China's top leadership says they believe the country's economy will maintain steady growth in the second half of this year.

However, they did admit it is facing "extremely complicated domestic and international conditions".

The comments come following a top leadership meeting presided over by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping.

The statement issued following the meeting contends major economic indicators are within "reasonable ranges" in the first half.

It goes on by saying the central government will not roll out massive fiscal and monetary stimulus.

Instead, it will adopt a different approach by introducing economic reforms that are driven by market forces to offset the impact of the current slowdown.

 

Japanese Vice Foreign Minister visits China

It's been confirmed Japanese vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki paid a two-day visit to China earlier this week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying Saiki had held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Chinese counterpart Liu Zhenmin during the visit.

Chinese foreign ministry also said in the statement that China and Japan would maintain communication "at all levels and through multiple channels".

 

Over 10 die of heatstroke in "hottest Shanghai summer"

Local health authorities in Shanghai say the heatwave there has killed at least 10 people.

Temperatures in Shanghai surpassed 39 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the 8th straight day above 38.

The Shanghai Meteorological Center says this has been the hottest July for the city in over 140 years.

China's national meteorological bureau has issued its highest level emergency response to the current heatwave.

It covers 9 provinces and municipalities in eastern and central China.

 

Israel and Palestine agree to meet within next two weeks (Xiaohong, DC)

US Secretary of State John Kerry says negotiators from Israel and Palestine have agreed to hold another meeting within the next two weeks to kick off new peace talks.

The stalemated peace negotiations are aimed to achieve a final status agreement between the two sides.

In the next nine months, the two sides are going to hold secret talks to work out a final status agreement with one single objective: to end the decades-long conflict.

 

EU's Ashton says Egypt's Morsi in good health, has access to news

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says Egypt's ousted President Mohamed Morsi, is in good health and has access to the news.

However she says she does not know where Morsi is being held.

As part of her mediation mission to end Egypt's political unrest, Ashton has also held talks with with interim leadership, including army chief General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and representatives of activist gourps.

She is the first foreign diplomat to meet Morsi since he was detained after being overthrown close to a month ago.

 

Military judge rules Manning of Wikileaks case not guilty of aiding enemy

US Army private Bradley Manning, who is accused of leaking classified information to whistleblower site Wikileaks, has been convicted of espionage but not of aiding the enemy.

The judge has found the 25-year-old guilty of 20 charges in total, including theft and computer fraud.

Manning admitted turning over hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables and battle field reports to Wikileaks.

Manning, who has already spent three years in custody, is facing a maximum sentence of over 1-hundred years.

His sentencing hearing is set to begin later this Wednesday.

 

Spain train derailment driver on phone

It has been confirmed the driver in last week's train crash in northern Spain was talking on the phone when it derailed.

The initial readings of the black box showe Francisco Jose Garzon Amo was speaking to members of staff at the state-owned railway company.

It is believed they called him with indications regarding the route he had to take.

The train was traveling at twice the speed limit before it came off the track at a curve, killing 79 people.

 

Apple faces new worker abuse claims in China

Apple is facing fresh allegations of workers rights violations at the Chinese factories of one of its suppliers, Shanghai-based Pegatron Group.

New York-based China Labor Watch alleges three factories run by Pegatron violate a "great number of international and Chinese laws and standards".

The allegations include the use of underage workers, contract violations and excessive working hours.

Employees are said to be working close to 70-hours a week.

Both Apple and Pegatron say they will investigate the claims immediately.

Pegatron assembles about one third of Apple's iPhones and iPads.

The company currently has 70-thousand people on its payroll.

 

Chinese former "comfort women" request disciplinary action against Osaka Mayor

Three Chinese women who were forced to be comfort women by the Japanese military during World War II have joined with local supporters to request disciplinary action against Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto. 

They have requested the Osaka Bar Association take strict action against Hashimoto, who is a member of the association.

Hashimoto reportedly said women who were used for sexual purposes during the war were "necessary."

However, he says his words have been mistranslated by journalists.

The three women contend Hashimoto's remarks seriously infringe on their human rights.

 

Beijing police vow fresh efforts to combat crime

Authorities here in Beijing are bringing in a new security sweep following a number of deadly incidents this month.

More patrols are going to be out at nights and on the weekends.

Police say they're also going to focus their attention on crowded areas, internet cafes, entertainment areas and hotels.

Security checks are also being increased on the roads leading into Beijing.

This follows a pair of deadly stabbings, the murder of a toddler in a dispute over a parking space and the bombing at the Beijing airport this month.