World briefs

CHINA Growth in China’s manufacturing sector slowed in April, official data showed yesterday, pointing to an unsteady recovery in the world’s second-largest economy. 

HONG KONG Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in  Hong Kong yesterday for a visit. Widodo attended a meeting with Indonesian compatriots at the AsiaWorld-Expo. He is set to hold a meeting with the HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying today.

JAPAN Gamba Osaka has banned a group of fans who displayed a banner with a logo resembling a Nazi symbol during a J-League game. The banner, which resembled a symbol derived from the SS of Nazi Germany, was displayed at the team’s April 16 match away to crosstown rivals Cerezo Osaka.

INDONESIA Police said a multiple car collision involving a tour bus killed at least 11 people yesterday on Indonesia’s main Java island. The brakes likely malfunctioned on a tour bus from Jakarta packed with passengers and it slammed into three cars and four motorbikes before falling into a 10-meter-deep ravine on a kitchen garden, police said.

IRAN An Iranian filmmaker imprisoned over his work has been released from prison after serving about five months of his yearlong sentence. Keywan Karimi told AP yesterday that he did not receive any of the 223 lashes that was part of his sentence. Karimi says: “I want to continue filmmaking, but I don’t know how and in which country.”

TURKEY The government agency in charge of internet technologies blocked access to Wikipedia on Saturday, without giving a specific reason for the decision.

The ban was imposed after “technical analysis and legal consideration,” the Information and Communication Technologies Authority said, without citing any violation of Turkish law. The agency didn’t respond to calls placed outside regular business hours.

ITALIANS voted for a new leader of the Democratic Party in a primary expected to give ex-head Matteo Renzi a new mandate. Citizens lined up at makeshift gazebos set up around the country yesterday. It was unclear when results will be announced.