新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/07/12

 Paul James with you on this Friday, July 12th, 2013.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
The latest China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue has drawn to a close in Washington.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has met with Nigeria's President, as business leaders of the two countries also meet here in Beijing.
Thousands of mourners have turned out to pay homage to the victims of the 1995 Srebernica massacre in Bosnia.
In Business, Chinese authorities are probing bribery allegations against employees of a major pharmacutical company.
In sports... a record breaking Day 2 at the Ashes.
In entertainment.... the Dutchess of Cambridge expected to give birth to the latest heir to the British Crown any day now.
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
Beijing will be cloudy today, with a high of 30 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will be overcast tonight with a low of 23.
In Shanghai, it will be sunny today, 35 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 27 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will see slight rain in the daytime the temperature's at 24, and tonight will see moderate rain with a low of 12 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 35.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 31.
And in North America
New York, thundershowers, with a high of 29 degrees.
Washington, thundershowers, highs of 29
Houston, overcast, 36.
Honolulu, sunny, 29.
Toronto, thundershowers, 23.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, thundershowers, 15.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with highs of 23 degrees Celsius.
 
 
There are several ways to keep in touch with us on the BJH
We are on Weibo that's weibo.com/beijinghour
You can also send us an email to beijinghour@cri.com.cn
Please do keep in touch we always like to hear your comments and feedback on the show.
TIMECHECK
 
 
Top News
 
 
China, U.S. to establish new modal of major country relationship
 
Anchor
The two-day China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue has wrapped up in Washington.
Officials attending this year's S&ED have been pushing to try to develop a new model for the relationship.
CRI's Su Yi has more.
Reporter
As part of one of the sessions, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi says any new relationship dynamic has to be modeled on "mutual respect."
Deputy US Secretary of State William Burns has suggested the two countries need to look beyond the concept of historical conflict.
Meanwhile, Yang Jiechi says the Chinese government believes a set of international norms needs to be adopted when it comes to Cyber Security.
He's suggesting a multinational platform, such as the UN, might be the best place to bring this idea up.
At the same time, Yang Jiechi also says the Chinese government is willing to talk about human rights with other countries, as long as the discussions are based on the principal of equality and non-interference.
On the economic and trade front, Chinese and US authorities have agreed to start substantive discussions about the China-U.S. Bilateral Investment Treaty as soon as possible.
Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.
"I feel that behind the issues and concerns of both sides raised, there is a common purpose, which is to try to find ways to use and mitigate differences and barriers that both sides currently face in our trade and investment relations in order to improve bilateral, commercial relations and encourage two way investment."
High-ranking economic and trade officials from both countries have discussed a wide range of topics including the BIT negotiations, intellectual property rights and investment.
Leading officials from 20 different departments and ministries on both sides have taken part in this year's S&ED.
China and the U.S. have been holding the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue since 2009, when US President Barack Obama came to power.
For CRI, I'm Su Yi.
 
 
Nonstop downpours batter SW China
 
Torrential rains pounding Sichuan have left at least 30 people dead and over 160 people missing.
More than 22-thousand soldiers have been sent in to help with rescue and evacuation.
The soliders are also helping to cleared blocked roads and communication lines.
Over 350 tourists trapped in a village in Dujiangyan have since been rescued after becoming trapped by flooding this week.
Another 2-thousand others have also been rescued after being trapped for several hours in a highway tunnel between Dujiangyan and Wenchuan.
 
 
E China bracing for approaching Typhoon Soulik
 
Marine traffic along the southeast coast of China is being suspended ahead of the arrival of Super-Typhoon Soulik.
The massive typhoon is currently centered off the west coast of Taiwan.
It's currently packing winds of 195-kilometers per hour at the center.
Soulik is expected to roll across the northern tip of Taiwan today before reaching landfall along coastal Fujian sometime overnight.
While forecasters are expecting Soulik to lose power as it approaches the mainland coast, authorites in Fujian are warning the storm is still going to be one of the strongest ones to hit the province in years.
Authorities in Zhejiang have already ordered local fishing boats to return to port.
Three ferry links between Fujian and Taiwan have also been suspended.
Soulik is forecast to roll through Fujian on Saturday before moving north into Jiangxi and Anhui as it loses power.
 
