Afghan army's airstrike in Afghanistan's Zabul province on Tuesday killed at least 47 Taliban terrorists and injured 15 others.

According to an army spokesperson, foreign troops aimed at the terrorist hideouts in Shinki and Nawbahar districts killing the district governor designated by the Taliban reported Sputnik.

Additionally, the strikes in Arghandab and Shah Wali Kot districts of Kandahar lead to the destruction of 10 mines.

Meanwhile, in another strike launched on Taliban bases in Gizab district of the Uruzgan province, 11 terrorists were killed.&nbsp;

Afghan army's airstrike in Afghanistan's Zabul province on Tuesday killed at least 47 Taliban terrorists and injured 15 others. According to an army spokesperson, foreign troops aimed at the terrorist hideouts in Shinki and Nawbahar districts killing the district governor designated by the Taliban reported Sputnik.

Afghan army's airstrike in Afghanistan's Zabul province on Tuesday killed at least 47 Taliban terrorists and injured 15 others. According to an army spokesperson, foreign troops aimed at the terrorist hideouts in Shinki and Nawbahar districts killing the district governor designated by the Taliban reported Sputnik. Additionally, the strikes in Arghandab and Shah Wali Kot districts of Kandahar lead to the destruction of 10 mines. Meanwhile, in another strike launched on Taliban bases in Gizab district of the Uruzgan province, 11 terrorists were killed.

Airstrikes in southeast Afghanistan kill 47 terrorists: Military spokesperson

Thousands of Iraqis gathered in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, defying the curfew, in a series of anti-government protests.

Young men clad in Iraqi flags flooded the streets. The protests have been largely successful owing to the mobilisation of people via cars, taxis, motorcycles and even tuk-tuks.&nbsp;

According to Reuters, one protester named Haider demanded to have a "presidential regime" in the country, saying, "when a new president comes to power, he only rules us for four years, and then we can fire him."

Iraq has witnessed more than hundreds of deaths and continuous protests over the last month against the government. On Monday itself, Iraqi security forces opened fire on protesters and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqi-security-forces-open-fire-on-protesters-kill-14-258650">killed at least 18 people</a> in the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala.

"We, the Iraqi people, want a presidential regime, we don't want a parliamentary regime'', Haider added.

Rampant corruption and inflation have drives Iraqis to the streets, with the youth demanding jobs and economic stability. Even though Iraq has a history of violence and protests, the last two years were relatively quiet.&nbsp;

At least 250 people have been killed since the unrest started on October 1.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Thousands of Iraqis gathered in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, defying the curfew, in a series of anti-government protests. Young men clad in Iraqi flags flooded the streets.

Thousands of Iraqis gathered in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, defying the curfew, in a series of anti-government protests. Young men clad in Iraqi flags flooded the streets. The protests have been largely successful owing to the mobilisation of people via cars, taxis, motorcycles and even tuk-tuks. According to Reuters, one protester named Haider demanded to have a "presidential regime" in the country, saying, "when a new president comes to power, he only rules us for four years, and then we can fire him." Iraq has witnessed more than hundreds of deaths and continuous protests over the last month against the government. On Monday itself, Iraqi security forces opened fire on protesters and killed at least 18 people in the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala. "We, the Iraqi people, want a presidential regime, we don't want a parliamentary regime'', Haider added. Rampant corruption and inflation have drives Iraqis to the streets, with the youth demanding jobs and economic stability. Even though Iraq has a history of violence and protests, the last two years were relatively quiet. At least 250 people have been killed since the unrest started on October 1. (With inputs from Reuters)

Thousands defy curfew and gather in Baghdad to protest against government

The Foreign Ministry of China on Wednesday said that Beijing had asserted their dismay to Australia in view of the comments made by Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne's about the abuse of human rights in China.

"She [Payne is] commenting on Xinjiang issues for her political needs. This is not good and does not benefit the improvement and development of the two countries' relations. China has already lodged stern representations with Australia about this, to say that this way of doing things is very inappropriate", Geng Shuang, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Payne during a speech in Sydney on Tuesday said that Australia expects accountability from China on pressing issues like human rights, further adding that silence on these issues goes against Australia's national interests.

"We hope that the Australian side can reflect on and learn the lessons of the recent disturbances in Sino-Australian relations, and meet China halfway. Don't do anything which is like taking one step forward and two steps back", Shuang said in Beijing.

Stressful relations between Australia and China have disrupted bilateral trade worth more than $123.48 billion last year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

The Foreign Ministry of China on Wednesday said that Beijing had asserted their dismay to Australia in view of the comments made by Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne's about the abuse of human rights in China.

The Foreign Ministry of China on Wednesday said that Beijing had asserted their dismay to Australia in view of the comments made by Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne's about the abuse of human rights in China. "She [Payne is] commenting on Xinjiang issues for her political needs. This is not good and does not benefit the improvement and development of the two countries' relations. China has already lodged stern representations with Australia about this, to say that this way of doing things is very inappropriate", Geng Shuang, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said. Payne during a speech in Sydney on Tuesday said that Australia expects accountability from China on pressing issues like human rights, further adding that silence on these issues goes against Australia's national interests. "We hope that the Australian side can reflect on and learn the lessons of the recent disturbances in Sino-Australian relations, and meet China halfway. Don't do anything which is like taking one step forward and two steps back", Shuang said in Beijing. Stressful relations between Australia and China have disrupted bilateral trade worth more than $123.48 billion last year. (With inputs from Reuters)

China lodges ''stern representations'' with Australia over human rights comment

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) check-in system went down after a fault developed in international submarine cables that connect the country.

In order to run the operations, the national flag carrier switched to a manual system. That could result in a delay in flights, reported ARY News.

Separately, PIA, in a tweet, said: "PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited) network is down due to damage to their underground cables causing an outage of PIA Check-In systems across the country. We're moving to backup systems and manual processes. We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to the resulting delays."

Internet service across the country was impacted on Tuesday.

According to the reports, two submarines cables have gone offline disrupting internet in Pakistan. 
 
