Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.

Coming up on our program this evening,

Asiana Airlines Chief Executive denies inexperience of junior pilot.

Sino-Russian Military Drill begins live-fire exercise.

North Korea and South agree "in principle" to reopen Kaesong complex.

Business, Nestle to cut baby formula price by 11 percent.

Sports, we take a look at Andy Murray historic win at Wimbledon.

Entertainments, US rapper Jay-Z recruits a 16-year-old girl to produce on his new album.

Plus Special reports takes a look at new calls for foreign investment in China’s senior care industry.

 

 

Weather

 

 

Another wet week in Beijing, rainy days may last until Thursday night. For tonight, Beijing will have heavy rain with a low of 22 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow thundershowers with a high temperature of 27.

Meanwhile Shanghai will be cloudy tonight, with a low of 28,　cloudy tomorrow, with a high of 37.

Lhasa will have light rain tonight, 13 degrees the low, overcast tomorrow with a high of 23.

Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia

Islamabad, thundershowers, with a high of 36.

Kabul, sunny, 32.

Over in Australia

Sydney, sunny, highs of 17.

Canberra, overcast, 13.

Brisbane, overcast, 19.

And finally, Perth will be overcast with a high of 21.

 

 

Top News

 

 

Asiana Airlines CEO denies inexperience of pilot

 

Asiana Airlines Chief Executive, Yoon Yong-doo, is dismissing speculation one of the pilots from the Boeing 777 plane that crashed in San Francisco was too in-experienced.

However the airline did say the pilot from the Asiana plane was still "in training" for the 777 when he attempted to land the aircraft under supervision.

"A senior pilot was in charge of the flight. So I cannot tolerate the speculation.

I would appreciate if you understand that it is not true. We expect all flight records and analysis be available after decoding of the black box has taken place."

South Korean transport officials say it was the pilot's first time to land a 777 at San Francisco, although he had flown there 29 times on different types of aircraft.

The plane's crew tried to abort the descent less than two seconds before it hit a seawall, causing it to rip off its tail and burst into flames.

Two female Chinese teenagers were killed and more than 180 injured in the crash.

Parents of the Chinese victims are due to travel to the United States.

The two girls killed were among a group of 30 students and five teachers from Jiangshan Middle School, in Zhejiang Province.

They were on their way to a summer camp in the United States.

Meanwhile, education authorities in the city of Quzhou in Zhejiang have suspended all summer camps and study tours overseas.

 

 

Sino-Russian Military Drill Begins Live-Fire Exercise

 

Chinese and Russia navies have now started their live-fire exercise off Russia's eastern coast.

It is part of a joint naval drill between the two countries, which focuses on air defense, sea defense and anti-submarine drills.

The three-day live-fire exercises are expected to help promote the two countries' anti-terrorism capacity.

Ding Yiping is the Deputy Commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.

"The Sino-Russia joint drill is a strategic decision between the two countries. It's aimed at deepening our strategic partnership and promoting the capacity to deal with military threats from the sea. The size of the armed forces, the various subjects, changing weather, the use of weapons and the complications in command and coordination are a test for us as well as a chance for improvement."

Leonid Sukhanov is Deputy Chief of the Russian Navy Main Staff.

"The drill contains many subjects including the actual use of weapons. The purpose of this joint military exercise is to improve the efficiency of the two navies when dealing with new threats and new challenges."

"Joint Sea-2013" is the second joint drill between the two countries.

The number of Chinese Navy troops in the exercise is also the largest in China's joint drill history.

 

 

5th China US S&ED: from Suunylands to Washington DC

 

Anchor

The latest edition of the China - U.S Strategic and Economic Dialogue will take place this week in Washington DC.

The annual gathering this year is expected to focus on cyber security, Asia-Pacific cooperation, climate change, economic cooperation, to name but a few.

CRI's Washington correspondent Lv Xiaohong has more.

Ann:

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai says the upcoming 5th China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue is another important high-level exchange between the two countries.

