新闻纵贯线 The Beijing Hour updated 08:00 2013/08/02

 Rebecca Hume with you on this Friday, August 2nd, 2013.

Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Japanes deputy minister retracts Nazi comments
Snowden granted 1-year asylum in Russia
US kidnapper Ariel Castro sentenced to life in prison
Business
China’s July manufacturing PMI increases to 50.3
Sports
Chinese women win big at the FINA championships
Entertainment
Glee says it is to address Monteith’s death
plus
Special reports takes a look at new debates about elderly care services being offered online here in China
First, let's check on what's happening on the weather front...
 
 
Weather
 
 
China issues yellow wave warning for tropical storm Jebi
 
Authorities in southern China have issued a wave warning in advance of tropical storm Jebi.
Jebi is expected to hit eastern Hainan or the Leizhou Peninsula in southern Guangdong this afternoon or early evening.
The storm is expected to create huge waves off the coast of Hainan.
All local fishing vessels have been ordered to return to port.
 
 
Beijing will see thundershowers today, with a high of 29 degree Celsius in the daytime, and it will see moderate rain tonight with a low of 23.
In Shanghai, it will be sunny today, 38 the high, and it will be cloudy tonight, the low of 29 degrees Celsius.
Lhasa will be cloudy in the daytime the temperature's at 23, and tonight will have showers with a low of 11 degree Celsius.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia
Islamabad, sunny, 34.
Kabul, sunny, with a high of 35.
And in North America
New York, moderate rain, with a high of 23 degrees.
Washington, thundershowers, highs of 27
Houston, overcast, 36.
Honolulu, overcast, 30.
Toronto, overcast, 24
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires, sunny, 14.
And Rio de Janeiro will be sunny with highs of 28 degrees Celsius.
 
 
Top News
 
 
Japanese Deputy Prime Minister retracts Nazi comments
 
Anchor
Japan's Deputy Prime Minister has retracted his recent comments made in connection with Japan and Nazi Germany.
CRI's Su Yi has more.
Reporter
Taro Aso issued the statement, after suggesting this week that the current government of Japan could take lessons from how the Nazis circumvented the constitution of the-then Weimar Republic to establish an offensive military establishment.
"I would like to retract my analogy of the Nazi government. I feel it is very unfortunate and regrettable that my comments related to the Nazi government are different from my true intentions and have led to misunderstanding."
His comments have come amid expected plans by the current Japanese government to try to amend the country's pacifist constitution to create an offensive military.
The Chinese government says Taro's Nazi remarks are alarming.
The South Korean government says the remarks hurt people.
In reaction to the criticism, the Japanese government has also weighed in.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga:
"I would like to make it clear that the Abe administration in no way looks positively at the Nazi government. After the World War II, our nation has consistently built up a society which thoroughly advocates peace and human rights, and has contributed to the international community. This direction will remain unchanged, going forward."
Also as part of the speech, Aso says it is natural to visit the Yasukuni shrine to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the country.
The shrine in Tokyo which is dedicated to honoring Japan's war dead, also enshrines 14 convicted Class-A war criminals.
Visits to the shrine by Japanese politicians are widely seen as an insult to countries in the region which were invaded by Japan during its years of military expansion.
Amid the recent remarks made by Japanese politicians, the Chinese government has issued a new statement, calling on the Japanese side to make more "substantial efforts" to improve the relations.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying says "it will not help to solve the problem with only empty slogans calling for a dialogue".
The Japanese side has repeatedly called for a high-level talks with China without any conditions.
Hua Chunying says a high-level dialogue can come only after adequate preparations.
She says these have now been hindered by the Japanese side's attitude toward territorial disputes in the region and the country's history.
For CRI, I'm Su Yi.
 
