Taiwan's president on Monday urged the Solomon Islands not to switch diplomatic allegiance to China, as the Pacific nation deliberates whether to recognise the far more economically powerful Beijing instead.
The Solomons are among only 17 countries that maintain official ties with Taiwan, but Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has vowed to review the relationship.
Beijing has poached five diplomatic allies from Taipei since the 2016 election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen -- part of a wider campaign to isolate the island because her party refuses to accept that Taiwan is part of "one China".
Taiwan is desperate to stave off losing another diplomatic ally.
Last week the government warned that Chinese financial incentives had rendered other Pacific nations "in debt traps" with "flashy and false promises" of building infrastructure.
On Monday Tsai told the visiting Solomons Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele that Taiwan is a responsible partner in the international community.
She called 

Taiwan leader meets Solomons envoy to shore up ties over China

PTI Automatic

Pro-Kremlin candidates have suffered major losses in a Moscow municipal election following an opposition-led strategic voting campaign, Russian news agencies reported on Monday.
With nearly all votes counted, news agencies reported significant gains for independent, Communist and liberal candidates against those allied with the ruling United Russia party.
The Communists were on track to win 13 or 14 seats, up from only five in the previous assembly, Interfax and RIA Novosti reported.
The liberal Yabloko party and left-leaning Just Russia party were set to take three seats each, after having none previously.
Pro-Kremlin deputies held 38 of the assembly's 45 seats after the previous election in 2014, with 28 belonging to United Russia.
No candidates ran under its banner this year as the party is deeply unpopular. Interfax said nine previous deputies of United Russia had retained their seats but that the party's leader in Moscow Andrei Metelsky, had lost a re-election bid.
After his ...

Major losses for pro-Kremlin candidates in Moscow city vote

Air strikes hit positions of pro-Iranian forces and allied militias in eastern Syria overnight, killing 18 fighters, a war monitor said Monday.
It was not clear who carried out the raids in the region of Albu Kamal near the border with Iraq, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Britain-based Observatory, which has a vast network of contacts across Syria, said "18 fighters were killed, but their nationalities have not yet been determined".
Albu Kamal lies in Deir Ezzor province which covers much of Syria's remote eastern desert, where the Islamic State group's so-called "caliphate" made its last stand this year.
Control of the area is split between US-backed Kurdish fighters and groups aligned with the Damascus regime, which is supported by Iran and Russia.
In June 2018, strikes near the Iraqi border killed 55 pro-regime forces, mostly Syrians and Iraqis, the Observatory said.
An American official said at the time that Israel was responsible, but the Jewish state ..

Air strikes kill 18 pro-Iran fighters in east Syria: monitor

Australia ordered internet providers on Monday to block eight websites that published content linked to the Christchurch mosque massacre -- a first under new censorship rules.
After the alleged gunman, an Australian national, live-streamed the killing of 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques in March, Canberra has looked to expand its censorship powers.
The overseas websites were blacklisted because they "continue to provide access to the video of the Christchurch terrorist attacks or the manifesto of the alleged perpetrator", said Julie Inman Grant, Australia's eSafety commissioner.
Authorities refused to name the websites -- which will be blocked for at least six months -- saying it could bring them more traffic.
Several other websites were asked to take down content and had complied, Inman Grant added.
"The remaining rogue websites need only to remove the illegal content to have the block against them lifted," she said.
One of the eight websites was a blog focusing on the ...

Australia blocks websites hosting Christchurch attack videos

Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong was making his way to Germany on Monday after he was released from a brief spell in custody following a mistake in his bail conditions, his party confirmed.
Wong, 22, was among multiple prominent democracy advocates who were detained late last month in a roundup by police as the semi-autonomous city reels from more than three months of unprecedented pro-democracy protests.
He was accused of "inciting others to take part in unauthorised assembly" among other charges and later released on bail.
On Sunday, he said he was detained at Hong Kong airport for "breaching bail conditions" after returning from Taiwan and as he then tried to make another overseas trip to Germany.
He also planned to travel to the United States after.
But he was released by a court on Monday after it emerged the detention was a procedural error and that his bail requirements allowed him to take any overseas trips that had been arranged before his arrest, local news station ..