"IMEWE and SEAMEWE 4, that carry almost 50 per cent of Pakistan's internet traffic, went offline due to a fault at a location that's yet not determined," the report said.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) check-in system went down after a fault developed in international submarine cables that connect the country. In order to run the operations, the national flag carrier switched to a manual system.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) check-in system went down after a fault developed in international submarine cables that connect the country. In order to run the operations, the national flag carrier switched to a manual system. That could result in a delay in flights, reported ARY News. Separately, PIA, in a tweet, said: "PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited) network is down due to damage to their underground cables causing an outage of PIA Check-In systems across the country. We're moving to backup systems and manual processes. We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to the resulting delays." Internet service across the country was impacted on Tuesday. According to the reports, two submarines cables have gone offline disrupting internet in Pakistan. "IMEWE and SEAMEWE 4, that carry almost 50 per cent of Pakistan's internet traffic, went offline due to a fault at a location that's yet not determined," the report said.

Pakistan International Airlines system down after submarine cable fault

There is nothing unusual about Chinese companies experiencing issues when investing in Pacific island states or elsewhere, China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, after a rebuffed attempt by a Chinese firm to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-signs-deal-to-lease-pacific-island-in-solomons-256452">lease an island</a> in the Solomons.

The Solomon Islands government said last week a deal signed by one of its provinces to lease the entire island of Tulagi to a Chinese company is unlawful and should be terminated, a move applauded by United States.

Details of the long-term lease between the Solomons' Central Province and China Sam Enterprise Group were made public shortly after the Pacific nation switched diplomatic ties to Beijing from Taiwan in September. The shift was strongly criticised by the United States.

Speaking at a daily briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang noted there had been a "fair amount" of media attention on the case, and that is was their understanding the local government had not sought permission for the project from the central government.

China has always told its companies they must respect local laws and international rules when operating abroad, and that they were encouraging the Chinese company involved in this case to talk to the Solomons government to "appropriately" resolve the issue, he added.

"I'd like to say here that it is very normal for Chinese companies investing in or looking for commercial opportunities overseas, including in the Pacific island state region, to maybe have some issues in this process," Geng said.

The United States, however, was "abnormally excited" about this particular case, with even the US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Mark Esper weighing in, looking to smear China's relationship with the region, he added.

"We no longer wonder at the sight of these cheap tricks, but can't help ask the Americans, do you really care about the interests of Pacific island states and their people? Or do you care more about your geopolitical interests? I think the US&nbsp;side should give a clear answer."

Though tiny in land mass, Pacific islands such as Tulagi have re-emerged as a strategic priority for the world's biggest nations, who are keen to lock-in alliances with countries that control vast swaths of resource-rich ocean between the Americas and Asia.

China, in particular, has in recent years expanded its financial and political influence in the Pacific, which have been a diplomatic stronghold for the United Sates and its regional allies since World War Two.

Esper had applauded the Solomons' decision to invalidate the agreement, which he applauded as "an important decision to reinforce sovereignty, transparency, and the rule of law".

Tulagi hosted US&nbsp;bases in World War Two and was the site of the Solomons' capital before it was moved to the island of Guadalcanal.

There is nothing unusual about Chinese companies experiencing issues when investing in Pacific island states or elsewhere, China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, after a rebuffed attempt by a Chinese firm to lease an island in the Solomons.

There is nothing unusual about Chinese companies experiencing issues when investing in Pacific island states or elsewhere, China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, after a rebuffed attempt by a Chinese firm to lease an island in the Solomons. The Solomon Islands government said last week a deal signed by one of its provinces to lease the entire island of Tulagi to a Chinese company is unlawful and should be terminated, a move applauded by United States. Details of the long-term lease between the Solomons' Central Province and China Sam Enterprise Group were made public shortly after the Pacific nation switched diplomatic ties to Beijing from Taiwan in September. The shift was strongly criticised by the United States. Speaking at a daily briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang noted there had been a "fair amount" of media attention on the case, and that is was their understanding the local government had not sought permission for the project from the central government. China has always told its companies they must respect local laws and international rules when operating abroad, and that they were encouraging the Chinese company involved in this case to talk to the Solomons government to "appropriately" resolve the issue, he added. "I'd like to say here that it is very normal for Chinese companies investing in or looking for commercial opportunities overseas, including in the Pacific island state region, to maybe have some issues in this process," Geng said. The United States, however, was "abnormally excited" about this particular case, with even the US Defense Secretary Mark Esper weighing in, looking to smear China's relationship with the region, he added. "We no longer wonder at the sight of these cheap tricks, but can't help ask the Americans, do you really care about the interests of Pacific island states and their people? Or do you care more about your geopolitical interests? I think the US side should give a clear answer." Though tiny in land mass, Pacific islands such as Tulagi have re-emerged as a strategic priority for the world's biggest nations, who are keen to lock-in alliances with countries that control vast swaths of resource-rich ocean between the Americas and Asia. China, in particular, has in recent years expanded its financial and political influence in the Pacific, which have been a diplomatic stronghold for the United Sates and its regional allies since World War Two. Esper had applauded the Solomons' decision to invalidate the agreement, which he applauded as "an important decision to reinforce sovereignty, transparency, and the rule of law". Tulagi hosted US bases in World War Two and was the site of the Solomons' capital before it was moved to the island of Guadalcanal.

China downplays Solomon island lease debacle, tells US to stay out

Firefighters braced late on Tuesday for a resurgence of strong Santa Ana desert winds across Southern California after a day of light breezes helped them gain ground against a blaze&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bracing-for-winds-authorities-order-thousands-to-flee-california-wine-country-fire-258340">displacing thousands </a>of Los Angeles residents near the famed Getty Center museum.

City arson investigators reported earlier on Tuesday that the Getty fire was likely caused by a broken tree branch being blown into power lines during high winds early Monday morning.

Electricity remained cut off to roughly half a million homes and businesses in northern and central California on Tuesday as a precaution by the state's largest utility, while firefighting strike teams and equipment were posted on standy at strategic points throughout the state.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center reported a critical or extreme fire danger existed for more than 34,000 square miles of California, encompassing some 21 million people.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who has accused utilities of failing to adequately modernize and safely maintain their power systems, paid a visit to the Getty fire zone on Tuesday afternoon.

"This is a challenging time," Newsom told a news conference at a command centre in the University of California's Los Angeles campus, adding that 43 of the state's 58 counties were "experiencing at or near-historic wind events."

At the start of the day, firefighters in Los Angeles and those battling a much larger conflagration in northern California's Sonoma County wine country took advantage of lighter winds to make headway before hazardous winds reemerged.

