新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2015/08/14（打印版）

新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 20:00 2015/08/14（在线收听）

The Beijing Hour (Monday-Friday)Evening EditionShane Bigham with you on this Friday, August 14th, 2015.

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

Coming up on the program this evening...

The latest updates from Tianjin, including casualty numbers and environmental impacts, after Wednesday's explosions...

The Japanese Prime Minister has finally issued his much-anticipated statement on his country's war crimes during World War II...

And the Greek parliament has given its approval for the country's third financial bailout in five years...

In Business...the Chinese yuan ends the week with a slight gain on the US dollar...

In Sports...we'll update the latest results from the Badminton World Championships, underway right now...

And in Entertainment...Chinese celebrities are offering their condolences over the tragedy in Tianjin...

All of that coming up in the next hour, but first, just a reminder there are several ways to reach out to us here on the Beijing Hour.

You can follow us on our weibo account at weibo.com/beijinghour.

WeChat: search "beijinghour"Email us directly at [email protected].

Visit crienglish.com for the latest news and information from China Radio International.

Top NewsLatest updates of the blast in TianjinThere are now 56 confirmed deaths, including 21 firemen, from the massive explosions and fire in the port city of Tianjin.

Of the 721 people who were injured during the incident on Wednesday, 25 remain in critical condition.

As of this evening, four sites are still on fire, but authorities say each situationis basically under control.

There was a small explosion at noon today.

More than 500 firefighters are still trying to put off the fires and the rescue operation is ongoing.

Rescuers found a survivor earlier this morning.

The 19-year-old firefighter, named Zhou Ti, is from the Binhai New Area brigade of Tianjin's fire department.

He is said to be in stable condition.

Chemicals at blast warehouse not yet identified: authoritiesMeanwhile authorities are still trying to find out what is exactly inside the warehouse.

Designed to house dangerous and toxic chemicals, the warehouse was storing mainly ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and calcium carbide at the time of the blasts.

Gao Huaiyou, deputy director of Tianjin's work safety watchdog, says the company which owns the warehouse suffered severe damage and there are major discrepancies between the accounts of company management and customs records, which makes it difficult for them to identify the chemicals.

Authorities did find toxic chemicals at the explosion site, including cyanide stored in the area.

Hazardous substances have been detected from two drainage outlets near the blast site.

The concentration of Cyanide found in the water is said to be eight times higher than the national standards.

Liu Zuohong, an inspector from the enviromental protection ministry, says they are now taking steps to process the contaminated water.

"First, we have to close this cofferdam, the isolating space between two adjacent steel bulkheads or decks, and then use the cement to fill it up. And we can see both these two water cubes have also been filled with cement."In the meantime the municipal authorities of Tianjin also say that air pollutants monitored around the blast sites reduced to normal level yesterday.

For more on the pollution conditions caused by the blast, we spoke earlier with Doctor Jingjing He, assistant professor of environmental law from the Institute of international law of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

That was Doctor Jingjing He, assistant professor of environmental law from Institute of international law of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, speaking with CRI's Shane Bigham.

China to inspect dangerous chemicals nationwideChina will roll out a nationwide examination of dangerous chemicals and explosives after the deadly explosions in Tianjin.

The State Council issued an emergency notice on Friday, asking governments at all levels to reinforce the safety management on dangerous chemicals and explosives.

The statement also urged governments to strictly control the access threshold for industrial projects on those materials, and firmly implement special regulatory measures for highly toxic chemicals such as cyanide, as well as inflammable and explosive materials.

UN chief "deeply saddened" by deadly explosions in TianjinUN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon has extended his condolences to the families of the victims of deadly explosions in China's Tianjin, including the fire fighters who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Ban said on Thursday that he was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and the injuries to scores of people as a result of the massive explosions.

He also expressed his sympathies to the people and Government of China, and paid tribute to all involved in the emergency response.

Shizo Abe issues statement marking WWII endJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued his much-anticipated statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

In his speech, Abe refrained from offering his own apology for Japan's past atrocities during the war.

