World Briefs

HONG KONG’s exports contracted unexpectedly in November, highlighting the risks for the trade-dependent city whose top two partners are embroiled in a trade war. Exports fell 0.8 percent compared to last year, versus almost 15 percent growth in October.

THAILAND Investigators have found Thailand’s deputy prime minister innocent of failing to declare assets a year after he was discovered to have several luxury watches that would have been out of reach of his government salary.

INDIA Authorities have ordered firefighters in the capital to sprinkle water from high-rise buildings to settle dust and stop garbage fires and have banned construction activity as hazardous air quality affects millions of people.

BANGLADESH’s main opposition alliance has demanded the resignation of the chief election commissioner, accusing him of bias, ahead of Sunday’s elections while violence worsens, officials and news reports said.

AFGHANISTAN A separatist leader blamed for masterminding last month’s attack on a Chinese Consulate in Pakistan has been killed in a bombing in Afghanistan, Pakistani officials and the separatist group said yesterday.

SYRIA An Israeli security official has confirmed responsibility for overnight airstrikes in Syria, saying the air force had hit a series of targets involved in Iranian arms transfers to the Hezbollah militant group.

SAUDIA ARABIA’s King Salman issued a wide-ranging overhaul of top government posts yesterday following international fallout from the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi nearly three months ago.

CONGO Police in eastern Congo fired live ammunition and tear gas yesterday to disperse more than 100 people protesting a presidential election delay, blamed on a deadly Ebola outbreak, that means more than 1 million votes will not count.

ICELAND An SUV carrying seven members of a British family plunged off a high bridge yesterday in Iceland, killing three people and critically injuring the others, authorities said.

VENEZUELA A strong earthquake jolted Venezuelans from their sleep early yesterday, forcing residents in the capital to evacuate buildings in their pajamas before sunrise. There were no immediate reports of casualties.