This year's S-and-ED comes on the heels of last month's summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama in California.

The meeting in Sunnylands, California, saw the two leaders draw a blueprint for China-U.S. relations, with both leaders saying they're committed to building a new type of relationship.

The forthcoming dialogue is designed to try to build on the concensus reached at last month's summit.

The S-and-ED will be co-chaired on the Chinese side by Vice Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

The US will be represented by Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew.

Both sides will have large delegations representing various government agencies.

Ambassador Cui Tiankai says a wide range of issues will be addressed, including cyber security, climate change, Asia-Pacific cooperation and economic cooperation.

"This reflects the width of the many issues that need close cooperation and coordination between our two countries. And such collaboration has been extended to new areas as more working groups are added to address emerging issues. For example, the cyber security working group will hold its first discussion this year and the climate change working group is also a new element to the Dialogue. And I suspect there will be more in the future as we encounter new issues."

One of the highlights this year will be the newly-established cyber security working group.

Ambassador Cui Tiankai says cyber security poses a major challenge.

"With the fast development of communications technologies and the wide coverage of internet, the world is facing a common increasing challenge, namely how to insure cyber security while taking the advantage of new technologies. A good idea and a constructive way to deal with the new challenge is to establish a set of norms and governing rules through the channel of multinational organizations such as the United Nations. It won't solve any problem by finger-pointing to each other."

Bilateral trade and investment cooperation is also expected to be a major focus of the forthcoming session.

Cui Tiankai says it's the Chinese government hopes the U.S. will provide a fair and transparent environment for Chinese investment.

"The Chinese business is eager to invest in the United States. And the U.S. at the same time also needs and welcomes foreign investment in many fields. So there is this complementary situation and looks like it shall be a win-win case. However, Chinese businesses have encountered some obstacles and frankly speaking these obstacles have nothing to do with business activities, but largely political ones. How to clear these hurdles? I think both sides should make concrete efforts, the sooner the better."

For CRI, this is Xiaohong, reporting from Washington.

 

 

The Latest in Egypt

 

Egyptian Health authorities say more than 40 people have been killed in an attack outside the headquarters of the Republican Guard in Cairo.

The Muslim Brotherhood says its members have been fired on while they were holding a sit-in outside the building.

The army says a "terrorist group" had tried to storm the building.

Dozens of people have been killed since the unrest began last weekend, which saw mass demonstrations against then President Mohammed Morsi's rule.

Morsi was later ousted by the army. He's now believed to be held at the presidential Guard Club, in the eastern Nasr City district of the capital.

Meantime, Egypt's presidential media adviser for the Egyptian government says the presidency has recommended opposition leader Mohamed El-Baradei as vice president and financial expert Ziad Bahaa-Eddin as interim prime minister.

The new appointments come after the conservative Salafi al-Nour Party blocked the appointment of El-Baradei as the country's prime minister.

Now for more on the situation in Egypt, we are now joined on the line by David Keyton, CRI's special correspondent in Cairo.

…

Back anchor: David Keyton, CRI's special correspondent in Cairo.

 

 

Snowden reveals NSA partnership with German intelligence service: report

 

Whistleblower Edward Snowden has revealed U.S National Security Agency worked closely with the German intelligence service.

Snowden told German magazine Der Spiegel German intelligence knew more about NSA activities in the country than previously known.

Germany's foreign intelligence service, or BND, has confirmed a partnership with the NSA in providing "analysis tools" for its monitoring of foreign data in Germany.

Der Spiegel earlier reported that Washington was monitoring phone calls and Internet data connections in Germany.

It was also reported to be spying on the headquarters of the European Union, its offices in Washington and the United Nations in New York.

U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed to hold a high-level meeting over U.S. surveillance programs.

 

 

North Korea and South agree "in principle" to reopen Kaesong complex

 

North and South Korea have agreed in principle to restart their joint Kaesong Industrial Complex.

The announcement comes after some 16-hours of talks at the Panmunjom truce village.

