Asian markets recovered after an early stumble on Monday as data showed China's economy growing at its weakest pace in nearly three decades, hit by the US trade war, while investors debated the depth of an expected Fed rate cut.
The world's number-two economy expanded 6.2 per cent in April-June, the worst reading since the early 1990s but in line with forecasts and within the government's target range.
The reading highlights the negative impact the US tariffs stand-off is having on China as leaders also try to recalibrate its growth model from exports and state investment to one driven by consumer spending.
"While GDP touched a 27-year low in Q2, the on-consensus print does lessen market fears that China's economy is headed for a hard landing," said Stephen Innes at Vanguard Markets.
Observers also pointed out that the weakness raised the chances of further monetary easing measures from the central People's Bank of China, while investors were also tracking the progress of trade talks .

Asian markets mixed as China growth slows further

PTI Automatic

A populist mayor who favours closer ties with Beijing was announced as the presidential candidate for Taiwan's opposition on Monday as it looks to unseat President Tsai Ing-wen in upcoming elections.
Han Kuo-yu won the primary for the opposition Kuomintang party, comfortably seeing off a challenge from Taiwan's richest man, billionaire Foxconn founder Terry Gou.
His victory sets up an unpredictable clash as Taiwan goes to the polls in January in a contest that will be dominated by relations with China.
Han, 62, has enjoyed a stunning rise in the last two years, journeying from relative obscurity to his party's presidential candidate in a phenomenon that has been dubbed the "Han tide".
Some have likened him to US President Donald Trump and other populist leaders who hail from outside establishment circles and command a fervent voter base buoyed by lofty promises of resurrecting their fortunes.
Han won 45 per cent of votes cast in the KMT's primary -- which polls members of the public ..

Populist pro-China mayor to face Tsai in Taiwan presidential clash

A total of 282 people were arrested in France after unrest following the Algerian football team's qualification for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, the interior ministry said Monday.
Riotous celebrations erupted around the country after Algeria beat Nigeria 2-1 in the semi-final. The arrests were made nationwide on Sunday evening, the ministry said.  Some of the arrests were also linked to unrest surrounding events marking France's national day celebrations on Sunday.
Unruly scenes erupted in Paris, Marseille and Lyon. Fifty people were arrested in the French capital and there were incidents between football fans and police on the Champs-Elysees avenue.
Dozens of cars were torched overnight in the eastern city of Lyon.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner on Monday congratulated police and firemen for their "speedy reaction and professionalism which contained the violence and to the perpetrators" being apprehended.
Of those arrested, 249 people were in custody.
Last Thursday, 

282 held over unrest in France after Algeria football win

Three key European powers on Sunday called for dialogue and an end to the escalation over Iran's nuclear programme, as tensions further intensified between Tehran and the United States.
The statement by the leaders of Britain, France and Germany expressed concern that the 2015 deal over Iran's nuclear programme risked further unravelling but said it was up to Tehran to ensure the deal survived.
"We believe the time has come to act responsibly and seek a path to stop the escalation of tensions and resume dialogue," said the English-language version of the statement issued by the Elysee.
The
statement was published after President Emmanuel Macron hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior British cabinet minister David Lidington at the annual Bastille Day parade in Paris.
"The risks are such that it is necessary for all stakeholders to pause and consider the possible consequences of their actions," it added.
The three European powers were among the key players in the 2015 deal ...

European powers urge dialogue, end to escalation in Iran nuclear crisis

Four children took a stolen four-wheel drive on a 1,000-kilometre road trip across the Australian outback before being nabbed by police, officials said Monday.
A 14-year-old boy, two 13-year-old boys and a 10-year-old girl began their epic journey on Saturday when they took cash and packed fishing rods in a vehicle belonging to one of their families in the coastal Queensland town of Rockhampton, police said.
One of the children left a note for his family telling them of his plans.
Queensland police said the car was spotted early on Sunday morning in the outback town of Banana, where the kids allegedly stole petrol, before travelling south.
The car was found on Sunday night near Grafton, in the neighbouring state of New South Wales, about 11 hours' drive from Rockhampton.
New South Wales police said officers had to force their way into the vehicle after the children refused to get out.
"They have locked themselves in the car and police have had to use a batten to get in to arrest ...