 
Chinese premier pledges strengthened Nigeria cooperation
 
Chinese premier Li Keqiang has held talks with visiting Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Li Keqiang is promising to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria and inject "vigor" into the China-Africa relationship.
The premier notes China and Nigeria are developing countries with large populations, saying both countries are facing challenges in speeding up development and improving people's lives.
For his part, Goodluck Jonathan says Nigeria is keen on developing stronger ties with China.
He's also taken time to commend China's growing role in the world peace process.
Jonathan is due to leave China later on today.
 
 
Nigeria-China investment forum appeals strong to companies
 
Anchor
Chinese and Nigerian companies looking to expand their cooperation have taken part in an investment forum here in Beijing.
CRI's Hu Jia was there.
Reporter
Businessmen and government officials hope to tap into the business potentials of various fields at the forum.
Professor Wang Guangming, director of the Zibo Academy of Agricultural Sciences, says he is trying to step up communication with African partners about castor oil seeds.
He says, as the origin of castor oil seeds, Africa has advantages in cultivating the cash plant while China has the technology.
"In the past, castor oil was used as lubricant for Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as brake oil for automobile and high-speed machines. In terms of further processing capacity within the plant oil industry, China is the best in the castor oil sector. If we run out of petroleum, castor oil may be the most promising replacement."
Meanwhile, Wang Xiaoling, a member of the China-Africa trade promotion association, is looking into the nursing market in Nigeria.
"The demand for Chinese nurses is huge while they're facing a language problem. So if more overseas training opportunities are there for them, in return, it will smooth up the procedures and bring more standardized primary care to the continent."
In the meantime, Nigerian companies are also trying to tap into Chinese markets such as mining.
Uche Orgi is CEO of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.
"I think there're many ways China and Nigeria can cooperate on solid minerals. But first is infrastructure. As you know without fail, you cannot develop solid minerals, it's the essential part of the mining industry. Two, the mining technology to actually exploit the product is important. There's lot of opportunities in solid minerals that haven't been exploited because of that but the most important thing needed is to have the transport infrastructure for mining."
The forum was held during Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan's official visit to China.
For CRI, I'm Hu Jia.
 
 
UN chief concerned about Egypt arrest warrants
 
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he's concerned about the arrest warrants issued in Egypt for the Muslim Brotherhood's top leadership.
Ban has told Egypt's interim foreign minister he believes there is no room for retribution or the exclusion of any major political party in Egypt.
At the same time, Ban Ki-moon says the UN supports an Egyptian government which is 'fully accountable' to the Egyptian people.
Egyptian prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for the Muslim Brotherhood's top leadership on charges of inciting violence in the aftermath of Monday's bloody clashes in Cairo which left 51 people dead.
 
 
Attacks kill over 60 in Iraq
 
A wave of violent attacks across Iraq have left over 60 people dead through Thursday.
Around 140 others have been hurt the latest string of bombings.
This time the attacks have targeted a military convoy, a security forces compound, a funeral and coffee shop.
The bombings are the latest in a string of almost daily attacks which have been taking place across Iraq over the past few weeks.
 
 
200 inmates escape from Indonesian prison amid riot
 
A riot at a prison in Indonesia has led to the escape of some 200 prisoners.
The riot took place Thursday night in the city of Medan on Sumatra.
The inmates at the prison revolted after water and power supplies broke down.
There's still no word on injuries or fatalities in the fighting.
Indonesian authorities say a number of the prisoners were doing time for terror-related activities.
 
 
Thousands in BiH mourn victims of Sreberenica Massacre
 
Thousands of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina have gathered at a memorial center near the city of Srebrenica to mourn the victims in the 1995 Srebrenica Massacre.
As part of the ceremony, over 400 newly-identified victims have been buried at the centre.
This puts the number of grave stones at the site to over 6-thousand.
In marking the 18th anniversary, the UN's representative to the region has called on people in the region to give priority to love over hatred.
Bosnian-Serb forces, amid the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, launched a massive crackdown on Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in July of 1995.
In the end, an estimated 8-thousand were killed, in what has been described as the worst genocide in Europe since World War II.
Tribunals are still being carried out to try to bring those responsible for the massacre to justice.
 