Pak Chol-su is North Korea's Chief negotiator:

"North and South Korea will carry out facilities inspections and maintenance checks in the Kaesong Industrial zone starting from July 10th, in order to prevent damage during the monsoon season. This will be achieved by allowing the visit of South Korean personnel including South Korean businessmen for the inspections."

South Korea' s Unification Ministry says working-level talks held last weekend have advanced the process of normalizing the Kaesong industrial complex in a 'constructive' way.

Under the new agreement, South Korean companies will be able to bring finished products and materials out of the complex.

The industrial zone has been shut down for nearly three months after Pyongyang withdrew its workers from the site.

The two sides also agreed to hold follow-up talks on Wednesday at Kaesong to discuss how to prevent the complex shutting down in future.

Over 120 South Korean companies operate factories in the complex, which lies just over the border on the North Korean side.

 

 

Harper tours scene of oil train derailment, death toll rises to five

 

Police in Quebec, Canada are still searching for the missing people after Saturday's train derailment and a fire in the town of Lac-Megantic.

Five people are confirmed dead and dozens are still unaccounted for after a runaway train carrying crude oil derailed.

The derailment caused at least five tanker cars to explode downtown.

Hundreds of people have not been able to return to their homes.

Some thirty buildings had been completely incinerated by fire, and a nearby bar also damaged.

There are now concerns that oil leaking from the tanker cars in Lac-Megantic could contaminate the water of a river that passes by the accident site.

The river supplies around 30-thousand people with their water.

 

 

Biz Reports

 

 

Asian Stock

 

Chinese shares tumbled today after a 2-week high

this over fears that the market's liquidity will be drained if the securities regulator resumes approval of a massive initial public offering later this month.

Media reports speculate that China is likely to restart approving IPO application at the end of July after a 9-month break.

30 firms are expected to be listed on China's A-share as the first batch.

When the market closed, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.4 percent.

The Shenzhen Component Index was down 2.8 percent.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng also down 1.3 percent.

Elsewhere in Asia,

Japan's Nikkei dropped 1.4 percent after hitting a 6-week high.

And South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.9 percent as companies awaiting lower than expected earnings for the second quarter.

In Singapore, the benchmark Straits Times index finished down 0.5 percent.

Finally, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down as well some 0.7 percent.

 

 

Nestle to cut baby formula price by 11 percent following NDRC probe

 

Average price of Nestle-owned Wyeth Nutrition baby formula products is to be cut by 11 percent from this Monday.

The company announced the price cut would remain in place for the rest of the year.

It comes after National Development and Reform Commission launched a probe on foreign baby formula makers and one domestic brand for setting artificially high prices.

Meanwhile, France's Danone says its Dumex subsidiary will also reduce baby formula prices.

Other companies being investigated include U.S companies Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson Nutrition.

Chinese brand Bing Mate have also announced they will cut their price on baby formula by as much as 20-percent following the NDRC probe.

The investigation comes as China tries to revitalize its milk formula industry after a series of food safety crises dented consumer confidence in domestic products.

 

 

NZ meat fails to meet China's export certification rules

 

China has urged the New Zealand government to reverse its de-regulation of the meat processing industry after meat exports to China were blocked for the second time this year.

The complaint comes after container- loads of New Zealand meat were stopped last week at Dalian, a port city in Northeast China, because they lacked proper certification.

The rules affect some 13-hundred consignments, an estimated 30-thousand tons of meat, that have already left New Zealand for China.

New Zealand meat exporters are being urged to work on a new process of certification that addresses consignments en-route to China.

Chinese meat officials will be in New Zealand next week to progress the comprehensive new meat access arrangements for the future.

 

 

US and EU begin FTA talks

 

The United States and the European Union have began talks on a free-trade agreement across the Atlantic after two years of preparation.

The two sides are already each other's top trade and investment partners, with two-way trade that totaling more than 646-billion-US-dollars last year.

The so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership pact would be the world's biggest free-trade deal, covering about 50-percent of global economic output.

