Germany&nbsp;has for the first time allowed&nbsp;children&nbsp;whose parents were suspected members of the Islamic&nbsp;State&nbsp;to return to&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;from&nbsp;northern&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../mobile-cinema-brings-movie-magic-to-syria- kurd-children-244341">Syria</a>.&nbsp;

Foreign minister Heiko Maas said it will push for more such&nbsp;children&nbsp;to come to the country.

Like other western countries,&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;faces a tricky decision on how to deal with citizens who went to the Middle East to join groups like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-wedding-suicide-attack-in-kabul-243841">Islamic&nbsp;State</a>, which was driven out of its last territorial enclave in March by US-backed forces.

Three of the&nbsp;four&nbsp;repatriated German&nbsp;children&nbsp;are orphans, according to German media, but no further details were available.

"We will push for more&nbsp;children&nbsp;to leave&nbsp;Syria," Maas said on Monday. "These are mostly young&nbsp;children&nbsp;... they cannot be made responsible for the actions of their parents and we want to do something to help," he added.

Thousands of&nbsp;Islamic&nbsp;State&nbsp;members, including foreigners, women and&nbsp;children, are being held by Kurdish-led authorities in northern&nbsp;Syria.

German intelligence officials say more than 1,000 Germans went to fight in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;and Iraq where&nbsp;Islamic&nbsp;State&nbsp;once controlled swathes of territory in a self-declared caliphate.

Around a third have returned to&nbsp;Germany, another third are believed to have died and the rest are believed to be still in Iraq and&nbsp;Syria.

Other western countries including Britain and France are facing decisions on how to handle their citizens who went to join the Islamic&nbsp;State. The British government was heavily criticized after it decided to strip a 19-year-old woman of her citizenship in February, leaving her in a refugee camp in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;where her baby died.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Germany has for the first time allowed children whose parents were suspected members of the Islamic State to return to Germany from northern Syria. Foreign minister Heiko Maas said it will push for more such children to come to the country.

Germany has for the first time allowed children whose parents were suspected members of the Islamic State to return to Germany from northern Syria. Foreign minister Heiko Maas said it will push for more such children to come to the country. Like other western countries, Germany faces a tricky decision on how to deal with citizens who went to the Middle East to join groups like Islamic State, which was driven out of its last territorial enclave in March by US-backed forces. Three of the four repatriated German children are orphans, according to German media, but no further details were available. "We will push for more children to leave Syria," Maas said on Monday. "These are mostly young children ... they cannot be made responsible for the actions of their parents and we want to do something to help," he added. Thousands of Islamic State members, including foreigners, women and children, are being held by Kurdish-led authorities in northern Syria. German intelligence officials say more than 1,000 Germans went to fight in Syria and Iraq where Islamic State once controlled swathes of territory in a self-declared caliphate. Around a third have returned to Germany, another third are believed to have died and the rest are believed to be still in Iraq and Syria. Other western countries including Britain and France are facing decisions on how to handle their citizens who went to join the Islamic State. The British government was heavily criticized after it decided to strip a 19-year-old woman of her citizenship in February, leaving her in a refugee camp in Syria where her baby died.

Germany takes back four Islamic State children from Syria

Thai authorities issued arrest warrants on Tuesday for three more suspects linked to<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-seeks-more-than-10-suspects-for-a-series-of-bombs-in-bangkok-240858"> bomb attacks</a> as the capital hosted a diplomatic meeting last month, raising to seven the number of suspects still sought by police.&nbsp;

Six small bombs and six incendiary devices went off on August 2 as the foreign ministers of Southeast Asian nations met in Bangkok, an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-seeks-more-than-10-suspects-for-a-series-of-bombs-in-bangkok-240858">event</a> also attended by diplomats from China, the United States and other world powers.

Four people were wounded in the coordinated attacks police have linked either to political issues or a long-running insurgency in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thai-anti-corruption-official-accused-of-hiding-millions-in-assets-243455">Thailand</a>`s Malay-Muslim dominated south.

Tuesday`s warrants are for three suspects on charges of organized crime, arson, causing an explosion and illegal possession of explosives, said deputy police spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen.

"All the suspects are from the deep south," he said, referring to the region where an insurgency has killed 7,000 people since 2004.

Police last week issued warrants for four other suspects who remain at large despite a 100,000 baht ($3,245) reward for information leading to their arrests.&nbsp;

Authorities detained two men on Aug. 2 accused of planting fake bombs in front of Bangkok police headquarters before the coordinated attacks. The two have ties to the insurgency, police said, and were the subject of arrest warrants issued two weeks ago.

Thai authorities issued arrest warrants on Tuesday for three more suspects linked to bomb attacks as the capital hosted a diplomatic meeting last month, raising to seven the number of suspects still sought by police.

Thai authorities issued arrest warrants on Tuesday for three more suspects linked to bomb attacks as the capital hosted a diplomatic meeting last month, raising to seven the number of suspects still sought by police. Six small bombs and six incendiary devices went off on August 2 as the foreign ministers of Southeast Asian nations met in Bangkok, an event also attended by diplomats from China, the United States and other world powers. Four people were wounded in the coordinated attacks police have linked either to political issues or a long-running insurgency in Thailand`s Malay-Muslim dominated south. Tuesday`s warrants are for three suspects on charges of organized crime, arson, causing an explosion and illegal possession of explosives, said deputy police spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen. "All the suspects are from the deep south," he said, referring to the region where an insurgency has killed 7,000 people since 2004. Police last week issued warrants for four other suspects who remain at large despite a 100,000 baht ($3,245) reward for information leading to their arrests. Authorities detained two men on Aug. 2 accused of planting fake bombs in front of Bangkok police headquarters before the coordinated attacks. The two have ties to the insurgency, police said, and were the subject of arrest warrants issued two weeks ago.