 
Snowden granted one year's temporary asylum in Russia
 
Anchor
U.S intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden has received temporary asylum in Russia for one year.
Marc Cavigli has more.
Reporter
Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena says he has moved to a safe place, though his whereabouts remain a mystery.
"Regarding his place of residence, he will choose it himself. He can live both at a hotel and at a rented flat. But because he is now the most persecuted man on earth he will take into account security aspects as well."
Kucherena says the documents allow Snowden to move freely within Russia.
The lawyer says Snowden is capable of finding a job in Russia.
"I have gotten letters from people, from citizens who say they would hire him with pleasure. There's not going to be a problem here. He needs to work. He is not a rich person, and the money that he had he spent on food in the transit zone. Of course he knows that going forward he has to work in order to live."
The Russian Federal Migrant Service has confirmed the temporary asylum.
Meantime, the US government says it is "extremely disappointed".
White House spokesman Jay Carney says Washington is evaluating the scheduled presidential summit in September.
The US government has revoked the passport of the 30-year-old former American spy agency contractor.
Snowden has been charged with espionage, theft and unauthorized communication of national defense and intelligence information.
He angered the US government early June by disclosing secret phone and Internet surveillance programs of the U.S. National Security Agency.
But at the same time, Jay Carney says the U.S. and Russia have a relationship that is based on "realism" and the two sides have a wide range of common interests.
For CRI, I'm Marc Cavigli.
 
 
Mugabe's party wins most of the announced first-batch parliamentary seats
 
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party is reportedly celebrating an early election victory.
The country's electoral commission says Mugabe's party swept 26 out of the 28 parliamentary seats as it announced the first batch of election results.
The early results come as three provinces have already finished counting their votes.
Counting in the rest of the country is coming to an end, with long-serving Mugabe already claiming a landslide win is on the horizon.
But Zimbabwe's Prime Minister and opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai is dismissing the election as a sham.
"Our conclusion has been that this has been a huge farce, the credibility of this election has been mired by administrative and legal violations which affect the legitimacy of the outcome. The election does not meet SADC guidelines, it is a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people."
Although the election has been widely endorsed by some international obeservers as peaceful, including South African President Jacob Zuma, some don't agree.
The largest group of domestic observers, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), say voting was compromised.
ZESN claims up to a million eligible voters may have been prevented from casting their ballot.
Final results are expected at the latest on Monday.
 
 
Zardari asks U.S. to prepare a "Marshall Plan" for Pakistan's economic development
 
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari is urging the international community, particularly the United States to prepare a "Marshall plan" for his country's economic development.
Zadari has said the international community is obligated to offer Pakistan assistance as the country is at the forefront of fighting militancy and terrorism.
Zadari made the comments during a meeting with U.S Secretary of State John Kerry.
Kerry made an unannounced visit to Pakistan, the first since he became Secretary of State, to mend relations and resume the two side's strategic dialogue.
Strategic dialogue between both countries was suspended after NATO fighter jets bombed a Pakistani border checkpost and killed 24 soldiers in November 2011.
Among the issues discussed, Zadari is again calling on the US to put an end to its drone strikes in his country.
"The drone attacks are counterproductive in terms of our relationship and also in light of today's discussion, we'll continue this dialogue on how to stop this policy of drone attacks as far as the US is concerned."
John Kerry, on his part said the U.S. will review the drone strike policy.
The Secretary of State also invited the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to meeting President Barack Obama in Washington.
 
 
Huge explosion rocks arms depot of Syrian army in Homs
 
A huge explosion has rocked an arms depot of the Syrian army in Homs, killing at least three people and injuring 81 others.
Pro-government radio says the attack was carried out by rebel groups and left huge material losses.
Opposition groups contend the casualties total at least 40.
The attack comes as the Syrian administration celebrates the army's 68th anniversary.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has confirmed it will send inspectors into Syria within days, to investigate claims of chemical weapons use in the country's civil war.
This comes after the Syrian government granted access to three sites for inspection.
Martin Nesirky is a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.
"But simply to say that the team is now assembling and reassembling in The Hague and will be ready to depart once the remaining logistical and legal details for the mission have been finalized."
UN investigators are to visit Khan al-Assal in Aleppo, where the Syrian government says rebels used chemical weapons in March, and two unidentified locations.
The U.N. inquiry will only try to establish whether chemical weapons were used, not who used them.
 