He reiterated that Japan has repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its actions during the war.

But he added that it is unnecessary for Japan's future generations to keep apologizing for the atrocities of World War II.

The prime minister also expressed regret at the suffering and sacrifices of many people during WWII in general, but did not mention Japan's own aggression and colonial rule from before or during the war.

On Aug. 15, 1995, then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama publicly apologized for the damage and suffering Japan inflicted upon Asian nations during the war.

Murayama's landmark address was well received in both China and South Korea for its sincerity.

Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also made a similar statement 10 years later, reiterating the keywords such as "colonial rule," "aggression" and "apology."Shizo Abe issues statement marking WWII endFor more on this, we are now joined by Fan Xiaoju, expert in Japanese Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Fan Xiaoju, expert in Japanese Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Hong Kong Protestors Demand Wartime Yen Compensation from JapanAround 50 protesters marched near the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong on Friday, demanding an apology and compensation for Japan's war crimes during WWII.

Lau Man, Chairman of the Hong Kong Reparation Association, says the current push for militarism in Japan is threatening stability in Asia.

"The memory of Hong Kong's occupation that lasted for three years and eight months during World War Two is still fresh in our minds. But now militarism is reviving. This greatly threatens peace in Hong Kong and in Asia."Protestors are also seeking compensation for military yen the Japanese forced locals to convert during the war.

Japan occupied Hong Kong for nearly 4 years before surrendering on August 15, 1945.

During the occupation, people were forced to exchange their legal tender into military yen.

The sheets of paper money lost all their value overnight on September 6, 1945, a few weeks after the surrender, when the Japanese government announced the military yen would not be worth anything anymore.

Tang Tak-ming, an 81-year-old Hong Kong resident, says he still owns yen bills from the war.

"After the Japanese army came to Hong Kong, we could not shop with Hong Kong dollars, we had to use military yen. If you were walking down the street and they found Hong Kong dollars on you, they would beat you."According to the organizors, about 3,000 people in Hong Kong still hold a total of roughly 500 million military yen.

China's War against Japanese Aggression in Eye of Western HistorianAnchor:

A British historian specializing in the history of China published a monograph on China's war against Japanese aggression two years ago and says there are very few books specific to this field.

CRI's XYee brings you the details.

Reporter:

Rana Mitter says he spent over a decade writing his book--China's War with Japan, 1937-1945: The Struggle for Survival.

Chongqing is the city he visited most.

"During the period from 1937 to 1946, it was the temporary wartime capital of China. You could say that Chongqing stood alongside London, Washington and Moscow, as an important allied capital. But this history in the name of Chongqing is still not well known in the West today. So I want to try to restore some of that history to a bigger audience. Actually I found the reaction of the Chinese was very positive."He cites May 4th, 1939 - the 20th anniversary of 'Wusi' - as an important date in the city's history.

"And even today most people in China will know the May 4th movement decided to renew its culture, create new culture, Mr. Science and Mr. Democracy, all these ideas. And exactly 20 years later to the day May 4th 1939, there were attempts by the Japanese to obliterate and destroy that legacy. So I thought the fact China and Chongqing had resisted that air raid on that date was also an important symbol of where China rethought its role and thought about its resistance during that time."Mitter says that though the Chinese people's war against aggression started earliest and lasted longest, the western countries have very limited knowledge on China's role in World War II.

"But I think it's very important in the west that we don't think everything began with Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 and remember that China had been fighting almost alone, not quite but almost unsupported, for some two years before the outbreak of war in 1939 in Europe."Mitter says the reason China's role in World War II has not received much attention in the west is largely due to patterns that emerged globally in the years immediately after the war, affecting communications between east and west.

Mitter says looking at the history of China's war against Japanese aggression will help western countries understand China's development and its relations with neighboring countries.

"People often don't realize the issues including the continuing tensions and difficulties between various aspects in the region but also the desire to create more mutual and consensual structure of engagement in the region. In some sense, through the legacy of 1945, there was never a full peace treaty that included everyone in Asia, unlike in Europe in 1945. So to some extent I think all of the major actors in the region are still trying to finish the unfinished business of 1945."Mitter's book has been strongly echoed by western media who agree that westerners know little about this period of history.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, Mitter says the world should take a deeper look at China's contribution towards the victory against global fascism.

