https://www.bbc.com/news/business-62173735 China's economy contracted sharply in the second quarter of this year as widespread coronavirus lockdowns hit businesses and consumers. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 2.6% in the three months to the end of June from the previous quarter. Major cities across China, including the major financial and manufacturing centre Shanghai, were put into full or partial lockdowns during this period. This comes as the country continues to pursue its "zero-Covid" policy. On a year-on-year basis, the world's second-largest economy expanded by 0.4% in the April-June quarter, missing expectations of 1% growth. "Second quarter GDP growth was the worst outcome since the start of the pandemic, as lockdowns, notably in Shanghai, severely impacted activity at the start of the quarter," Tommy Wu, lead economist at Oxford Economics, told the BBC. One victim of this downturn was British luxury fashion brand Burberry, which announced in a trading update on Friday that its sales in China had been badly affected. The company saw its Chinese sales drop by 35% in the first quarter as shoppers were forced to stay at home. However, it added that since stores reopened in China in June, its performance there has been "encouraging". This was reflected in official government figures for last month, which showed an improvement in the country's economic performance after many curbs were lifted. "June data was more positive, with activity picking up after most of the lockdowns were lifted. But the real estate downturn continued to drag on growth," said Mr Wu. Meanwhile, Jeff Halley, senior market analyst for Asia Pacific at trading platform Oanda, told the BBC that he also saw some bright spots in the latest economic data from China. "GDP was worse than expected, however unemployment fell to 3.5% and retail sales outperformed impressively," he said. "Financial markets are likely to concentrate on the retail figures, which appear to show the Chinese consumer in better shape than expected," Mr Halley added. However, many analysts do not expect a quick economic recovery for China as the government continues with its strict zero-Covid approach to slowing the spread of the coronavirus. The country's once-booming property market is in a deep slump and the outlook for the global economy has weakened sharply in recent months. GDP measures the size of an economy. Gauging its expansion or contraction is one of the most important ways of measuring how well or badly an economy is performing and is closely watched by economists and central banks. It helps businesses to judge when to expand and recruit more workers or invest less and cut their workforces. Governments also use it to guide decisions on everything from tax to spending. It is a key gauge, along with inflation, for central banks when considering whether or not to raise or lower interest rates.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62176758 Sri Lanka is seeking a way out of political and economic chaos after its President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned and fled the country. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as temporary leader on Friday and has the ruling party's backing to take the role permanently. This makes him the favourite when a new president is chosen next week, but may prove unacceptable to protesters. Mr Rajapaksa fled to Singapore, sparking celebrations in the street. He and his family have been blamed for a deep economic crisis, with Sri Lankans facing acute shortages of food, fuel and other basic supplies. Businesses and shops reopened in the capital, Colombo, on Friday morning after a curfew was lifted, but soldiers could still be seen on major roads. At the same time, thousands of people were back in long queues outside petrol stations. The process of parliament electing a new president began on Saturday, with MPs expected to take a vote on 20 July. The initial formal meeting lasted just 13 minutes, with a letter being read out from Mr Rajapaska defending his record. "It is a matter of personal satisfaction for me that I was able to protect our people from the pandemic despite the economic crisis we were already facing," he wrote. According to news agency AFP, more than 16,500 people died during the pandemic in Sri Lanka, while the country's official foreign exchange reserves dropped from $7.5bn (£6.3bn) to just $1m during his tenure. After being sworn in as interim leader, Mr Wickremesinghe promised to act quickly to put a democratically elected president in place. "I will take immediate steps to establish the rule of law and peace in the country. I accept 100% the right to peaceful protests. But some are trying to do acts of sabotage," he said. Given the governing party has a majority, MPs are thought likely to back Mr Wickremesinghe, who has close links with the Rajapaksa family. But whether Sri Lanka's public would accept this is another matter, because Mr Wickremesinghe's resignation as PM was a key demand of protesters. Earlier this week, crowds stormed the former prime minister's compound, clashing with security forces. A demonstrator, Manuri Pabasari, told the BBC at the time that a protest rally against Ranil Wickremesinghe was expected in the coming days. "He has no people's mandate [and] is a well known Rajapaksa supporter," she added. "I mean the new president and the new prime minister should be not a Rajapaksa supporter." Meanwhile, Singapore says ousted president Rajapaksa did not ask for political asylum when he arrived there. The former president, who arrived with his wife and two bodyguards, no longer has legal immunity as a head of state and his position is now more precarious as he tries to find a safe country to shelter in. He is expected to stay in Singapore for some time before possibly moving to the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lankan security sources told AFP news agency.