Fire officials worried high winds forecast to gust to 70 miles&nbsp;per hour or more would lift embers from smouldering hot spots and carry them into unburned vegetation, re-igniting and spreading flames anew.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said extremely high winds could also force the grounding of water-dropping helicopters, a vital component of the firefighting arsenal.

While moderately high winds that returned to northern California late on Tuesday were expected to fade by Wednesday morning, forecasts called for extreme Santa Anas to arrive in Southern California late Tuesday night and last into Thursday.

That gave an army of some 1,100 firefighters battling the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firefighters-struggle-against-massive-wind-whipped-california-wildfire-258443">Getty fire</a> a narrow window for consolidating gains a day after wind-driven flames and embers spread over scrub-covered slopes around some of most expensive homes on the city's west side.

By late afternoon, crews had managed to confine the blaze to about 650 acres&nbsp;while carving solid containment lines around 15 per cent&nbsp;of its perimeter, up from 5 per cent&nbsp;a day earlier.

In northern California, where firefighters struggled for a fifth day against a 76,000-acre blaze in Sonoma County's wine-growing region, high-wind forecasts prompted Pacific Gas and Electric Co&nbsp;to impose a new round of prescribed blackouts for nearly 600,000 homes and business.

That included about 400,000 customers blacked out in a "public safety power shut-off" that PG&amp;E instituted days earlier, the company said in a statement. Tuesday's power cuts marked the third wave of mass blackouts implemented this month by PG&amp;E.

Utilities serving Southern California's more highly urbanized areas have imposed smaller-scale outages.

Announcing preliminary findings of its Getty fire investigation, the Los Angeles Fire Department said the blaze probably started when a tree branch snapped off in high winds landed on adjacent power lines, producing sparks and "arcing" that ignited nearby brush.

The lines, which are operated by the city's Department of Water and Power (DWP), remained intact, the statement said.

The DWP said the broken branch apparently came from a Eucalyptus tree growing about 30 feet away, beyond the vegetation-clearance zone required by state regulations.

PG&amp;E has likewise been implicated in the latest Sonoma County blaze, dubbed the Kincade fire. The utility acknowledged last week that the Kincade fire broke out near a damaged PG&amp;E transmission tower at about the time a live high-voltage line carried by that tower malfunctioned.

The company, whose mass power shutdowns have drawn harsh criticism from the governor, filed for bankruptcy in January, citing $30 billion in potential liability from a series of deadly fires sparked by its equipment in 2017 and 2018.

Citing progress made against the Kincade fire, Newsom said the number of evacuees in northern California had diminished from 190,000 at the peak of that blaze to 130,000 on Tuesday.

Property losses from the Kincade, listed at 15 per cent&nbsp;contained, were put at 189 homes and other structures, double Monday's tally.

The size of the Getty fire's evacuation zone was reduced by roughly 3,000 homes on Tuesday, but residents of about 7,000 dwellings remained displaced, fire officials said. At least a dozen homes have been destroyed so far.

Firefighters braced late on Tuesday for a resurgence of strong Santa Ana desert winds across Southern California after a day of light breezes helped them gain ground against a blaze displacing thousands of Los Angeles residents near the famed Getty Center museum.

Firefighters braced late on Tuesday for a resurgence of strong Santa Ana desert winds across Southern California after a day of light breezes helped them gain ground against a blaze displacing thousands of Los Angeles residents near the famed Getty Center museum. City arson investigators reported earlier on Tuesday that the Getty fire was likely caused by a broken tree branch being blown into power lines during high winds early Monday morning. Electricity remained cut off to roughly half a million homes and businesses in northern and central California on Tuesday as a precaution by the state's largest utility, while firefighting strike teams and equipment were posted on standy at strategic points throughout the state. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center reported a critical or extreme fire danger existed for more than 34,000 square miles of California, encompassing some 21 million people. Governor Gavin Newsom, who has accused utilities of failing to adequately modernize and safely maintain their power systems, paid a visit to the Getty fire zone on Tuesday afternoon. "This is a challenging time," Newsom told a news conference at a command centre in the University of California's Los Angeles campus, adding that 43 of the state's 58 counties were "experiencing at or near-historic wind events." At the start of the day, firefighters in Los Angeles and those battling a much larger conflagration in northern California's Sonoma County wine country took advantage of lighter winds to make headway before hazardous winds reemerged. Fire officials worried high winds forecast to gust to 70 miles per hour or more would lift embers from smouldering hot spots and carry them into unburned vegetation, re-igniting and spreading flames anew. Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said extremely high winds could also force the grounding of water-dropping helicopters, a vital component of the firefighting arsenal. While moderately high winds that returned to northern California late on Tuesday were expected to fade by Wednesday morning, forecasts called for extreme Santa Anas to arrive in Southern California late Tuesday night and last into Thursday. That gave an army of some 1,100 firefighters battling the Getty fire a narrow window for consolidating gains a day after wind-driven flames and embers spread over scrub-covered slopes around some of most expensive homes on the city's west side. By late afternoon, crews had managed to confine the blaze to about 650 acres while carving solid containment lines around 15 per cent of its perimeter, up from 5 per cent a day earlier. In northern California, where firefighters struggled for a fifth day against a 76,000-acre blaze in Sonoma County's wine-growing region, high-wind forecasts prompted Pacific Gas and Electric Co to impose a new round of prescribed blackouts for nearly 600,000 homes and business. That included about 400,000 customers blacked out in a "public safety power shut-off" that PG&E instituted days earlier, the company said in a statement. Tuesday's power cuts marked the third wave of mass blackouts implemented this month by PG&E. Utilities serving Southern California's more highly urbanized areas have imposed smaller-scale outages. Announcing preliminary findings of its Getty fire investigation, the Los Angeles Fire Department said the blaze probably started when a tree branch snapped off in high winds landed on adjacent power lines, producing sparks and "arcing" that ignited nearby brush. The lines, which are operated by the city's Department of Water and Power (DWP), remained intact, the statement said. The DWP said the broken branch apparently came from a Eucalyptus tree growing about 30 feet away, beyond the vegetation-clearance zone required by state regulations. PG&E has likewise been implicated in the latest Sonoma County blaze, dubbed the Kincade fire. The utility acknowledged last week that the Kincade fire broke out near a damaged PG&E transmission tower at about the time a live high-voltage line carried by that tower malfunctioned. The company, whose mass power shutdowns have drawn harsh criticism from the governor, filed for bankruptcy in January, citing $30 billion in potential liability from a series of deadly fires sparked by its equipment in 2017 and 2018. Citing progress made against the Kincade fire, Newsom said the number of evacuees in northern California had diminished from 190,000 at the peak of that blaze to 130,000 on Tuesday. Property losses from the Kincade, listed at 15 per cent contained, were put at 189 homes and other structures, double Monday's tally. The size of the Getty fire's evacuation zone was reduced by roughly 3,000 homes on Tuesday, but residents of about 7,000 dwellings remained displaced, fire officials said. At least a dozen homes have been destroyed so far.