Hong Kong's Joshua Wong on way to Germany, US after brief detention

A suicide bomber dressed in a traditional Muslim woman's gown died after detonating a bomb outside a military camp in the restive southern Philippines, but no other casualties were reported, authorities said.
Suicide attacks were once very rare in the Philippines, but since July 2018 there have been four, including the latest explosion on Jolo island on Sunday.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for all three previous suicide attacks, which experts have previously told AFP is a worrying escalation of extremism in the Philippines under the group's influence.
According to a military statement, the attacker on Sunday was "foreign looking", wore an abaya gown and appeared to be a woman. However, authorities had not confirmed the attacker's gender.
No group has yet claimed the attack, which came a day after an IS-claimed bombing wounded eight at a market on the island of Mindanao.
Separatist groups in the Christian-majority nation's south have waged decades-long insurgencies that ...

Suicide bomber killed at Philippine army base

Rain delayed the start of the fifth day's play in the one-off Test between Bangladesh and Afghanistan on Monday, with the visitors on the cusp of victory.
Having dominated in only their third ever Test, Afghanistan reduced the home side to 136 for six before rain forced an early close to the fourth day at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
Chasing an improbable 398, Bangladesh still require 262 to win with skipper Shakib Al Hasan unbeaten on 39 alongside Soumya Sarkar who his yet to score.

Rain delays Afghan Test victory push in Bangladesh

Jorginho fired Italy to within touching distance of Euro 2020 with a spot-kick winner that beat nearest rivals Finland 2-1 on Sunday and maintained his side's perfect qualifying record.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho's 79th-minute penalty in Tampere made it six wins from six for Roberto Mancini's side and sent them six points clear of the second-placed Finns in Group J, after in-form Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki had levelled Ciro Immobile's headed opener with a penalty of his own six minutes before.
With two teams qualifying from the group, four-time world champions Italy are flying high with a maximum 18 points with four qualifying games to play, nine points ahead of third-placed Armenia despite their thrilling 4-2 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier on Sunday.
They could now secure qualification for the tournament, which kicks off in Rome next June, against Greece or Liechtenstein -- who surprisingly drew in Athens -- next month.
"The match against Greece could be the one that .

Jorginho edges Italy closer to Euro 2020 with Finland winner

Sergio Ramos equalled Iker Casillas' record of 167 international appearances for Spain on Sunday as he started their Euro 2020 qualifier against the Faroe Islands in Gijon.
The Real Madrid centre-back made his international debut 14 years ago in a friendly against China.
"It's a difficult challenge to have matched him (Casillas)," said Ramos. "It's a prize and a joy. It's years of effort."
The 33-year-old was part of the Spain sides which lifted the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 titles.
He took over the Spain captaincy in 2016 after goalkeeper Casillas' final match and will set a new record next month if he plays against either Norway or Sweden.
"Congratulations on those 167 matches my friend," Ramos' former Real teammate Casillas wrote on social media.
"I hope there are many more. We have experienced great moments with the Spanish team."
Ramos is now only nine caps short of the European record held by Italian stopper Gianluigi Buffon (176) and 17 adrift of Egyptian Ahmed ...

Ramos equals Casillas' Spain appearances record

Rodrigo and Paco Alcacer both scored twice as Spain eased to a 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in Gijon on Sunday to make it six wins from as many Euro 2020 qualifiers and inch closer to next year's tournament.
Captain Sergio Ramos equalled Iker Casillas' national appearances record with his 167th cap, but otherwise it was a low-key affair at El Molinon.
Spain now sit seven points clear in Group F after preserving their 100 percent record as second-placed Sweden were held to a 1-1 draw by Norway.
"Yes, it's almost done, but not yet mathematically," said Spain coach Robert Moreno when asked if his team had all but qualified with four games to spare.
"We must grow as a team by winning all our matches. Of course, the final goal is qualification, but what matters is that the team has the feeling of doing things well."
There was a minute's silence before the game in tribute to former coach Luis Enrique's daughter Xana who died of bone cancer aged nine last week.
Moreno, who took over as 

Rodrigo, Alcacer put Spain on brink of Euro 2020 qualification

Gridlock in Manila is costing lives as ambulances stuck in traffic face severe delays in the race against the clock to reach the city's hospitals, medics warn.
Special lanes for emergency vehicles are not enforced, the infrastructure is outdated, and local drivers are often unwilling or unable to make way -- a situation experts say is causing patients to die en route.
"You feel empty. It is as if you were not given a chance to do everything in your capacity to help," ambulance driver and paramedic Joseph Laylo told AFP.
"If the traffic was not that bad it could have saved the patient," he added, recalling how he lost a patient when congestion tripled the time to hospital.
Even with an encyclopedic knowledge of short cuts or aggressive driving such as blasting their horns or bumping unyielding vehicles, it is not always enough to arrive in time.
Driver Adriel Aragon is still haunted after losing a critically ill patient when it took 40 minutes to reach the hospital -- the journey ...

