INDONESIA Police are planning a show of force in the capital Jakarta today to contain a much-hyped protest by Muslim hard-liners against the city’s popular governor. An accusation of blasphemy against Jakarta Gov. Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese and minority Christian who is an ally of the country’s president, has galvanized his political opponents in the Muslim-majority nation. More on p13
VIETNAM Police in Vietnam have arrested a blogger for allegedly posting anti-state comments in the communist country’s latest crackdown on dissent.
PHILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte said he’ll consider continuing to acquire weapons and defense equipment from treaty ally the United States if his military recommends so, despite offers from China and Russia.
MYANMAR A human rights watchdog says farmers in Myanmar’s Karen state are being pushed off their land and face arrest and prison for opposing such practices. The report says livelihoods of 70 percent of the nation’s population that relies on agriculture are under threat by corrupt land administration officials, abusive militias and local authorities.
INDIA-PAKISTAN Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman says eight Indian diplomats at the Indian Embassy in Islamabad were part of what Pakistan claims is a spying network in the mission. Nafees Zakaria says the eight intended to create “instability” in Pakistan.
AFGHANISTAN U.S. and Afghan forces came under fire yesterday while targeting senior Taliban commanders during a joint operation in northern Kunduz province, calling in airstrikes during an assault that killed 26 civilians, three local troops and two American service members, NATO and local officials said.
IRAQ The shadowy leader of the Islamic State group has released a new message urging his followers to keep up the fight for Mosul as they defend the city against a major offensive aimed at routing the militants from their last urban stronghold in Iraq.
GERMANY The European Union commissioner for Germany apologized for making a derogatory reference to Chinese people and for mocking gay marriage. Early this week, remarks surfaced from Guenther Oettinger referring to “slanty eyes” and also to “obligatory gay marriage” in Germany.More on p11
MONTENEGRO’s bid to join NATO is progressing smoothly despite strong opposition from Russia, its traditional Slavic ally, the deputy chief of the Western military alliance said yesterday.
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