 
Adolescent pregnancy exposes lagging sex education in China
 
Anchor
Experts marking this year's World Popluation Day on Thursday have been putting an emphasis on dealing with the problem of teen pregnancies.
CRI's Li Dong has more.
Reporter
According to a report from the United Nations Population Fund or UNFPA, about 16 million girls under the age of 18 give birth each year. Another 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions.
Teen pregnancies are a health issue. Li Yan, director of gynaecology at the Women and Children's Healthcare Center in Luoyang, Henan Province, says that young mothers face a heightened risk of maternal complications that even include death and disability. The abortion operation may have a huge negative impact on their health.
"Adolescent girls may have developed sex organs, but they are still far from being completely developed. If they undergo repeated abortion operations, it may result in paramenia, leaving them incapable of pregnancy. Most of the girls are students. They need rest, to follow medical instructions and suspend sexual activity for at least a month after the operation, more so than adults. But due to lack of awareness, some of them just go to class right after the operation. This may bring great harm to their health."
Xu Ke is the chairman of Women's Federation in Jiu Long Po District of Chongqing Municipality.
Xu Ke thinks that sex education in China is still lagging behind while contemporary adolescents are maturing at a younger age. Not only school, parents' awareness should be raised as well.
"On one hand, I do believe sex education should be reinforced in our schools. On the other hand, I strongly advise parents: don't abuse your daughter for pregnancy. You should help her at the first time when pregnancy happens. Or they may miss the best time to terminate accidental pregnancy or go to unqualified hospitals to have the operation. Our organization is also carrying education projects in rural areas, which teaches children how to prevent themselves from becoming sexual assault victims."
According to statistics issued by China's National Health and Family Planning Commission in 2012, more than 13 million abortion operations are carried out every year. This number doesn't even include the uncounted medical abortion and unregistered abortion operations performed in unqualified hospitals. More than half of these patients are below the age of 25.
For CRI, I am Li Dong.
 
 
Adult breast feeding controversial but viable business
 
ANCHOR
And still with parental issues...
The recent revelation of Chinese parents paying top-dollar for breast milk is generating a lot of discussion.
CRI's Marc Cavigli explains.
REPORTER
For centuries mothers have been nourishing their babes with the sweet nectar of life: breast milk.
A mother's milk supplies vital nutrients, protects against allergies, sickness, and disease, defends a baby from infections, and is easily digestible.
However, babies aren't the only ones sipping down the creamy goodness.
Wealthy Chinese adults from Shenzhen have been paying top-shelf prices for a supply of human breast milk.
Though this activity seems normal to some the majority of us beg the question, why?
To put it simply: food scandals.
China has been wracked by food scandals in the past few years including in 2008 when milk and infant formula was adulterated with the chemical Melamine.
Mark Hughes, the executive business editor of China Daily, explains the severity of the scandal.
"Well it has caused the biggest loss of confidence in a product that I have ever seen. To be honest I can't think of a way for the domestic industry to restore that confidence."
It is estimated 54-thousand infants mostly below the age of 2 had to be hospitalized as a result.
Many still fear tainted milk here in China lead consumers to seek out alternative sources of guaranteed fresh milk, hence the emergence of breast feeding.
However, not everyone agrees the benefits outweigh the negatives.
In an online poll 90-percent of participants believe the practice violates ethical values while the other 10-percent insist it is an acceptable business practice.
Though we won't likely see any breast milk businesses budding anytime soon Hughes believes such an enterprise might be successful.
"I do actually think it's a feasible venture in a market such as China. The industry would need proper regulating and the fancy persuasive advertising and marketing campaign but that's not beyond the realm of possibility."
Who knows what the future holds? The human breast milk business may blossom or it may go bust.
For CRI, I'm Marc Cavigli.
 