It will also absorb 30-percent of global trade and 20-percent of global foreign direct investment.

Economists estimate once the FTA is fully implemented, could boost U.S and EU economic growth by more than 100-billion-dollars a year.

Insiders say much of the negotiations will be focused on reducing and preventing regulatory barriers since tariffs across the Atlantic are already relatively low.

For more on the tans-atlantic FTA talks, CRI's Zheng Chengguang earlier spoke to Dr. Daniel Gros, Director of The Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels.

…

back anchor: Dr. Daniel Gros, Director of The Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels.

 

 

Retailers agree Bangladesh garment factory inspections

 

A group of seventy retailers have agreed to conduct inspections of garment factories in Bangladesh in an attempt to improve safety standards.

They will provide details of factories they source goods from and pay for those factories' safety improvements.

The legally-binding plan was announced earlier this year after the collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh in April killed more than 11-hundred people.

The big names to sign up to the plan include Sweden's H&M, Inditex, which owns Zara, Benetton, Metro, Carrefour, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Esprit and Abercrombie & Fitch.

Under the plan the companies will not only be required to meet minimum fire and building safety standards, but also pay for them.

 

 

Headline News

 

 

Parents of plane crash victims to leave for U.S.

 

Parents of the victims of the plane crash in San Francisco have left for the United States.

Vice principal of the victims' middle school in east China's Zhejiang Province says the 12 parents include those for the two teenage girls killed and for another two injured in the plane crash.

The parents will be accompanied by two teachers from the victims' middle school and four officials from Jiangshan City in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The two girls killed in the crash are among a group of 30 students and five teachers from Jiangshan Middle School, who traveled to the United States for a summer camp.

 

 

Egyptian forces fire at Morsi's supporters, killing 42

 

At least 42-people have died on both sides in clashes between pro-Morsi supporters and security forces.

Egypt's Health Ministry is reporting Egyptian security forces opened fire on supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi outside a military facility early Monday.

The Muslim Brotherhood is calling on the international community to intervene, to prevent the country from sinking into a Syria-style civil war.

Earlier the Brotherhood agreed to accept initiatives for national reconciliation on the condition of Morsi's return.

Morsi was ousted by the army last week following days of mass protests.

 

 

Constructive Kaesong normalization boosted by working-level talks

 

South Korea' s Unification Ministry says working-level talks held last weekend between Seoul and Pyongyang have advanced the process of normalizing the Kaesong industrial complex in a constructive way.

The two Koreas agreed in principle to reopen the joint industrial park, following about 16 hours of talks in Panmunjom truce village.

Under the agreement, the two Koreas will allow companies with factories at Kaesong to "reactivate" facilities "in accordance with preparations" by both sides.

The two sides have also agreed to hold follow-up talks on Wednesday at Kaesong to discuss how to prevent recurrence of unilateral shutdown of the complex.

 

 

33 dead, 14 missing in rainstorm-triggered natural disasters

 

At least 33-people have been killed by rainstorm-triggered natural disasters so far this month.

14 others are missing.

Heavy rains have been sweeping 21 provincial-level regions in China since July 3rd.

Nearly 6.8 million people have been affected by natural disasters caused by downpours across China.

 

 

Nestle to cut baby formula price by 11 percent following NDRC probe

 

Nestle-owned Wyeth Nutrition is to cut the average price of its baby formula products by 11 percent from this Monday.

The company announced the price cut would remain in place for the rest of the year.

It comes after National Development and Reform Commission launched a probe on foreign baby formula makers and one domestic brand for setting artificially high prices.

Meanwhile, France's Danone says its Dumex subsidiary will also reduce baby formula prices.

Chinese brand Bing Mate have also announced they will cut their price on baby formula by as much as 20-percent following the NDRC probe.

 

 

Newspaper Picks

 

 

Shanghai Daily

 "Taobao offers parental visit service"

Don't have time to visit your elderly parents? No problem, just hire someone to go on your behalf.

