have issued their highest alert ahead of the approach of Typhoon Soulik.
The massive storm is currently churning in the East China sea.
The storm front is expected to start affecting Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait this Thursday.
Forecasts have the eye of the storm reaching northern Taiwan tomorrow.
The projected track of Soulik has it crossing over the northern tip of Taiwan before slamming into Fujian/Zhejiang provincial border on Friday evening.
 
 
US judge finds Apple guilty of conspiring to fix e-book prices
 
Apple has been found guilty of conspiring with book publishers to raise electronic book prices.
A US judge has ruled Apple played a "central role" in a conspiracy with the biggest book publishers in the US to fix prices.
The case is one of the biggest anti-trust lawsuits ever brought by US federal authorities.
Apple says it's planning to appeal.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
CHINA DAILY
Headline
New program for migrant workers
Summary
East China University in Shanghai is offering up a new program to try to help migrant workers break into the white-collar sector.
The program mainly targets migrant workers who want to shift from technical work to managerial jobs.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Holes in chemical safeguards
Summary
Police says the chemical used by a Fudan University student to poison his roommate was bought online.
The illegal purchase is one of the loopholes in the management of hazardous chemicals that the city's police have uncovered during a follow-up investigation into the murder case.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
Tower revamp
Summary
Shanghai's landmark meteorological signal tower on the Bund, most recently a cafe with scenic views, is being restored to its original function as a weather station.
The Shanghai Meteorological Bureau says the 50-meter tall tower will be used to record and deliver weather information and will release weather alerts and emergency warnings after its renovation.
The tower should be operational again by the end of September.
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
New system for organ donors starts nationwide
Summary
The National Health and Family Planning Commission says a new system for the management and distribution of donated organs is set to go into operation nationwide.
All organ donations will have to be processed through the system to ensure that they are fair and transparent.
YANZHAO METROPOLITAN DAILY
Headline
Ministry calls air pollution study 'unconvincing'
Summary
The Ministry of Environmental Protection says the newly-released study about the link between air pollution and life expectancy is unconvincing.
The government is basing its skeptcism on the limited number of sample cases uded.
The report, put together with Chinese and international scientists, suggests the life expectancy in the north of China is being cut by as much as 5.5-years because of the heavy use of coal-fired heating during the winter months.
BEIJING MORNING POST
Headline
iPhone 4 explodes
Summary
The owner of an iPhone 4 claims his phone spontaneously combusted while he was sleeping this week.
The incident allegedly happened in Chongqing this week.
Apple says it's looking into whether user error is to blame.
BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Masked man arrested
Summary
Police in the city of Jiaozhou have arrested a man who has allegedly been stealing cable from wholesale markets using real-skin masks to disguise himself.
The 25-year old reportedly used pig skin to create the masks.
The young man reportedly changed the looks of the masks some 20-times.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Mobile gaming industry booms in China
 
Anchor
Mobile gaming obsevers here in China are predicting the industry is going to be a multi-billion dollar sector in the coming years.
CRI's Li Dong has more.
Reporter
Gaming on the go is really catching on. China is tapping into that hunger, with developers busy designing and producing the latest games to download and enjoy.
According to a report by research firm Niko Partners, at the end of 2012, the number of mobile gamers outnumbered that of PC gamers in China - reaching 192 million users.
Market revenue stood at around 600 million US dollars in 2011. The Niko Partners report predicts that will run into billions of dollars over the next few years.
And experts do not see a point of saturation any time soon, as the smartphone has only grabbed 50 per cent of the mobile phone market share so far.
Yodo1 is a games company based in Beijing that works with Western developers to bring their titles to the Chinese market.
The company's chief executive officer, Henry Fong, says staff are working at full throttle.
"I think there's been so much coverage and the growth of the market both in terms of unit shipments as well as the revenue growth has been so significant that mobile games developers really can't ignore the Chinese market."
Companies like Yodo1 are crucial for Western developers in China.
The complexities of the market mean local advice is needed, to comply with the intricate mechanisms of distribution and sales of mobile games.
In Western markets developers only have to deal with Apple's app store for iOS, and Google Play and Amazon for Android.
But in China there are over 500 different app stores, over a dozen different payment methods and hundreds of different promotional channels in the market.
The main reason for this is the rapid growth of mobile handsets.
From fewer than 100 (m) million in 2011 to 430 (m) million at the end of 2012, mobile handset sales are expected to reach 500 (m) million units at the end of 2013, double the number of the Unites States.
This boom has been caused by the fall of handset prices, which have gone from a minimum of 326 US dollars to 163 US dollars.
Leading companies like Gameloft, headquartered in Paris, are rapidly expanding their operations on Chinese soil and increasing revenues.
Gameloft arrived in Beijing in 2003, and after some turbulence during the first few years, it is now settled in and is chasing opportunities.　
It already has three studios in China and has recently signed an agreement with Tencent - one of China's biggest web companies - to distribute a version of the game "Ice Age Village 3" on the Tencent Mobile QQ Game Platform, with 350 (m) million users and counting.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Australia finishes 140 runs behind england in opening day at Ashes
 
