NBC's Mitchell Spews Abortion Propaganda in Friendly Chat With Planned Parenthood President

In a softball exchange with Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards on her Wednesday 1 p.m. ET hour MSNBC show, host Andrea Mitchell recited one liberal talking point after another to denigrate pro-life legislation in states across the country: "On Friday, Texas became the 16th state to tighten regulations on abortion clinics in the past three years, effectively putting most of them out of business. This is part of a growing movement by states to restrict access to family planning and other women's health facilities." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]

Turning to Richards, Mitchell implored: "What can you or Planned Parenthood and other groups do to try to keep some of these clinics open?" Richards used the opportunity to proclaim: "Look, this is a very extreme set of bills that are going to close down dozens of health centers in Texas.... I think it's a growing theme, unfortunately, in many states where politicians are putting their own political agenda ahead of women's health care."

Mitchell followed up by ranting: "Well, we've seen action now in North Carolina. We saw what happened in the budget bill in Ohio. Also, Scott Walker, you know, in Wisconsin. So we're seeing state by state efforts through budget actions, often without hearings to roll back access to health care to women."

Speaking of the Texas legislation, which banned abortions after twenty weeks, Richards claimed: "...this bill was so extreme they couldn't get it through the regular legislature. They couldn't even get it through a special session. As you know, Senator Wendy Davis successfully filibustered that bill. So they brought the legislature back a third time simply to ram this bill through, even though it's not supported by the majority of Texans."

The assertion by Richards that Davis "successfully filibustered that bill" was untrue. Davis's filibuster failed to prevent a vote on the legislation, but a mob of rowdy abortion activists managed to delay final approval of the bill past a midnight deadline. In addition, the claim by Richards that the legislation was "not supported by the majority of Texans" flew in the face of a Texas Tribune poll that showed sixty-two percent of Texas residents support the bill.

Rather than challenge Richards on such points, Mitchell instead continued her effort to push the pro-choice agenda: "Now we should point out that there is very little support ? never has been ? for late-term abortions. It is a rarely used medical option. But this is not just about late-term abortions, this is about preventive health care and Planned Parenthood offering non-abortion services to women."

Touting the protestors who repeatedly stormed the Texas state house, Richards declared: "What we are seeing, which is very encouraging ? and I think you're showing some of the signs ? is this has enraged and engaged a whole new generation of young women and men who are absolutely not willing to go back to a time where women didn't have access to health care in America."

In response, Mitchell noted how Davis had become "a national figure overnight" after her filibuster, but fretted: "In Texas, your mother Ann Richards, I believe, was the last elected Democrat ? Democratic governor in 1990."

Richards replied:

It's been a long time. But it was interesting, Andrea, to be at the capitol and to see literally thousands of people come back to the capitol day after day after day to testify against these bills. And many people said they hadn't seen anything like this since Ann Richards was elected governor. You know, she said when she ran for office that she wanted to open up government to the people of Texas and let them in. And I think thousands of people in Texas have taken her up on that offer in the last few weeks. It's been very encouraging to see democracy in action.

Mitchell remarked: "I can only imagine what she would be saying. I could hear her voice." Richards added: "I think we did." Mitchell agreed: "Exactly."

In a discussion with fellow journalists on the July 10 edition of the program, Mitchell similarly decried pro-life legislative success: "Texas isn't the only state where Roe v. Wade is being challenged....We've seen in Ohio, John Kasich and company sneaked it in to a budget bill....Wisconsin, there's an injunction against enforcement of what the legislature there did under Scott Walker."

Story Continues Below Ad ?

?Here is a full transcript of the July 16 interview with Richards:

1:47PM ET

ANDREA MITCHELL: On Friday, Texas became the 16th state to tighten regulations on abortion clinics in the past three years, effectively putting most of them out of business. This is part of a growing movement by states to restrict access to family planning and other women's health facilities. Joining me now is Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Cecile, thank you very much for being with us.

CECILE RICHARDS: Sure.

MITCHELL: The Texas vote, I know it was filibustered, but then Rick Perry and the legislature, you know, pushed it through, so there's no appeal now. This is going to happen. What can you or Planned Parenthood and other groups do to try to keep some of these clinics open?

RICHARDS: Well, thanks for asking, Andrea. Look, this is a very extreme set of bills that are going to close down dozens of health centers in Texas. We are really looking at the constitutionality, we believe many aspects of the law probably are unconstitutional. But the thing that's really terrible about this, is it is coming on the heels of Governor Perry actually shutting down the women's health program in the state of Texas, where more than 100,000 women already lost access to preventive care. I think it's a growing theme, unfortunately, in many states where politicians are putting their own political agenda ahead of women's health care.

