NEWS OF THE DAY

From Around the World

_1 Fraud probe: The mayor of Liverpool, England, was arrested over allegations of bribery and witness intimidation linked to building contracts. The Liverpool Echo reported that Joe Anderson was one of five men arrested Friday as part of an ongoing investigation. Police said the men were released on bail Saturday. Police did not name the men, in keeping with U.K. policy that suspects are not identified until they are charged. The Liverpool City Council said in a statement that it was “cooperating with Merseyside Police in relation to its ongoing investigation.” Anderson, 62, has been Liverpool’s mayor since 2012. British media reported that the main opposition Labor Party suspended Anderson following the arrest.

_2 Mine collapse: An unregulated gold mine collapsed Friday in southern Nicaragua near the border with Costa Rica, killing two miners and trapping as many as 13 others. Vice President Rosario Murillo said firefighters and rescue personnel were sent to the scene. Murillo did not specify how many people were trapped, but local media put the number at 10 to 15. They reported that one injured miner was able to escape and report the collapse.

_3 Human smuggling: Italian police on Saturday arrested 19 suspects, dismantling what authorities say was a criminal organization that moved migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan to Italy and then into northern Europe. The investigation, led by prosecutors in Catania, Sicily, found a network that involved hired or stolen sailboats transporting migrants via Turkey and Greece to Italy. Some then traveled north to the French border and were smuggled by vehicle into France. One of the ring’s bases was in Bari, where fake documents were issued indicating the migrants had housing, a requirement for residency permits. Other bases were in Milan and Turin as well as in the town of Ventimiglia, near the French border. The investigation began in 2018, triggered by the arrival of 10 boats near the Sicilian city of Syracuse. _4 Mideast conflict: Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians erupted Saturday at the funeral of a 13yearold killed by Israeli gunfire in the occupied West Bank. Hundreds of Palestinians gathered to mourn Ali Abu Alia in Almugayer village, where the Palestinian youth was hit in the stomach and died later at a hospital Friday. Dozens threw stones toward Israeli forces and set tires aflame during the gathering. Israeli soldiers responded with intermittent barrages of tear gas. The Israeli military said “dozens of rioters” on Friday hurled rocks at Israeli soldiers and border police, who responded with “riot dispersal means.” It denied that its forces used live ammunition. The top U.N. political envoy in the region, Nikolay Mladenov, said Israel should “investigate this shocking and unacceptable incident.” _5 Farmers protest: The Indian government and protesting farmers were unable to break their deadlock in talks on Saturday, with the farmers saying they will intensify their demonstrations against new agriculture laws and continue blocking key highways around the capital of New Delhi. Protest leaders rejected the government’s offer to amend some contentious provisions of the new farm laws, which deregulate crop pricing, and stuck to the demand for total repeal. The two sides will meet for further discussions Wednesday. Thousands of farmers say the new laws could devastate crop prices and reduce their earnings. They have blocked highways on the outskirts of New Delhi for the last 10 days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government insists the reforms will benefit farmers.