It was an up and down first test match for the two teams at the start of the Ashes.
14 wickets fell the first day, the most since the 17 at Lord's in 2005.
The Australians bowled out England for 215, only to be reduced to 75 for 4. The finished 140 runs behind England at the end of the first day at Trent Bridge.
England fast bowler Steven Finn says setting a better opening tone tomorrow is critical.
"It's a very, very tight battle at the moment to be bowled out for 215 after winning the toss was something that we hoped wouldn't happen, but we are in that position now, and having four down was very... a good result for us at the end of the day, so the first hour tomorrow is going to be very important, how we set the tone as bowlers and how we come out and attack the Australians and a few wickets in that first hour and we could put our noses in front."
Peter Siddle took 5 for 50 for Australia. Austrlia's head coach Darren Lehmann was proud of Siddle for delivering.
Peter (Siddle) stood up when it counted and did really well. I mean (five wickets) first day and led the attack as we expect him to do and got some really crucial wickets. So, really pleased for him."
It was an enthralling first day of play, and the two teams will face each other in the second test later today.
 
 
Tony Martin wins stage 11 at the Tour de France
 
At the tour de france,
Germany's Tony Martin won a mountainous stage 11 time trial yesterday. The reigning time trial world champion was the favorite to win the stage.
Martin finished the 33-kilometre climb in just 36 minutes and 29 seconds.
Race leader Chris Froome had a brilliant start, reaching a couple time marks before Martin. But he was unable to maintain the pace in the later part of the stage.
Neverhtless the team sky rider was able to increase his overall lead and will wear the yellow jersey going into stage 12.
Alberto Contador moved from sixth place to fourth overall, despite a 15th place finish and his conceding two minutes and three seconds to Froome.
Mark Cavendish had a bad experience after a spectator showered him with urine.
No one really knows why, but some speculate it was in reaction to his bump with Tom Veelers in the last stage which caused the Dutchman to crash.
Up next, stage 12 will feature a flat 218 kilometer ride that will likely force a sprint finish.
 
 
China takes golds at Kazan Universiade
 
The Chinese diving team are on a winning streak at the Universiade after double golds yesterday.
Olympic Gold Medalist Huo Liang clinched the Men's 10 meter platform win and Zheng Shuangwe took the Women's 3 meter springboard title.
The team also picked up two silver medals, clawing back after a slow start behind Russian and Australia in earlier diving events.
Meanwhile, the gymnastics tournament came to an end yesterday, with host country Russia finishing well clear of the competition with a total of 10 victories.
Elsewhere, Russia also dominated the track and field events in yesterday's events, taking half of the total gold medals in the division.
The current rankings has Russia well ahead with 62 medals, followed by Japan, China and South Korea who have 7 medals each.
The Kazan Universiade ends on July 17th.
 
