World briefs

MALAYSIA The Philippine government has asked Filipinos in Malaysia to brace for a possible crackdown on illegal immigration in the Southeast Asian country, where it estimates about 400,000 Filipinos live illegally.

MYANMAR has deliberately obstructed aid deliveries to civilians in war-torn Kachin and northern Shan states, actions that may amount to war crimes, a human rights group said yesterday.

INDIA About 1,000 people protested near India’s Parliament yesterday demanding the immediate release of five prominent rights activists who were arrested for alleged Maoist links in a countrywide crackdown this week.

IRAN continues to comply with the nuclear deal reached in 2015 with major powers even after the withdrawal of the United States, the United Nations’ atomic watchdog said yesterday in a confidential report.

SOUTH SUDAN Emboldened by a new peace deal, civil war-torn South Sudan says it will resume oil production in a key region next month to make up for more than USD4 billion of revenue lost during years of fighting.

GREECE Authorities in western Greece have arrested two people for allegedly trying to smuggle 71 migrants out of the country on a U.S.-flagged yacht.

GERMANY The governor of Germany’s eastern state of Saxony visited yesterday the city where anger over the suspected killing of a man by migrants sparked violent protests.

HUNGARY-SWEDEN Hungary’s Foreign Ministry says it summoned Sweden’s ambassador after the Swedish foreign minister and other officials made critical comments about Hungary, including about its strong anti-immigration policies.

BRITAIN Critics of London Mayor Sadiq Khan have been given permission to fly a giant balloon over London that depicts him dressed in a bikini. The balloon was a reference to a “Beach body ready” ad that Khan banned in 2016.

ARGENTINA President Mauricio Macri has asked the International Monetary Fund for an early release of funds from a USD50 billion deal with the IMF to ease concerns that Argentina will not be able to meet its debt obligations for 2019.

BRAZIL A leading candidate in Brazil’s presidential election said police should be given license to kill criminals and those who do should receive medals not face prosecution.