For CRI, I'm XYee.

Chinese high-speed rail expo held in IndonesiaA Chinese-backed high-speed rail expo has been held in Indonesia in a bid to win a major contract in the country.

The project itself, linking the Indonesian capital Jakarta with the city of Bandung some 150-kilometers away, will be Indonesia's first high-speed railway.

China and Japan are said to be the two main competitors for the contract.

He Huawu, Chief Engineer with China Railway Corporation, says he believes China's bid is the best option.

"I am fully confident in four aspects, namely technology and planning, the type of high-speed trains, our mode of cooperation, and the time it will take to complete the construction. We have the best advantage."Indonesian authorities are expected to decide which country will get the contract by the end of the month.

Greece Passes Third EU Bailout PlanGreece has approved a third EU bailout package.

Alexis Mitropoulous, Vice President of the Parliament, announced the passing of the bill today.

"Ladies and gentlemen I have the honour to announce the outcome of the vote. A total of 297 lawmakers voted. 222 voted 'yes', 64 lawmakers voted 'no' and 11 abstained.　Consequently the bill passed by a majority."The vote came after a lengthy debate in parliament through the night. The new bailout package, the third for Greece in five years, is worth 85 billion Euros, or more than 94 billion USD, over three years. Greece needs at least 3 billion Euros for a debt payment to the European Central Bank by August 20 and avoid a default.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will call a confidence vote in parliament after the payment. Analysis by political experts and comments from Greek officials signal likelihood the current government will be removed.

Greece's vote came just hours before a Euro zone finance ministers' meeting in Brussels. The aid package must be approved at the meeting for Greece to receive the first batch of funds.

John Kerry to US Flag in Cuba, Affirms Stance of DemocracyThe US embassy will re-open on Friday in Cuba for the first time in 54 years. The development is the latest in the normalization of US-Cuban ties, first announced by the two countries' presidents last December.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will raise the American flag in Havana on Friday. Ahead of his trip to Cuba, Kerry says he hopes the normalization of bilateral relations will improve the lives of Cubans, although it could take some time.

"It isn't going to change overnight. We haven't even been there to raise our flag yet. I think that as we begin the process compared to the 54 years of what has been going on, which is no progress, we will begin to see a transformation take place. More people will travel. There will be more exchange. More families will be reconnected. And hopefully, the government of Cuba will itself make decisions that will begin to change things."Kerry added that the US will continue to stand for democracy in Cuba.

"I don't think you can measure a month and a half since we concluded the agreement to actually open the embassy to 54 years. That just doesn't work. Now, our spokesperson for the State Department spoke out publicly from the podium in the State Department criticizing those people, that move on Sunday, and we will continue to speak out. Our preference is obviously for democracy, for a full embrace of the freedom of human people to choose their future. And that's what we're - that's what we stand for."The new Cuban embassy was opened in Washington last month. Some US marines were seen on Thursday rehearsing for the flag raising ceremony in Havana. Kerry will meet with senior Cuban officials during his visit.

The US withdrew its diplomatic recognition of the Cuban government in 1961, followed by years of trade embargoes against Cuba.

Cuba's fast food restaurants to welcome US touristsAnchor:

As Cuba prepares for an influx of American tourists, hundreds of private restaurants have sprung up around the country to seize the opportunity.

CRI's Wang Wei has more.

Reporter:

Cuba's first burger restaurant La Pachanga will be providing traditional American cuisine for the opening of the American Embassy in the country.

Alba Marin, owner of the restaurant, says the dishes and design of the restaurant are inspired by the American fast food giant McDonalds.

"McDonald is always the point of inspiration for all people that start with fast food, that was our benchmark and we headed out there. The burger specifically is a product liked by everyone and it is easy to prepare. We headed out there too and that was our star product from the beginning."Zane, a tourist from Missouri, thinks the experience is more enjoyable than an American burger restaurant.