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62140410 A Trump tweet mobilised far-right extremists to converge on Washington DC on the day of last year's Capitol riot, a congressional inquiry has heard. He posted the tweet after "the craziest meeting of the Trump presidency", said a lawmaker on the panel. The then-president forged ahead with a rallying call to supporters even though aides repeatedly told him he had fairly lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. The committee accuses Mr Trump of an attempted coup to remain in power. Supporters of Donald Trump violently stormed Congress on 6 January 2021 as lawmakers met to certify Mr Biden's victory. Hours before the hearing, Mr Trump, a Republican, dismissed the Democratic-led House of Representatives panel on his Truth Social social media platform as "Political Hacks and Thugs" perpetrating a "HOAX". What happened on 6 January at the Capitol riot? The select committee has been conducting a nearly year-long investigation into the attack on the Capitol. Tuesday's hearing, the seventh since June, focused on a tweet Mr Trump sent in the early hours of 19 December 2020, and a stormy six-hour meeting at the White House that preceded the post. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat on the committee, said the meeting had been described as "unhinged" and "not normal". Mr Trump had already been told by White House aides and figures within his own campaign team that he should concede to Mr Biden, a Democrat. However, on 18 December he welcomed to the White House some informal advisers who had been urging him to pursue his unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud. The group - which included his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and his ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn - had suggested Mr Trump order the military to seize state voting machines. Aides push back The meeting was intercepted by aides, as well as then-White House counsel Pat Cipollone. "I don't think any of these people were providing the president good advice," Mr Cipollone said in recorded testimony to the select committee. What followed was hours of argument, during which Mr Cipollone said he was attacked "verbally", but kept "pushing back", asking the group: "Where is the evidence?" They did not offer any proof, he and other aides told the committee. The meeting ended after midnight with the idea of seizing ballot boxes rejected. Mr Trump's tweet - sent at 01:42 local time - told supporters: "Statistically impossible to have lost the 2020 Election. Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild." The post, Mr Raskin argued, "electrified and galvanised his supporters", who believed Mr Trump's claims that the election had been stolen from him. The panel says the tweet was the siren call to extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys to turn up. Two members of the groups are awaiting trial on rare seditious conspiracy charges related to the Capitol riot. An anonymous Twitter employee told the committee they saw a rise in violent rhetoric online following the tweet. Mr Raskin said some of the responses turned "openly homicidal". Committee members are trying to draw a direct line between the social media post and the violence on 6 January. The panel is seeking to build a case that Mr Trump's efforts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election constitute illegal conduct. Tuesday's hearing was also told of a claim that Mr Trump attempted to contact someone who was talking to the congressional inquiry, raising the possibility of witness tampering. Liz Cheney, one of two Republicans on the committee, said they had notified the justice department. The Wyoming congresswoman said the person Mr Trump had tried to contact did not answer his call and instead alerted a lawyer. Another witness who testified on Tuesday was Ohio man Stephen Ayres, who has pleaded guilty to participating in the attack on the Capitol. Ayres stunned people in the hearing room when he approached two of the police officers who were injured in the melee and shook their hands. More than 140 officers were hurt in the riot. One of the policemen, Harry Dunn, described the exchange to the BBC's Tara McKelvey, who attended the hearing. "He apologised," Mr Dunn said, shaking his head. "I'm trying to process." Mr Trump - who has hinted he may run for the White House again in 2024 - has described the hearings as an attempt to distract Americans from the "disaster" of Democratic governance amid rampant inflation. A New York Times opinion poll this week found just 33% of voters approve of President Biden, lower than Mr Trump's po[CENSORED]rity in the aftermath of the Capitol riot, according to Gallup.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62132271 President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled Sri Lanka on a military jet, amid mass protests over the island's economic crisis. The country's air force confirmed the 73-year-old flew to the Maldives with his wife and two security officials. In his absence, he has appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president. Mr Rajapaksa's departure ends a family dynasty that has dominated Sri Lanka's politics for the past two decades. The president had been in hiding after crowds stormed his residence on Saturday, and had pledged to resign on Wednesday 13 July. A source told the BBC that Mr Rajapaksa will not remain in the Maldives and intends to travel on to a third country. His brother, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, has also left Sri Lanka and is said to be heading to the US. As Sri Lankans awoke to the news, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Colombo. Many gathered at Galle Face Green, the city's main protest site. Some listened to fiery speeches at a makeshift stage set up for ordinary people to take the mic. Punctuated by cries of "Victory to the struggle", the rallying cry of the protest movement, speakers railed against a government and the leaders they feel have failed them. Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has declared a state of emergency across the country and a curfew has been imposed in the western province, a spokesperson in his office said. Police have fired tear gas to disperse a group of protesters who were walking near the prime minister's office and towards parliament. Some demonstrators were furious about Mr Rajapaksa's departure, seeing a lack of accountability. "We don't like it. We want to keep him. We want our money back! And we want to put all the Rajapaksas in an open prison where they can do farm work," said protester GP Nimal. But 23-year-old university student Reshani Samarakoon told the BBC that the former president's exile offered "hope that in the future we can eventually become a developed country, economically and socially". Sri Lankans blame President Rajapaksa's administration for their worst economic crisis in decades. For months they have been struggling with daily power cuts and shortages of basics like fuel, food and medicines. The leader, who enjoys immunity from prosecution while he is president, is believed to have wanted to flee abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of arrest by the new administration.