NEWS OF THE DAY

1

Child migrants: Britons who were sent overseas as poor or orphaned children under state-approved programs in the decades after World War II are suing the British government over the abuse and neglect they suffered, their lawyer said Wednesday. In March a childabuse inquiry ordered the government to compensate 2,000 survivors of programs that sent children to countries including Australia, Canada and Southern Rhodesia — now Zimbabwe. The survivors are the last wave of some 150,000 children sent to Britain’s then-colonies starting in the 17th century. The programs were intended to ease pressure on British social services, provide the children with a fresh start and supply the empire with a sturdy supply of white workers. But many children ended up in institutions where they were physically and sexually abused, or were sent to work as farm laborers. The British government did not end the policy until 1970.

2

Kashmir conflict: Rebels fighting against Indian rule ambushed a group of police officials and killed four of them on Wednesday in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, police said. Separately, two Kashmiri rebels were killed in a gunfight with government forces, triggering clashes in which at least 40 people were injured. Both India and Pakistan claim the divided territory of Kashmir in its entirety. Most Kashmiris support rebel demands that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country, while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian control. Rebels have been fighting against India since 1989. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the rebel uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown.

3

Russian naval buildup: NATO says the Russian navy is building up its presence in the Mediterranean Sea amid growing tensions over the war in Syria. The alliance’s chief spokeswoman, Oana Lungescu, on Wednesday said, “We will not speculate on the intention of the Russian fleet, but it is important that all actors in the region exercise restraint and refrain from worsening an already disastrous humanitarian situation in Syria.” At least eight ships, including a missile cruiser and two missile-carrying submarines, have joined the Russian flotilla over the past three weeks. Russia has provided crucial military support for Syrian government forces.

4

Clinton emails: China has denied an accusation by President Trump that it hacked the emails of Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent in the 2016 election. “We are firmly opposed to all forms of cyberattacks and espionage,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday. Trump tweeted that China had hacked Clinton’s emails, without offering any evidence or further information, and suggested that the FBI and Department of Justice should investigate. “Hillary Clinton’s Emails, many of which are Classified Information, got hacked by China. Next move better be by the FBI & DOJ,” he tweeted.

5

Statue removed: A golden statue of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that was installed at an art festival whose motto is “Bad news” was removed Wednesday after authorities in Wiesbaden, Germany, said it had become a magnet for pro- and anti-Erdogan speeches, provoking conflict and security concerns. The sculpture depicted Erdogan with a raised right arm, evoking the statue of Saddam Hussein toppled by American forces in Iraq.