Aussie kids take stolen car on 1,000-kilometre road trip

At least one person has been found dead and hundreds were evacuated after a major 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the remote Maluku islands in eastern Indonesia on Sunday, an official said.
The shallow quake struck about 165 kilometres (100 miles) south-southwest of the town of Ternate in North Maluku province at 6:28 pm (0928 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey.
In South Halmahera district, the closest area to the epicentre, around 160 houses collapsed when the shallow earthquake struck. A woman was confirmed dead in the disaster.
"The victim was hit by the debris when her house collapsed," local disaster mitigation agency official Ihksan Subur told AFP Monday, adding no other casualties have been reported.
Hundreds of people are still sheltering in several schools, government buildings and higher grounds.
"The aftershocks still happen very frequently so people are still traumatised and don't dare to return home just yet," Subur said.
Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and ...

One dies, hundreds evacuate after 7.3 quake in Indonesia

Heartbroken New Zealanders expressed pride Monday in the Black Caps' fighting spirit after defeat to England in the Cricket World Cup final, but also bemusement at the obscure rules that cost them the match.
The Black Caps lost even though scores were tied at the end of both regular play and a Super Over shootout, with England's superior boundary count giving them victory.
As Kiwi fans absorbed a second straight loss in the tournament decider, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was concentrating on the positives.
"That was undeniably an incredible game. I think as a nation we all aged a year in that Super Over," she posted on social media.
"Congratulations to England. And to the Black Caps, I feel nothing but pride. What a team."
But her sports minister Grant Robertson questioned the tie-break method.
"What an extraordinary game. Not sure Super Over is the right end," he tweeted.
"Whatever, NZ you can be so, so proud of this team." Former Black Cap Scott Styris labelled governing body the .

Technical knockout: Kiwis praise team but query 'cruel' rules

Popular Czech Barbora Strycova gained rich consolation for her loss in the women's singles semi-finals, partnering Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei to land the women's doubles title at Wimbledon.
The 33-year-old Strycova, who lost to Serena Williams in the singles, secured her first Grand Slam title in her long career as she and Hsieh beat China's Xu Yifan and Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada 6-2, 6-4.
Strycova, who had earlier this year raised the idea of retiring and suggested ahead of her clash with Williams she may not be back next year, has charmed the crowds at Wimbledon with her cheerful demeanour and delightful groundstrokes.
Hsieh's victory capped a memorable day for Taiwan as earlier her compatriot Latisha Chan won the mixed doubles title with Croatian partner Ivan Dodig.

Hsieh and Strycova win women's doubles at Wimbledon

From the expansive dunes of the Taklamakan Desert to the snow-capped peaks of Tianshan, Chinese authorities are selling troubled Xinjiang as a tourist idyll, welcoming travellers even as they send locals to internment camps.
The government has rounded up an estimated one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking minorities into re-education camps in the tightly-controlled region in China's northwest, but it has also created a parallel universe for visitors, who are only shown a carefully curated version of traditional customs and culture.
In the Old Town of Kashgar, an ancient Silk Road city, smiling food vendors serve mouthwatering lamb skewers, while children play in the streets.  "It didn't look to me like -- unless you were picked up and put in a camp -- that these Uighur communities seemed to be living in some kind of fear," said William Lee, who has taught at universities in China for 10 years and visited the region in June.
"That's just my impression," he ...

As China locks up Muslims in Xinjiang, it opens its doors to tourists

The Queen sent her congratulations to England's World Cup winners after their incredible triumph against New Zealand.
England won the tournament for the first time by scoring more boundaries than New Zealand after both the regulation match and a rare Super Over finished tied at Lord's on Sunday.
Celebrating the victory, the Queen wrote: "Prince Philip and I send our warmest congratulations to the England Men's Cricket team after such a thrilling victory in today's World Cup final.
"I also extend my commiserations to the runners-up New Zealand, who competed so admirably in today's contest and throughout the tournament."
Britain's Royal Mail postal service announced it would mark both the World Cup win and England's victory at the 2017 Women's World Cup with a series of special stamps.
The Royal Mail will also decorate 15 post boxes in white with a stylised gold cricket bat, ball and bat to make the achievement of both England teams at the host grounds and in locations of importance to .

Queen salutes England after World Cup glory

Roger Federer said he could not believe he had let slip two match points which would have sealed his ninth Wimbledon title after losing to Novak Djokovic in the longest ever men's final at the championships.
The 37-year-old Swiss legend rued the "missed opportunity" when he held the match points on his serve in the 16th game of the decider but ended up losing 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 13-12 (7/3).
Incredibly it was the second time he had been involved in the longest final at Wimbledon -- and ended up the loser too -- going down to Rafael Nadal in 2008.
Federer, who looked very emotional when he stared up at his wife and children in the players box after the defeat, said he could not say whether if he had lost in straight sets the taste of defeat would have been less bitter.
"It's hard to tell," he said. "I don't know if losing 2-2-2 feels better than this one.
"At the end it actually doesn't matter to some extent.
"You might feel more disappointed, sad, over-angry. I don't know .

