World Briefs

CHINA HSBC warns of a “bumpier” global financial outlook thanks to China’s slowing economy, as it reports that its profit dipped slightly last year.

USA Hillary Clinton acknowledged she has work to do in convincing voters that she has their best interests at heart, even as the former U.S. secretary of state savored her weekend win over rival Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in the Nevada caucuses.

FIJI The death toll from a ferocious cyclone which tore through Fiji over the weekend rises to 18 as authorities begin to get a grasp on the scale of the disaster and deploy aid to hard-hit outer islands.

UK A vote by Britain to leave the European Union would be a “final decision” with unknown consequences, Prime Minister David Cameron warned yesterday, as uncertainty over Britain’s future in the bloc sent the pound plunging on currency markets.
INDIA Authorities in a north Indian state began lifting curfews in key towns and protesters gradually removed roadblocks after 12 people died in clashes during demonstrations for government benefits.

BANGLADESH An editor of one of the country’s most respected newspapers sparked an uproar by admitting that eight years ago he published unsubstantiated reports alleging corruption by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then in the opposition.

VENEZUELA As Zika spreads in the Americas, the country faces a lack of bug spray to deter mosquito bites, scant contraceptives to avert pregnancies, little medicine to treat Zika-linked maladies and no effective public health campaign to inform people about the disease.

SPAIN In a good early sign for Ferrari in its attempt to challenge Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel was faster than reigning champion Lewis Hamilton in Formula One preseason testing yesterday.

ZIMBABWE’s mining minister said the government will now control all mining in the diamond-rich Marange area, after operators were ordered to halt all mining because their licenses have expired.

PALESTINE An advocacy group says a detainee has entered uncharted medical territory with a hunger strike of 89 days — longer than fasts by other Palestinians or by Irish prisoners in 1981.