World Briefs

CHINA’s export growth sank in November as global demand weakened, adding to pressure on Beijing ahead of trade talks with Washington. Exports rose 5.4 percent over a year ago to USD227.4 billion, a marked decline from the previous month’s 12.6 percent increase, customs data showed Saturday.

INDIAN troops killed three rebels on the outskirts of disputed Kashmir’s main city yesterday, ending a nearly 18-hour-long gunbattle, officials said. The three militants were killed on the outskirts of Srinagar. Two counterinsurgency police officials and a soldier were wounded.

MALAYSIA Tens of thousands of Muslims rallied Saturday in Kuala Lumpur against any attempt to strip the ethnic Malay majority of its privileges, in the first massive street gathering since Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s alliance won a historic vote in May.

NEW ZEALAND police said yesterday they found a body they believe to be that of missing 22-year-old British tourist Grace Millane. Police said the body was in a forested area about 10 meters from the side of the road in the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland. 

GERMANY Chancellor Angela Merkel’s successor at the helm of the country’s main center-right party sought to consolidate her power on Saturday after a narrow victory, installing a young conservative in a key leadership post in an effort to build bridges with her rivals.

UK With a crucial parliamentary vote on Brexit looming, British Prime Minister Theresa May warned lawmakers Sunday that they could take Britain into “uncharted waters” and trigger a general election if they reject the divorce deal she struck with the European Union.

GUINEA-BISSAU A political feud in the sleepy capital Bissau is threatening to push one of the world’s poorest countries back to being a haven for gangs smuggling cocaine into Europe and open the door to Islamist militants.

SAUDI ARABIA is reviewing its policy of imposing fees on expatriate workers after rising costs inflicted economic pain and contributed to an exodus of foreigners. Announced in 2016, as part of a drive to increase non-oil government revenue, the fees have been unpopular with business owners in a country accustomed to cheaper foreign labor.

MOROCCO As the country prepares to host the signing of a landmark global migration agreement, hundreds of migrants are languishing in a Casablanca camp rife with hunger, misery, lice and filth.