Federer rues 'missed opportunity' to win ninth Wimbledon title

Caster Semenya's battle with world athletics' governing body over testosterone-curbing regulations for female athletes will likely have long-lasting ramifications for gender definition in sport as a whole.
The South African, a two-time Olympic 800m gold medallist, is locked in a bitter dispute with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and both parties are awaiting a ruling from Switzerland's supreme court on Semenya's appeal against the regulations.
Semenya is classified a woman, was raised as a woman and races as a woman.
But for the IAAF, women like Semenya, with certain masculine attributes due to differences of sexual development (DSD), are classified, biologically, as men. It is a position hotly contested by South African officials.
The IAAF, seeking "to ensure fair competition for all women", argues that DSD athletes, like Semenya, born with the "46 XY" chromosome rather than the XX chromosome most females have, would have an advantage in all events ...

Caster Semenya v IAAF: a ground-breaking gender test case

US multinational Procter & Gamble gave its backing to the United States' women's soccer stars in their fight for equal pay, handing the team a USD 529,000 bonus following their World Cup win.
In a full-page advertisement placed in The New York Times, P&G said the company, one of the team's sponsors through its Secret Deodorant brand, urged the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to be "on the right side of history."
P&G said it was donating $23,000 to each of the 23 players who helped the US win a record-extending fourth World Cup title in France on July 7.
"After all the toasts, cheers, parades and awards subside, the issue remains. Inequality is about more than pay and players, it's about values," the P&G advert read.
"Let's take this moment of celebration to propel women's sports forward. We urge the US Soccer Federation to be a beacon of strength and end gender pay inequality once and for all, for all players."
The advert urged all "fellow fans, friends, ...

P&G gives bonus to US women soccer stars

Neymar will return to Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, the football star's press office said, after remarks he made about his former team Barcelona sparked controversy.
"He will appear tomorrow at the club," a member of Newymar's press team told AFP, though the "exact time" of Neymar's trip to the French capital was unknown.
Neymar and PSG have been in a war of words after the Brazilian star missed the team's first training session earlier this month and the club vowed to take "appropriate action."
Neymar has insisted that he had a prior agreement from PSG to stay in Brazil to help his foundation, the Neymar Institute.
On Saturday, 27-year-old Neymar made a series of remarks that strained his relationship with the club and sparked outrage on social media.
Asked by online sports channel Oh My Goal about his best changing room memory, the world's most expensive player said it was Barcelona's incredible 2017 comeback 6-1 win over PSG, which Neymar helped inflict on his current ...

Neymar heads to Paris on Monday after PSG spat: source

Riyad Mahrez rifled in a stoppage-time free-kick to earn Algeria a dramatic 2-1 victory over three-time champions Nigeria and set up a rematch with Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Algeria led through a first-half own goal by William Troost-Ekong before Nigeria equalised with an Odion Ighalo penalty on 72 minutes awarded after a VAR review.
However, as extra time looked necessary, Mahrez blasted in from 20 yards with the last kick of the match to send the Desert Foxes through to their first final since lifting the trophy for the only time in 1990.
Algeria will take on Sadio Mane's Senegal for the title on July 19, in a repeat of a group stage clash they won 1-0.
"We are very happy to be in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations because it is something very special," said Mahrez.
"It was our goal to do it for the people and for our families. We know they are behind us all the way. It's my most important goal for the national dream. Yes, it's my dream to win it and hopefully .

Mahrez stunner sends Algeria into Africa Cup of Nations final

Former South African president Jacob Zuma is due Monday to testify at a judicial inquiry where he faces tough questioning over allegations that he oversaw systematic looting of state funds while in power.
Zuma struck a characteristically relaxed tone ahead of his televised appearance, which could last for five days, tweeting a video on Sunday of himself dancing and singing "Zuma must fall" before laughing heartily.
"The commission asked me to come to testify and put forward any information that I might have," he told reporters last week. "We will see how things pan out, but I am going there." The former president is accused of fostering a culture of corruption during a nine-year reign before he was ousted in 2018 by the ruling ANC party and replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa.
Zuma's supporters and opponents are expected to gather for noisy rallies outside the inquiry commission venue, while 200 members of the public are to attend the hearing on a first-come, first-served basis.
Zuma, 77, is .