 
U.S. kidnapper of three girls sentenced to life in prison
 
Ariel Castro, from the U.S state of Ohio responsible for kidnapping, raping and imprisoning three girls for over a decade, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Judge Michael Russo:
"The breadth of the - the scope of these crimes and the merciless manner in which they were inflicted requires that a maximum sentence on each of those counts be imposed."
The 53-year-old school bus driver has been sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years for aggravated murder and other charges related to kidnapping and rape.
The only victim to speak in court Michelle Knight, wept as she delivered her victim impact statement before Ariel Castro, telling her captor he would face "hell for eternity".
In court Castro apologized to the three victims and asked for their forgiveness:
"I would like to apologize to the victims. Do I do that now?"
Judge: "yes you may do that now"
Castro: "Do I do that at the end of the day?
Judge: "You can do it then too, this is your...part of your opportunity is to speak."
Castro: "I'll do it at the (unintelligible)"
The captives - 27 year old Amanda Berry, 23 year old Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight aged 32 were rescued in May from their Castro's home in Cleveland, Ohio.
The girls had been missing since between 2002 and 2004.
 
 
Italy's top court upholds Berlusconi's jail verdict
 
Italy's top court has upheld a jail sentence against former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for tax fraud.
The Italian Supreme Court confirmed a four-year jail term and ordered a new appeal trial for a related ban on public office.
Because of a 2006 amnesty law, three of the four years' sentence will not be effective.
Alessandro Politi is a political analyst.
"He has a number of articles in his favour. He is old so he shouldn't go to jail. The worst thing that can happen is that he stays for a certain amount of time at home or assisting some social service but that's all. By the way I would be thrilled to know what he will do."
The highest court's decision, was the first definitive conviction after up to 30 court cases against the three-time premier since he entered politics some two decades ago.
Those allegations include tax fraud, corruption and more recently having sex with an under aged prostitute.
Throughout 12-years of trial, the 76-year-old has denied all charges made against him.
 
 
Beijing at the center of China's worst area of poor air quality
 
Anchor
A new report from the Ministry of Environmental Protection has revealed Beijing is at the center of China's worst area for air quality.
CRI's Lucy Du has more.
Reporter
The new report says in 74 Chinese cities, the average air quality readings only met the minimum air quality standards for just over half of days throught the first six months of this year.
Among these cities, Beijing, Tianjin and the province of Hebei which surrounds them suffered through the worst pollution in the country.
Luo Yi is with the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
(soundbite1 Luo1 in Chinese male)
"According to the statistics, the prime pollutants are PM2.5 and ozone. Regionally speaking, in Beijing, Tianjin and its neighboring Hebei Province, the number of days when air quality readings meet standard only accounts for 31 percent in the first half of this year."
Coal-burning, vehicle exhaust, construction projects and general industry are cited as the main factors behind the heavy pollution.
The report comes amid expectations of a government plan to cut air pollution over the next five years.
The plan is reportedly going to require cities and provinces to sign contracts to reduce their carbon emmissions and eliminate industries that cause heavy pollution.
Tang Guigang is the deputy director of the China National Environmental Monitoring Center.
He says the drive for better air quality has to include the corporate sector.
"It is clearly stated in the environmental impact assessment report that some enterprises have to monitor environmental qualities at sensitive locations around, including the monitoring on water, air, underground water as well as soil. Through their surveys, timely and effective measures can be taken to prevent from future pollution to surrounding environment."
The Environment Ministry has already issued new regulations, demanding companies make their impact on the environment public.
Companies will have to publish their environmental impact starting next year.
New calls for a supervision system are also being made to set up a supervision system which monitors the authenticity of the information companies are putting out.
For CRI, this is Lucy Du.
 