 
Coal mine found concealing blast death toll
 
A new report from the State Council has revealed authorites in charge of a coal mine in Jilin knowingly concealed the death toll from a fatal gas explosion at the facility in late March.
The State Council investigation has found officials in charge of the Tonghua Mining Group's Babao Coal Mine in the city of Baishan only reported 28 deaths and 13 injuries in an attempt to avoid an investigation.
It turned out the actual death count from the blast on March 31st was 36.
It was only after the State Council recieved a tip that Provincial investigators were sent in to confirm the death toll from the blast.
The investigation has also found the managers of the mine disregarded a government work ban following the March 31st explosion, and sent workers back down the shaft.
Another explosion the next day left another 17 workers dead.
The subsequent investigation has also revealed the same people in-charge also concealed the deaths of 6 other workers in five separate incidents last year.
Dozens of officials from the mine are now facing numerous charges.
 
 
Fire department breaches duty in fatal fire: report
 
A new report into the deadly poultry plant fire in Jilin last month is pointing the finger at the local fire department for not properly addressing the fire hazards at the plant.
The slaughterhouse caught fire on June 3rd, leaving 121 dead and 76 others hurt.
The investigation has since determined fire officials in the city of Dehui granted permits for the facility without properly inspecting it before hand.
The probe by the central authorities has found the design of the slaughterhouse made it difficult for the workers to escape.
It's also determined there wasn't an adequate warning system, and that a number of the emergency exits were locked.
The local fire brigde in Dehui also failed to properly investigate a number of previous fires at the facility, which left the factory owners unaware of the potential dangers which eventually led to the deadly blaze.
 
 
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 soared on Thursday, lifting the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 to their all-time closing highs.
The gains are boosted by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech on Wednesday.
The Fed chief said highly accommodative monetary policy for the foreseeable future is what's needed in the U.S. economy.
The Dow surged 1.1 percent.
The S&P 500 jumped 1.4 percent.
The Nasdaq Composite Index leapt 1.6 percent.
Meanwhile, Canada's S&P/TSX also gained 1.5 percent.
In Europe, European shares also rallied with the pronouncement from the US Fed, hitting five-week highs on Thursday.
Germany's DAX rose 1.1 percent.
France's CAC 40 was up 0.7 percent and Britain's FTSE 100 up 0.6 percent.
 
 
Q&A With Ben Cavender on GlaxoSmithKline bribery probe
 
A number of senior executives from the Chinese division of GlaxoSmithKline are the focus of a criminal investigation.
The Ministry of Public Security has been questioning a number of GSK employees amid allegations they offered large bribes to government officials, hospitals and doctors to try to increase sales.
The British multi-national, which is the world's fourth biggest pharmaceutical maker, is also being investigated for tax related violations.
Back in April, GlaxoSmithKline was also probed by UK authorities for improper practices in market competition.
Other leading global pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson have all been the subject of previous investigations.
For more on the GSK probe and foreign pharmaceutical companies in China, CRI's Rebecca Hume spoke earlier with Ben Cavender, Associate Principal at China Market Research.
(Q&A)
Ben Cavender, Associate Principal at China Market Research, speaking with CRI's Rebecca Hume.
 
 
Chinese economy not to take hard landing: finance minister
 
China's Finance Minister is suggesting China's economy will not have a hard landing.
Lou Jiwei has made the comments following one of the sessions of the just-concluded S&ED between China and the US.
The finance minister says a slower economic growth rate is necessary for economic restructuring, saying the country's structural reform is "paying off".
Lou estimates the Chinese economic growth in the second quarter will be slightly lower than 7.7 percent seen in the first quarter.
He also says the Chinese GDP growth rate for the full year will be around 7-percent.
This would be below the full-year target of 7.5-percent.
 
 
China auctions 50 bln yuan in treasury deposits
 
The People's Bank of China has auctioned off 50 billion yuan worth of its 6-month treasury bonds at an interest rate of 5.01 percent.
The yield is significantly lower than the 6.5-percent during the last round of treasury deposit sales on June 20th.
It's being suggested the lower interest rate is a sign of an easing of liquidity pressure in the banking system following the recent turmoil in the interbank money market.
The central bank is scheduled to auction another 50-billion yuan in treasury bonds next week.
 
