IN BRIEF (Page 12)

United Kingdom

PM expected to clarify resignation timetable

British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to set out her departure plans within days, the leader of backbench lawmakers in her governing Conservative Party said on Saturday. Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of rank-and-file Conservative MPs, said he expected May to provide clarity on her exit timetable at a meeting with him on Wednesday. He also said he thought talks between the government and the Labour main opposition on a compromise Brexit deal will founder within days. "I find it very hard to see how that route can lead to any sensible resolution," Brady told BBC radio.

Sri Lanka

Catholics hold first Sunday services

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka held the first regular Sunday Mass since the Easter suicide bombings of churches and hotels killed more than 250 people. Military forces and police armed with assault rifles patrolled the streets leading to churches and stood guard outside the compounds. Everyone entering was required to produce identity cards and was body searched. Sunday services were canceled in the two subsequent weekends for fear of more attacks, leaving the faithful to hear Mass via live TV transmission from the Colombo residence of Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith.

Afghanistan

Landmine explosion kills seven children

A landmine explosion killed seven children and wounded two others in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, officials said, as war ordnance again claimed civilian lives. The blast occurred in Ghazni province, south of the capital Kabul, when the children stepped on a landmine while playing near a main road, provincial spokesman Aref Noori said. "The mine was planted by the Taliban on a main road to inflict casualties on security forces," he said. The Taliban did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Amanullah Kamrani, a member of Ghazni provincial council, said the children were aged between seven and nine and at least four of them belonged to one family.

Libya

Coast guard rescues nearly 150 migrants

Libya's coast guard said it has rescued nearly 150 Europe-bound migrants, including women and children, off the country's Mediterranean coast. Spokesman Ayoub Gassim said on Sunday that a rubber boat carrying 96 migrants, including 16 women and four children, was intercepted a day earlier off the city of Zawiya, 50 kilometers west of Tripoli. Gassim said another boat carrying 51 migrants was intercepted Saturday off the town of Khoms, some 120 kilometers east of Tripoli. He said the migrants were given humanitarian and medical aid, then taken to refugee camps.

Afp - Ap

(China Daily 05/13/2019 page12)