Thailand police seek three more suspects in Bangkok blasts

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-killed-as-syria-regime-forces-battle-jihadists-243898">Jihadists</a> and allied rebels withdrew from a key area of northwestern Syria Tuesday as President Bashar al-Assad's forces pressed an offensive against the jihadist-run Idlib region, a war monitor said.

The town of Khan Sheikhun on the region's southern edge has been a key goal for the government as it lies on the main highway through Idlib province connecting the capital Damascus with second city Aleppo.

After eight years of civil war, the Idlib region on the border with Turkey is the last major stronghold of opposition to the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-four-months-of-strikes-on-syrias-hold-out-idlib-244154"> Russia</a>-backed Damascus government.

Since January, it has been administered by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, which is led by jihadists from Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

The region of some three million people was supposed to be protected by a buffer zone deal signed last year by Moscow and rebel backer Ankara, but the government and Russian forces have subjected it to heavy bombardment since late April,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-kill-70-combatants-in-northwest-syria-report-242094"> killing more than 860 civilians</a>.

And in recent weeks, regime forces have inched forward, nibbling away at the southern edges of the bastion.

In the early hours of Tuesday, anti-Assad fighters pulled back from Khan Sheikun and the countryside to its south, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.&nbsp;

The withdrawal means an important Turkish observation point in the nearby town of Morek, as well as a string of surrounding villages, are effectively surrounded by government forces, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

All roads leading out of the area are either controlled by government forces or within range of their guns, he said.

But an HTS spokesman denied its forces had withdrawn from the countryside around Morek, saying they had regrouped in the south of Khan Sheikhun after heavy bombardment. 
&nbsp; 
'Clear warning'&nbsp;

Khan Sheikhun -- which has been emptied of its residents in the face of the air strikes and shelling of recent months -- lies on the main Damascus-Aleppo highway, which has long been a key government objective.

On Monday, a Turkish military convoy of around 50 armoured vehicles crossed the border into Idlib and headed south along the highway.

The deployment drew condemnation from Damascus while Ankara alleged an airstrike had targeted its troops.

The convoy was at a standstill just north of Khan Sheikhun on Tuesday, after government forces cut the road on into the town.

An AFP correspondent said airstrikes and machine gunfire from government helicopters peppered the road leading north to the town of Maaret al-Noman on Tuesday.

Pro-government newspaper Al-Watan said Monday morning's strike targeted a rebel vehicle scouting the road in front of the Turkish convoy.

"The Syrian army in its own way sent a clear message to the Turkish regime by forcing convoys sent by Ankara to help the terrorists in Khan Sheikhun to come to a halt," it said.

It was a "clear warning against any Turkish attempt to resuscitate the terrorists".

The war in Syria has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Successive rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to stem the bloodshed, and in recent years been overshadowed by a parallel negotiations track led by Russia and Turkey, dubbed the Astana process.

&nbsp;'Pressure Turkey'?&nbsp;

Under the September deal, Turkish troops were to monitor a planned buffer zone around Idlib after jihadists had withdrawn from it -- but the pullout failed to materialise.

Analyst Sam Heller said the government's latest advance had shown Turkish monitoring points might complicate its recapture of territory, but could not prevent it.

"It's not yet clear what Damascus and Moscow will do next," said the expert with the International Crisis Group think-tank.

It is unclear "if they will seize the opportunity to take more areas, or stop to consolidate their new positions and put some pressure on Ankara" to implement its side of the buffer zone deal, he told AFP.

Fellow analyst Samuel Ramani said the government's accusation of Turkish support for its opponents could provide a "pretext for further Syrian army incursions".

"It allows Damascus to make Turkey, not the Syrian army, appear like the chief violators of the deconfliction agreement," he told AFP.

But "for Russia, holding the Astana coalition together is a chief priority," he said.

Aid organisations have warned repeatedly that any large-scale government offensive to retake Idlib would spark one of the worst humanitarian crises of the war.

Jihadists and allied rebels withdrew from a key area of northwestern Syria Tuesday as President Bashar al-Assad's forces pressed an offensive against the jihadist-run Idlib region, a war monitor said.

Jihadists and allied rebels withdrew from a key area of northwestern Syria Tuesday as President Bashar al-Assad's forces pressed an offensive against the jihadist-run Idlib region, a war monitor said. The town of Khan Sheikhun on the region's southern edge has been a key goal for the government as it lies on the main highway through Idlib province connecting the capital Damascus with second city Aleppo. After eight years of civil war, the Idlib region on the border with Turkey is the last major stronghold of opposition to the Russia-backed Damascus government. Since January, it has been administered by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, which is led by jihadists from Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. The region of some three million people was supposed to be protected by a buffer zone deal signed last year by Moscow and rebel backer Ankara, but the government and Russian forces have subjected it to heavy bombardment since late April, killing more than 860 civilians. And in recent weeks, regime forces have inched forward, nibbling away at the southern edges of the bastion. In the early hours of Tuesday, anti-Assad fighters pulled back from Khan Sheikun and the countryside to its south, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The withdrawal means an important Turkish observation point in the nearby town of Morek, as well as a string of surrounding villages, are effectively surrounded by government forces, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. All roads leading out of the area are either controlled by government forces or within range of their guns, he said. But an HTS spokesman denied its forces had withdrawn from the countryside around Morek, saying they had regrouped in the south of Khan Sheikhun after heavy bombardment. 'Clear warning' Khan Sheikhun -- which has been emptied of its residents in the face of the air strikes and shelling of recent months -- lies on the main Damascus-Aleppo highway, which has long been a key government objective. On Monday, a Turkish military convoy of around 50 armoured vehicles crossed the border into Idlib and headed south along the highway. The deployment drew condemnation from Damascus while Ankara alleged an airstrike had targeted its troops. The convoy was at a standstill just north of Khan Sheikhun on Tuesday, after government forces cut the road on into the town. An AFP correspondent said airstrikes and machine gunfire from government helicopters peppered the road leading north to the town of Maaret al-Noman on Tuesday. Pro-government newspaper Al-Watan said Monday morning's strike targeted a rebel vehicle scouting the road in front of the Turkish convoy. "The Syrian army in its own way sent a clear message to the Turkish regime by forcing convoys sent by Ankara to help the terrorists in Khan Sheikhun to come to a halt," it said. It was a "clear warning against any Turkish attempt to resuscitate the terrorists". The war in Syria has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011. Successive rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to stem the bloodshed, and in recent years been overshadowed by a parallel negotiations track led by Russia and Turkey, dubbed the Astana process. 'Pressure Turkey'? Under the September deal, Turkish troops were to monitor a planned buffer zone around Idlib after jihadists had withdrawn from it -- but the pullout failed to materialise. Analyst Sam Heller said the government's latest advance had shown Turkish monitoring points might complicate its recapture of territory, but could not prevent it. "It's not yet clear what Damascus and Moscow will do next," said the expert with the International Crisis Group think-tank. It is unclear "if they will seize the opportunity to take more areas, or stop to consolidate their new positions and put some pressure on Ankara" to implement its side of the buffer zone deal, he told AFP. Fellow analyst Samuel Ramani said the government's accusation of Turkish support for its opponents could provide a "pretext for further Syrian army incursions". "It allows Damascus to make Turkey, not the Syrian army, appear like the chief violators of the deconfliction agreement," he told AFP. But "for Russia, holding the Astana coalition together is a chief priority," he said. Aid organisations have warned repeatedly that any large-scale government offensive to retake Idlib would spark one of the worst humanitarian crises of the war.