Southern California firefighters brace for resurgence of extreme winds

China's mass detention and surveillance of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-this-the-proof-of-chinas-atrocities-on-uighur-muslims-254842">ethnic Uighurs</a> in Xinjiang province came under fire at the United Nations Tuesday, with 23 nations, mostly western,&nbsp;backing a British statement condemning Beijing's human rights record.

But China's allies countered with a statement of their own that won even broader support, with some 54 nations backing a Belarus text that heaped effusive praise on Beijing's "remarkable achievements in the field of human rights."

They included Pakistan, Russia, Egypt, Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Serbia,&nbsp;which have all been criticised for their own rights records.

The duelling statements at the UN General Assembly are non-binding, but highlight the global divide on China's human rights record,&nbsp;&nbsp;particularly as Beijing moves to flex its diplomatic and economic clout abroad.

Rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities have been rounded up in internment camps in Xinjiang.

After initially denying their existence, Beijing now defends the Xinjiang camps as "vocational education centres" that are necessary to counter religious extremism and terrorism.

China has embarked on a global public relations campaign to win support for its Xinjiang policies,&nbsp;even convincing Muslim-majority nations such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to voice support.

Britain's UN statement Tuesday expressed concerns "regarding credible reports of mass detention; efforts to restrict cultural and religious practices; mass surveillance disproportionately targeting ethnic Uighurs; and other human rights violations and abuses".

"The Chinese government should urgently... (refrain) from the arbitrary detention of Uighurs and members of other Muslim communities," it said.

Countries backing it included the United States, Germany, France, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.

But that statement was swiftly countered by the one from Belarus,&nbsp;where China is building a massive industrial park,&nbsp;which praised Beijing's rights record.

"We commend China's remarkable achievements in the field of human rights by adhering to the people-centred development philosophy and protecting and promoting human rights through development," the statement said.

"We also appreciate China's contributions to the international human rights cause," it added while criticizing the "politicization" of the issue of human rights at the UN.

Uighurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, make up the largest portion of the population of Xinjiang, a vast region in northwestern China.

China's mass detention and surveillance of ethnic Uighurs in Xinjiang province came under fire at the United Nations Tuesday, with 23 nations, mostly western, backing a British statement condemning Beijing's human rights record.

China's mass detention and surveillance of ethnic Uighurs in Xinjiang province came under fire at the United Nations Tuesday, with 23 nations, mostly western, backing a British statement condemning Beijing's human rights record. But China's allies countered with a statement of their own that won even broader support, with some 54 nations backing a Belarus text that heaped effusive praise on Beijing's "remarkable achievements in the field of human rights." They included Pakistan, Russia, Egypt, Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Serbia, which have all been criticised for their own rights records. The duelling statements at the UN General Assembly are non-binding, but highlight the global divide on China's human rights record, particularly as Beijing moves to flex its diplomatic and economic clout abroad. Rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities have been rounded up in internment camps in Xinjiang. After initially denying their existence, Beijing now defends the Xinjiang camps as "vocational education centres" that are necessary to counter religious extremism and terrorism. China has embarked on a global public relations campaign to win support for its Xinjiang policies, even convincing Muslim-majority nations such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to voice support. Britain's UN statement Tuesday expressed concerns "regarding credible reports of mass detention; efforts to restrict cultural and religious practices; mass surveillance disproportionately targeting ethnic Uighurs; and other human rights violations and abuses". "The Chinese government should urgently... (refrain) from the arbitrary detention of Uighurs and members of other Muslim communities," it said. Countries backing it included the United States, Germany, France, Canada, Japan and New Zealand. But that statement was swiftly countered by the one from Belarus, where China is building a massive industrial park, which praised Beijing's rights record. "We commend China's remarkable achievements in the field of human rights by adhering to the people-centred development philosophy and protecting and promoting human rights through development," the statement said. "We also appreciate China's contributions to the international human rights cause," it added while criticizing the "politicization" of the issue of human rights at the UN. Uighurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, make up the largest portion of the population of Xinjiang, a vast region in northwestern China.

U.N. members split on China's Uighur rights record

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-shops-shutter-as-months-of-protest-darken-economic-gloom-258593">Hong Kong</a> is bracing for a rowdy and possibly hugely dangerous Halloween on Thursday, when thousands of pro-democracy protesters, many wearing banned face masks, plan to combine with fancy-dress clubbers in the party district of Lan Kwai Fong.

The protesters say they will march, without police permission, from a park in the Causeway Bay shopping district through the heaving bar streets of Wan Chai to the steep, narrow foothills of the Peak above Central.

Every weekend, the bars in Lan Kwai Fong spill on to the streets office goers, clubbers and expatriate families, even without the activists who have thrown petrol bombs at police, set fires and trashed buildings during five months of unrest.

A stampede at midnight on New Year's Eve in 1992, when thousands had gathered, killed at least 20 and wounded scores.

This month Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam banned protesters from wearing face masks under a resuscitated British colonial-era emergency law, but few have taken any notice.

And Halloween masks have not been banned, which will make it difficult for police to identify protesters.

"Based on past experience, such unauthorised assembly will impose a serious threat to public order and public safety," police said in a statement.

"Members of the public should avoid travelling to the concerned area when public disorder occurs."

Protesters are angry at what they see as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/hong-kong-enters-recession-as-protests-show-no-sign-of-relenting-258425">Beijing's increasing interference in Hong Kong</a>, which returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula intended to guarantee freedoms not seen on the mainland. Some are increasingly focusing their fury on mainland Chinese in the city.

China denies meddling and has accused foreign governments, including the United States and Britain, of stirring up trouble.