"I think people prefer this kind of atmosphere in the neighborhoods and you know it is better. It's not a commercial experience it is a neighborhood experience. The burger is better quality, you come with your family, your friends."Like many tourists visiting the island, Kerry also plans to take a short walk around Cuba's 500-year-old capital during his visit on Friday.

Marin's restaurant is not on Kerry's itinerary, but it has been selected to provide meals for this special occasion.

Hundreds of privately owned restaurants and other entrepreneurs are now ready to welcome the American tourists with their familiar foods.

But Tamayo Acosta, a Cuban hotel chef and critic, says they are not looking to make Cuban cuisine spread in America.

"Invading the American market with Cuban food is impossible, you can make a restaurant, but we don't boast a well-known food type in the world".

The boom of new restaurants in Cuba is a sign of preparing for the surging number of Americans who plan to travel to Cuba, after the two countries announced in December their intentions to improve relations.

By the end of March, bookings to Cuba for a New York tour operator had jumped more than 250 percent.

About 600-thousand U.S. travelers were estimated to have visited Cuba each year in the past. Most of them were Cuban-Americans visiting their families.

There were still a number of others who had to make their journey through third countries, such as the Bahamas or Mexico, due to travel restrictions.

Cuban officials estimate that 1.5 million Americans will travel in the country annually if all restrictions are removed, bringing some 2 billion US dollars' in revenue annually.

For CRI, I am Wang Wei.

WeatherBeijing will be clear tonight with a low of 22, tomorrow will be sunny with a high of 34.

Shanghai will be cloudy tonight with a low of 26, tomorrow will have slight rain, high of 31.

Chongqing will have shower tonight with a low of 26, cloudy tomorrow with a high of 34.

Lhasa will be rainy tonight with a low of 12, also rainy tomorrow with a high of 24.

Elsewhere in Asia,Islamabad will have slight rain tomorrow with a high of 35.

Kabul, cloudy, 30.

Down in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sydney, cloudy, high of 17,Brisbane, slight rain,19,Perth, cloudy, 22,And finally Auckland, New Zealand will be rainy with a high of 14 degrees Celsius.

Headline newsLatest updates of the blast in TianjinThere are now 56 confirmed deaths, including 21 firemen, from the massive explosions and fire in the port city of Tianjin.

Of the 721 people who were injured during the incident on Wednesday, 25 remain in critical condition.

As of this evening, four sites are still on fire, but authorities say each situation is basically under control.

There was a small explosion at noon today.

Firefighters are still trying to put off the fires and the rescue operation is ongoing.

Rescuers found a survivor earlier this morning.

The 19-year-old firefighter, named Zhou Ti, is from the Binhai New Area brigade of Tianjin's fire department.

He is said to be in stable condition.

64 remain missing after NW China landslideSixty-four people are still missing after a landslide in northwest China's Shaanxi Province this week.

Wednesday's landslide buried the living quarters of a mining company.

After the landslide, ten people managed to escape on their own and four others were dug out by rescuers and taken to hospital.

All four are stable.

More than 700 police, firefighters, mining rescuers and paramedics are still searching for the missing.

Nearby residents have been evacuated.

Shizo Abe issues statement marking WWII endJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mentioned previous governments' apology for Japan's wartime past, but refrained from offering his own apology.

Abe issued his much-anticipated statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two on Friday.

In his speech, Abe reiterated that Japan has repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its actions during the war.

But he added that it is unnecessary for Japan's future generations to keep apologizing for the atrocities of World War II.

Most debris found in Maldives unrelated to MH370: Malaysian ministerMalaysian authorities have said that most of the debris found in the Maldives is unrelated to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The transport Minister says according to the report of the Malaysian investigation team in the Maldives, most of the debris is not a match for any kind of airplane material.

If the Malaysian investigation brings back any debris, the official says it will be handed over to the international investigation team.

Biz ReportsStocksAsian markets stabilized on Friday, as China's yuan traded slightly stronger after its steep devaluation earlier in the week.