Anti-Assad fighters withdraw from key area of northwest Syria

A gunman has been&nbsp;holding as many as 16 bus passengers hostage in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, officials said.

At least six people have been freed from the vehicle that was&nbsp;stopped on a bridge connecting Rio with neighbouring city Niteroi.

Heavily armed police have surrounded the bus as they started negotiating&nbsp;with the gunman, who G1 news reported is armed with a gun and gasoline.

The gunman reportedly boarded the bus at 5:30 am (0830 GMT) and began threatening passengers.&nbsp;

Traffic on the Rio-Niteroi bridge spanning Guanabara Bay has been paralysed during the ongoing hostage situation.

A gunman has been holding as many as 16 bus passengers hostage in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, officials said. At least six people have been freed from the vehicle that was stopped on a bridge connecting Rio with neighbouring city Niteroi.

A gunman has been holding as many as 16 bus passengers hostage in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, officials said. At least six people have been freed from the vehicle that was stopped on a bridge connecting Rio with neighbouring city Niteroi. Heavily armed police have surrounded the bus as they started negotiating with the gunman, who G1 news reported is armed with a gun and gasoline. The gunman reportedly boarded the bus at 5:30 am (0830 GMT) and began threatening passengers. Traffic on the Rio-Niteroi bridge spanning Guanabara Bay has been paralysed during the ongoing hostage situation.

Gunman in Brazil holds hostages in bus; police on alert

China&nbsp;said on Tuesday it had a right to put out its own views after&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;and&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;said they had dismantled a state-backed social media campaign originating in mainland&nbsp;China&nbsp;that sought to undermine <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-erupt-between-riot-police-protesters-outside-hong-kong-airport-242832">protests in Hong Kong</a>.

Twitter&nbsp;Inc said on Monday it suspended 936&nbsp;accounts&nbsp;and the operations appeared to be a coordinated state-backed effort originating in&nbsp;China.

Facebook&nbsp;Inc said it had removed&nbsp;accounts&nbsp;and pages from a small network after a tip from&nbsp;Twitter.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-rally-organisers-say-weekend-demonstration-was-last-chance-for-government-to-address-demands-244371/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Facebook&nbsp;said its investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government.&nbsp;

"These accounts were deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement on the ground," Twitter said, referring to the accounts it shut down.

"We are disclosing a significant state-backed information operation focused on the situation in Hong Kong, specifically the protest movement and their calls for political change," Twitter said.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang declined direct comment on the&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;and&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;actions but defended the right of Chinese people and media to make their voices heard&nbsp;over&nbsp;the Hong Kong protests.

"Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government," Facebook said.

Twitter&nbsp;and&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;have come under fire from users&nbsp;over&nbsp;showing ads from state-controlled media that criticised the Hong Kong protesters.&nbsp;

Twitter&nbsp;said Monday it would no longer accept advertising from state-controlled news media, and told Reuters the change was not related to the suspended&nbsp;accounts.

Twitter&nbsp;and&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;are&nbsp;blocked by the Chinese government from being used in the mainland but are freely accessible in Hong Kong, where protests since June have plunged the Chinese-ruled territory into its most serious crisis in decades.

Chinese media use foreign social media to communicate with people around the world to introduce them to Chinese policies and "tell&nbsp;China's story", Geng said.

"I don't know why certain companies or peoples' reaction is so strong," he added.

China said on Tuesday it had a right to put out its own views after Twitter and Facebook said they had dismantled a state-backed social media campaign originating in mainland China that sought to undermine protests in Hong Kong.