Lam said she expected negative economic growth in the Asian financial hub this year, in part as a result of the unrest.

"The increasingly violent reality since June is hurting Hong Kong's economy," Lam said in a speech on Wednesday. "...what started off as peaceful protests, a hallmark of Hong Kong's rights and freedoms, have turned into violent acts by rioters."

With visitors deterred by months of violence, many small firms across the city have already closed or are struggling to turn a profit.

Lam's gloomy forecast came two days after Financial Secretary Paul Chan said Hong Kong had slipped into a technical recession, meaning two successive quarters of contraction. That is expected to be confirmed by Thursday's third-quarter GDP data.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protests-erupt-in-hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-to-clear-rally-258401">The protests, which started over a now-withdrawn extradition bill</a>, have plunged the city into its biggest crisis in decades and also pose the biggest populist challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.

Hong Kong is bracing for a rowdy and possibly hugely dangerous Halloween on Thursday, when thousands of pro-democracy protesters, many wearing banned face masks, plan to combine with fancy-dress clubbers in the party district of Lan Kwai Fong.

Hong Kong is bracing for a rowdy and possibly hugely dangerous Halloween on Thursday, when thousands of pro-democracy protesters, many wearing banned face masks, plan to combine with fancy-dress clubbers in the party district of Lan Kwai Fong. The protesters say they will march, without police permission, from a park in the Causeway Bay shopping district through the heaving bar streets of Wan Chai to the steep, narrow foothills of the Peak above Central. Every weekend, the bars in Lan Kwai Fong spill on to the streets office goers, clubbers and expatriate families, even without the activists who have thrown petrol bombs at police, set fires and trashed buildings during five months of unrest. A stampede at midnight on New Year's Eve in 1992, when thousands had gathered, killed at least 20 and wounded scores. This month Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam banned protesters from wearing face masks under a resuscitated British colonial-era emergency law, but few have taken any notice. And Halloween masks have not been banned, which will make it difficult for police to identify protesters. "Based on past experience, such unauthorised assembly will impose a serious threat to public order and public safety," police said in a statement. "Members of the public should avoid travelling to the concerned area when public disorder occurs." Protesters are angry at what they see as Beijing's increasing interference in Hong Kong, which returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula intended to guarantee freedoms not seen on the mainland. Some are increasingly focusing their fury on mainland Chinese in the city. China denies meddling and has accused foreign governments, including the United States and Britain, of stirring up trouble. Lam said she expected negative economic growth in the Asian financial hub this year, in part as a result of the unrest. "The increasingly violent reality since June is hurting Hong Kong's economy," Lam said in a speech on Wednesday. "...what started off as peaceful protests, a hallmark of Hong Kong's rights and freedoms, have turned into violent acts by rioters." With visitors deterred by months of violence, many small firms across the city have already closed or are struggling to turn a profit. Lam's gloomy forecast came two days after Financial Secretary Paul Chan said Hong Kong had slipped into a technical recession, meaning two successive quarters of contraction. That is expected to be confirmed by Thursday's third-quarter GDP data. The protests, which started over a now-withdrawn extradition bill, have plunged the city into its biggest crisis in decades and also pose the biggest populist challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.

Hong Kong protesters to target party district during Halloween

Some major highways in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/imf-stresses-urgency-of-reforms-in-lebanon-to-restore-economic-stability-258530">Lebanon</a> reopened on Wednesday after the army urged protesters to lift roadblocks so that activities could return to normal following 13 days of demonstrations that paralysed the country and forced the prime minister to resign.

Tuesday's resignation toppled the coalition government of Saad al-Hariri, who said he had hit a "dead end" in trying to resolve the crisis unleashed by the huge protests against the ruling elite.

Early on Wednesday, troops cleared one major route north of Beirut after briefly scuffling with demonstrators. A group of soldiers tried to pick up a vehicle blocking the highway before it drove off, al-Jadeed television images showed.

The Ring Bridge in the centre of the capital opened after negotiations with some protesters who did not want to leave, saying they wanted more of the authorities to resign. Many protesters stayed on but did not block the whole road.

In a statement, the army command said people had a right to protest, but that applied "in public squares only". 
 
Watch: Lebanon protests - People form a human chain

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/lebanon-protests-people-form-a-human-chain-258542/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The main protest camp in a square in the centre of the capital was quiet but was closed to traffic by security forces.

Hariri's resignation speech on Tuesday came after a crowd loyal to the Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah and Amal movements attacked and destroyed a camp in central Beirut.

The strife was the most serious on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-lebanon-in-deadlock-protesters-form-human-chain-258437">streets of Beirut since 2008</a> when Hezbollah fighters seized control of the capital in a brief eruption of armed conflict with Lebanese adversaries loyal to Hariri and his allies at the time.

The departure of Hariri, who has been traditionally backed by the West and Sunni Gulf Arab allies, pushes Lebanon into unpredictable political territory.

The protests have compounded Lebanon's already serious economic woes and banks kept their doors shut on Wednesday.

Some major highways in Lebanon reopened on Wednesday after the army urged protesters to lift roadblocks so that activities could return to normal following 13 days of demonstrations that paralysed the country and forced the prime minister to resign.

Some major highways in Lebanon reopened on Wednesday after the army urged protesters to lift roadblocks so that activities could return to normal following 13 days of demonstrations that paralysed the country and forced the prime minister to resign. Tuesday's resignation toppled the coalition government of Saad al-Hariri, who said he had hit a "dead end" in trying to resolve the crisis unleashed by the huge protests against the ruling elite. Early on Wednesday, troops cleared one major route north of Beirut after briefly scuffling with demonstrators. A group of soldiers tried to pick up a vehicle blocking the highway before it drove off, al-Jadeed television images showed. The Ring Bridge in the centre of the capital opened after negotiations with some protesters who did not want to leave, saying they wanted more of the authorities to resign. Many protesters stayed on but did not block the whole road. In a statement, the army command said people had a right to protest, but that applied "in public squares only". Watch: Lebanon protests - People form a human chain The main protest camp in a square in the centre of the capital was quiet but was closed to traffic by security forces. Hariri's resignation speech on Tuesday came after a crowd loyal to the Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah and Amal movements attacked and destroyed a camp in central Beirut. The strife was the most serious on the streets of Beirut since 2008 when Hezbollah fighters seized control of the capital in a brief eruption of armed conflict with Lebanese adversaries loyal to Hariri and his allies at the time. The departure of Hariri, who has been traditionally backed by the West and Sunni Gulf Arab allies, pushes Lebanon into unpredictable political territory. The protests have compounded Lebanon's already serious economic woes and banks kept their doors shut on Wednesday.