At least one vender on Taobao.com, China's biggest e-commerce website, where one can seemingly find any product or service, is offering to visit parents for 100 yuan per hour.

The rate for this Zhejiang Province-based service excludes transportation and extra payments for activities or gifts.

The service sprouted up after a new seniors' rights law came into effect on July 1st requiring children to visit or contact their elderly parents regularly.

Experts said the service is at odds with the intent of lawmakers.

Shanghai Daily

"Tour guide threatened tourists who didn't buy"

Beijing tourism authorities are hunting a tour guide who was videotaped threatening sightseers with a knife and vile language because they didn't buy enough from shops where they were taken.

A tourist from Tianjin filmed the 25-second video while on a tour to visit the Badaling Great Wall.

They spent several hours in a shop but the group was told they hadn't spent enough money.

The driver refused to transport them and the tour guide, surnamed Meng, started spouting dirty words.

The video shows Meng shouting at a tourist while trying to reach the tourist with a knife.

Channel News Asia

 "New York City cracks down on counterfeit goods'

New York City is trying to crack down on the sale of fake luxury goods with a new law that could see tourists jailed for a year.

It is currently illegal to sell fake handbags and watches but the city is now proposing making it a crime to buy them as well to help halt the illegal industry thought to be worth 1-billion US dollars a year.

A new bill suggested a penalization for buyers of a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail. The idea is to deter buyers and dry up demand.

The city hopes the new law will end counterfeit merchandising even if it means jailing tourists.

Bangkok Post

 "Too much of a good thing?"

There have always been doubts and ambiguity around bottled mineral water. While some say drinking it every day is a boon, others warn there are some health risks in the nutrient-rich liquid.

The latter claim is in line with the recent warning from the Department of Groundwater Resources.

The department has cautioned the public drinking too much mineral water is likely to lead to a mineral imbalance in the body.

Though health benefits come from drinking mineral water it may not be a daily necessity.

 

 

Special Reports

 

 

Foreign investment encouraged in senior care industry/Michael 1602

 

Anchor:

As China's aging population continues to grow, facilities and services for the elderly are being found insufficient to meet market demand.

But now China is encouraging more foreign investment in its senior care industry as the country transitions into an aging society.

CRI's Li Dong has the story.

Reporter:

According to a report by the China Research Center on Aging, the total Chinese population aged over 60 will surpass 200 million by the end of this year, almost 15 percent of the country's entire population.

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has recently issued a new regulation on senior care centers which says that senior care homes must have more than 10 beds. It also states explicitly, for the first time, that foreign organizations and individuals can open senior care centers in the country, with or without a Chinese partner.

Senior Living L'Amore-Kaijian, a facility operated by Sino-U.S. joint venture Beijing Yuanjian Senior Care, will open this month in southeast Beijing. Here is Luo Jian, the general manager of the senior living business development department of senior care provider Sino-Ocean Land.

"When we chose to cooperate with the American company, we were considering their experience, mainly in its service concepts, care system and nursing skills."

The facility will charge between 15,000 to 25,000 yuan a month per resident. The manager says it's targeted at senior citizens looking for a high-quality life. Ling Yize, is an 83-year-old Beijing resident.

"Usually, in senior care homes, two people share one small room. I want my own bedroom and a living room. I haven't looked around yet, but I want to see its public facilities, such as the gym, activity center and reading rooms."

In January, the American company involved in the joint venture set up a similar senior care project in Shanghai. Aruna Poddatoori is the chief operating officer of the Beijing Yuanjian Senior Care.

"We're in the beginning status, and we are here to stay. We know we can make a difference. We see a lot of positives from the market. We hear it day in and day out. It will be a success."

Within the next two years, the Chinese government is hoping to ensure that at least 30 beds are available for every thousand people over the age of 60 in senior care institutions.

That goal requires 6.6 million beds, which means finding 2.7 million more beds in two years. This huge number represents a new market opportunity for both private enterprise and investors.