 
Biz Reports
 
 
Anchor
First off, a check on the stock market of North America and Europe.
Join me on the desk, CRI's Su Yi.
Reporter
U.S. stocks soared on Thursday.
The S&P 500 crossed the landmark level of 1,700 points for the first time.
The gain was boosted by a batch of upbeat economic data and the Federal Reserve reassurance's on its monetary stimulus program.
The S&P 500 ended at near session high, leaping 1.3 percent.
The Dow also set a record high, surged 0.8 percent.
The Nasdaq jumped 1.4 percent.
Economic data came in better than expected, underpinning the stock rally.
U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers' index registered 55.4 in July. It is the highest level since June 2011.
Meanwhile, Canada's S&P/TSX gained 0.9 percent.
In Europe, Germany's DAX surged 1.6 percent.
France's CAC 40 gained 1.3 percent and Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.9 percent.
 
 
Live call-in with Doug Young on corporate news of the week
 
Anchor
Let's check in with some of the key events on the corporate front in China this week.
Doug Young joins me on the line, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
Good morning doug what are the highlights this week?
1. Apple CEO Tim Cook in China For Second Time This Year, To Put Out China Fires
Apple Inc's Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has reportedly paid a visit to Beijing this week.
It is said he has visited the headquarters of China Telecom Corp Ltd, one of the nation's mobile operators.
Suggested talking points:
(1). What is behind this visit? Why did the CEO want to visit China twice in less than a year?
Is it related to the recent allegations of workers rights violations at one of Apple's factories here in China, Or Apple's plunging China sales in Q2?
(2). Do we expect any changes in Apple's business strategy in China after Cook's visit?
2. Xiaomi Enters Low-Cost Smartphones With Hongmi Launch
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi Corp has launched a sub-brand "Hongmi" (red rice) this week.
Targeting the country's entry-level smartphone buyers, Hongmi smartphone is priced at 799 yuan.
The 4.7-inch screen, Android-based device is equipped with dual card support that can be used for both 2G and 3G networks.
Suggested talking points:
(1). Why did you pick this story?
(2). Its being reported that Apple plans to slash its iPhone price and garner more Chinese buyers. Do we expect a success in the sales of "Hongmi"?
Back Anchor:
Doug Young, associate professor at Fudan University and former China company news chief at Reuters.
 
 
China's July manufacturing PMI rises to 50.3
 
New stats show China's purchasing managers' index has come in ahead of market expectations, increasing to 50.3 in July.
This is up from 50.1 in June.
Any figure above 50 indicates expansion.
This is the 10th month in a row the manufacturing PMI has been in expansion.
Cai Jin is the vice chair of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.
"The figures show that we had laid a solid foundation for stable economic growth in the future. It also marked a good beginning for the latter half of this year."
Most of the sub-indices in the PMI analysis are also showing expansion.
The new figures for July appear to support the Chinese government's expectation that the economy will stabilize through the 2nd half of this year.
China's economy has been stuck in a protracted slowdown, easing to 7.5-percent growth in the second quarter from 7.7 percent in the first three months.
 
 
Average Home Price in 100 Cities Rises for Fourteenth Straight Month
 
Average home prices in 100 major cities here in China have risen for the 14th month in a row in July.
The China Index Academy is reporting home prices in 100 cities it monitors averaged 10-thousand-347 yuan per square meter in July.
This is up 0.9-percent month on month.
On an annualized basis, the increase on home prices is up almost 8 percent.
The average home price in the ten major cities monitored, including Beijing and Shanghai, has come in at 17-thousand-609 yuan per square meter in July.
This is up 1.3 percent month on month and 11 percent year on year.
Among the 100 cities reviewed, 61 have reported a monthly increase.
 
 
ECB leaves key interest rates unchanged
 
The European Central Bank, or ECB is holding key interest rates unchanged at 0.5 percent.
ECB President Mario Draghi says the monetary policy stance will remain accommodative for as long as necessary.
He says recent confidence indicators have tentatively confirmed the expectation of a stabilization in economic activity at low levels.
Meanwhile, the medium- to long-term inflation expectations continue to be firmly anchored in line with price stability.
The annual inflation rates forecast in the region are expected to fall over the coming months.
Draghi also says euro area countries should continue their efforts to reduce government budget deficits.
 