S Africa's Zuma to take centre stage at graft inquiry

The first case of Ebola has been confirmed in Goma, now the biggest city to have been affected by the disease since its outbreak in eastern DR Congo last August, the health ministry said on Sunday.
A sick man had arrived in Goma early Sunday by bus with 18 other passengers and the driver from Butembo, one of the main towns touched by Ebola in Nord-Kivu province.
The man was tested  "and the results of the laboratory test confirmed that he was positive for Ebola," the ministry said in a statement.
It added that his trip began on Friday after "the first symptoms appeared on July 9 (Tuesday)".
"Given that the patient was quickly identified, as well as all the passengers on the bus from Butembo, the risk of the disease spreading in the city of Goma is low," the ministry said.
The passengers and the bus driver will begin getting vaccinations on Monday, it added.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has so far killed 1,655 people and 694 have been cured, according to a 

Ebola case confirmed in eastern DR Congo city of Goma: Official

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday condemned the "heinous" Al-Shabaab jihadist attack in Somalia last week that killed 26 people including a Somali-born Canadian journalist.
Last Friday's attack in the southern port city of Kismayo saw a suicide bomber ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the Medina hotel after which several heavily armed gunmen forced their way inside, sparking a standoff that stretched for 12 hours before security forces regained control.
Among the dead was Hodan Nalayeh, a journalist who was an ardent campaigner for Somali unity and peace and had started an online TV show called "Integration." She was killed alongside her husband in the attack that also injured 56 people.
"Ms Nalayeh's work showcased positive, uplifting, and inspiring Somali stories, and was a testament to the role of the free press in broadening people's perspectives and defending diversity and inclusion. Her loss is deeply felt in Canada, and in Somali and journalistic communities ...

Trudeau honours journalist killed in Shabaab attack

The Anglican Church of Canada -- which has more than 500,000 members -- has rejected a motion to modify its definition of marriage to embrace same-sex unions.
The motion heard at the church's general assembly, called a synod, would have changed its marriage canon to remove references to unions between a man and a woman.
To pass, the proposal required a two-thirds majority from each of three groups of delegates: lay people, clergy and bishops.
But though lay delegates and members of the clergy voted largely in favour of the move late Friday in Vancouver, they did not meet the two-thirds threshold among the bishops.
The motion had been approved in a first vote at the last general assembly three years ago, but it needed to be validated at two meetings in a row.
Many in the church, which has nearly 1,700 parishes, were disappointed.
Bishop Andrew Asbil of Toronto, Canada's largest city, said the vote was "devastating news to our LGBTQ+ community, families and friends." "I share in that ...

Anglican Church of Canada rejects same-sex marriage

Tropical Storm Barry buffeted the US state of Louisiana on Sunday, bringing more heavy rain and possible tornadoes to the region even as it weakened.
After briefly becoming the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, Barry was downgraded to a tropical storm after making landfall on Saturday. It nevertheless moved insland with a serious punch.
While there were few indications yet of widespread flooding, Louisianans kept a wary eye on several rivers and canals being pushed to their limits by the torrential rainfall and by flooding upstream.
Rain fell in New Orleans, the state's biggest city, on Sunday but there was little wind. Flights in and out of the city's airport resumed after all were canceled on Saturday.
Thousands of people had abandoned their homes and tens of thousands lost power.
Fears that the levee system protecting New Orleans could be compromised eased after the Army Corps of Engineers voiced confidence that it would hold, but Mayor LaToya Cantrell urged residents not to .

US warnings of heavy rain, tornadoes from weakening storm Barry

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, which is subject to US sanctions over concerns about its ties to the government in Beijing, is planning to make major job cuts at its US operations, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
The layoffs are expected at Huawei's US-based research and development arm, Futurewei Technologies, the paper reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the situation.
The unit currently employs 850 people at several labs in the United States, but hundreds of them could be laid off, the report said.
Some of the company's Chinese employees were given the option of keeping their jobs and returning home to work.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has put Huawei on its so-called entity list, which meant US companies needed a license to supply US technology to the Chinese firm.
Huawei -- a leader in next-generation 5G wireless technology -- remained barred from developing 5G networks in the United States, and the Trump administration is trying to convince ..

AFP

AFP

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