World Briefs

CHINA Fears escalate that the global economy could struggle more than expected this year — a prospect that contributed to a plunge in financial markets. The anxiety was heightened by reports that manufacturers extended their slumps last month in the US and China, the world’s two largest economies.

CHINA A fire on a bus in northern China yesterday killed 14 people and injured more than 30, a fire spokeswoman said. The incident happened in Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia region, at about 7am, and the cause of the fire is still being investigated, said a press officer at the Ningxia fire department, who gave only her surname, Wang. She said firefighters put out the fire in 10 minutes, and that 14 people died and 32 were injured.

PUERTO RICO Federal authorities in Puerto Rico say they seized 10,000 counterfeit Barbie dolls that arrived from China. US Customs and Border Protection said that the shipment had a value of more than USD41,000. The 31-centimeter dolls came with a tiny toy dog and all have been destroyed. Officials say they seized nearly 300 shipments in Puerto Rico last year for intellectual property violations.

HAITI A commission that evaluated Haiti’s contested presidential election says most of the irregularities it found in first-round voting were the result of widespread ineptitude by poll workers and not political mischief.

USA Concerned that inflamed tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia may threaten key foreign policy objectives in Iraq and Syria, among other places, the Obama administration toes a careful line in seeking to calm a diplomatic storm that many fear could lead the longtime regional rivals to direct sectarian conflict. On the home front, Obama is making good on his pledge to politicize gun violence.

USA The Idol’s final. Carrie Underwood poses with the awards for best new artist and for best female country vocal performance for “Jesus, Take the Wheel” at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Underwood rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of “American Idol,” in 2005. The singing competition series, which also launched the careers of Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson, begins its 15th and final season tomorrow night in Los Angeles.