 
U.S. initial jobless claims fall to five-year low
 
New data show the number of Americans initially applying for unemployment aid fell to the lowest level in more than five years last week.
In the week ending July 27th, the advance figure of seasonally adjusted initial claims for jobless benefits fell by 19 thousand to 326 thousand.
It is the lowest number since January 2008.
The four-week moving average, which helps smooth out week-to-week volatility, also declined by 45-hundred.
The now figure has stayed well below the benchmark level of 375 thousand, which indicates a sustained recovery in employment.
The Labor Department will release its jobs report for July this Friday.
 
 
U.S. big three auto makers post sales increase in July
 
America's three largest automakers have all posted sales increases in July.
Sales for GM were up by 16.3 percent and Ford and Chrysler are up around 11-percent compared with the same month last year.
General Motors Co. reports two of its models posted a monthly sales increase of nearly 50 percent.
GM says full-size pickup sales were up 44-percent, the best July figure since 2007.
Chrysler Group says the July figures were at their best in seven years.
 
 
Headline News
 
 
Japanese Deputy Prime Minister retracts Nazi comments
 
Japan's Deputy Prime Minister has retracted his recent comments made in connection with Japan and Nazi Germany.
Taro Aso issued the statement, after suggesting this week that the current government of Japan could take lessons from how the Nazis circumvented the constitution of the-then Weimar Republic to establish an offensive military establishment.
His comments have come amid expected plans by the current Japanese government to try to amend the country's pacifist constitution to create an offensive military.
Amid the recent remarks made by Japanese politicians, the Chinese government has issued a new statement, calling on the Japanese side to make more "substantial efforts" to improve the relations.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying says "it will not help to solve the problem with only empty slogans calling for a dialogue".
 
 
China "strongly" opposes U.S. Senate resolution on maritime disputes: spokeswoman
 
The foreign ministry has issued a statement, saying the Chinese government "strongly" opposes a U.S. Senate resolution on disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
Spokeswoman Hua Chunying says the resolution puts pressure on China when it comes to the territorial disputes in the region.
Hua says the resolution is "sending the wrong message".
 
 
Snowden granted one year's temporary asylum in Russia
 
U.S intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden has received temporary asylum in Russia for one year.
Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena says he has moved to a safe place, though his whereabouts remain a mystery.
The Russian Federal Migrant Service has confirmed the temporary asylum.
Meantime, the US government says it is "extremely disappointed".
White House spokesman Jay Carney says Washington is evaluating the scheduled presidential summit in September.
But at the same time, Jay Carney says the U.S. and Russia have a relationship that is based on "realism" and the two sides have a wide range of common interests.
 
 
More than 1,000 Iraqis killed in July: UN
 
The United Nations says over 1,000 Iraqis have been killed throughout July, the deadliest month in more than five years.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Iraq says the capital Baghdad has been hit hardest, with almost 960 civilian casualties being reported.
So far over 4-thousand Iraqis have been killed since the beginning of this year.
The recent violence has raised fears of a recurrence of the full-blown civil conflict in 2006 and 2007.
 
