Huawei's First-Half Revenue up 19% While It Emerges as Major Smartphone Brand

China-based telecommunications equipment maker, Huawei Technologies, has reported a 19% increase in revenues for the first half of 2014 as consumers across the world become aware of its smartphone and tablet offerings, leading to higher sales.

The company said its sales revenue rose 19% year on year to 135.8bn yuan ($21.88bn, £12.8bn, €16.17bn) with an operating margin of 18.3%.

"Revenue and profit for the first half of 2014 are in line with our expectations. Driven by increasing investments in LTE networks worldwide, Huawei has further solidified its leadership position in mobile broadband," the company said in a statement.

"Rapid growth in software and services helped maintain steady growth in our carrier network business."

The company added that it enjoyed "accelerated growth" in the enterprise business and "achieved quality and sustainable growth in our consumer business thanks to the increase of brand awareness and smart devices sales worldwide".

"Our flagship smartphone, the Ascend P7, is being sold in more than 70 countries and regions." said Cathy Meng, Huawei's Chief Financial Officer.

Huawei has been advancing as a major player in the global smartphone market, with its cheap yet feature-rich range of products. While it enjoys a major share in the domestic market, it has been looking to increase sales overseas.

As of the end of the first quarter, the company has been the third biggest smartphone company in terms of shipments, representing a market share of 4.9%, according to research firm IDC.

Huawei intends to ship 80 million smartphones worldwide, helped by its increasing emphasis on large-screen smartphones.

Looking ahead, the company said it will remain committed to innovation and cooperation, creating greater value for customers.

"We are confident that in 2014 we will achieve sustainable growth, robust operations, and healthy financials," Meng added.

KFC and McDonald's in Another China Scandal Over Alleged Use of Stale Meat

Customers take a nap at a KFC restaurant in BeijingReuters

Popular food groups KFC and McDonald's were allegedly supplied with stale meat in China, and the companies stopped using products from the supplier.

In addition, the Shanghai food and drug administration has suspended the business of the supplier, Shanghai Husi Food Co., Ltd, and ordered the firm to take all its meat products off the shelf. The administration has also closed the processing facility and seized suspected raw food items.

Shanghai Husi Food is the Chinese branch of privately held US-based food supplier OSI Group LLC.

Chinese local media earlier reported that Shanghai Husi Food sold chicken and beef past their expiry date to international food chains including McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut. KFC and Pizza Hut are owned by US-based Yum! Brands.

Undercover reporters found Husi Food workers reprocessing and repackaging meat products whose due date had already expired.

On 21 July, McDonald's and Yum apologised to Chinese consumers for the issue.

"Food safety is the most important thing for McDonald's, and we always strictly abide by national laws and regulations and related standards to ensure consumers can enjoy our products at ease," McDonald's said in the Weibo statement.

Yum said it had already started an investigation into the OSI unit, adding that it will cooperate with the work of relevant Chinese government departments.

Meanwhile, an official at OSI said the company is cooperating with authorities in the investigation, according to Xinhua news agency. The official claimed the company has a strict quality-control system.

The reputation of Yum and McDonald's had been hit in China due to the food safety scandal in 2012, when China Central Television reported the companies may have sold chicken fed by unapproved antibiotic drugs and growth hormones.

Following the scandal, Yum and McDonald's suffered a significant decline in profits from China in 2013. The companies made public apologies and vowed to ensure food safety going forward.

Food safety has been a serious issue in China ever since the 2008 milk scandal when infants fell ill or died after consuming tainted milk powder.

Israel-Gaza Conflict: Diplomatic Efforts Stepped Up to Halt Fighting

An Israeli soldier runs near mobile artillery units stationed outside the Gaza StripReuters

Diplomatic efforts are being stepped by the international community to bring an end to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict even as the death toll of Palestinians has risen sharply.

The UN Security Council held an emergency session on Sunday night urging both sides to halt the fighting. The meeting was held at Jordan's request.