Major roads reopen in Lebanon after prime minister resigns

Talks between Turkish and Russian officials on developments in northeast Syria have concluded and the two delegations have "largely" reached an agreement, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Russia had informed Turkey that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-says-kurdish-ypg-still-in-syria-border-area-as-deadline-looms-258685">Syrian Kurdish</a> YPG had left a planned "safe zone" within a deadline set by Ankara and Moscow. Under their agreement, Russia and Turkey were then due to start joint patrols. 
 
Watch: Baghdadi killed in US operation in Syria

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"Inter-delegation talks with Russia have concluded a short while ago. An agreement was largely reached. Our efforts continue in a mutually constructive, understanding way," Akar was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Talks between Turkish and Russian officials on developments in northeast Syria have concluded and the two delegations have "largely" reached an agreement, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.

Talks between Turkish and Russian officials on developments in northeast Syria have concluded and the two delegations have "largely" reached an agreement, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Russia had informed Turkey that the Syrian Kurdish YPG had left a planned "safe zone" within a deadline set by Ankara and Moscow. Under their agreement, Russia and Turkey were then due to start joint patrols. Watch: Baghdadi killed in US operation in Syria "Inter-delegation talks with Russia have concluded a short while ago. An agreement was largely reached. Our efforts continue in a mutually constructive, understanding way," Akar was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Turkey says "largely" reached agreement with Russia in Syria talks: Report

From the streets of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chile-president-lifts-state-of-emergency-protests-continue-258441">Santiago and Quito</a> to the ballot boxes of Buenos Aires, many South Americans have strongly rejected in recent weeks their leaders' free-market agendas, amid outcry that they are fueling inequality across the region.

With economic growth slowing sharply, job security fraying and holes in social safety nets widening, a wave of protest has arisen, spanning millions of people across the continent.

The end of the 'pink tide' of leftist leaders that swept Latin America in the 2000s gave way in recent years to a series of more broadly conservative governments.

But while each country has its own issues, there has been a common backlash against the "market-friendly" policies pursued by some of those governments,&nbsp;such as the privatising of state assets, reduction of public subsidies, and exposure of more aspects of society to market forces.

In Chile, which introduced market reforms long before the rest of the region and is seen by many as a poster child of neoliberalism, some 1 million people marched on Friday to protest the conservative economic agenda of billionaire President Sebastian Pinera, the largest protest since the country's return to democracy in 1990.

That followed a week of riots in which at least 18 people were killed. The unrest began after the government raised the price of metro fares, but reflected long-simmering anger at its failure to alter Chile's economic course despite growing inequality.

"There are two Chiles here. The Chile of people with money, and the Chile of the poor," said Nathaly Melendez, 28, a manicurist in Santiago. "If you don't have money, you have to wait in long lines for healthcare, education is terrible, students are all in debt."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chilean-president-vows-major-reshuffle-after-week-of-protests-258314">The protests in Chile</a> came hot on the heels of violent demonstrations in Ecuador sparked by a proposed cut to decades-old fuel subsidies, which forced the government to temporarily relocate the capital to Guayaquil.

And in perhaps the most emphatic rejection of austerity and business-friendly reforms, Argentine voters on Sunday removed conservative President Mauricio Macri in favour of Peronist Alberto Fernandez - a landslide backing for a decidedly more protectionist agenda.

Branko Milanovic, visiting professor at The City University of New York and an expert on inequality, said the uneven effects of globalisation had sown discontent in Latin America.

Globalisation in recent decades brought a surge in low-cost products from emerging countries like China and expanded the export markets for Latin America's commodities, helping to fuel economic growth, but many across the region feel the rewards have accrued mostly to the wealthy.

By some measures, Chile is one of the most unequal countries in Latin America, though it also has the highest average income. According to Milanovic, the combined wealth of Chilean billionaires in 2015 was equal to a quarter of gross domestic product - the highest in the world, excluding tax havens like Cyprus, and around double the level of Mexico and Peru.

"If there is no social justice and minimum of social cohesion, the effects of growth will dissolve in grief, demonstrations, and yes, in the shooting of people," Milanovic wrote.

Leftist leaders have been galvanized by the backlash. Evo Morales, Bolivia's socialist leader now facing widespread protests after a disputed election win this month, has looked to rally his supporters with warnings about the return of neoliberalism should he lose power.

Creomar De Souza, the founder of Brasilia-based consultancy Dharma Political Risk And Strategy, said the longer-term policy impact of the upheavals was not yet clear.

"But in some of these countries, Argentina and maybe Bolivia, the economy will take a more heterodox turn, with a greater role for the state," De Souza said. "Pinera will try to endorse some social reforms in Chile, but the legitimacy of that generation of politicians is under threat." 
 
People getting poorer

The unrest coincides with a slide in Latin American economic growth in the wake of a long <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-million-chileans-march-in-santiago-city-grinds-to-halt-258235">commodities-driven boom</a>. The International Monetary Fund this month slashed its growth forecasts for the region this year to a dismal 0.2 per cent,&nbsp;the second-lowest rate in the world, behind the Middle East and North Africa's 0.1 per cent.

While many people globally feel poorer as the world economy slows, in Latin America it is actually true, according to World Bank figures.

The Bank uses a variety of measures to track GDP per capita, depending on exchange rate fluctuations, and most of them suggest it is lower in the region today than it was five years ago.

According to its measure using current US&nbsp;dollars, GDP per capita in Latin America last year was $9,023, down 13 per cent&nbsp;from the peak of $10,405 in 2014.

The process is not helped by the government's efforts in countries like Argentina, Chile and Brazil to reduce budget deficits.

Ana Lia Agullo, a 69-year old retiree in Buenos Aires, said Argentina's new government needed to refocus on employment, health and education, "the pillars of every society."

"It's totally different from Macri's supposed model, which is obviously not a model at all but rather a big-business trick typical of people belonging to his class," she said.