 
IEA forecasts oil consumption to rise on booming demand from developing countries
 
The International Energy Agency is projecting global oil demand will reach a record high next year.
IEA says the growing demand is expected to come from emerging markets and developing countries.
Global demand is forecast to grow by 1.2 million barrels per day next year.
The IEA is predicting a global economic recovery will push up the demand for oil.
As for the supply of oil, the IEA is suggesting it shouldn't be an issue, as the supplies from non-OPEC oil producing companies are expected to grow by 1.3-million barrels a day next year.
 
 
U.S. posts $117 billion June budget surplus
 
New Stats show the US government has posted a budget surplus of 117-billion dollars in June.
This is keeping the US on track for its lowest full-year deficit in 5-years.
Including the June surplus, the budget deficit for the first nine months of fiscal 2013 has come in at 510-billion dollars, down 44 percent year-on-year.
The surplus is mainly due to higher tax receipts and lower spending this past month.
Total budget receipts are up 14 percent, due to increased tax revenues.
Individual income, payroll and other taxes rose 26-percent year on year in June.
Corporate revenues are up 11 percent.
At the same time, government spending in June came in down 29-percent.
 
 
Fed Board member Duke submits resignation
 
One of the governors of the US Federal Reserve Board has submitted her resignation.
Elizabeth Duke has not given any reason for her departure.
She'll end her 5-year tenure on the Fed's Board of Governors at the end of August.
Before taking up her role on the Fed Governors board, Duke was a senior banking official with a number of US-based banks.
No word yet on who may be in the running to replace her.
Aside from Fed Chair Ben Bernake, Duke is the most senior member of the 7-person Fed Board, which is charged with drafting US monetary policy.
 
 
Microsoft unveils reorganisation
 
Microsoft has launched its biggest internal reorganization in 5-years.
The company says the move is to try to unify the development of its products.
The software giant will be streamlined in areas including phones, games consoles, and services.
Microsoft says the reshuffle is designed to boost the speed, efficiency and capabilities of the company as it responds to changes in the market.
The internal reorganization will also harmonize different sectors, such as Engineering, Marketing and Business Development.
The move comes amid declining personal computer sales, as consumers turn to tablets and other mobile devices.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
China, U.S. to establish new modal of major country relationship
 
Officials attending the just-concluding China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue have been pushing to try to develop a new model to the relationship.
As part of one of the sessions, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi says any new relationship dynamic has to be modeled on one of "mutual respect."
Deputy US Secretary of State William Burns has suggested the two countries need to look beyond the concept of historical conflict.
The two-day S&ED is wrapping up in Washington.
 
 
Nonstop downpours batter SW China
 
Torrential rains pounding Sichuan have left at least 30 people dead and over 160 people missing.
More than 22-thousand soldiers have been sent in to help with rescue and evacuation.
The soliders are also helping to cleared blocked roads and communication lines.
Over 350 tourists trapped in a village in Dujiangyan have since been rescued after becoming trapped by flooding this week.
Another 2-thousand others have also been rescued after being trapped for several hours in a highway tunnel between Dujiangyan and Wenchuan.
 
 
Chinese premier pledges strengthened Nigeria cooperation
 
Chinese premier Li Keqiang has held talks with visiting Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
Li Keqiang is promising to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria and inject "vigor" into the China-Africa relationship.
The premier notes China and Nigeria are developing countries with large populations, saying both countries are facing challenges in speeding up development and improving people's lives.
For his part, Goodluck Jonathan says Nigeria is keen on developing stronger ties with China.
He's also taken time to commend China's growing role in the world peace process.
Jonathan is due to leave China later on today.
 
 
China, Russia conclude joint naval drills
 
Chinese and Russian naval forces have concluded their latest joint drills off Russia's East Coast.
Seven vessels from the Chinese North and South Sea Fleets, along with a dozen vessels from Russia's Pacific Fleet have taken part in the weeklong exercises.
The naval drill comes ahead of another joint Chinese-Russian anti-terrorism drill slated for later this month.
 