 
Newspaper Picks
 
 
GLOBAL TIMES
Headline
Taiwan eases entry restrictions for mainland elites
Summary
Taiwan authorities have announced new measures to relax entrance restrictions for certain "professionals" from the Chinese mainland working in fields such as education, mass communications and art and literature.
With the special entry permits, they can freely enter or exit Taiwan for one-year.
SHANGHAI DAILY
Headline
15 water tap producers faulted for poor quality
Summary
15 Shanghai water tap producers have been ordered to suspend production and their sub-standard products removed from the shelves.
The city's quality watchdog says their faucets were found to contain excessive levels of lead and screw thread problems.
BEIJING NEWS
Headline
One-stop service offers new hope
Summary
China has initiated a one-stop service for HIV patients.
Under the new model, patients need only go to the county hospital.
The process previously took two months on average and patients also had to travel between different county medical facilities.
BEIJING TIMES
Headline
Beijing launches platform for debunking online rumors
Summary
Six Chinese websites have jointly launched a platform to refute online rumors, a move that an official has termed Beijing's latest endeavor to clean up the "Internet environment."
The platform is a website that collects statements from Twitter-like services, news portals and China's biggest search engine, Baidu, to refute online rumors and expose the scams of phasing websites.
SOUTH CHINA METROPOLITAN DAILY
Headline
Guangzhou's visa-free offer gets first takers
Summary
A couple from New Zealand were surprised to learn they had become the first foreign passengers to visit Guangzhou on a free-visa transit policy that took effect on Thursday.
Under the policy, travelers from 45 countries who intend to visit a third country and who hold airline tickets to continue their trip are allowed to stay in Guangzhou without a visa for three days and go anywhere in Guangdong.
YANZHAO METROPOLITAN DAILY
Headline
China solicits opinions on harsher environment law
Summary
Chinese lawmakers have reportedly begun soliciting public opinion on a draft amendment to the environmental protection law that proposes harsher punishments for polluters.
CHINA DAILY
Headline
47% Chinese urbanites have smartphones: Google
Summary
A report released by Google shows about 47 percent of Chinese urban residents have smartphones.
With 69 percent of respondents saying they access the Internet every day on their smartphones.
 
 
Special Reports
 
 
Online Care Business Arouses Debate
 
Anchor
Debate is growing here in China about new elderly care services being offered on online shopping site Taobao.
CRI's Xu Fei explains.
Reporter
More than 100 new online elderly care service providers have been registered since a Chinese law requiring family members to visit their aging parents regularly came into effect. The amended Law for the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly came into force on July 1.
Such services offer an alternative for young Chinese people to carry out their filial duties when they are too busy to visit their elderly relatives. The costs of the services range from 10 to 2,000 yuan.
However, Sun Chunchen, an expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, doubts the market potential for this new business, saying that filial piety cannot be commercially traded.
"Some see visiting elderly people on their busy children's behalf as a profit-making business opportunity. However, we shall wait and see whether this new business can win a market. In my opinion, filial piety is an ethical value that interacts with emotions based on blood ties and family affection. Filial piety is not and will never be a trade."
In fact, most of the online care businesses were met with no trade at all. According to one such store owner, many people are inquiring into the details of the business, but not many of them made an order; the owner will continue to wait patiently for business.
Regarding the online elderly care industry, ordinary citizens have expressed different views.
"I think that visiting one's parents is a personal filial responsibility that shouldn't be fulfilled by someone else."
"I don't think there is any problem in it. Although it could hardly be equivalent to the visit by children to their parents, at least the new businesses may provide a solution that comforts both parents and their children.
Lawyer Tian Maotong, with Jiangsu Jie-ren lawyers' office, points out that new problems will arise along with the new business, since the deal between customers and Taobao store owners will be guaranteed with a contract.
"In the process of fulfilling the contract, if the service provider causes injuries to senior citizens, then that Taobao store should bear the responsibilities. The Taobao store is also held responsible if an accident takes place during a paid visit to a senior citizen."
For CRI, I'm Xu Fei.
 
 
Sports
 
 
Chinese women shine at FINA worlds as Liu Zige and Zhao Jing claim gold
 
China's Liu Zige and Zhao Jing both claimed gold medals at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona yesterday.
World record holder Liu beat local swimmer Mireia Belmonte Garcia to win the womens 400 meter butterfly.
And shortly after that victory, Zhao won the womens 50 meters backstroke.
She finished just ahead of fellow Chinese swimmer and 2009 Olympic gold medalist Fu Yuanhui.
It was an emotional victory for Zhao, who desperately wanted success after a disappointing showing at the London Olympics.
Australia's James Magnussen triumphed in the mens 100 freestyle.
American Ryan Lochte took his third consecutive gold in Barcelona after winning the mens 200 meters individual medley.
And Missy Franklin got her fourth gold at this year's championships after her US team triumphed in the 4x200 freestyle relay.
The Chinese team, led by Ye Shiwen, didn't make the podium despite having aced the preliminaries. They finished in fourth, behind Australia and France.
 