"The members of the Security Council express serious concern about the growing numbers of casualties. The members of the Security Council call for an immediate cessation of hostilities," said Rwandan Ambassador to the UN Eugene Richard Gasana after the meeting.

Israel's envoy to the UN, however, defended Tel Aviv's actions in recent weeks. "The solution is simple - if there is quiet in Israel there will be quiet in Gaza. Israel agreed to a ceasefire three times. Hamas rejected it," said Ron Prosor.

The council expressed its concern shortly after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned Israel's intensified ground and aerial offensive as "an atrocious action". The UN chief is scheduled to be in Israel on Tuesday, 22 July.

The number Palestinians killed in the latest fighting is inching towards 500 with nearly 100 people killed on Sunday, 20 July, alone. At least 13 Israeli soldiers have been killed so far.

The diplomatic push comes alongside US Secretary of State John Kerry's expected arrival in Cairo to coordinate the ceasefire negotiations.

Along with Egyptian authorities, Kerry is poised to broker discussions in a bid to stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

The White House said Kerry will seek "an immediate cessation of hostilities based on a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement", adding that civilians must be protected in both Israel and Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel has dismissed Hamas's claims that one of its soldiers has been captured by the militant organisation.

Gaza Crisis: French Youth Clash with Police at Anti-Israeli Protest

Police used tear gas as an anti-Israeli protest in a Paris suburb turns violent.AFP / Getty Images

Pro-Palestinian French youth have clashed with police, in a second day of demonstrations, after defying a ban on protests against Israel's Gaza offensive.

Denouncing Israel's escalating military offensive, several hundred young people went on a rampage, setting fire to cars, pillaging stores and attacking two synagogues in the Paris suburb of Sarcelles, home to a large Jewish community.

An umbrella group representing French Jews, known as CRIF, confirmed that the Sarcelles synagogue was attacked. They reported that Molotov cocktails were also thrown at another synagogue in nearby Garges les Gonesse, causing a small fire that was quickly contained.

Groups of Jewish youth are said to have encircled the synagogue in a bid to protect it. Police responded to the violence with tear gas and shots from non-lethal guns.

Authorities banned protest marches after a riot in Paris a week ago saw pro-Palestinian youth attacking synagogues and Jewish stores. Pro-Palestinian youth burned cars and broke shop windows in a neighbourhood dominated by immigrants.

France has Western Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish populations. Crises in the Middle East often spark violent reactions in France.

CRIF denounced the "fanatic groups" behind the attacks, and said anti-Semitic violence "is growing by the day."

In a statement, the group said: "It is time to treat it as a 'form of terrorist deviation and treat it as such."

The protest turned violent as several hundreds of French youth took to the streets of Paris, defying the ban.AFP / Getty Images

Prime Minister Manuel Valls denounced the "new form of anti-Semitism" on the internet, that he said was spreading among youth in working-class neighbourhoods.

"France will not allow provocations to feed ... conflicts between communities," Valls said.

His message was echoed by President Francois Hollande, as he decorated Serge and Beate Klarsfeld, for their roles in tracking down old Nazis. They were conferred the titles of Grand Officer and Commander of the Legion of Honour respectively.

Hollande said France "will tolerate no act, no words that could give rise to anti-Semitism."

The clashes came just hours after France honoured 13,000 Jews who were kept in a cycling stadium before being sent to Auschwitz, 72 years ago.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 425 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,600 wounded, since the start of the fighting.

A total of 18 Israeli military personnel have been killed and two Israeli civilians have also died in rocket attacks.

Melbourne Man Raises £50,000 for Charity by Giving Up Sex for a Year for a Bet

Peter Lynagh raised £50,000 for the Free the Shine charity, by abstaining from sex for a year.Peter Lynagh

A Melbourne man gave up sex for a year as a bet and raised £50,000 for charity.

Tired of the living the single life and the lacklustre dating scene that comprised bed-hopping and one night stands, Peter Lynagh made a bet with a friend that he could abstain from sex for a year.

"I was going to give up women and sex... He (my housemate) said I couldn't even go a week, then this got me wound up even more," Mr Lynagh explained.