 
Chinese military lashes out at Japanese defense report
 
Chinese Defense Ministry is lashing out at a Japanese defense report playing up the so-called 'China's military threat'.
The Japanese white paper released earlier this week is pointing to both China and North Korea as areas of Japanese defense concern.
A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson says China's defense policies are purely defensive in nature.
The statement comes on the heels of similar complaints by China's foreign ministry earlier this week.
 
 
GlaxoSmithKline faces criminal investigation in China
 
A number of senior executives from the Chinese division of GlaxoSmithKline are the focus of a criminal investigation.
The Ministry of Public Security has been questioning a number of GSK employees amid allegations they offered large bribes to government officials, hospitals and doctors to try to increase sales.
The British multi-national, which is the world's fourth biggest pharmaceutical maker, is also being investigated for tax related violations.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
CHINA DAILY
Headline
Shelter to help abandoned children
Summary
China's first temporary shelter for children in plight is to be built in Shanghai.
The shelter will be opened in a new social assistance center, and is expected to be operational next spring.
The concept of the shelter has been drawn up by judicial officials, given the courts often encounter cases in which minors are abandoned when parents are involved in civil lawsuits.
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Live to 81.35 in Beijing
Summary
The Beijing government has released a white paper on public health, suggesting the life expectancy of Beijing residents has increased to 81.35-years compared with 79.62 in 2003.
According to the white paper, the life expectancy of Beijing residents is 7.85 years longer than the average life expectancy of the Chinese people.
This flies in the face of a new study which has been suggesting the air quality here in Beijing and the rest of northern China is reducing life expectancy by 5.5-years.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
No respite from the heat
Summary
The mercury in parts of Shanghai has come in above 40 degrees, making Wednesday the hottest day of the year so far in Shanghai.
Wednesday is the second consecutive day mercury has surpassed last year's peak temperatures.
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
Football Association to be made independent
Summary
A General Administration of Sport says the Chinese Football Association will be made independent from the administration.
Calls have been growing for the separation of the two organizations following the Chinese men's teams latest international loss, an embarassing 5-1 trouncing by Thailand.
YANZHAO METROPOLITAN DAILY
Headline
Astronauts out of quarantine
Summary
Shenzhou 10 astronauts Wang Yaping, Nie Haisheng and Zhang Xiaoguang have been released from their medical quarantine and given the medical all clear.
During their 15-day journey, the astronauts docked with the orbiting space lab Tiangong-1 twice, once automatically and the other manually.
The astronauts spent 12 days inside the Tiangong-1, where they conducted medical experiments, technical tests and delivered a lecture to students on Earth about basic physics principles.
SOUTH CHINA METROPOLITAN DAILY
Headline
Baby thrown from window dies from injuries
Summary
A newborn girl who was tossed from a 3rd story window this week in Heilongjiang's capital Harbin has died.
The 18-year old mother has been taken into custody.
The teenager reportedly worked at a nearby hair salon, where it's said that no one realized she was even pregnant.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Sunshine, Books and WiFi, All Free at Tel Aviv Beach
 
Anchor
In addition to going swimming, relaxing in the sunshine, residents and visitors to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv can now enjoy free books and WiFi on the beach.
CRI's Shen Chengcheng explains.
Reporter
Dalit Boutboul, a tourist on holiday in Tel Aviv-Yafo, chooses a book from a newly-launched beach library for her 6-year-old son.
"I'm here in the hotel at the beach and they said they opened a library, come and take books for the day. I think it's an amazing idea. It's absolutely brilliant."
The beach library, launched by the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, offers over 500 books in 5 languages: English, Arabic, Russian, French and Hebrew. Mira Marcus is the International Press Director of the Municipality.
"Sometimes people come to the beach and they forget to bring a book, so here we give them an opportunity, instead of going all the way to a library inside the city, here we're bringing the library to you. You have the opportunity to use the library right here when you're on the beach, borrow a book, and when you've done at the beach, you can put it back. Totally free. And also there's no librarian. You take a book on your own and we trust you that you'll put it back."
There are different kinds of books for people of all ages. Twelve-year-old Noa Yacoby has chosen a children's book, which she may not be able to finish reading in a day.
"But I will buy it in the shop, if it's interesting."
And she thinks the library is good for children.
"Because it's making them smarter, and love to read."
In addition to the library being open till the end of the summer, visitors can also enjoy free WiFi for browsing online. The Municipality has invested over 1.6 million U.S. dollars into providing free WiFi at 80 locations all over the city, including the beach.
Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor Ron Huldai says such a service is very helpful nowadays when people are used to obtaining information from Internet.
"Technology is a great deal of our life. We believe that once you provide free WiFi, you improve the creativity and possibility of everyone towards everywhere."
Tel Aviv enjoys over 300 sunny days a year, and going to the beach is one of the favorite pastimes for the city's residents and visitors.
For CRI, I'm SCC.
 