 
Australia posted a strong first day at Old Trafford
 
Australia came out swinging at Old Trafford, closing the first day of the third Ashes Test on 3 for 303.
England loss the toss, and the Australians opted to bat first.
Aussie captain Michael Clarke's knock of 125 and Steve Smith's contribution of 70 off 150 deliveries helped put their team in an advantageous position going into day 2.
England bowler Tim Bresnan said he wasn't surprised by Australia's performance:
"Yeah, we were expecting a fight you know. I think every time you play against Australia you expect them to fight hard. I mean, their backs are against the way so why wouldn't they fight harder back. So, we were expecting something like this. It is up to us now to counteract that tomorrow."
What most people are talking about though is the controversial dismissal of Usman Khawaja.
The third umpire refused to overturn New Zealander Tony Hill's decision to give Usman Khawaja caught behind.
The umpire cited lack of evidence, despite replays that showed no mark on the bat, no deviation of the ball, and Khawaja's bat clearly chipping his pad.
Australia's Chris Rodgers was on the field at the time of the call.
"I was up the other end so...even in real time i didn't think he hit it. I didn't think he was anywhere near it. From what we saw on the replays even the England guys had given up hope of it being out so...yeah, it was disappointing and another question mark i guess."
Cricket Australia has asked the International Cricket Council to formally look into the dismissal.
England's batsmen will get a chance to chip back tomorrow at Old Trafford.
The advantage still weighs heavily in England's favor, since the team has a 2-0 series lead after a narrow win at Trent Bridge, and a knockout at Lords.
 
 
New York Yankees manager comments on Alex Rodriguez's status
 
The MLB is now threatening to slap Alex Rodriguez with a lifetime ban unless the New York Yankees baseman agrees to accept a lengthy suspension without a fight.
The Associated Press broke the news, quoting an anonymous source, since the MLB has not issued any official statements.
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi says as of now, he expects Rodriguez to play since no decision has been formally handed down.
(bjh/soundbite 0802 Girardi, in english)
Nothing's been handed down and so I think you have to and we expected to have him back at this point. We don't have him yet but I know he's playing in a simulated game tomorrow and that's a step in the right direction. Everyone wants things to be finalized, but even when they're finalized, they're not final. It's a waiting game for a lot of clubs and baseball players but it will happen soon enough."
Roriguez is baseball's highest-paid player and the most prominent name in the big Biogenesis scandal that has linked many MLB players to performance-enhancing drugs.
 
 
Tiger Woods chases his eighth win at Firestone
 
In Golf,
American Webb Simpson leads after shooting six under par in the opening round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.
Tiger Woods is tied for third after his opening round. Coming off a disappointing British Open, Woods is hoping to turn things around with an eighth win at the Firestone Country Club, a course he has always excelled on.
And over in the LPGA,
Morgan Pressel and Camilla Lennarth are tied for first at six under after the opening round of the Ricoh Women's British Open.
China's Feng Shanshan and Inbee Park both had opening rounds of 3 under, which puts them down in the mass tie for 18th.
Park needs a victory at St. Andrews to complete the unprecedented accomplishment of winning four straight majors in one year.
 
 
Ecuadorian footballer Christian Benitez's body flown back home after he died from a heart attack
 
The body of former footballer Christian Benitez is being flown back to his native Ecuador.
The 27-year-old suffered a heart attack shortly after appearing in a match for his Qatari club El Jaish.
The Vice Chairman of Al Jaish Club, Nasser Mohamad Al Ali, said the team was stunned by the sudden loss of Benitez.
"Well you know that he played only 20 minutes, but I don't think it was anything else, apart from heart attack, and a heart attack could happen any time, to a healthy or unhealthy person, and we know that he was a very healthy person. He is a strong player and this is just a heart attack, and as we found out in the official results from the hospital."
Benitez was the son of Ermen Benitez, one of Ecuador's all-time leading goalscorers.
 