Moody's warned that social pressure would likely also force Pinera to ease efforts to reduce the deficit and stop Chile's debt growing.

Opposition to Chile's direction may be of particular interest for Brazil watchers, given that Economy Minister Paulo Guedes is a devotee of its economic model.

An orthodox University of Chicago-trained economist, Guedes failed in his attempt to introduce a pension system in Brazil based on the Chilean model of private savings accounts,&nbsp;though his reform, passed this month, will save the public purse $200 billion&nbsp;over the next decade by raising the minimum retirement age and increasing workers' contributions.

The remainder of his reform agenda, which includes labour market deregulation and ramping up privatisation, may face increased political resistance.

Memories linger of Brazil's brutal recession in 2015-16 as well as last year's truckers' strike over diesel price hikes that brought the country to a standstill. So far, there is no sign of people taking to the streets again in Brazil, but the political mood appears to be turning against Guedes' agenda.

Centre-right lawmaker Marcelo Ramos said Brazil needed investment to grow again, but it also needed to tackle inequality.

The inequality "keeps millions of Brazilians from being consumers and demands heavy social spending on unemployed, discouraged and underutilised workers," he said.

From the streets of Santiago and Quito to the ballot boxes of Buenos Aires, many South Americans have strongly rejected in recent weeks their leaders' free-market agendas, amid outcry that they are fueling inequality across the region.

From the streets of Santiago and Quito to the ballot boxes of Buenos Aires, many South Americans have strongly rejected in recent weeks their leaders' free-market agendas, amid outcry that they are fueling inequality across the region. With economic growth slowing sharply, job security fraying and holes in social safety nets widening, a wave of protest has arisen, spanning millions of people across the continent. The end of the 'pink tide' of leftist leaders that swept Latin America in the 2000s gave way in recent years to a series of more broadly conservative governments. But while each country has its own issues, there has been a common backlash against the "market-friendly" policies pursued by some of those governments, such as the privatising of state assets, reduction of public subsidies, and exposure of more aspects of society to market forces. In Chile, which introduced market reforms long before the rest of the region and is seen by many as a poster child of neoliberalism, some 1 million people marched on Friday to protest the conservative economic agenda of billionaire President Sebastian Pinera, the largest protest since the country's return to democracy in 1990. That followed a week of riots in which at least 18 people were killed. The unrest began after the government raised the price of metro fares, but reflected long-simmering anger at its failure to alter Chile's economic course despite growing inequality. "There are two Chiles here. The Chile of people with money, and the Chile of the poor," said Nathaly Melendez, 28, a manicurist in Santiago. "If you don't have money, you have to wait in long lines for healthcare, education is terrible, students are all in debt." The protests in Chile came hot on the heels of violent demonstrations in Ecuador sparked by a proposed cut to decades-old fuel subsidies, which forced the government to temporarily relocate the capital to Guayaquil. And in perhaps the most emphatic rejection of austerity and business-friendly reforms, Argentine voters on Sunday removed conservative President Mauricio Macri in favour of Peronist Alberto Fernandez - a landslide backing for a decidedly more protectionist agenda. Branko Milanovic, visiting professor at The City University of New York and an expert on inequality, said the uneven effects of globalisation had sown discontent in Latin America. Globalisation in recent decades brought a surge in low-cost products from emerging countries like China and expanded the export markets for Latin America's commodities, helping to fuel economic growth, but many across the region feel the rewards have accrued mostly to the wealthy. By some measures, Chile is one of the most unequal countries in Latin America, though it also has the highest average income. According to Milanovic, the combined wealth of Chilean billionaires in 2015 was equal to a quarter of gross domestic product - the highest in the world, excluding tax havens like Cyprus, and around double the level of Mexico and Peru. "If there is no social justice and minimum of social cohesion, the effects of growth will dissolve in grief, demonstrations, and yes, in the shooting of people," Milanovic wrote. Leftist leaders have been galvanized by the backlash. Evo Morales, Bolivia's socialist leader now facing widespread protests after a disputed election win this month, has looked to rally his supporters with warnings about the return of neoliberalism should he lose power. Creomar De Souza, the founder of Brasilia-based consultancy Dharma Political Risk And Strategy, said the longer-term policy impact of the upheavals was not yet clear. "But in some of these countries, Argentina and maybe Bolivia, the economy will take a more heterodox turn, with a greater role for the state," De Souza said. "Pinera will try to endorse some social reforms in Chile, but the legitimacy of that generation of politicians is under threat." People getting poorer The unrest coincides with a slide in Latin American economic growth in the wake of a long commodities-driven boom. The International Monetary Fund this month slashed its growth forecasts for the region this year to a dismal 0.2 per cent, the second-lowest rate in the world, behind the Middle East and North Africa's 0.1 per cent. While many people globally feel poorer as the world economy slows, in Latin America it is actually true, according to World Bank figures. The Bank uses a variety of measures to track GDP per capita, depending on exchange rate fluctuations, and most of them suggest it is lower in the region today than it was five years ago. According to its measure using current US dollars, GDP per capita in Latin America last year was $9,023, down 13 per cent from the peak of $10,405 in 2014. The process is not helped by the government's efforts in countries like Argentina, Chile and Brazil to reduce budget deficits. Ana Lia Agullo, a 69-year old retiree in Buenos Aires, said Argentina's new government needed to refocus on employment, health and education, "the pillars of every society." "It's totally different from Macri's supposed model, which is obviously not a model at all but rather a big-business trick typical of people belonging to his class," she said. Moody's warned that social pressure would likely also force Pinera to ease efforts to reduce the deficit and stop Chile's debt growing. Opposition to Chile's direction may be of particular interest for Brazil watchers, given that Economy Minister Paulo Guedes is a devotee of its economic model. An orthodox University of Chicago-trained economist, Guedes failed in his attempt to introduce a pension system in Brazil based on the Chilean model of private savings accounts, though his reform, passed this month, will save the public purse $200 billion over the next decade by raising the minimum retirement age and increasing workers' contributions. The remainder of his reform agenda, which includes labour market deregulation and ramping up privatisation, may face increased political resistance. Memories linger of Brazil's brutal recession in 2015-16 as well as last year's truckers' strike over diesel price hikes that brought the country to a standstill. So far, there is no sign of people taking to the streets again in Brazil, but the political mood appears to be turning against Guedes' agenda. Centre-right lawmaker Marcelo Ramos said Brazil needed investment to grow again, but it also needed to tackle inequality. The inequality "keeps millions of Brazilians from being consumers and demands heavy social spending on unemployed, discouraged and underutilised workers," he said.

