Tianjin

The death toll from huge warehouse explosions in the Chinese port city of Tianjin has increased to 50 by Thursday evening, including 17 firemen, Xinhua news agency reported.

About 700 people were admitted to hospital with injuries of various degrees. Seventy of them are in critical condition, Xinhua said, citing reports of local authorities.

A series of enormous explosions at an industrial area in the Chinese port of Tianjin killed at least 44 people and injured more than 500, state media reported on August 13, unleashing a fireball that ripped through the night sky.

A series of huge explosions shook the northern Chinese city of Tianjin late Wednesday, killing at least 44 people and injuring hundreds more, officials and state media reported, according to the BBC.

The cause was not immediately clear.

Liu Yue, a 25-year-old Tianjin resident, said she felt the first blast but didn’t think too much of it.

The two explosions, which occurred at a warehouse in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Wednesday night, claimed the lives of at least seventeen people and left hundreds others injured.

According to media reports, the explosions hit a warehouse storing "dangerous and chemical goods" in the port area of the city, the BBC informs.

A strong explosion rocked the port city of Tianjin in northern China on Wednesday night, shattering windows and sending dust dozens of metres into the air, Xinhua reported.

At least 50 people have been admitted to hospital to be treated for injuries, China's state news agency said.

No fatalities have been reported so far.

Former Chinese security chief Zhou Yongkang, the highest ranking ex-official to be investigated for corruption in decades, was sentenced on June 11 to life in prison at a secret trial, state-media said.

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has qualified for the final of the 500,000-dollar WTA tournament in Shenzhen (China) on Friday, after defeating Chinese player Saisai Zheng by 6-2, 6-3, in one hour and 26 minutes of play.

Photo credit: (c) Mao Siqian / XINHUA

PM writes about "Serbia-China friendship bridge"

LONDON -- Hosting "the China-Balkans" summit this week gives "extra-importance to our vigor in pursuing our European path," says Aleksandar Vucic.

TIANJIN - Serbia's Jelena Jankovic failed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Tianjin, after losing to China's Zheng Saisai 6-3, 6-3 in the second round on Thursday.

Jankovic continued her unpredictable trend this season. Although seeded first, she failed to capitalize on the role of the favorite against the 20-year-old Chinese, currently world number 112.

TIANJIN - Serbia's Jelena Jankovic is through to the second round at the WTA tournament in Tianjin, after defeating Russia's Alla Kudrjavceva 6-2 0-6, 6-0 in the first round on Tuesday.

Top seed Jankovic will next face Zheng Saisai of China, who beat Hungary's Timea Babos 7-5, 6-4.

The prize money for the Tianjin open is USD 250,000.

Photo Tanjug, T. Valic (archive)