 
Sports
  
 
Chinese divers make strong showing at Universiade games
 
Chinese divers continued in top form at the Universiade Summer games in Kazan Russia yesterday.
Zheng Shuangxue and Chen Ye claimed gold in the womens synchronized 3m springboard.
And Ying Hong and 2008 Olympic champion Huo Liang took gold in the mens synchronized 10m platform dive.
Those wins help China draw a little nearer to Russia in overall medal count, but the host nation still dominates with 113 total medals.
The final diving events will get underway today with events in womens synchronized 10m platform, and 3m springboard, and the team competitions still to come.
 
 
Australia's Ashtan Agar shines on day two at the Ashes
 
It turned out to be both a historic and controversial day two at the Ashes.
England finished on 215 and 80-2, putting them 15 runs ahead of Australia at the end of the day.
But the glory belonged to Australia's Ashton Agar. The 19-year-old number 11 made an astonishing 98 runs to set the highest score by a number 11 in Test cricket ever.
Agar credited head coach Darren Lehmann with giving him the right advice ahead of his debut.
"Darren Lehmann's told me to bat the way I know how to bat and he's told the whole team to bat in their own natural styles, that's the way I like to bat so that's what I try to do, take the game on.//For ever I've dreamt of playing test cricket for Australia. For my debut to start the way it has, I'm over the moon, I'm very happy."
The controversy came when England's Jonathan Trott was dismissed after Australia appealed the initial not out call.
One of the key review monitors was broken, but the referee reversed the call anyways.
A disgusted English side has asked the ICC to investigate the call before day three begins at Trent Bridge.
 
 
Marcel Kittel wins his third stage at Tour de France
 
Marcel Kittel outsprinted Mark Cavendish in the final hundred meters to win stage 12 at the Tour de France.
It was the German's third stage victory of this year's tour.
After narrowly avoiding another major crash in the final kilometers, Team Sky's Chris Froome remains untouchable as the overall leader.
The closest contender for the yellow jersey is Alejandro Valverde, who now lags behind by 3 minutes and 25 seconds.
Peter Sagan is still wearing the points leader's green jersey after his third place finish on stage 12.
Up next, stage 13 is another relatively flat 173 kilometer transition, as cyclists draw nearer to the climb into the Alps.
 
 
Manchester City will participate in a tournament honoring Nelson Mandela
 
Manchester City arrived in South Africa to take part in the 'Nelson Mandela Football Invitational' on July 18th, Mandela Day.
Club captain Vincent Kompany talked about how much it meant to him personally to honor the former South African president.
"I just want to say it's a big honour to be here because it's the country of 'Madiba' and I grew up looking at him, seeing him as a hero//I grew up in Europe and for me, it was like he was a member of my family, so although I'm very pleased to come here because of the tournament// I'm also very honoured to be here because it's a country where great things have happened because of 'Madiba'"
The invitational also serves as an important kickoff to the team's pre-season play.
Club manager Manuel Pellegrini will see his first game in charge against Supersport United FC on July 14th.
The club will then travel to Hong Kong to take part in the Asia Trophy with South China FC.
 