Patients die as Manila traffic jams block ambulances

Joe Root is in no doubt he should remain as England's Test captain despite presiding over their first failure to win a home Ashes series in 18 years.
England were looking to regain the Ashes after a humiliating 4-0 loss under Root in Australia in 2017/18.
But Australia's 185-run victory in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday left them with an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series ahead of next week's finale at the Oval.
Root, whose tactical acumen has been questioned this series, may be England's best batsman but three of his last five Test innings have ended in ducks.
Nevertheless, he had no doubts about continuing in the often stressful role of England captain.
"Definitely, yes," the 28-year-old said when asked if he still felt he was the right man for the job.
"Whenever you lose a series it hurts and I have to take that on the chin. It's still very raw.
"You have to look at areas you want to get better at, both in yourself and as a team.
"But I have been given a ...

Root wants to stay on as England captain after Ashes blow

Rafael Nadal outlasted Daniil Medvedev in a five-set epic to capture a fourth US Open title and 19th major overall Sunday. AFP Sport looks at Nadal's four Flushing Meadows victories: 2019: Nadal prevails in instant classic
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Nadal ultimately proves too strong for first-time Grand Slam finalist Daniil Medvedev, ending the Russian's 12-match winning streak with a thrilling 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 victory after almost five hours. The Spaniard withstands a memorable comeback to hand the red-hot Medvedev just a third defeat in 23 matches in the North American summer hardcourt season, having also beaten him in the final at Montreal in August.
2017: Nadal makes it a hat-trick
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Nadal defeats South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to capture his third US Open title and 16th Grand Slam victory overall. It was Nadal's first hardcourt title since January 2014. His path to the trophy was considerably eased by not having to .

US Open: Rafael Nadal's four titles

Australia's cricketers have restored national pride by retaining the coveted Ashes trophy following a reputation-shattering cheating scandal, according to the country's media who bragged: "We urned it."
Eighteen months ago, Australian cricket hit rock bottom when then-captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and opener Cameron Bancroft were involved in a brazen attempt to alter the ball with sandpaper in a Cape Town Test.
It rattled the game, sparking a clean-out of executive ranks at Cricket Australia, long bans for the three guilty players and the resignation of then-coach Darren Lehmann.
Justin Langer was appointed to help restore faith in Australian cricket and bring cultural change to a team that was infamous for its abrasive attitude.
The team struggled to adjust, but under the leadership of "accidental captain" Tim Paine and with greats Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh recruited as mentors, they have come out the other side.
"With coach Justin Langer, and the planning of team .

'We urned it' - Aussie pride restored in Ashes triumph

- Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said on Sunday that the tourists' "relentless" bowlers deserve as much credit for retaining the Ashes as Steve Smith.
The world's top-ranked Test batsman, Smith has been in superb form this Ashes with 671 runs, including three hundreds, at an average of 134.20.
Smith made a commanding 211 in Australia's 185-run victory in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, a result that left them 2-1 up with just one to play ahead of next week's finale at The Oval.
But Ponting -- twice a losing Ashes series captain in England in 2005 and 2009 -- insisted the bowlers' efforts should not be ignored.
"I think they (Australia) should have had a bigger lead, not just on the back of Steve Smith," Ponting, one of the best batsmen of his generation, told Sky Sports.
"Everyone is talking about what impact he has had, but the whole bowling department has been absolutely outstanding. Look at the difference in the bowling attacks in this game.
"(Mitchell) Starc, (Pat) ...

Ponting hails 'relentless' bowlers as Australia retain Ashes

Most Asian markets started Monday on a positive note to build on last week's gains after China unveiled fresh stimulus measures and below-par US jobs data reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this month.
The People's Bank of China on Friday said it would slash the amount of cash lenders must keep in reserve to its lowest level in 12 years, freeing up more than USD 100 billion for the stuttering economy.
The announcement came two days ahead of the release of figures showing a contraction in imports and exports as the trade war with the United States bites deeper, with speculation that further measures could be on the way.
"Concerns of a more protracted trade war have already sapped business confidence in China and any way you want to slice and dice the data at the end of the day it makes for a convincing argument for the PBoC to turn on the monetary taps," said Stephen Innes, Asia-Pacific market strategist at AxiTrader.
Asian investors were broadly upbeat 