After making the bet for $2000 Lynagh realised he could use it as an opportunity to raise some money for charity.

"I had a flash of inspiration that I could give that money to the charity, make it bigger than me," said the 33-year-old.

After posting a Facebook post with the novel idea, the campaign titled 'Pete's Chastity for Charity' was launched.

The rules required that, for an entire year from the 1st of January 2013, Mr Lynagh, wasn't allowed to jump into bed with anyone at all, though kissing was permissible.

He pledged to give all funds raised to Australian charity Free to Shine, an organisation which aims to save young Cambodian girls from the sex trade and provide them with an education.

“I was going to give up women and sex... He (my housemate) said I couldn't even go a week, then this got me wound up even more. I had a flash of inspiration that I could give that money to the charity, make it bigger than me.”

- Peter Lynagh

He described the whole experience as 'a roller-coaster emotionally' and admitted he nearly lapsed in the first few months of the experiment.

"No one thought I could do it... I nearly came really close to breaking it, I started seeing a girl and I don't know why," he confessed. "I think she was just enjoying the fact I wasn't trying to get in her pants. That was a turning point, I just said I really had to take it seriously."

Mr Lynagh described the following months as a journey of self-discovery. After shifting the focus from his sex life, he decided to find out how the money raised from his abstinence would be spent.

In September he embarked on a life changing trip to Cambodia to witness the work of the Free to Shine charity.

With the money raised by him, the organisation was able to employ extra workers on the ground and double the amount of girls it looked after. "Once I'd seen what was happening, it was really humbling," Mr Lynagh said.

Following the success of his first charitable endeavour, Mr. Lynagh said he has long-term ambitions to start a charity of his own.

He is currently supporting The Big Umbrella project, a joint effort with The Father Bob Maguire Foundation with promotes anti-slavery and rehabilitation programs in Nepal.

He also made a trip to Kathmandu, where he launched a fundraiser to provide orphaned street children with brand new soccer gear.

While he is now committed to dedicating his time to raise funds for charity, Mr Lynagh said he wouldn't go without sex for so long again.

"I don't think I would do no sex again for a year, I would like to something else crazy and out there and different. If anyone can think of anything else crazy or quirky, I'm open to suggestions."

Isis Jihadists Stone Two Women To Death For 'Adultery'

The stonings are reported to be the first executions of their kind carried out by Isis.Reuters

Isis jihadists in Syria's northern Raqa province have stoned to death two women accused of adultery.

The first sentence was imposed by an Isis Islamic court on an unnamed woman reported to be in her thirties and carried out by a mob in the town square in the Al Tabaqa market area on Thursday.

"The Islamic State carried out its first sentence of death by stoning against a woman in Tabaqa, accusing her of adultery," the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On Saturday, Isis carried out the stoning of a second woman, believed to be 26 years old. In at least one of the cases, the stoning was reportedly carried out because the woman's new husband discovered that she was not a virgin.

"IS carried out the punishment of Al Rajem (stoning to death for adultery) against a woman from the city of Al Tabaqa, where she was brought after Eshaa Prayer to the popular market in the city of Al Tabaqa and stoned to death," the Observatory said.

"It was cleared that the woman was 26 years old and she was a widow named SH.M.A."

The executions are reported to be the first of their kind carried out by the militant Islamist group, which is also known as the Islamic State. The group has established a self-proclaimed Islamic "caliphate" straddling parts of Syria and Iraq.

Activist Hadi Salameh told AFP: "The situation is unbearable. Stoning is the worst punishment history has known. A quick death is more merciful. The woman's family did not know the sentence was going to be carried out at this time."

Salameh added that local residents are fearful of Isis but are afraid of the consequences of speaking out against its brutal tactics and human rights abuses.

Isis renewed its oppression of Iraq's ancient Christian community in Mosul this week, stating that they must pay tax, convert to Islam or leave in order to avoid "death by the sword".

In a statement read out at mosques in Mosul, Isis said: "We offer them three choices: Islam; the dhimma contract - involving payment of jizya; if they refuse this, they will have nothing but the sword."