MITCHELL: Well, we've seen action now in North Carolina. We saw what happened in the budget bill in Ohio. Also, Scott Walker, you know, in Wisconsin. So we're seeing state by state efforts through budget actions, often without hearings...

RICHARDS: Absolutely.

MITCHELL: ...to roll back access to health care to women.

RICHARDS: Right. I mean, that's what's incredible. And I mean, I just spent a lot of time in Texas ? it's my home state, of course ? where, in fact, they couldn't ? this bill was so extreme they couldn't get it through the regular legislature. They couldn't even get it through a special session. As you know, Senator Wendy Davis successfully filibustered that bill. So they brought the legislature back a third time simply to ram this bill through, even though it's not supported by the majority of Texans. And we're seeing the same thing in North Carolina, very unpopular moves by the legislature. Literally attaching anti-choice, anti-women's legislation to a motorcycle bill just in hopes of jamming it through the legislature there. But people do not support this, even in states like North Carolina and in Texas.

MITCHELL: Now we should point out that there is very little support ? never has been ? for late-term abortions. It is a rarely used medical option. But this is not just about late-term abortions, this is about preventive health care and Planned Parenthood offering non-abortion services to women.

RICHARDS: That's right. I mean, I think that, look, the rules ? the law that was just passed in Texas would literally close down dozens of women's health centers because of the ridiculous restrictions that are placed upon them and on doctors. I mean it is literally the legislature getting in between doctors and their ability to provide medical care. We're still seeing, in states where they're trying to cut women off of going to Planned Parenthood for basic family planning, cancer screening, that's ninety percent of what we do. So this is, I think, a much broader effort to take away women's access to care. What we are seeing, which is very encouraging ? and I think you're showing some of the signs ? is this has enraged and engaged a whole new generation of young women and men who are absolutely not willing to go back to a time where women didn't have access to health care in America.

MITCHELL: But that said, Wendy Davis became, you know, a national figure overnight over this. But in Texas, your mother Ann Richards, I believe, was the last elected Democrat ? Democratic governor in 1990. So there isn't-
?
RICHARDS: It's been a long time. It's been a long time. But it was interesting, Andrea, to be at the capitol and to see literally thousands of people come back to the capitol day after day after day to testify against these bills. And many people said they hadn't seen anything like this since Ann Richards was elected governor. You know, she said when she ran for office that she wanted to open up government to the people of Texas and let them in. And I think thousands of people in Texas have taken her up on that offer in the last few weeks. It's been very encouraging to see democracy in action.

MITCHELL: I can only imagine what she would be saying. I could hear her voice.

RICHARDS: I think we did.

MITCHELL: Exactly. Well, Cecile Richards, it's always great to see you. Thank you very much for the update.

RICHARDS: Thanks a lot, Andrea.

MITCHELL: And we will stay on this story and we'll be right back.

Source: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2013/07/17/nbcs-mitchell-spews-abortion-propaganda-friendly-chat-planned-parentho

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Home Improvement Tips That Anyone Can Implement | Homes ...

Almost anyone can find a home improvement project that he will enjoy. However, for beginners, knowing the right tools when it comes to having a zoning permit or knowing the different types of regulation codes could be really intimidating. What is the best solution for someone new to home improvement? This article will help you learn what you need to know about the basics of home repair.

Replace your air conditioning filter from time to time. If it is backed up, the AC unit will need to work that much harder. The unit might also end up running much longer than it ought to. Change the filter often to save time and money.

Put a shot into that vinyl flooring bubble. Simply cut a small slit in the bubble to release the air pocket. However, this will only flatten the bubble temporarily. After this you need to insert some glue to keep the floor sealed. You can find glue that is specially sold in a syringe to make this job as easy as possible.

Don?t buy expensive supplies. Instead, shop around and look for the best deals on home improvement materials. For example, quality home flooring can be expensive, but if you shop around, you should be able to find the flooring in your price range. Check out larger, big-box suppliers and discount stores for better deals.

When purchasing a home, look for dry rot and chipped paint that has been coated over. However, issues such as structural problems, bad wiring, and lousy ventilation can only be discovered by a professional home inspector. You will very likely save money in the long run if you hire a qualified inspector before buying a house.