Protests, elections show Latin America tide turning against pro-market agenda

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/huawei-in-early-talks-with-united-states-firms-to-licence-5g-platform-256876">Huawei Technologies</a>&nbsp;captured a record 42 per cent&nbsp;of China's smartphone market in the third quarter as local consumers rallied behind it after United States&nbsp;sanctions, leaving Apple to languish towards the bottom of the pile, market data showed.

Apple's market share in China slipped to 5 per cent&nbsp;from 7 per cent&nbsp;in the year-ago quarter, according to a report that market research firm Canalys released on Wednesday, hours before the Cupertino, California-based company was to report quarterly results.

The July-September quarter marked the iPhone's weakest sales in China in five years, said Nicole Peng, vice president of mobility at Canalys, with shipments likely down more than a quarter.

Concerns about slowing iPhone sales in China have dogged Apple for many quarters even as the global smartphone market has slowed and a resurgent Huawei has hit record sales in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/nine-month-revenue-up-despite-us-pressure-huawei-256217">Huawei</a>, the world's Number 2 maker of smartphones, was all but banned by the United States in May from doing business with American companies, significantly disrupting its ability to source key parts.

The company was then granted a reprieve until November but the blacklisting pushed up patriotic purchases of its smartphones in China, helping it more than offset a shipments slump in the global market.

With the expected rollout of the super-fast 5G network in China in the coming months, Huawei's advantage is expected to grow further.

"Huawei is in a strong position to consolidate its dominance further amid 5G network rollout, given its tight operator relationships in 5G network deployment, and control over key components such as local network-compatible 5G chipsets," Peng said.

"This puts significant pressure on Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi, which find it very hard to make any breakthrough."

Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Apple together accounted for 50 per cent&nbsp;of the market in the third quarter, down from 64 per cent&nbsp;a year earlier.

Huawei said last week it had sold more than 200 million phones globally in 2019, 64 days earlier than in 2018. The company's profits have remained resilient and revenue jumped 27 per cent&nbsp;in the third quarter.

The Chinese smartphone market contracted by 3 per cent in the third quarter, and Huawei smartphones made up 41.5 million of the 97.8 million shipped in the period, Canalys said.

Apple and Xiaomi did not have an immediate comment on the Canalys data. Huawei and Oppo declined to comment, while Vivo said it does not comment on third-party reports. 
 
iPhone 11 hopes

Apple launched its latest iPhone 11 range in China in September to tepid responses on social media, but shoppers have warmed to the model's additional cameras and cheaper pricing.

"Apple is more prepared than previous years to face strong headwinds in China," said Canalys analyst Louis Liu, noting the iPhone 11's camera improvements and lower launch price "were critical market stimuli".

The company's quarterly results likely received a boost from the launch and accounted for 40 per cent&nbsp;of its shipments, with customers willing to wait two to three weeks to receive shipments of the newer models, Peng said.

"But it faces a looming challenge, as Chinese vendors and operators are set to drive heavy marketing and promotions around 5G in the next two quarters," Liu added. "This could steal its thunder."

The US tech giant is expected to report flat revenue and a dip in earnings in the September quarter, based on Refinitiv data.

Huawei Technologies captured a record 42 per cent of China's smartphone market in the third quarter as local consumers rallied behind it after United States sanctions, leaving Apple to languish towards the bottom of the pile, market data showed.

Huawei Technologies captured a record 42 per cent of China's smartphone market in the third quarter as local consumers rallied behind it after United States sanctions, leaving Apple to languish towards the bottom of the pile, market data showed. Apple's market share in China slipped to 5 per cent from 7 per cent in the year-ago quarter, according to a report that market research firm Canalys released on Wednesday, hours before the Cupertino, California-based company was to report quarterly results. The July-September quarter marked the iPhone's weakest sales in China in five years, said Nicole Peng, vice president of mobility at Canalys, with shipments likely down more than a quarter. Concerns about slowing iPhone sales in China have dogged Apple for many quarters even as the global smartphone market has slowed and a resurgent Huawei has hit record sales in the country. Huawei, the world's Number 2 maker of smartphones, was all but banned by the United States in May from doing business with American companies, significantly disrupting its ability to source key parts. The company was then granted a reprieve until November but the blacklisting pushed up patriotic purchases of its smartphones in China, helping it more than offset a shipments slump in the global market. With the expected rollout of the super-fast 5G network in China in the coming months, Huawei's advantage is expected to grow further. "Huawei is in a strong position to consolidate its dominance further amid 5G network rollout, given its tight operator relationships in 5G network deployment, and control over key components such as local network-compatible 5G chipsets," Peng said. "This puts significant pressure on Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi, which find it very hard to make any breakthrough." Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Apple together accounted for 50 per cent of the market in the third quarter, down from 64 per cent a year earlier. Huawei said last week it had sold more than 200 million phones globally in 2019, 64 days earlier than in 2018. The company's profits have remained resilient and revenue jumped 27 per cent in the third quarter. The Chinese smartphone market contracted by 3 per cent in the third quarter, and Huawei smartphones made up 41.5 million of the 97.8 million shipped in the period, Canalys said. Apple and Xiaomi did not have an immediate comment on the Canalys data. Huawei and Oppo declined to comment, while Vivo said it does not comment on third-party reports. iPhone 11 hopes Apple launched its latest iPhone 11 range in China in September to tepid responses on social media, but shoppers have warmed to the model's additional cameras and cheaper pricing. "Apple is more prepared than previous years to face strong headwinds in China," said Canalys analyst Louis Liu, noting the iPhone 11's camera improvements and lower launch price "were critical market stimuli". The company's quarterly results likely received a boost from the launch and accounted for 40 per cent of its shipments, with customers willing to wait two to three weeks to receive shipments of the newer models, Peng said. "But it faces a looming challenge, as Chinese vendors and operators are set to drive heavy marketing and promotions around 5G in the next two quarters," Liu added. "This could steal its thunder." The US tech giant is expected to report flat revenue and a dip in earnings in the September quarter, based on Refinitiv data.

Huawei tightens China market hold with 42% share at expense of iPhones: Report

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