China said on Tuesday it had a right to put out its own views after Twitter and Facebook said they had dismantled a state-backed social media campaign originating in mainland China that sought to undermine protests in Hong Kong. Twitter Inc said on Monday it suspended 936 accounts and the operations appeared to be a coordinated state-backed effort originating in China. Facebook Inc said it had removed accounts and pages from a small network after a tip from Twitter. Watch Video: Facebook said its investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government. "These accounts were deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement on the ground," Twitter said, referring to the accounts it shut down. "We are disclosing a significant state-backed information operation focused on the situation in Hong Kong, specifically the protest movement and their calls for political change," Twitter said. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang declined direct comment on the Twitter and Facebook actions but defended the right of Chinese people and media to make their voices heard over the Hong Kong protests. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government," Facebook said. Twitter and Facebook have come under fire from users over showing ads from state-controlled media that criticised the Hong Kong protesters. Twitter said Monday it would no longer accept advertising from state-controlled news media, and told Reuters the change was not related to the suspended accounts. Twitter and Facebook are blocked by the Chinese government from being used in the mainland but are freely accessible in Hong Kong, where protests since June have plunged the Chinese-ruled territory into its most serious crisis in decades. Chinese media use foreign social media to communicate with people around the world to introduce them to Chinese policies and "tell China's story", Geng said. "I don't know why certain companies or peoples' reaction is so strong," he added.

China cries foul after Facebook, Twitter block fake accounts linked to Hong Kong protests

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has fired the opening salvo in his bid to renegotiate Britain's divorce from the European Union, demanding that an insurance policy for the Irish border be removed from the Brexit deal and replaced with a pledge.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has fired the opening salvo in his bid to renegotiate Britain's divorce from the European Union, demanding that an insurance policy for the Irish border be removed from the Brexit deal and replaced with a pledge. After more than three years of Brexit crisis, the United Kingdom is heading towards a showdown with the EU as Johnson has vowed to leave the bloc on October 31 without a deal unless it agrees to renegotiate the divorce terms. The bloc and its leaders have repeatedly refused to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement, which includes a protocol on the Irish border "backstop" that then-prime minister Theresa May agreed in November. In his opening bid to the EU ahead of meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week, Johnson wrote a four-page letter to European Council President Donald Tusk setting out his demands. "I propose that the backstop should be replaced with a commitment to put in place (alternative) arrangements as far as possible before the end of the transition period, as part of the future relationship," Johnson wrote. "Time is very short." A diplomat from one EU country told Reuters that Johnson's letter was "pure PR" and not meant to spur constructive talks but rather set the stage for a "blame game" with the EU. Irish source said Johnson had provided no detail on alternative proposals. In a call with Johnson, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar reiterated the EU's position that the Withdrawal Agreement cannot be reopened. The riddle of what to do about Ireland's 500-km (300-mile) land border with the British province of Northern Ireland remains has repeatedly imperilled Brexit talks. The EU wants to ensure that its only land border with the United Kingdom after Brexit does not become a back door for goods to enter the EU's single market - which guarantees the free movement of goods, capital, services, and labour. But Ireland says checks could undermine the 1998 Good Friday agreement, which brought peace after more than 3,600 died in a three-decade conflict between unionists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain British and Irish nationalists who want Northern Ireland to join a united Ireland ruled from Dublin. And the United Kingdom does not want there to be any border - effective or virtual - between Britain and Northern Ireland. Johnson's government is propped up by Northern Irish unionists. Brexit showdown? The backstop was a compromise aimed at squaring the circle: it would keep the United Kingdom in a customs union with the EU until a better solution was found, and keep Northern Ireland aligned to the rules of the EU's single market. Johnson wrote that the backstop was anti-democratic and threatened the United Kingdom's sovereignty as the application of single-market rules in Northern Ireland could divide Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. "It presents the whole of the UK with the choice of remaining in a customs union and aligned with those rules, or of seeing Northern Ireland gradually detached from the UK economy across a very broad range of areas," Johnson said. "Both of those outcomes are unacceptable to the British government." He also argued that the backstop risked weakening the delicate balance between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland. He said the best solution was a pledge to put in place arrangements as far as possible before the end of the transition period, and that this could be agreed as part of a deal on Britain'sfuture relationship with the EU. Dublin does not accept the assertion that the backstop is a threat to peace, an Irish government source said, adding that, while the letter refers to alternative arrangements, it gives no detail of what these might be. Under the current text of the Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop would be invoked at the end of the transition period in 2020, creating a single EU-UK customs territory, including "level playing field" rules ensuring fair competition in areas such as environment, state aid, and labour standards. The clause is designed as a default mechanism to remain in place "unless and until" it is superseded by alternative arrangements that ensure the same outcome. Brexiteers fear that this would keep Britain dependent on rules set from Brussels over which they would have no say, and hinder their efforts to strike trade deals with third countries - one of the key benefits they see from leaving the EU in the first place. Some pro-Brexit politicians have said it would make Britain a "vassal state".

Irish backstop should be replaced: PM Johnson's Brexit bid to EU

Tensions&nbsp;rose on a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../explosive-situation-on-migrant-rescue-boat-in- limbo-off-italy-243498"> rescue&nbsp;ship</a>&nbsp;stranded&nbsp;off&nbsp;southern&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;on Tuesday, as&nbsp;10&nbsp;of the&nbsp;migrants aboard&nbsp;jumped into the sea and tried to swim ashore, according to the Spanish charity that operates the vessel.

The&nbsp;ship&nbsp;Open Arms, at sea for 19 days with almost&nbsp;100&nbsp;migrants onboard, has been waiting just&nbsp;off&nbsp;the port of Lampedusa, asking permission to bring the mostly African&nbsp;migrants ashore, despite an<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-new-migrant-standoff-italys-salvini-blocks-two-ngo-boats-242803"> Italian ban</a> on private rescue&nbsp;ships docking.

Italy&nbsp;says it has borne too much responsibility for handling African migration to Europe.

It's interior minister says the charity-run&nbsp;ships have become "taxis" for people smugglers.

"Nine people have thrown themselves into the water trying desperately to reach the coast of Lampedusa. Our lifeguards and Italian coastguards are trying to rescue them. The situation is out of control," the Open Arms tweeted.

It had earlier tweeted that one other&nbsp;migrant&nbsp;had&nbsp;jumped in the water and posted a video of the&nbsp;migrant&nbsp;swimming toward the shore, his way blocked by an Italian Coast Guard boat.