Traditional fireplaces are not an ideal solution for heating your house during the winter months. Wood fireplaces are not very efficient; even though, they?re quite attractive. Unfortunately, the majority of the heat goes up the chimney. Also, a fireplace require lots of fresh air which basically means it is taking oxygen out of your home.

Complete repairs as soon as the problem is noticed. A lot of minor repairs can easily be ignored but they can lead to bigger issues in the future. You should not wait too long. When one thing goes wrong, something else is sure to follow. You?ll see a little problem turn into a big one almost overnight if you?re not careful.

Develop a yearly budget to make home improvements. By dedicating a reasonable amount of your income to home maintenance and upgrades, it will help keep your house in much better shape. If any money remains in the budget when the year ends, it may be allocated for future, larger home remodeling projects.

Are you looking for a way to reduce your summer heating bill? If so, you should try tinting the windows in your home. FOrtunately, you should be able to do this yourself. You?ll also spend less money to cool your home in the summer.

Give rooms a brand new look by changing window dressings. Curtains are an affordable way to change the entire character of a room through creative use of patterns and different fabrics. In addition, you can select fabric colors by season. For example, you might want to use lighter colors for the spring and summer seasons. During the fall and winter seasons, you might want to use darker, richer colors.

When renovating, use the time right after the holidays to do your planning. This is normally the time of the year when budgets are the tightest. During this time of the year, you will be far more likely to create an overblown or unrealistic budget.

Inspect your property to make sure there are no low area, particularly next to the foundation. If any low areas are found, they should be filled in order to prevent pooling of water and further downward erosion. If the water pools near your foundation, it can get into your home or cause rotting.

Investing in a few key pieces of decor can make any room appear more modern and fresh. It is amazing to see the difference that some accessories will make. Get new drapes in bright colors or lush fabrics, add accessories of the same hue and it will look like a professional did it for you.

If you decide to replace your roof entirely, white or lightly-colored tiles are your best bet. When you use light tiles, your attic will tend to absorb less heat, which in turn will keep your house a little cooler during the hot summer months. Running the A/C unit less means more savings in your pocket.

Homes that have not been updated or renovated typically sell more slowly and for less money. Giving a kitchen a more modern look can instantly increase home value. You?ll recoup almost all of your investment this way too.

During major renovation or home improvement work, don?t forget to plan for the debris and waste that will be produced. Trash and waste will be created, and there must an area to put it. Make sure you plan out where it will go before it is all disposed of, to keep your working space clear.

Remember that first impressions are important and take the time to make the yard appear well tended before tackling interior work. Interior improvements are not immediately visible to prospective buyers, but many are unlikely to even consider a house that has an unattractive exterior.

Securing a roofer you know that you will be able to trust is very important when it comes to home improvement projects concerning your roof. Be sure to do good research in regards to the roofing company?s background before committing yourself. Make sure you check with the BBB concerning the company you have chosen.

Do you now understand why home repairs can often be an enjoyable undertaking? The home improvement process can be educational, rewarding, and even highly enjoyable. By using these tips, you can make the improvements you desire.

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Source: http://www.homes-products.com/2013/07/17/home-improvement-tips-that-anyone-can-implement/

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Gas prices still rising, but peak is in sight

energy

Patti Domm CNBC.com

3 hours ago

CNBC

Gasoline prices, up an average 15 cents in the past week, could quickly rise another 5 to 10 cents before peaking, and drivers in the Northeast could feel it most, experts say.

While gasoline could reach a national average of $3.75 per gallon, or even more, analysts do not expect it to top the $3.78-per-gallon high for the year it hit in February, unless there is another jump in oil prices or a major event, such as a hurricane, that disrupts refining in the Gulf Coast.

The national average for regular unleaded gasoline Wednesday was $3.65 a gallon, up from $3.50 last Wednesday and four cents above levels a month ago, according to AAA Fuel Gauge Report. The increase in gasoline prices is likely to be temporary and should reverse as the summer goes on, analysts say.

"Retail still has some catching up to do. It has another five to 10 easy cents," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst with Gas Buddy. "I think it?s 50/50 whether we get up to that previous 2013 high of $3.78."

Kloza predicted last week that gasoline would jump by 10 to 20 cents because of the large, 30 to 60 cent gap between spot wholesale prices and retail prices. The catalyst was a surge in demand, at the same time oil prices were rising.