Asian markets start on upbeat note after China easing move

Daniil Medvedev said he was incredibly proud of a remarkable six-week hardcourt run in North America that culminated with Sunday's agonizing five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the US Open final.
Medvedev became just the third man to reach finals at Washington, Canada, Cincinnati and the US Open in the same summer, but like those before him -- Ivan Lendl (1982) and Andre Agassi (1995) -- he too finished runner-up in New York.
"It was an amazing match. It's an amazing story. All this summer is amazing for me. I will remember every moment of it," Medvedev said.
"I have a really good memory if we talk about tennis. I'll definitely remember it even when I'm, like, 70 years old."
Medvedev, who won his first Masters title last month in Cincinnati, will climb to a career high of fourth in the ATP rankings on Monday.
"After the summer I had no fear. I had everything to win. I think it's Rafa who had something to lose. I went out there, I gave everything I could, and I'm proud of myself," ...

Medvedev proud as 'amazing summer' ends with US Open final defeat

Unlike at his beloved Roland Garros, success did not arrive overnight for Rafael Nadal on the unforgiving hard courts of the US Open, where he surged to within a title of Roger Federer's all-time men's Grand Slam singles record Sunday.
Nadal's epic victory over Daniil Medvedev secured the Spaniard his fourth US Open crown, leaving him one shy of the Open era record of five titles belonging to long-time rival Federer, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors.
But it was not an instant connection between Nadal, his notoriously suspect knees, and the year's final Grand Slam tournament.
"I think at the beginning of my career have been some tough moments here, losing matches," said Nadal, who failed to reach a single semi-final in his first five trips to the US Open.
During that span, Nadal would claim at least one singles title at the other three majors, but it was not until his eighth visit to Flushing Meadows that he would get his hands on an elusive US Open trophy.
"Since a long time ago, every .

Clay fiend Nadal finds unlikely second home at US Open

Calling it one of the most emotional nights of his 18-year career, Rafael Nadal celebrated a dramatic US Open final victory Sunday over Daniil Medvedev for his 19th Grand Slam title.
The 33-year-old Spanish left-hander grabbed his fourth career title on the New York hardcourts in thrilling fashion, squandering a two-set lead before outlasting the Russian fifth seed 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 after four hours and 50 minutes.
"I more or less had the match under control," Nadal said.
"The way he was able to fight to change the rhythm of the match was incredible." Nadal's head was in his hands as he became emotional in the moments after his epic triumph, feelings compounded when a tribute video of his Grand Slam titles was shown in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"Has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career, with that video, with all of you," Nadal told a cheering crowd that chanted his name several times in the intense final set.
"There's no stadium in the world that's more energetic 

US Open champion Nadal hails one of his 'most emotional' wins

Rafael Nadal captured his 19th career Grand Slam title in thrilling fashion on Sunday by winning the US Open final, outlasting Russia's Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 to seize his fourth crown in New York.
The 33-year-old Spanish left-hander moved one shy of Roger Federer's all-time men's record 20 Grand Slam triumphs and became the second-oldest New York champion in the Open era after Ken Rosewall in 1970 at age 35.
"Has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career," Nadal said.  World number two Nadal took the top prize of $3.85 million at Arthur Ashe Stadium and added to his US Open trophy haul from 2010, 2013 and 2017.
Nadal, who was in his fifth US Open championship match and 27th Grand Slam final, is the first man to claim five major titles after turning 30.
But it took a supreme effort from the Spanish maestro, who nearly became the first player to drop the final after leading by two sets since Ted Schroeder in 1949.
"This victory means a lot," Nadal ...

Nadal takes five-set US Open thriller for 19th Slam title

At least 29 people were killed in two attacks in northern Burkina Faso on Sunday, in a region prone to jihadist violence, the government said.
One vehicle transporting people and goods "rode over an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Barsalogho area" leaving at least 15 passengers dead, government spokesman Remis Fulgance Dandjinou said in a statement.
A security source said most were traders.
Meanwhile, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) away, 14 people were killed when food vans travelling in convoy were attacked, the spokesman added.
Local sources said many of the dead were the drivers of the three-wheeler vans, which were carrying provisions for people displaced by fighting.
"Military reinforcements have been deployed and a thorough search is under way," Dandjinou said.
A former French colony that ranks among the world's poorest countries, Burkina Faso has been struggling with an Islamist militant revolt since 2015.
The country's army has been increasingly targeted by ...

AFP

AFP

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