NEWS OF THE DAY
_1 Civilian casualties: The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan in the first half of this year has increased by 1 percent, compared to the same period last year, according to a report released Sunday by the United Nations. The U.N. mission in Afghanistan said the number — 1,692 killed in violence — is the highest 6-month death toll since the systematic documentation of civilian casualties started in 2009. The study reported 3,430 civilians were wounded in the January-June period. The killed and wounded add up to a total of 5,122 civilian casualties, which is a 3 percent overall decrease from the first six months of 2017. A resurgent Taliban have stepped up attacks across the country and an Islamic State affiliate has also emerged to mount assaults that have claimed the lives of scores of civilians.
_2 Egypt crackdown: An international rights group on Sunday accused Egyptian authorities of using counterterrorism and state-of-emergency laws “to unjustly prosecute journalists, activists, and critics for their peaceful criticism.” Human Rights Watch said police have carried out arrests of critics of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi both in the period before and after the March presidential election. Nadim Houry of Human Rights Watch said elSissi’s government has exploited security threats “cynically, as a cover to prosecute peaceful critics and to revive the infamous (Hosni) Mubarak-era state security courts.” Authorities have arrested a number of secular activists since el-Sissi was re-elected for a second four-year term in March. He faced no serious challengers.
_3 Brexit advice: President Trump advised British Prime Minister Theresa May to “sue” the European Union to resolve the tense negotiations over Britain’s impending exit from the bloc. The president told reporters Friday at a joint press conference with May that he had given the British leader a suggestion that she found too “brutal.” Asked Sunday on the BBC what that suggestion was, May said with an amused expression: “He told me I should sue the EU. Not go into negotiation, sue them.” The revelation capped a series of explosive and undiplomatic remarks Trump made last week about May’s leadership — especially her handling of the Brexit negotiations — as he made his first official visit to Britain.
_4 Myanmar landslide: At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured in a landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar, officials said Sunday. Fifteen bodies were retrieved from the site of Saturday’s accident near Lonekhin village, but a search was ongoing for more, police said. Searchers were hindered by heavy rain. Scavenging for jade remnants is dangerous and not well regulated. More than 100 people were killed in a landslide in November 2015. The accidents usually occur at the foot of giant mounds of discarded earth that has been mined in bulk by heavy machinery.
_5 Obama visit: Former President Barack Obama arrived in Kenya on Sunday, the country of his father’s birth, in his first visit to the African country since leaving office. Obama is in Kenya to help launch the sports and training center founded by his half-sister, Auma Obama, through her foundation Sauti Kuu. After landing in the capital of Nairobi, Obama met President Uhuru Kenyatta. Obama is also expected to meet Raila Odinga, the opposition leader now working with Kenyatta’s government. Odinga and Kenyatta on March 9 pledged to work together, ending months of turmoil following a disputed presidential election.
Chronicle News Services