Chinese shares closed mixed with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.3 percent.

The Shenzhen Component Index gained 0.4 percent.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, shed 0.4 percent.

More than 1,200 shares made money and around 140 rose by the 10-percent daily limit. The real estate and cement industries were among the day's biggest winners.

In Hongkong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 0.1 percent.

Elsewhere in Asia,Tokyo shares ended the trading Friday lower on the yen's slight advance. The Nikkei 225 lost 0.4 percent.

South Korea's KOSPI added 0.4 percent.

Singapore's Straights Times Index increased 0.7 percent.

Australian stocks have been dragged to a 7-month low as energy stocks suffered from a big fall in the price of oil. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 closed 0.6 percent lower.

Chinese yuan strengthens to 6.3975 against USD FridayThe Chinese currency strengthened slightly on Friday, settling at 6.4 against the US dollar.

The currency fell for 3 consecutive days after the PBOC adjusted the exchange rate formation mechanism on Tuesday.

Tan Yaling, Director of China Forex Investment Research Institute, says the RMB will likely experience more down days before it stabilizes against the US dollar.

"I think RMB is overvalued. Because from the perspective of foreign trade companies, 6.5 yuan is the bottom line of large scale export companies, while for medium and small enterprises,7.6 yuan is their bottom line."In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The People's Bank of China reformed the exchange rate formation system on Tuesday to better reflect market development in the exchange rate of the Chinese yuan against the U.S. dollar.

CSRC says market to play bigger roleChina's securities regulator says market forces will play a bigger role in the future, as the market gradually shifts back to its normal track.

At a press conference on Friday, China Securities Regulatory Commission also said China Securities Finance Corporation will not exit from the market, and it will continue its role in stabilizing the market in the next few years.

CSRC also reveals China Securities Finance has transferred some shares to Central Huijin Investment, a state-owned investment company, and the move is believed to be beneficial for a stable market.

China outbound direct investment jumps in Jan-JulyChina's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) rose sharply in the first seven months of this year.

The ODI surged 21 percent to 63.5 billion U.S. dollars.

The Ministry of Commerce attributes this steep rise to fewer government restrictions and strong ODI increases in countries including the United States.

Chinese companies' ODI to the United States increased 36 percent. Investment to countries involved in the Belt and Road initiative added nearly 59 percent.

China's ODI is expected to expand 10 to 15 percent for the whole year compared with the previous year.

China became a net capital exporter for the first time last year when ODI outnumbered foreign direct investment.

China's growth more engery efficientChina's energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP dropped 4.8% last year.

The statement is jointly released by China's National Development and Reform Commission, National Bureau of Statistics and National Energy Administration.

Shanghai's growth is the most efficient, with energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP reduced 8.7 percent.

Hebei takes second place with a 7.2% energy cut.

New rounds of China-Japan-South Korea FTA expected in Sept.

A new round negotiations for the proposed China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Agreement is expected next month.

An official with China's Ministry of Commerce made the announcement at a press conference on Friday.

The official reveals the free trade area is an important topic of the current negotiation.

8 rounds of negotiations have been held on this agreement.

The negotiation began three years ago.

Corporate News of this weekAnchor:

Let's check out some of the main events taking place on the corporate front in China this week.

CRI's Paul James earlier spoke to Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.

Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters, speaking with CRI's Paul James.

Ford optimistic about Chinese marketFord is expanding its dealership network in China into western third tier cities where growth is expected.

There was a 3 percent year-on-year drop in Ford's car sales in June.

Ford believes it's normal to go through fluctuations, especially for emerging markets.

Ford's total car sales in the first half year were similar to that of the same period last year.

Samsung Unveils Two New Smartphones, Samsung PaySamsung has unveiled two new smartphones at a launch event in New York.

One is a larger version of its curved-screen S6 Edge smartphone called S6 edge+.

The other is the Galaxy Note 5, a phablet which comes with a stylus.

Mashable's editor-at-large, Lance Ulanoff, says the new products are sleek.