"Day 19: a night of panic and a man in the water," the charity tweeted. "The night began with an urgent medical evacuation, and this morning a man has&nbsp;jumped into the water trying to reach the land before his eyes ... The situation is desperate."

The man&nbsp;overboard, a Syrian, was rescued by Italian authorities, who are caring for him, an Open Arms spokeswoman said.

Dozens of&nbsp;migrants have been taken ashore since the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;entered Italian waters because they were said to be minors or ill.

The remaining&nbsp;migrants still sleep jammed together on deck and share two toilets.

Open Arms says some are suicidal.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini suggested on Tuesday that the charity was exaggerating the problems on board. Of eight&nbsp;migrants taken ashore on Monday night for urgent medical attention, he said, only two had health problems.

"I will never go back (on the ban)," he told Radio 24.

The standoff&nbsp;has fuelled Salvini's campaign against&nbsp;migrant&nbsp;boats from Africa and comes as he is trying to drag&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;into snap elections.

The ruling coalition, in danger of collapse later on Tuesday, has split over the issue.

Salvini's political rival, Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, who controls the Coast Guard but not port access, has&nbsp;offered to take the migrants on a Coast Guard vessel to Spain, which has&nbsp;offered them safe harbour.

But Toninelli has set a condition -- that Madrid de-register the Open Arms&nbsp;ship&nbsp;by removing its Spanish flag. Without a flag, it would be difficult for the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;to continue running rescue missions; its insurance would be invalid and it could be intercepted at any time by a navy or coast guard force.

Separate talks are also underway between&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;and Spain to find a diplomatic solution, said a source in Rome familiar with the matter. She did not elaborate.

"They want to take the flag away from us. The price is very high," Open Arms' director and founder, Oscar Camps, said in remarks published by El Mundo newspaper on Tuesday.

Camps has ruled out the option of taking the&nbsp;migrants to Spain on the Open Arms&nbsp;ship, saying conditions on board were too miserable for them to endure such a journey.

If a solution is not found, Open Arms has not ruled out the option of defying&nbsp;Italy's ban and attempting to dock.

Asked if the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;would try and enter the port without permission, the Open Arms head of mission in Lampedusa, Riccardo Gatti, said on Monday, "Yes, it is an option".

Spain's left-wing government&nbsp;offered on Monday to allow the&nbsp;ship&nbsp;to dock at a Spanish port, and it and five other European Union nations have&nbsp;offered to take the&nbsp;migrants.

The details of the&nbsp;offers from France, Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain and Luxembourg have yet to be finalised.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Tensions rose on a rescue ship stranded off southern Italy on Tuesday, as 10 of the migrants aboard jumped into the sea and tried to swim ashore, according to the Spanish charity that operates the vessel.

Tensions rose on a rescue ship stranded off southern Italy on Tuesday, as 10 of the migrants aboard jumped into the sea and tried to swim ashore, according to the Spanish charity that operates the vessel. The ship Open Arms, at sea for 19 days with almost 100 migrants onboard, has been waiting just off the port of Lampedusa, asking permission to bring the mostly African migrants ashore, despite an Italian ban on private rescue ships docking. Italy says it has borne too much responsibility for handling African migration to Europe. It's interior minister says the charity-run ships have become "taxis" for people smugglers. "Nine people have thrown themselves into the water trying desperately to reach the coast of Lampedusa. Our lifeguards and Italian coastguards are trying to rescue them. The situation is out of control," the Open Arms tweeted. It had earlier tweeted that one other migrant had jumped in the water and posted a video of the migrant swimming toward the shore, his way blocked by an Italian Coast Guard boat. "Day 19: a night of panic and a man in the water," the charity tweeted. "The night began with an urgent medical evacuation, and this morning a man has jumped into the water trying to reach the land before his eyes ... The situation is desperate." The man overboard, a Syrian, was rescued by Italian authorities, who are caring for him, an Open Arms spokeswoman said. Dozens of migrants have been taken ashore since the ship entered Italian waters because they were said to be minors or ill. The remaining migrants still sleep jammed together on deck and share two toilets. Open Arms says some are suicidal. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini suggested on Tuesday that the charity was exaggerating the problems on board. Of eight migrants taken ashore on Monday night for urgent medical attention, he said, only two had health problems. "I will never go back (on the ban)," he told Radio 24. The standoff has fuelled Salvini's campaign against migrant boats from Africa and comes as he is trying to drag Italy into snap elections. The ruling coalition, in danger of collapse later on Tuesday, has split over the issue. Salvini's political rival, Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, who controls the Coast Guard but not port access, has offered to take the migrants on a Coast Guard vessel to Spain, which has offered them safe harbour. But Toninelli has set a condition -- that Madrid de-register the Open Arms ship by removing its Spanish flag. Without a flag, it would be difficult for the ship to continue running rescue missions; its insurance would be invalid and it could be intercepted at any time by a navy or coast guard force. Separate talks are also underway between Italy and Spain to find a diplomatic solution, said a source in Rome familiar with the matter. She did not elaborate. "They want to take the flag away from us. The price is very high," Open Arms' director and founder, Oscar Camps, said in remarks published by El Mundo newspaper on Tuesday. Camps has ruled out the option of taking the migrants to Spain on the Open Arms ship, saying conditions on board were too miserable for them to endure such a journey. If a solution is not found, Open Arms has not ruled out the option of defying Italy's ban and attempting to dock. Asked if the ship would try and enter the port without permission, the Open Arms head of mission in Lampedusa, Riccardo Gatti, said on Monday, "Yes, it is an option". Spain's left-wing government offered on Monday to allow the ship to dock at a Spanish port, and it and five other European Union nations have offered to take the migrants. The details of the offers from France, Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain and Luxembourg have yet to be finalised.