For CRI, I am Li Dong.

 

 

Sports

 

 

Murray Wins Historic Wimbledon Titlt

 

In Wimbledon,

Andy Murray's victory over World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was the biggest story for the British media, as the 26-year old Scott became the first Briton to win a Wimbledon title in 77 years.

Prime Minister David Cameron attended the final:

"Well it was fantastic. It was an absolutely brilliant performance, an amazing day for Andy Murray but also an incredible day for British tennis and for Britain. It was an absolute privilege to be able to watch it."

There is now speculation over whether Murray may be awarded by the queen for his sporting achievements.

British newspaper The Times is running the headline 'Arise Sir Andy', after the Queen sent Murray a private congratulatory message following Sundays match.

Cameron himself reportedly claimed Murray deserves a knighthood, saying he "can't think of anyone who deserves one more."

Now for more on the match, CRI's London Correspondent Tu Yun reports.

Reporter:

Since Fred Perry claimed his third Wimbledon title in 1936, Britain has been eagerly waiting for another local to lift the Cup.

And this past Sunday, that moment finally arrived.

Britain's No. 1 Andy Murray, who was in the Wimbledon final for the second time, overpowered top seed Novak Djokovic, claiming a straight-set victory 6-4, 7-6, 6-4.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Wimbledon Champion for 2013, Britain's Andy Murray!"

"Feels slightly different to last year. Last year was one of the toughest moments in my career. So to manage to win the tournament today. It was unbelievably tough match and so many long games. I've played Novak many times and when we all end our careers he will go down as one of the biggest fighters ever. He's come back so many times from losing positions and he made it difficult for me today. That made it extra tough You know how much everyone else wanted to see a British winner at Wimbledon. So I hope you guys enjoy that. I tried my best. "

Djokovic, the 2011 Wimbledon Champion, lauded the Scot.

"I'm aware of the pressure that he gets. I'm not in his skin so I don't know to what extent but definitely there are a lot of expectations of him and to pull out a championship tournament this year. I congratulate him. And on my side, I gave it all. It was absolute pleasure and honor again to be part of this match, this final."

This is the third time the world's top two players have battled each other in the last four grand slams.

Whether this signals a new era for men's tennis dominated by the two powerhouses remains to be seen.

For CRI, I'm Tu Yun at Wimbledon.

 

 

Vettel wins first-ever victory in a home race

 

World champion Sebastian Vettel has for the first time claimed victory on his home soil in a German Grand Prix.

Championship rival Kimi Raikkonen was second for Lotus with his teammate Romain Grosjean being the third.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso took fourth, 7.7 seconds behind.

Vettel's 30th career victory extended his championship lead over Alonso to 34 points

"Kimi was pushing very very hard in the end and obviously they tried to do something different with　different compounds of tyres. I think we had a very solid, very controlled race but i think I was pushing every single lap except the laps behind the safety car, very happy with the result."

Vettel had been without a win in Europe for 22 months.

The championship now heads to Budapest for round ten on July 26.

 

 

Palestine Football Association bid to host the 2016 or 2017 FIFA Congress:FIFA President

 

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has announced that the Palestine Football Association will bid to host the 2016 or 2017 FIFA Congress.

Blatter also said he will talk with Israeli officials about easing travel restrictions on Palestinian players.

"My mission, I will go to defend not only the Palestine Football Association but I will defend the basic principles of FIFA and the basic principles of FIFA are to connect people and not to separate people. "

The head of football's governing body was in the West Bank for a series of ceremonial events.

The FIFA President was called on to improve current football situation in Palestine, during the last FIFA Congress in Mauritius this May.

 

 

Chinese weightlifters win 2 gold medals in Summer Universiade on first match day

 

Chinese weightlifters had a flying start at the 27th Summer Universiade as they bagged two out of three gold medals on first match day.

Defending champion Xiao Hongyu of China claimed the gold in women's 48kg final with a total of 187kg and broke the snatch record of the Universiade.