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/business-62076602 Strike action by about 700 British Airways check-in staff at Heathrow has been suspended after unions said the airline had made a "vastly improved" pay offer. The Unite union said an agreement was reached after "extensive" talks. Both Unite and GMB union members will now be balloted on the new pay deal. "We welcome that BA has finally listened to the voice of its check-in staff," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, added: "All our members were asking for was what they were owed. British Airways finally moving on pay is long overdue. "All our members - who are predominantly low-paid women - wanted was to be given back the pay cuts BA imposed on them during the pandemic, threatening them with fire and rehire if they said no." BA said it was "very pleased" the unions had decided not to issue dates for industrial action. "This is great news for our customers and our people," a statement said. If the strikes had gone ahead, BA, which operates from terminals three and five at Heathrow, had plans to cover staff, including managers potentially dealing with check-ins. However, there would still have been disruption for passengers, especially at terminal five, leading to cancellations. The airline had originally offered a 10% temporary bonus for staff instead of a reversal of the pay cut. It is understood that offer, which was rejected by the unions representing check-in staff, has been accepted by other parts of British Airways' (BA) business, including by ground operations, engineering and cabin crew workers. In a year of chaos, there are signs that British Airways really wants to avoid further disruption. Ground staff at Heathrow want their pay restored to the level it was at before the pandemic. It looks as though the threat of strikes over the summer has proved fruitful. BA's offer to compromise could have repercussions throughout the company. That is because, with the cost of living rising fast, workers in other parts of the business are already turning their attention to future pay deals. In the past, BA has often been willing to play hardball with its staff, risking strikes to keep costs down. But if that is no longer the case, employees might feel empowered to raise their demands. Tens of thousands of passengers have been hit by airport disruption and flight cancellations in recent weeks. Hundreds of flights across the UK were cancelled during the week of the Platinum Jubilee and school half-term holidays, and concerns have been raised of further travel woes during the summer. The disruption has been caused by factors including staff shortages that have left the aviation industry struggling to cope with resurgent demand for overseas travel. On Wednesday, BA announced it was cutting 10,300 more short-haul flights due to feature in its schedule between August and the end of October. Nearly 30,000 flights have been removed from BA's schedule between April and October this year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-62077691 The Kremlin in Moscow has taken a swipe at outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has overseen consistent British support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion. President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Johnson "really does not like us - and we [do not like] him either". He said he hoped "more professional people" who could "make decisions through dialogue" would take over in London. Meanwhile, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters Mr Johnson had been "hit by a boomerang launched by himself", adding that the moral of the story was "do not seek to destroy Russia". But Ukraine struck the opposite tone: the presidency thanked the politician for his support in "the most difficult of times", according to news agency AFP. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the prime minister on Thursday after he announced his resignation, during which Kyiv officials says the Ukrainian leader expressed his "sadness" upon hearing the news. "Not only me, but also all of Ukrainian society which sympathises with you a lot," he is reported to have said - thanking him for the "decisive action" he has taken to help Ukraine. The pair have developed a close relationship since the start of the war. Kyiv's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, also praised the UK's outgoing prime minister in a statement: "We will always remember his visit to Ukraine in the still dark hour of April. Johnson is a man of no fear, ready to take risks for the cause he believes in." In Washington, President Joe Biden praised the strength and endurance of the "special relationship" between the US and UK, avoiding any reference to Boris Johnson himself or his legacy. "I look forward to continuing our close co-operation with the government of the United Kingdom, as well as our allies and partners around the world, on a range of important priorities," the US president added. The Russian officials were not the only critics, however, with a number noting the strained relations Mr Johnson had had at times with international partners following the UK's vote to leave the European Union, which he championed and eventually saw through. Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament's former Brexit coordinator, said "EU-UK relations suffered hugely with Johnson's choice of Brexit", adding his reign was ending in "disgrace, just like his friend Donald Trump". Michel Barnier, the EU's former chief negotiator, said Mr Johnson's departure "opens a new page in relations with" the UK - one he hoped would be "more constructive, more respectful of commitments made, in particular regarding peace & stability in Northern Ireland, and more friendly". Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin also saw the resignation as a chance for a reset in relations with the UK. He acknowledged in an official statement that he "didn't always agree" with Mr Johnson, saying relations between the governments had been "strained and challenged in recent times". "We have now an opportunity to return to the true spirit of partnership and mutual respect that is needed to underpin the gains of the Good Friday Agreement."