Tensions rise on migrant ship off Italy; 10 jump overboard

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday expressed "profound worry" about the bombing of Idlib in talks with Vladimir Putin, but the Russian leader insisted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-four-months-of-strikes-on-syrias-hold-out-idlib-244154">Moscow backed Syrian military</a> actions against "terrorists" in the province.&nbsp;

Addressing Putin at a joint press conference at the Bregancon fortress on France's Mediterranean coast, Macron said it was "vital" that a ceasefire deal agreed in the Russian resort of Sochi in September last year be implemented.

"I must express our profound worry about the situation in Idlib. The population in Idlib is living under bombs, children are being killed. It's vital that the ceasefire agreed in Sochi is put into practice," he said.

The deal outlined a truce in the northwestern region where airstrikes and shelling by the government and its Russian ally has killed hundreds of people since April, many of them civilians.

The Idlib region, which is home to some three million people, was supposed to be protected from a massive regime offensive by a buffer zone deal signed between Russia and Turkey in September last year.&nbsp;

Some Turkish troops were deployed to patrol the planned buffer zone, but it was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from the planned demilitarised cordon. Since late April, the regime and Russian forces have upped their deadly bombardment there.

But Putin said Russia, which entered the conflict in 2015 in support of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, backed the Syrian army's operations in Idlib, which is the last major jihadist-run bastion in the war-torn country.

"We support the efforts of the Syrian army... to end these terrorist threats" in Idlib, Putin told Macron after his remarks on the ceasefire.

"We never said that in Idlib terrorists would feel comfortable," he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday expressed "profound worry" about the bombing of Idlib in talks with Vladimir Putin, but the Russian leader insisted Moscow backed Syrian military actions against "terrorists" in the province.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday expressed "profound worry" about the bombing of Idlib in talks with Vladimir Putin, but the Russian leader insisted Moscow backed Syrian military actions against "terrorists" in the province. Addressing Putin at a joint press conference at the Bregancon fortress on France's Mediterranean coast, Macron said it was "vital" that a ceasefire deal agreed in the Russian resort of Sochi in September last year be implemented. "I must express our profound worry about the situation in Idlib. The population in Idlib is living under bombs, children are being killed. It's vital that the ceasefire agreed in Sochi is put into practice," he said. The deal outlined a truce in the northwestern region where airstrikes and shelling by the government and its Russian ally has killed hundreds of people since April, many of them civilians. The Idlib region, which is home to some three million people, was supposed to be protected from a massive regime offensive by a buffer zone deal signed between Russia and Turkey in September last year. Some Turkish troops were deployed to patrol the planned buffer zone, but it was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from the planned demilitarised cordon. Since late April, the regime and Russian forces have upped their deadly bombardment there. But Putin said Russia, which entered the conflict in 2015 in support of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, backed the Syrian army's operations in Idlib, which is the last major jihadist-run bastion in the war-torn country. "We support the efforts of the Syrian army... to end these terrorist threats" in Idlib, Putin told Macron after his remarks on the ceasefire. "We never said that in Idlib terrorists would feel comfortable," he added.

Idlib ceasefire must be respected, Macron to Putin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today had a telephone conversation with US President Trump. The thirty-minute conversation covered bilateral and regional matters.

During the phone call,&nbsp;PM Modi recalled the meeting with Trump in Osaka on the margins of the G-20 summit in June.

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Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> had a telephone conversation today with <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> H.E. Mr. Donald Trump. Their thirty-minute conversation covered bilateral and regional matters and was marked by the warmth and cordiality which characterises the relations between the two leaders.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1163459601989165056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Referring to their bilateral discussions in Osaka, PM Modi expressed the hope that the commerce minister of India and the US Trade Representative would meet at an early date to discuss bilateral trade prospects.

"Certain nations are spreading anti-India propaganda," the Indian prime minister told the US president during the phone call, adding that India is committed towards regional peace.

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In the context of the regional situation, PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> stated that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1163459995993702401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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PM Modi said during the conversation that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace. The Indian prime minister highlighted the importance of creating an environment "free from terror and violence and eschewing cross-border terrorism without exception."

The Indian prime minister reiterated India’s commitment to cooperate with anyone who followed the path of peace and in fighting poverty, illiteracy and disease.&nbsp;

Recalling that today marked the one hundred years of the independence of Afghanistan, PM Modi&nbsp;reiterated India’s longstanding and unwavering commitment to work for a united,&nbsp;democratic and independent Afghanistan with the US president.

PM Modi stated that he appreciated remaining in regular touch with President Trump.&nbsp;After the phone call, the White House said Trump stressed the need to reduce India-Pakistan tensions.

"The president conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region," White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

"The two leaders further discussed how they will continue to strengthen United States-India economic ties through increased trade, and they look forward to meeting again soon," the statement added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today had a telephone conversation with US President Trump. The thirty-minute conversation covered bilateral and regional matters. During the phone call, PM Modi recalled the meeting with Trump in Osaka on the margins of the G-20 summit in June.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today had a telephone conversation with US President Trump. The thirty-minute conversation covered bilateral and regional matters. During the phone call, PM Modi recalled the meeting with Trump in Osaka on the margins of the G-20 summit in June. Prime Minister @narendramodi had a telephone conversation today with @POTUS H.E. Mr. Donald Trump. Their thirty-minute conversation covered bilateral and regional matters and was marked by the warmth and cordiality which characterises the relations between the two leaders. — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 19, 2019 × Referring to their bilateral discussions in Osaka, PM Modi expressed the hope that the commerce minister of India and the US Trade Representative would meet at an early date to discuss bilateral trade prospects. "Certain nations are spreading anti-India propaganda," the Indian prime minister told the US president during the phone call, adding that India is committed towards regional peace. In the context of the regional situation, PM @narendramodi stated that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace. — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 19, 2019 × PM Modi said during the conversation that extreme rhetoric and incitement to anti-India violence by certain leaders in the region was not conducive to peace. The Indian prime minister highlighted the importance of creating an environment "free from terror and violence and eschewing cross-border terrorism without exception." The Indian prime minister reiterated India’s commitment to cooperate with anyone who followed the path of peace and in fighting poverty, illiteracy and disease. Recalling that today marked the one hundred years of the independence of Afghanistan, PM Modi reiterated India’s longstanding and unwavering commitment to work for a united, democratic and independent Afghanistan with the US president. PM Modi stated that he appreciated remaining in regular touch with President Trump. After the phone call, the White House said Trump stressed the need to reduce India-Pakistan tensions. "The president conveyed the importance of reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and maintaining peace in the region," White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement. "The two leaders further discussed how they will continue to strengthen United States-India economic ties through increased trade, and they look forward to meeting again soon," the statement added.