Another gold medal came from men's 56kg final, with Xu Jingui winning with a total of 264kg.

Russia leads the medal count with 17, followed by China with 8.

The 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan Russia will run to July 17th.

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

Keanu Reeves Talks to CRI About New Film

 

Matrix star Keanu Reeves has spoken to CRI about the inspiration behind his directorial debut film, Man of Taichi.

Reeves also stars in the martial arts film which slammed into Chinese theaters over the weekend.

The Hollywood star reveals the film owes itself largely to his Matrix Trilogy colleague, stuntman turned actor Chen Hu.

"Over the course of the years Chen Hu and I became friends. He started to go into acting actually while we were doing the Matrix Trilogy. We decided to work together. And over the years we developed a story that eventually came close to my heart and my vision that I wanna direct it. It became a story that I wanna tell."

The film follows a young Tai Chi master's rise in the underground fighting world, a plotline partially inspired by Chen Hu's life.

Reeves says the script was in development for 5 years and features Cantonese, Chinese, and English.

Honk Kong superstar Karen Mok and Indonesian star Iku Uwais also appear in the film.

Man of Taichi is on nationwide release now here in China.

 

 

James Cameron Speaks Out Against Unnecessary Use of 3D

 

Titanic and Avatar filmmaker extrordinaire James Cameron has blasted Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel claiming the films use of 3D technology was unnecessary.

Cameron used the two films as examples of how he feels 3D technology is not being used properly in all films.

The director claims 3D is overused in Hollywood today and most films don't need to be shot in that format.

He pointed out if a studio is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on visual effects then the film will already look spectacular and 3D will not contribute anything.

Cameron re-introduced 3D back into mainstream films after shooting his 2009 film Avatar with the technology.

However, Avatar differs from films such as Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel as it was shot in 3D whereas the other more recent films were converted to 3D after being shot normally.

The trend of 3D reappears in filmmaking every couple decades or so, but has usually been regarded as a gimmick by audiences and later discarded.

 

 

Author Martin Defends Casting Choice

 

Author and series creator George RR Martin has defended the casting choice of Chilean actor Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martel the Red Vipe of Dorne in HBO's Game of Thrones TV show.

Following the casting announcement internet forums exploded with angry fans who believe Pascal's look does not represent the culture nor heritage of the fictional land of Dorne.

Martin has defended the choice saying from what he has heard Pascal nailed the audition and he's sure the Chilean actor will make for a wonderful Red Viper.

The author also praised the show's creators for putting together a racially and ethnically diverse cast.

The show recently aired its 3rd season with a 4th season coming sometime next year.

Each season follows the events of a book in the series with the 3rd book A Storm of Swords being broken up into seasons 3 and 4.

 

 

Actor John C. Reilly to Release Music Album

 

US actor John C Reilly has announced he plans to release his debut solo music album on musician Jack White's record label Third Man Records.

The Walk Hard star says the album will consists of roots-folk and Americana music.

He has released two singles a cover of Ray Price's I'll be There if you Want and the Delmore Brothers' Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar.

The actor proved his skill as a musician in his 2007 music spoof film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

Reilly wrote, recorded, performed, and sang several original songs for the comedy film about the life of a musician who rises to fame then loses everything.

The actor recently signed on to appear in Marvel studios' Guardians of the Galaxy superhero film.

 

 

16-Year Old Produces Track on Jay-Z Album

 

US rapper Jay-Z has recruited a 16-year-old girl to produce a track from his new album Magna Carta Holy Grail.

Jay-Z heard about highschooler Ebony Oshunrinde also known as Wundagurl after she had a chance meeting with a friend of his.

The high school senior sent a reggae-inspired beat she made on her computer which prompted Jay-Z to enlist her as producer on the track Crown.

Oshunrinde appears as producer on the album next to names such as Beyonce, Timbaland, and Justin Timberlake.

She admits she is now getting offers from several other musicians after working with Jay-z.

The album was released worldwide this past weekend and has been met with mixed reviews from critics.