"These are devices that are beautiful looking, great materials -- they've got more glass, less plastic. They've got high-end 13 megapixel cameras. They've got some neat features. Even some stuff that was completely shocking to us in that they have a livestreaming feature, powered by YouTube. So, Periscope, Meerkat, look out! Suddenly, if you buy one of these Samsung phones, you're going to have that in there."Samsung has made several hardware changes for the new devices, including a faster processor for the Galaxy Note 5 and increasing the screen size of the S6 edge+.

The new phones will go on sale next Friday in North America.

Meanwhile, Samsung has also announced its own payment service, Samsung Pay.

It lets users make payments by having phones send signals to existing magnetic stripe card readers.

The company says this will offer greater store coverage than Apple's Apple Pay service, which requires retailers to install compatible equipment.

Samsung says it hopes to expand the service into China at some point, after launching in South Korea and the US at the end of September.

SportsBadminton resultsTipping things off with action from the badminton world championships,Chen Long battled until the 30th point in the second set to claim victory against Denmark's Viktor Axelsen.

With that he extended his unbeaten record to nine matches at the world championships.

Malaysia's Lee Chong-wei saw off Hu Yun from Hong Kong in straight sets.

men's singlesSecond seed Jan O Jorgensen from Denmark defeated Lin Dan in straight sets.

In women's singles,China's Wang Shixian fell in the quarter-finals, going down to defending champion Carolina Marin 21-17, 21-19.

In men's doubles,Liu Xiaolong/Qiu Zihan defeated a second-seeded Danish duo.

Fu Haifeng/Zhang Nan will later face top seed Lee Yong Dae/YOO Yeon Seong of South Korea.

Bundesliga, EPL previewIn football,The German Bundesliga begins early tomorrow morning.

Defending champion Bayern Munich hosts underdog Hamburg at the Allianz arena in the season opener.

Bayern acquired Arturo Vidal to fill in the void left by Bastian Schweinsteiger who left for Manchester.

Thomas Mueller is not going anywhere, despite repeated offers from Louis van Gaal.

Coach Pep Guardiola has also shot down rumours that Mario Goetze would be moved.

Captain Philip Lahm pledged his commitment and said he will retire at Bayern, hopefully with another UEFA championship.

Bayern will pick up where they left off last season and aim for another triple crown.

Hamburg fought to the very end to stay in the Bundesliga last season and has some new recruits to help improve its fortunes this season.

Over in the English Premier League,Aston Villa will play Manchester United in the morning, followed by six more Premiership games tomorrow evening.

Aston Villa has just signed winger Adama Traore this afternoon on a five-year deal from Barcelona.

Tennis updateIn tennis,Nick Kyrgios has exited to boos and a fine in singles action at the Rogers Cup.

The Australian youngster was defeated by John Isner 7-5, 6-3 in the third round.

Kyrgios' obscene remarks on Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend were picked up by on-court microphones and cameras in his last match. He was then involved in a verbal altercation with a fan in today's game.

It has been an eventful 24 hours that Kyrgios wants to put behind him.

"It's been tough. I wouldn't say it's been the toughest thing that has happened. Obviously I didn't get, I got some sleep last night but obviously (not much) getting back late from my match. I thought I pulled up alright (today) I felt good today out there physically, I just got out-played."Kyrgios has apologized both in public and privately to Wawrinka. He has reportedly received a fine of 10 thousand US dollars.

His Rogers Cup journey continues in doubles with his mentor Lleyton Hewitt.

In other action,Rafael Nadal, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have all won their third round matches.

On the women's side,Serena Williams beat Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals.

She joins Simona Halep and Agnieszka Radwanska, and late qualifier Ana Ivanovic in the last eight.

Golf resultsIn golf,American Dustin Johnson has fired a 6-under 66 to lead by one shot after the opening round of the PGA Championship.

"Today was pretty easy, I would have to say. But I was swinging well and I was hitting the shots where I was looking. So anytime you're doing that, it makes things a lot easier on you. And I really felt like I was just super patient, stayed focused all day and I was swinging well. The ball was going where I was looking. I was controlling it. In this wind it's tough to do, but I did a great job of controlling the golf ball today."Sweden's David Lingmerth hit a 5-under 31 over his first nine holes, making the turn only one shot behind Johnson.