India committed towards regional peace: PM Modi to President Trump

The US Defense Department announced on Monday the test of a medium-range <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-withdraws-from-inf-missile-treaty-clears-way-for-new-arms-race-with-russia-240039">ground-launched cruise missile</a>, just weeks after tearing up the Cold War-era pact with Russia eliminating such potentially nuclear-capable weapons.

"The test missile exited its ground mobile launcher and accurately impacted its target after more than 500 kilometers of flight," the Pentagon said in a statement.

"Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform the Department of Defense's development of future intermediate-range capabilities."

Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier urged the United States to begin new arms talks after the collapse of a Cold War nuclear pact between the two world powers.&nbsp;

Moscow has blamed Washington for unilaterally ending the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty reached in 1987, signed back then by US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.&nbsp;

The agreement limited the use of conventional and nuclear missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometres (310 to 3,420 miles).

Washington and NATO accused Russia of developing the new 9M729 missile which they say violates the treaty, but Russia says its range falls short of 500 kilometres.

Putin had said last week &nbsp;that if Russia receives information about US development of new missiles, it "will be forced to begin the full-scale development of similar missiles".

Russia "will not deploy them in relevant regions until American-made missiles are deployed there," Putin had said. 
&nbsp;

The US Defense Department announced on Monday the test of a medium-range ground-launched cruise missile, just weeks after tearing up the Cold War-era pact with Russia eliminating such potentially nuclear-capable weapons.

The US Defense Department announced on Monday the test of a medium-range ground-launched cruise missile, just weeks after tearing up the Cold War-era pact with Russia eliminating such potentially nuclear-capable weapons. "The test missile exited its ground mobile launcher and accurately impacted its target after more than 500 kilometers of flight," the Pentagon said in a statement. "Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform the Department of Defense's development of future intermediate-range capabilities." Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier urged the United States to begin new arms talks after the collapse of a Cold War nuclear pact between the two world powers. Moscow has blamed Washington for unilaterally ending the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty reached in 1987, signed back then by US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The agreement limited the use of conventional and nuclear missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometres (310 to 3,420 miles). Washington and NATO accused Russia of developing the new 9M729 missile which they say violates the treaty, but Russia says its range falls short of 500 kilometres. Putin had said last week that if Russia receives information about US development of new missiles, it "will be forced to begin the full-scale development of similar missiles". Russia "will not deploy them in relevant regions until American-made missiles are deployed there," Putin had said.

US tests medium-range cruise missile after exiting INF treaty

Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaking exclusively to WION said Pakistan's attempt to raise&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/life-returning-to-normal-in-kashmir-valley-jk-government-244222">Kashmir issue</a> in the world body was its yearly itch.

Last week Akbaruddin had conducted his first-ever press conference at the UN even as&nbsp;Pakistan sought to raise the Kashmir issue after&nbsp;the&nbsp;Indian government scrapped&nbsp;special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Akbaruddin said he felt no hesitation in calling out China and Pakistan over the Jammu and Kashmir issue after China which is a permanent member of the UNSC had called for “closed consultations" with member states on India's move to do away with Article 370 which was ratified by the Indian Parliament.

"There was no mention of Article 370 on Friday," Akbaruddin told WION, adding that the president of the UNSC did not speak at the meeting.

In fact, according to sources, US, France and the Dominican Republic had backed India and didn't support China's call for an open UNSC session. Moreover, US and France blocked any UNSC public statement after the closed session, sources said.

Akbaruddin told WION that&nbsp;during the press conference he gave Pakistani journalists a fair chance to speak and&nbsp;he had acutally&nbsp;planned for a much more difficult time. Akbaruddin declared that he had just ten minutes to prepare for the press briefing.&nbsp;

"We were surprised by the breadth of support at the UNSC," Akbaruddin added.

"No statement made by the UNSC made the loudest statement," Akbaruddin asserted.

During the press conference, Akbaruddin had said that Article 370 was an&nbsp;"internal matter of India" with no external ramifications while making clear&nbsp;that the UNSC had appreciated India’s efforts to restore normalcy in Kashmir.

Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaking exclusively to WION said Pakistan's attempt to raise the Kashmir issue in the world body was its yearly itch.

Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaking exclusively to WION said Pakistan's attempt to raise the Kashmir issue in the world body was its yearly itch. Last week Akbaruddin had conducted his first-ever press conference at the UN even as Pakistan sought to raise the Kashmir issue after the Indian government scrapped special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Akbaruddin said he felt no hesitation in calling out China and Pakistan over the Jammu and Kashmir issue after China which is a permanent member of the UNSC had called for “closed consultations" with member states on India's move to do away with Article 370 which was ratified by the Indian Parliament. "There was no mention of Article 370 on Friday," Akbaruddin told WION, adding that the president of the UNSC did not speak at the meeting. In fact, according to sources, US, France and the Dominican Republic had backed India and didn't support China's call for an open UNSC session. Moreover, US and France blocked any UNSC public statement after the closed session, sources said. Akbaruddin told WION that during the press conference he gave Pakistani journalists a fair chance to speak and he had acutally planned for a much more difficult time. Akbaruddin declared that he had just ten minutes to prepare for the press briefing. "We were surprised by the breadth of support at the UNSC," Akbaruddin added. "No statement made by the UNSC made the loudest statement," Akbaruddin asserted. During the press conference, Akbaruddin had said that Article 370 was an "internal matter of India" with no external ramifications while making clear that the UNSC had appreciated India’s efforts to restore normalcy in Kashmir.