(Read more:US crude supplies shrank by 6.9 million barrels)

"Beyond the data, there's some things happening that point to the Northeast being a hot spot for the next few weeks," said Kloza. "A couple of key refineries look as if they have some operational difficulties. The last thing you want to do in the middle of summer when gas demand is high and prices are high [is] have some routine maintenance, but it looks like it's happening."

Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Associates, said the St. John Irving refinery in Canada, which typically sends 120,000 to 125,000 barrels a day to the Northeast, is currently sending little because of shutdowns of its catalytic crackers. He said the Phillips 66 refinery in New Jersey and the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery in Pennsylvania are both conducting maintenance.

"That's impacting some amount of gasoline," Lipow said. But refineries are also pumping out more product than ever. Gasoline was averaging $3.98 in Connecticut on Wednesday, $3.70 in Massachusetts, $3.78 in Rhode Island and $3.74 in Maine. While the Northeast should feel the sting of rising prices disproportionately, the West Coast already has the highest gas prices in the country. In California, the average price per gallon is more than $4 a gallon.

Gasoline production averaged 9 million barrels per day last week, according to EIA.

"We hit another all-time record for distillate oil product this week?5.08 million barrels a day, which was higher than last week," Lipow said. "In addition, the refiners continue to produce 500,000 barrels more a day this year than last year due to more capacity that's come online. One of the big-picture issues you're going to continue to see is a decline in crude oil inventories as we run at higher rates and turn it into product."

Increased shipments of crude by rail and the reversal of several pipelines have enabled more shipments of WTI crude out of Cushing, Okla. Oil produced in the U.S. had been landlocked there and is finally flowing more freely around the center, a factor helping to lift its price closer to that for international Brent crude.

"If we see further increases, it will be because of supply," Kloza said.

Traders have become overly excited about rising prices, he said. "It's very much a mixed bag. I don't think there's anything to worry about there because domestic crude oil production is really rising."

More business news:

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Taking financial services to Africa?s poorest consumers

Millions of Africans have no access to banks. There can be no sustainable development without catering to these groups

The sustainable development agenda must tackle the myriad challenges that Africa faces today. These include rapid population growth, which is straining resource use, man-made and natural disasters for which most countries are ill-prepared, ineffective policies for addressing other crises. This is exacerbated by outmoded laws and the lack of capacity to enforce those laws, high dependency on primary commodities, made worse by declining (or volatile) commodity prices and unfair trade practices, as well as very poor financial inclusion for the millions of people without access to banking services.

African financial systems are among the smallest in the world, as measured by private credit to GDP and domestic revenues that are usually not adequate to meet the development requirements of a continent that is playing catch-up in a highly competitive global village. Yet, as Africa keeps growing it is important that governments mobilise and allocate more resources towards development.

Financial and technological innovation is helping Africa expand the coverage of financial services. Mobile banking is a good example of how African financial systems are providing access to basic payment services through mobile phones, even without a bank account.

Another example of financial innovation is tailor-making the credit assessment process to the circumstances of African entrepreneurs through the use of psychometric assessments as a low-cost, automated screening tool to identify high-potential entrepreneurs. The Standard Bank Group, for instance, has been very successful with their product, SME quick loans which makes the use of psychometric testing as opposed to financial analysis. With agriculture being a significant subsistence and commercial activity on the continent, farmers? fortunes are being supported by the creation of suitable agricultural insurance products.

Africa is making efforts to reach out to previously unbanked parts of the population. Successes have been realised through the cell phone-based M-Pesa in Kenya. Ecocash in Zimbabwe and the basic transaction accounts, such as Mzansi accounts in South Africa.

With improvements in the business environment, the private sector is growing in confidence to do business in Africa, representing an important opportunity for private sector driven development. Africa has immense opportunities to ride on successful implementation of public-private partnerships in the areas of infrastructure development and social services provision. This option has been tried and tested in parts of the continent, with success stories in the water supply systems in west Africa and transportation projects in southern Africa.

Africa still needs to deepen the financial systems through the development and expansion of local and regional pension funds and life insurance markets; as well as local and regional bond trading markets. This will enable mobilisation of medium to long-term finance, which is seriously scarce.

There is an argument that since developed economies are not driven by informal sector activities, it is flawed to attempt to drive economic progress through the informal sector elsewhere. This argument does not recognise that in some parts of Africa this sector contributes more than 60% of employment and income. As such, there is no better development process that includes the majority of economic players.