 
John Parry leads at Scottish Open
 
English golfer John Parry shot an 8-under-par 64 to lead after the opening round of the Scottish Open yesterday.
"Yes, I don't do it many times a year, so it's always good. I played really solid today, I don't think... A couple of holes I had to chip and putt and when I chipped it to about six inches whenever I needed to. So, it felt pretty comfortable today."
The no. 471 ranked Parry leads fellow Brit Simon Khan by one shot. The United State's Phil Mikelson is two shots behind, sharing a seven-man tie for third.
Over in the PGA Tour,
Defending champion Zach Johnson and Camilo Villegas are tied for first at 7-under-par after the opening round of the John Deere Classic in Illinois.
And in the LPGA,
Catriona Matthew is ahead of Inbee Park by two shots at the Manulife Financial Classic.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Cast of Newsroom celebrates Season 2
 
Newsroom is back for a second season!
(Newsroom Theme)
The cast of HBO's drama celebrated the return of the hit show with a junket at Hollywood's Paramount Studios.
Star Jeff Daniels, who plays anchor Will MacAvoy, embraces the controversial nature of the show.
(daniels)
"First of all, look: Art is supposed to push buttons. It is. It's supposed to and it does. We knew that when we were shooting it. We live in a divided country. We live with the left-of-left and right-of-right screaming and they're the only ones that are being heard. So here comes this show that takes some shots at the right-of-right and they don't like it. So -- bang! -- they hit the Twitter, they hit everything, and off they go."
The show is created by Aaron Sorkin, the Academy award winning writer of A Few Good Men and the man behind the West Wing.
The Newsroom follows the lives of a newsteams featuring Emily Mortimer, Olivia Munn and Dev Patel.
Producers are teasing audiences with a stunner of an opener but are hoping to keep the show on a slow burner to keep our eager eyes hooked.
Despite the crop of negative reactions to the new season, cast and crew seem unfazed and fully faithful that only fans can give the ultimate judgment.
The first episode of the Newsroom hits HBO in two days time.
 
 
Sam Mendes confirmed as director of upcoming Bond film
 
Sam Mendes has been confirmed as the director for the next James Bond film.
Sony Pictures have announced that both Mendes and Skyfall screenwriter John Logan will return for the as-yet-untitled installment.
This follows the enormous success of Skyfall, which grossed over $1 billion world wide.
(Skyfall)
Mendes previously said that the idea of directing more Bond films made him "physically ill".
The Oscar winning director of "American Beauty" is currently working on "King Lear" for the National Theatre.
Daniel Craig will also return for his 4th outing as 007.
The new Bond film is slated for release in October 2015.
 
 
Birth of next British Heir expected tomorrow!
 
Tomorrow is the day marked out for the birth of the next heir to the British throne.
The Duchess of Cambridge is expected to give birth tomorrow at the private Lindo Wing of London's St Mary's Hospital, the birthplace of both Prince William and Harry.
International press have all but blockaded the surrounding area of the hospital.
All are keen to capture the first public appearance of the most anticipated baby in the world right now.
The hospital has closed its parking lot to ensure the safe arrival of the Pricne and Duchess.
It remains unknown whether we should be expecting a little Prince of a Princess of Cambridge.
 
 
Kings of Leon party with naked Crowdsurfer
 
The Kings of Leon have invited a naked crowdsurfer to party with them backstage!
(Kings)
Bassist Jared Followill tweeted a photo of the overenthusiastic gig goer after their Birmingham show earlier in the week, bidding for the man to come forward.
Drummer Nathan Followill followed suit, telling the fan that the band owed him a beer.
And indeed Jimmy Dorris took up on the offer, meeting them backstage during their second date at Birmingham's LG Arena.
Dorris says that upon seeing his own photo on Twitter, he was convinced he would be banned from further gigs at the venue.
The fan said he was thrilled to instead be invited backstage to meet his heroes, an experience he has called "superb".
Dorris blames his antics on downing too many beers when the band joked that they almost did not recognise him fully clothed.
The Kings of Leon are staying in the UK to perform at this year's Itunes Festival, alongside Justin Timberlake, Jessie J and Robin Thicke.
Rumours have also been brewing that Itunes could mark Lady Gaga's first come back performance after a long hiatus due to hip surgery.