World number one Rory McIlroy is having trouble hitting it straight.

He is at 1 under 71.

Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth carded the same total.

Tiger Wood's woes continue. He finished three-over.

At the Cambia Portland Classic,Sandra Changkija came off to a one-shot lead with eight birdies and one bogey in the first round.

Amy Anderson shares the lead at seven-under.

Basketball Asian championship schedule announcedIn basketball,The schedules for the men's and women's Asian championship have been released.

China's women's team begins the group stage against Thailand on August 29, and will take on South Korea, India, Japan and Chinese Taipei in the following days.

The championship will be held in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

On the men's side,China will fight in the same group against Singapore, South Korea and Jordan, starting from next month.

The men's event will be held in Changsha in central China.

The winners of these championships directly qualify for next year's Rio Olympic Games.

Second and third placed teams will compete for tickets with other continental qualifiers.

The prospect of winning is much more positive for the ladies, with their previous record of 11 victories. The men will face potential threats from Iran and the Philippines if they break through the group stage.

EntertainmentChinese Showbiz Circle Mourns the Dead in Tianjin's Devastating BlastChinese celebrities are extending their condolences to the families affected by Wednesday's blasts in Tianjin.

Many of them are closely following the development of the disaster on China's Sina Weibo.

A number of them have also announced monetary donations to families who lost loved ones in the event.

EDKO Films Limited has taken the lead to donate 5 million yuan, or about 782 thousand USD.

Jackie Chan has announced to donate 3 million yuan, or nearly 470 thousand USD.

Others including Fan Bingbing, Li Chen, Huang Xiaoming and Angela Baby have also announced plans to help.

Meanwhile, many promotion activities for upcoming Chinese movies have been canceled.

Four Chinese Directors Among Top 10 Directors in AsiaFour Chinese directors have appeared on a Top 10 Asian Directors list.

The list is selected by the Busan International Film Festival to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The Chinese directors are Hou Hsiao Hsien, Wong Karwai, Jia Zhangke and Edward Yang.

The top ten directors are selected from 106 outstanding candidates in Asia.

Jia Zhangke, born in 1970, is the youngest director on the list.

His latest movie-"Mountains May Depart" or " Shan He Gu Ren" in Chinese is set to hit domestic theaters later this year. The film was selected to compete in the Cannes Film Festival.

Meanwhile, the Busan International Festival has also chosen Top Ten Films in Asia from 113 candidates.

Five Chinese films have made the list.

They include "In the Mood for Love", "A City of Sadness", "A Brighter Summer Day", "Spring in a Small Town" and "Still Life".

Over 170 Elvis Presley items up for auctionOver 170 items belonging to the late Elvis Presley were put up for auction at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee.

The auction is part of Elvis Week, the annual commemoration of his death. 　A diamond and gold pendant Presley gave to Sammy Davis Jr. was sold for 32-thousand US dollars.

Other highlights included one of Presley's personal handguns that sold for $96-thousand, and a racquetball shirt worn by Presley, which went for $32,500.

This was the third live auction, with the past two held on Presley's birthday and during last year's Elvis Week.

Fans from around the world gather annually to celebrate the life and career of Presley, who died in 1977, at the age of 42.

"Sesame Street" to Air on HBOThe iconic and beloved children's show-"Sesame Street" will be aired on HBO, starting this fall.

"Sesame Workshop", which produces "Sesame Street," has inked a five-year deal with HBO, which will expand the shows' footprint and amount of programming.

The show has been aired on PBS since 1969.

But "Sesame Street" fans accustomed to watching it on PBS won't feel any disappointment.

As part of the deal, the show's older episodes will be re-edited in new ways and continue to air on the public television.

New episodes will first appear on HBO, and then be provided to PBS after nine months.

"Sesame Street" has taught preschoolers for decades about numbers, letters, emotional development and the joys of a rubber duckie.