6.2-magnitude quake hits Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY (XINHUA) – A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck 25km north of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea, on Monday (July 15), according to the US Geological Survey.

The tremor, which occurred at 6.21pm local time, was initially determined to be at 5.990 degrees south latitude and 149.552 degrees east longitude at a depth of 59km.

No tsunami warning has been issued.

North Carolina partisan gerrymandering state trial begins

A North Carolina state court trial on whether legislative districts are illegal partisan gerrymanders starts just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it wasn’t the purview of federal courts to decide if boundaries are politically unfair.

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A three-judge panel prepared for two weeks of arguments and testimony beginning Monday.

Common Cause, the state Democratic Party and voters challenged House and Senate maps that Republicans drew in 2017. They say the lines maximized GOP advantage beyond what political geography can explain and want new boundaries for 2020.

GOP legislators say legislative elections are competitive, and Democrats simply want judges to create a favorable political outcome they couldn’t achieve at the ballot box.

This case continues despite the Supreme Court’s ruling because the plaintiffs argue the maps violate North Carolina’s constitution.

Oil Edges Higher In Choppy Trade

Oil prices rose in choppy trade on Monday as June factory output and retail sales figures from China offered signs of improvement, offsetting weak GDP data.

China’s economy expanded at the slowest pace in 27 years in the second quarter, raising fresh worries about demand in the world’s largest crude oil importer.

China’s economic growth slowed to 6.2 percent in the second quarter, helping raise expectations that Beijing will roll out more stimulus soon to ward off a sharper downturn.

On the positive side, annual growth in industrial production advanced more-than-expected to 6.3 percent from 5 percent in May, showing the fastest growth in three months.

Likewise, retail sales grew at a faster pace of 9.8 percent after rising 8.6 percent a month ago. Economists had forecast an 8.5 percent increase for June.

Benchmark Brent crude rose 0.45 percent to $67.02 a barrel, while U.S. crude futures for August delivery were up 0.2 percent at $60.33 a barrel.

Both benchmarks last week posted their biggest weekly gains in three weeks on the back of OPEC output cuts and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech on Sunday that Tehran would be ready to talk to the United States if it lifts sanctions and returns to the 2015 nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, Barry, which was downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression, is expected to weaken further as it moves over Arkansas.

Treasurer of South Africa's Eskom quits in latest high-profile departure

JOHANNESBURG, July 15 (Reuters) – The group treasurer of South Africa’s Eskom, Andre Pillay, will leave the power utility at the end of August, it said on Monday, the latest high-profile exit after its chief executive quit earlier this year.

Eskom supplies more than 90% of South Africa’s electricity, but has implemented severe power cuts this year and is failing to generate sufficient profit.

It is hinging its recovery hopes on a 230 billion rand ($16 billion) bailout pledged by government in February. (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Jan Harvey)

Court cases and investigations | Priti Patel, Gina Miller & Margaret Hodge

With Gina Miller threatening to take Boris Johnson to court, Niall asks her why and also gets the reaction of Johnson supporter and former Cabinet minister Priti Patel.

:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts,Spotify, Spreaker

Plus Dame Margaret Hodge gives her view on the latest row about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.

Wendy’s Baconfest launches, heads to Amazon Twitch July 17

Wendy’s Co. WEN, +0.57% announced the launch of Baconfest on Monday, offering a free Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger and free delivery through DoorDash, with a $10 purchase. Wendy’s will also offer free Baconators through Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN, +0.50% Twitch service during a livestream on July 17. A Baconator is made with two cheeseburger patties totaling a half-pound, spread across two beef patties, topped with six pieces of bacon, ketchup and mayonnaise. Wendy’s stock is up 25.2% for the year to date while the S&P 500 index SPX, +0.46% has gained 20.2% for the period.

Four dead, including three children, after train hits car in France

PARIS (Reuters) – A driver and three children in her car were killed after their car crashed into a train at a crossing in Avenay-Val-d’Or in eastern France, said local French authorities on Monday.

The incident occurred around 9:54 local time on Monday morning, and an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash.

Mother drowns trying to rescue six year old son from choppy waters in Pickering

PICKERING – Police say a woman drowned at Frenchmen’s Bay in Pickering Sunday while trying to rescue her six-year-old son from choppy waters.

They say the child was on a flotation device, but his mother feared he’d strayed too far from shore and went in the water to get him.

The woman, who was in her thirties, was later pulled from the water without vital signs.

Paramedics performed CPR and the woman was then rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police say her son was not injured.