World briefs

CHINA-CAMBODIA Cambodia and China yesterday signed nearly 20 agreements worth several billion dollars to develop the impoverished Southeast Asian country’s infrastructure, agriculture and health care.

THAILAND Police said they have arrested a 74-year-old fugitive Japanese gang member who was recognized when photos of his full-body tattoos were circulated online.

PHILIPPINES A women’s group asked the Philippine president yesterday to oppose any request by Japan to remove a newly erected statue honoring women who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II.

IRAN-IRAQ A series of eight earthquakes hit the Iran-Iraq border area and rattled Baghdad yesterday, apparent aftershocks of a temblor that struck the mountainous region in November and killed over 530 people.

TUNISIA Police arrested 328 people and fired tear gas as protesters hurled rocks and burned tires during further nationwide demonstrations over price rises.

ANGOLA President Joao Lourenco dismissed the son of his predecessor Jose Eduardo dos Santos as chairman of the country’s USD5 billion sovereign wealth fund, further loosening the grip of the Dos Santos family on key areas of state.

POLAND’s lawmakers have approved a controversial electoral law that critics say will give the ruling party influence over the voting procedure and will allow more room for vote rigging.

BRITAIN Anti-EU British politician Nigel Farage said yesterday that he might support a second referendum on Britain’s European Union membership to kill off any prospect of staying in the bloc.

BRAZIL Scientists say a virus is the main cause for the death of close to 200 gray dolphins in little more than 40 days on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state.

US-MEXICO Five states in Mexico now have the sternest “do not travel” advisories under a revamped U.S. State Department system unveiled Wednesday, putting them on the same level as war-torn countries like Syria, Yemen and Somalia. All the states are hotspots of drug cartel activity.