Financial institutions often find the risk of doing business in the informal sector higher than with formal businesses. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of information for traditional credit rating tools. Innovations using alternative assessment tools such as psychometric evaluation of borrowers represent workable options to promote access to financial resources in this sector. Training programmes tailor-made for the requirements of the informal sector entrepreneurs are not readily available and affordable. This would require those who design educations systems to be responsive to this growing need.

Small traders, hawkers and backyard industries are often not properly regulated, leading to harassment, frequent arrest of traders, confiscation of their goods and punitive fines. In most cases these traders need assistance. For example, by designating specific zones for their activities. There are potential fiscal revenue benefits to be achieved by legalising and properly catering for the development needs of the informal sector.

In conclusion, the challenge of developing the financial sector in most underdeveloped countries can be summarised using one word: costs. This refers to costs of putting up infrastructure to service the majority of people previously excluded from the formal financial sector, such as buildings, telecommunications systems, or the costs related to educating the masses about formal banking structures.

This is a cost banks should not shy away from as in the long run the survival of the banks specifically, as well as the development of Africa in general, will depend on the successful implementation of financial inclusion policies and programmes.

Pindie Nyandoro is the executive director of Standard Bank of Namibia Limited. A version of article was originally published in ECDPM?s monthly Great Insights.

This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Global Development Professionals Network

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Source: http://www.angrytech.com/taking-financial-services-to-africas-poorest-consumers/

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Counties-Manukau coach Tana Umaga says local talent is key to ITM Cup success

Developing local talent is key as Counties Manukau return to top-flight rugby in this year's ITM Cup, coach Tana Umaga believes.

Umaga and assistant coach Steve Jackson have named their squad for the 2013 campaign, which begins with a pre-season hit-out against Bay of Plenty on August 1.

Former All Blacks captain Umaga said the team had worked hard to get back into the premiership, and wanted to make sure they stayed there.

An important part of that would be consolidating and developing a strong group of local players.

"It's important for us to create pathways for our players and this starts by developing our own players," he said.

"We actually don't have a lot of choice but to develop our talent pool, which means we have to work harder in all areas of our organisation."

Umaga said while certain positions had to be recruited from outside the province, Counties Manukau was working on developing depth in those areas.

Counties Manukau squad: Sam Aiono, Bundee Aki, Ki Anufe, Adam Cathcart, Jarrod Firth, Kane Hancy, Frank Halai, Baden Kerr, Fritz Lee, Rey Lee-Lo, Tyrone Lefau, Simon Lemalu, Sikeli Nabou, Tim Nanai-Williams, August Pulu, Tony Pulu, Ronald Raaymakers, Mahonri Schwalger, Mark Selwyn, Sherwin Stowers, Suliasi Taufalele, Matt Talaese, Ahsee Tuala, Jimmy Tupou, Ryan Wilson, Maama Vaipulu.

NZN

Source: http://www.3news.co.nz/Counties-Manukau-coach-Tana-Umaga-says-local-talent-is-key-to-ITM-Cup-success/tabid/415/articleID/305093/Default.aspx

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NFL news roundup: Maurkice Pouncey apologizes for 'Free Hernandez', Jets prepare for another controversy

It's good to support a former teammate, unless that teammate is Aaron Hernandez and you're advocating his freedom. Meanwhile the New York Jets are preparing for another QB controversy.

With most teams entering training camp in just under a month, these are well and truly the dog days of the NFL season. Monday afternoon marked the league's franchise tag deadline, but even tagging players became a quiet affair as most organizations already made their determinations on long-standing veterans. News this off-season has centered on off-field issues, and that continued on Monday. Here is the top news from around the league.

Maurkice Pouncey apologizes for controversial hat

While the New England Patriots have done their best to distance themselves from Aaron Hernandez, former Florida teammates Maurkice and Mike Pouncey have thrown themselves into the conversation at their joint birthday party in Florida.

Rather than keep a low profile, the Pouncey's elected to wear hats emblazoned with 'Free Hernandez', referring to their former Florida teammate. Backlash was severe, as expected -- causing Maurkice to issue an apology today.

I fully recognize the seriousness of the situation involving my former teammate, and I regret that my actions appear to make light of that serious situation. I apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions.

New QB plan is a lot like the old one for Jets

The New York Jets are no strangers to quarterback controversies. Last year the organization welcomed one when they traded for Tim Tebow, and the noise continued to be loud when the Jets elected to draft Geno Smith in the second round.