Malaysia Airlines MH17: Singapore Airlines Apologises For 'Insensitive' Crash Comments on Facebook

Singapore Airlines’ comments following the Malaysian Airlines MH17 crash was condemned as inappropriate by social media users.Reuters

Singapore Airlines has publicly apologised for statements it made on social media sites including Facebook and Twitter, following the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crash.

Hours after the plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, Singapore Airlines posted messages on Facebook and Twitter saying its flights were not using Ukrainian airspace.

The move was condemned as insensitive by social media users, who criticised Singapore Airlines for not offering condolences to families of the victims.

Edward Lim posted on Singapore Airlines' Facebook page: "You better come up with a more considerate, diplomatic and a more sensitive status before you lose customers. Very, very inappropriate and disappointing status."

The statements were also perceived by some online commenters as a publicity stunt designed to capitalise on a tragedy involving a neighbouring country's flagship carrier.

Singapore Airlines later clarified that its flights had been re-routed to alternative paths away from Ukrainian airspace.

“We recognise that the information could have been better communicated and we sincerely apologise if it offended our customers and anyone else in the online community.”

- Singapore Airlines spokesman

A spokesman for Singapore Airlines said: "We are aware of that our Facebook and Twitter updates on Friday morning may have come across as insensitive to some.

"We recognise that the information could have been better communicated and we sincerely apologise if it offended our customers and anyone else in the online community."

All 283 passengers on board the MH17 flight died after the passenger jet was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday.

It is believed pro-Russian rebels were responsible for downing the plane, and world leaders have condemned separatists from preventing international observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe from accessing the crash site.

Ukraine also accused pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region of performing unauthorised autopsies on at least 38 bodies of crash victims.

Kiev said in a statement: "The government was informed that the terrorists moved 38 bodies of the victims to the morgue in Donetsk, where the 'experts' with Russian accents claimed that they intend to perform autopsies."

"The terrorist groups are also seeking to obtain large cargo transportation to move the remnants of the aircraft to Russia."

US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki in a statement: "This is unacceptable and an affront to all those who lost loved ones and to the dignity the victims deserve."

Israel Targets Gaza Terror Tunnels in Intensified Ground Offensive

A tunnel exposed by the Israeli military is seen on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza borderReuters file photo

In a bid to dismantle the Gaza militants' terror infrastructure before a ceasefire agreement is reached, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) is targeting the sophisticated tunnels used by the extremists.

The IDF said they have destroyed nearly 36 tunnels where arms and ammunition were stored as Israel intensifies its ground offensive.

The overnight operation also targeted nearly 450 militant hideouts.

The Israeli daily Arutz Sheva quoted a senior military source as saying that the IDF "found tunnels filled with RPG rockets, explosives, anaesthetics, booby-trapped weapons, radios and even mini-bunkers designed to facilitate attack."

At least 20 suspected militants were killed on one day alone, he said. The Palestinian death toll in the latest conflict stands at 357 while at least five Israeli soldiers have been killed so far.

"This evening, the ground phase of Operation Protective Edge expands, as additional forces join the effort to combat terror in the Gaza Strip and establish a reality in which Israeli residents can live in safety and security," the IDF said.

With Israel pressing ahead, the Hamas fighters are resorting to desperate measures including suicide attacks to stop the advancing Israeli soldiers.

"We feel growing frustration and tension [in Gaza]. Our operation is stirring the tunnels. Hamas wants to make full use of them and they feel we're on to something significant," an Israeli official was quoted as saying by Ynet.

Meanwhile, the armed wing of Hamas has announced receiving an invitation for ceasefire talks in Cairo.

The Islamic outfit said it "received an invitation, through mediators, for a delegation headed by [chief-in-exile] Khaled Meshaal to visit Cairo and discuss the Egyptian initiative".

According to analysts, in the face of the relentless Israeli offensive, Hamas, which had earlier dismissed the ceasefire option, could be ready for a truce.