World briefs

INDONESIA A strong earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Aceh province, killing nearly 100 people and sparking a frantic rescue effort in the rubble of dozens of collapsed and damaged buildings. More on p12

PHILIPPINES Communist rebels warn President Rodrigo Duterte that they may be forced to end their months-long cease-fire and resume fighting if he does not suspend the government’s counterinsurgency program and withdraw troops from rebel-influenced areas.

THAILAND’s prime minister warns that the BBC could be prosecuted if an online report published by its Thai-language service about the country’s new king is found to have violated the law safeguarding the monarchy’s reputation.

JAPAN defense chief said yesterday that she believes her country’s alliance with the U.S. will endure in the Trump administration because it benefits both countries. Defense Minister Tomomi Inada was asked about President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that Japan build its own nuclear deterrent force. She said Japan expects to remain under the U.S. nuclear umbrella.

SOUTH KOREA Ahead of an impeachment vote later this week, lawmakers take turns grilling a K-pop music director, a fashion designer and nearly a dozen others said to be linked to a woman at the heart of a scandal that threatens to bring down South Korea’s president.

INDIA registers a nearly 800 percent spike in the number of so-called honor killings carried out last year, leading state officials and women’s rights groups to demand an investigation into how such crimes persist.

SYRIA Staring a punishing and brutal defeat in the face, several Syrian rebel factions yesterday proposed a five-day cease-fire in the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, as Syrian government troops gain ground.  More on p15

BRAZIL Police and protesters have clashed outside the Rio de Janeiro state legislature during a demonstration against government austerity measures being discussed by lawmakers. Protesters threw homemade grenades and shot rockets toward the assembly, and police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas.

EU European Union regulators yesterday fined banks JPMorgan Chase, HSBC and Credit Agricole a combined USD520 million for colluding to manipulate the price of financial products linked to interest rates.