With under a month until camp the plan got a little clearer, but it's confusing. The plan is to use Smith as a "change of pace" quarterback, which sounds an awful lot like the team's plan for Tebow in 2012. Maybe second time's the charm.

Broncos suspend two executives for DUI

Denver looks to be every part of a Super Bowl contender in 2013, but their front office isn't behaving in a disciplined manner. As a result, director of player personnel Matt Russell has been suspended indefinitely, while director of pro personnel Tom Heckert has been suspended one month.

What makes matters worse is the realization that Russell was aware of the organization's stance on Heckert, who was arrested before. He was part of the decision-making process, and didn't avoid his own DUI charge.

Cowboys apply franchise tag to Anthony Spencer

One of the more likely decisions this off-season was Dallas applying the franchise tag to outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. A 12.0-sack defender in 2012, Spencer and the organization were unable to reach a long-term extension.

The sticking point is likely age, as he turns 30 years old early in 2014. This makes it difficult to justify a new multi-year contract, and Spencer appears to be hitting free agency next year.

More from SB Nation:

? Ryan Clady signs 5-year deal with Broncos

? No progress on Jairus Byrd, Bills talks

? Victor Cruz apologizes for George Zimmerman tweet

? Ndamukong Suh: Missing playoffs would be "absolute disappointment"

? Photo: Maurkice Pouncey wears "Free Hernandez" hat

Source: http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/7/15/4525962/nfl-news-roundup-maurkice-pouncey-apologizes-for-free-hernandez-jets

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CHINA: 'After Earth' Looks to Change its Fortunes with $13.8M Opening Weekend

A crash-landing at the North American box office might have been unexpected for After Earth, but there always the hope that the film could change its luck overseas. Will Smith and son/co-star Jaden took off on a lengthy worldwide promotional tour for the film as Sony waited anxiously for the global numbers to come in. After Earth hit 5,218 screens in China six weeks after it opened in its first overseas market, South Korea. The sci-fi flick closed its run in South Korea with $3.4 million, well below the $10.1 million earned by Oblivion in the same territory. If the $197 million overseas cume from Tom Cruise sci-fi vehicle is used as a reference point, then After Earth would need a big push from its Chinese release to help mitigate the damage suffered at the North American box office.

A $13.89 million opening weekend was enough for?After Earth?to claim the top spot in China's weekly box office chart, according to figures from EntGroup. The film's total represents three days of release in the territory and accounts for 2,587,773 admissions. The China premiere allowed the film to break the $150 million overseas mark, giving it a $157.5 million overseas total and a $216.8 million global cume. If it can hold well in the coming weeks,?After Earth?might be able to reach a healthy $35 million total in the market.

Sci-fi has proved popular in China all summer. The market represents nearly a quarter of the $222.5 million overseas total from Star Trek Into Darkness ($57M) and became the only overseas territory where Oblivion broke the $20 million mark, bringing in $23.7 million of the Tom Cruise vehicle's $197 million overseas gross.

China also has the reputation of "saving" several recent Hollywood box office disasters. Rob Cain, an authority on the Chinese film industry, previewed the film's opening in the territory with a think-piece considering After Earth's box office potential in China. Cain points out China's role in helping recent North American fiascos like John Carter and Battleship cross the $200 and $300 million global marks, respectively. John Carter grossed $73.1 million in North America and was rescued by a $42.1 million China run that took its global total to $201 million. Battleship fared better overseas, posting a mere $65.4 million in North America and a $50.1 million total from China that raised its global tally to $303 million.

Johnnie To's Blind Detective finished its first full week of release in second place with a $12.62 million total to bring its Chinese cume up to $26.55 million. Already a smash hit, Tiny Times recently announced an August 9 release for a sequel. That's less than two months after the premiere of the current box office hit, which has grossed $75.73 million in 18 days. Man of Steel is closing out its run in China, ending the week with a $4.17 million take. The Superman reboot has grossed a total of $62.51 million in China. Man of Tai Chi, the Chinese co-produced directorial debut of Keanu Reeves, fell flat in its premiere last weekend. This week's numbers were equally as poor; Man of Tai Chi earned $1.18 million in its first full week in theaters to take its Chinese total to $4.28 million.

Weekly Box Office Results for China.

Data Courtesy of?EntGroup.

Follow?Daniel Loria?and?BoxOffice?on Twitter for more on the global box office.

Source: http://www.boxoffice.com:80/latest-news/2013-07-16-china-after-earth-looks-to-change-its-fortunes-with-138m-opening-weekend

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