 
Off-season signings in NBA, NHL
 
There have been a couple of significant off-season signings in North American sports.
The NBA's LA Clippers have re-signed Chris Paul.
The all-star point guard has agreed to a 5-year, 107-million US dollar deal to stay with the Clippers.
Chris Paul was instrumental in helping the once-lowly Clippers to the playoffs and the team's highest winning percentage in history this past season.
Meanwhile, in the National Hockey League...
The Boston Bruins have solved their goaltending question.
The Bruins have re-signed Tukka Rask to a new 8-year, 56-million dollar contract.
Rask was key in helping the Bruins into the Stanley Cup Finals this year, despite the team going down to Chicago in 6-games.
 
 
Players get ready ahead of Scottish Open
 
In golf,
Major winners Ernie Els, Phil Mikelson and Padraig Harrington are among those contending at the Scottish Open in Aberdeen this week.
Two-time winner Ernie Els considers the tournament an important warm-up ahead of next week's British Open.
Some golfers, including Graeme McDowell, are vocal about the course being too easy.
Young Italian golfer Matteo Manassero admits the course isn't that difficult overall, but it has its challenging bits around the greens.
"Yeah, a soft introduction to the Open, but you know, it's not that easy a links course, it isn't around the greens, especially. Off the tee, sometimes, I find it quite easy, but when you are around the greens, there are many little mounds and different situations that you can get, so it's not easy at all around the greens and that's why I feel the preparation and it's important."
The opening round will kick off at Castle Stuart later today.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Major Bruce Lee exhibition opens in Manhattan
 
An exhibition of 12 graffiti art inspired by Bruce Lee has gone on exhibition in the Big Apple.
The collection was first shown in Hong Kong late last year, before moving on to Shanghai and has now made its way across to the US.
The exhibition has opened ahead of the 40th anniversary of the star's death on July 20th.
The artworks come from some of the seminal artists of the graffiti world,including Fred Braithwaite and MC Yan, the founder of Hong Kong's first rap group, LMF.
(LMF)
The exhibition, entitled "Kung Fu Wildstyle" celebrates Lee's role in the beginnings of hip hop in the 1970s, with many originators of the movement citing him as a role model.
Braithewaite says that Lee's emergence during a time of civil unrest made him a symbol of a minority who fought against oppression.
He added that the fluid aesthetic of Lee's style of martial arts resonates with the flowing structure of early rap styles - citing the Wu Tang Clang as just one band owing significant homage to Lee.
(Wu Tang)
"Kung Fu Wildstyle" runs at the Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts in Manhattan until July 15th.
 
 
Rare Samuel Beckett manuscript acquired by University of Reading
 
A manuscript of Sameul Beckett's Murphy has fetched just shy of 1 million GBP at Sotehby's yesterday.
The collection of six 1930 school excercise books hosted the draft of Beckett's first published novel.
The draft was often cited as the "most important English language manuscript" in private ownership prior to the sale.
The acquisition was made by University of Reading, home to the Beckett archive.
The University sent a three man team to the auction, led by Beckett's friend and biographer Professor James Knowlson.
Knowlson told the press that he was so excited before the auction that he could not get to sleep until 4am the night before.
The manuscript was gifted by Beckett to his friend Brian Coffey for the help the latter lent Beckett after he was stabbed by a pimp in Paris.
The notebooks, which contains sketches of the characters, have been locked away from public view for the last half century.
Beckett, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969, is best know for the 1953 play Waiting for Godot.
 
 
Taylor Swift stalker arrested
 
Police have arrested a Taylor Swift fan over death threats.
(Taylor)
Joseph Jackson was taken into custody at a Philadelphia concert by the singer, to which he had brought a sigh reading "Taylor Swfit is Satan".
Upon his arrest, Jackson allegedly told police "Taylor Swift is Satan and that 6000 years is six days and death comes on the sixth day, so Taylor Swift is in danger".
This is the latest in a spate of rather frightening brushes with stalkers for the 23 year old.
Back in December last year, a 24 year old man was caught trespassing her property and claiming to be Swift's boyfriend who was paying her a birthday visit.
Earlier in May, a 22 year old man was taken into custody after emerging from the waters outside her Rhode Island house.
The man had swam for nearly 2 miles in icy waters in the early hours of the morning to catch a glimpse of the singer.
Swift, a seven-time Grammy winner, is currently on her Red tour and will play the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13th.