 
British popstar joins Doncaster football club
 
A lot of crossovers into football recently.
Earlier this week it was reported that NBA star Steve Nash tried out for Italian football club Inter Milan.
And today the news is that one of the singers from British boy band One Direction will play for an English football club.
Louis Tomlinson signed to play a game for Doncaster, a team that plays in the second-tier League Championship.
But One Direction fans can rest easy. Tomlinson says he's not leaving the band, and will likely on play in a reserve team game.
 
 
Entertainment
 
 
Glee Will Address Manteith's Death
 
It has been confirmed the Cory Monteith tribute episode of Glee will address the deceased star's drug abuse.
(glee clip)
Monteith died last month after an overdose of heroin and alcohol.
The third episode of the new season will write Monteith's character Finn Hudson out of the show and deals with the events involved with Monteith's passing.
No official word on whether the show's storyline will have Finn die from a result of drugs.
The episode will also feature a Public Service Announcement, or PSA, about drug use and the dangers involved.
Glee cast and crew will deliver the PSA with all proceeds from the installment's music going to a fund started in Monteith's name.
Fox Network president Kevin Reilly admits he's not sure about the future of the show and believes it will not continue past another 2-seasons.
Glee will return to television for its 5th season in September beginning with a 2-part Beatles episode followed by the Monteith tribute episode, then a 3-week hiatus.
 
 
Zhang Yimou May Direct Quasimodo Film
 
Chinese director Zhang Yimou is in talks with Warner Brothers studios to become involved in Quasimodo a film based on the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The 2008 Olympics opening ceremony director is also known for his work in films such as Hero and House of Flying Daggers.
(daggers clip)
US actor Josh Brolin signed on for the project 2-years ago and a script has already been written by Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows scribes.
No word on a release date yet for the project which has been in development for several years.
 
 
James Cameron Announces 3 Avatar Sequels
 
US director James Cameron has officially announced he plans on shooting 3 sequels to his 2009 blockbuster Avatar.
(avatar clip)
Cameron will shoot all 3-sequels simultaneously when production begins next year.
Avatar 2 has a release date of late 2016, with the 3rd coming in 2017, and the 4th in 2018.
The 3-sequels will be filmed in the same New Zealand studios director Peter Jackson used when shooting all 3 Lord of the Rings films in a similar simultaneous fashion.
Cameron has tapped the writer for the Terminator television series, Josh Friedman, to help him with the script.
 
 
Pacific Rim Sequel Likely After Strong Chinese Opening
 
It looks like Guillermo del Toro's new epic film Pacific Rim will most likely be getting a sequel after breaking a record at its premiere in China.
(rim trailer)
The film brought in 9-million US dollars at the Chinese box office, the biggest opening yet for Warner Brothers studios.
It even beat out the most successful installment of the Harry Potter franchise by 23-percent.
Though Pacific Rim had a less than robust opening in the States it currently sits at the top of the global box office with 229-million dollars.
The film will premiere in Spain, Japan, and Brazil next week.
Pacific Rim takes place in the future when giant monsters rise from the sea to destroy mankind.
 
 
Gomez's First Album to Hit Top Spot in US
 
Pop star Selena Gomez has achieved her first number 1 album in the United States with her new record Stars Dance.
Though Gomez has released 3-other albums with her band which have all cracked the top ten this is the first time her work as reached the top spot.
Stars Dance knocked Jay-Z's new album Magna Carta Holy Grail off the mountain after a 2-week reign.
The new album sold 97-thousand copies to claim the top spot which features her new single Come and Get It.
(gomez clip)
Gomez describes the album as having a more mature pop sound when compared to her older work.
 
 
Bieber Cleared of Hit and Run Charges
 
Justin Bieber will not be charged following accusations of a hit-and-run incident earlier this year.
Police were investigating Bieber after a photographer alleges the popstar hit him with his Ferrari sportscar before speeding away.
Following the investigation police have determined there is insufficient evidence to support the allegation that Bieber drove away with the knowledge someone had been injured.
Bieber has other woes to contend with though, including police finding marijuana on his tour bus, a video of him urinating into a restaurant's mop bucket, and an assault on a photographer.