Music Title: Zas - Baaten feat. @NAFZ (@Imtiazing & @NAZMI ) Signer: Zas / Imtiazing & @NAZMI Release Date: 7/7/2022 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer:=== Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):===

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https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61982431 Tariffs on steel imports that were due to expire will be retained for a further two years, the government said. International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said the plans departed from the UK's "international legal obligations" but was in the "national interest" to protect steel makers. She added the decision was made due to "global disruptions" to energy markets and supply chains. British steel producers are under pressure from soaring energy prices. Steelmaking is a key industry for some parts of the UK, where it employs 34,000 people and turns over £2bn annually. Without controls the government has warned the supply of steel into the UK could rise substantially, harming local manufacturers. UK Steel previously said ending the import controls could cause as much as £150m a year in damage. Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany at the weekend, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said keeping the import controls on foreign steel would protect metal manufacturers. But there were concerns such a decision could breach international law as the question of extending tariffs on steel imports is seen as potentially breaking World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. Ms Trevelyan said the decision "departs from our international legal obligations" of a WTO agreement. "However, from time to time, issues may arise where the national interest requires action to be taken," she added. 'Cheaper energy needed' The limits on steel imports were first introduced by the European Union in 2018 in response to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The controls were mirrored by the UK after Brexit. The restrictions, which add a tax to steel imports once a certain quota has been reached, are known as "steel safeguards" because they are designed to protect the domestic market from surges of cheap steel from overseas. Mr Johnson said: "We need British steel to be provided with much cheaper energy." The controls are currently in place for 15 categories of steel. While controls protecting 10 of those categories have already been extended to 2024, import limits on five categories were set to expire on 30 June, before the government extended them for two years. Steelmaking accounts for just 0.1% of the UK economy - but the material being used in crucial sectors, from defence to transport, means that it's considered an important industry to shelter from cheaper imports. That's why the EU applied tariffs to some types of foreign steel, primarily on steel from China, in 2018, when the UK was a member. Now the UK has chosen to roll over many of those controls. The move, which has been expected for some months, was reported as one reason for the resignation of the Prime Minister's ethics adviser Lord Geidt - but he later dismissed the issue as a "distraction". The Trade Secretary Anne Marie Trevelyan admits the extension of tariffs could be at odds with World Trade Organization rules - but claims it reflects exceptionally challenging times for the industry, especially in light of high energy costs. She has consulted other countries in the hope of avoiding a challenge, in the process attracting controversy for missing a parliamentary hearing on the Australian trade deal. With the EU and US also retaining similar tariffs, it underlines the tough choices between removing trade barriers, and protecting national businesses. 2px presentational grey line Alasdair McDiarmid, operations director of the steelworkers' union Community, welcomed the extension saying it was "extremely important". "Government made the right call because giving up our safeguards, when the EU and US are maintaining theirs, would leave us exposed to import surges threatening thousands of jobs," he said. Ms Trevelyan said maintaining tariffs would help defend a strategic industry and that British steel producers could face "serious injury" were the measures not maintained. "The government is therefore actively engaged with interested parties, including those outside the UK on the future of the UK safeguards and has listened to the concerns raised," she added. The largest British trade body representing the industry, UK Steel, said the measures were "absolutely vital to the long-term health of the steel industry in the UK". "Deficient or absent safeguards measures risk trade diversion away from shielded markets elsewhere, resulting in surges of imports into the UK," said Richard Warren, head of policy and external affairs at UK Steel. Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour's shadow international trade secretary, said: "The extension of safeguards will come as a welcome relief to the steel sector. "It is not anti-competitive to provide a level playing field for our steel industry," he said. "I also support the decision to exclude Ukrainian steel." But some criticised the move, saying it would stifle the supply of much-needed steel not produced in the UK. Despite being a "step in the right direction," the Confederation of British Metalworkers boss Steve Morley said, the tariffs raise the "very real prospect of lost orders and production being moved away from the UK." "British steel mills have not been able to supply the... materials our members need to support critical domestic and export supply chains, nor are they likely to be able to do so in the near future," he said.