No mention of Article 370 at UNSC meet on Friday: Akbaruddin to WION

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday sought to ease tension after violent protests in several cities in Papua in response to claims of racist abuse and physical mistreatment of students from the country's easternmost region.

His chief security minister, Wiranto, also pledged a "complete and fair" investigation into incidents in East Java that triggered the protests and in Papua, saying the situation in Papua had been contained.

A separatist movement has simmered for decades in Papua, where there have been frequent complaints of rights abuses by Indonesian security forces.

The latest protest appears to have been sparked off by the detention of Papuan students in the East Java city of Surabaya accused of bending a flagpole in front of a dormitory during Independence Day celebrations on Saturday, activists say.

Police fired tear gas into the dormitory before arresting 43 students, Albert Mungguar, an activist, told a news conference on Sunday. He said the students, who were released the same day without charge, had been called "monkeys" during the operation.

Thousands of Papuans protested in the cities of Manokwari and Sorong, blocking streets by burning tyres and tree branches.

Papuans were angry because of "the extremely racist words used by East Java people, the police and military", Papua Governor Lukas Enembe told broadcaster TVone.

In Manokwari, the capital of West Papua province, protesters set fire to parliament and office buildings, pulled down power poles and burnt vehicles, Deputy Governor Mohamad Lakotani said by telephone.

Protesters entered the airport in Sorong and destroyed some facilities, state news agency Antara said.

Widodo called for calm in Papua and urged people not to damage public facilities.

"It's okay to be emotional, but it's better to be forgiving," he told reporters at the presidential palace, a television broadcast showed. "Patience is also better."

Lakotani, who met protesters in Manokwari, said Papuans demanded an apology for the slur against the students, as well as protection for anyone studying across the archipelago.

"We apologise because this does not represent the voice of the people of East Java," the province's governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, said in a televised statement and called the slur "someone's personal outburst of emotion".

Large crowds also took to the streets of Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, though the protest appeared peaceful in television images.

Papua police spokesman Ahmad Kamal said by telephone 500 people were involved in the Jayapura demonstration.

"It's been a while since I saw West Papuans this angry," Veronica Koman, a human rights lawyer who focuses on Papua, said on Twitter. "The liberation movement is entering a new chapter."

Koman posted videos on Twitter of protesters crying, "Free Papua" and a group of teenagers carrying a Morning Star flag, a banned symbol used by independence supporters.

Papua and West Papua provinces, the resource-rich western part of the island of New Guinea, make up a former Dutch colony that was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised UN-backed referendum in 1969.

President Joko Widodo has sought to ease tension in the restive region with steps such as building the Trans Papua highway to spur economic activity and boost welfare.

However, unrest has persisted and separatists killed a group of construction workers in December 2018, triggering a military crackdown that displaced thousands in the Nduga area. 
&nbsp;

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday sought to ease tension after violent protests in several cities in Papua in response to claims of racist abuse and physical mistreatment of students from the country's easternmost region.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday sought to ease tension after violent protests in several cities in Papua in response to claims of racist abuse and physical mistreatment of students from the country's easternmost region. His chief security minister, Wiranto, also pledged a "complete and fair" investigation into incidents in East Java that triggered the protests and in Papua, saying the situation in Papua had been contained. A separatist movement has simmered for decades in Papua, where there have been frequent complaints of rights abuses by Indonesian security forces. The latest protest appears to have been sparked off by the detention of Papuan students in the East Java city of Surabaya accused of bending a flagpole in front of a dormitory during Independence Day celebrations on Saturday, activists say. Police fired tear gas into the dormitory before arresting 43 students, Albert Mungguar, an activist, told a news conference on Sunday. He said the students, who were released the same day without charge, had been called "monkeys" during the operation. Thousands of Papuans protested in the cities of Manokwari and Sorong, blocking streets by burning tyres and tree branches. Papuans were angry because of "the extremely racist words used by East Java people, the police and military", Papua Governor Lukas Enembe told broadcaster TVone. In Manokwari, the capital of West Papua province, protesters set fire to parliament and office buildings, pulled down power poles and burnt vehicles, Deputy Governor Mohamad Lakotani said by telephone. Protesters entered the airport in Sorong and destroyed some facilities, state news agency Antara said. Widodo called for calm in Papua and urged people not to damage public facilities. "It's okay to be emotional, but it's better to be forgiving," he told reporters at the presidential palace, a television broadcast showed. "Patience is also better." Lakotani, who met protesters in Manokwari, said Papuans demanded an apology for the slur against the students, as well as protection for anyone studying across the archipelago. "We apologise because this does not represent the voice of the people of East Java," the province's governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, said in a televised statement and called the slur "someone's personal outburst of emotion". Large crowds also took to the streets of Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, though the protest appeared peaceful in television images. Papua police spokesman Ahmad Kamal said by telephone 500 people were involved in the Jayapura demonstration. "It's been a while since I saw West Papuans this angry," Veronica Koman, a human rights lawyer who focuses on Papua, said on Twitter. "The liberation movement is entering a new chapter." Koman posted videos on Twitter of protesters crying, "Free Papua" and a group of teenagers carrying a Morning Star flag, a banned symbol used by independence supporters. Papua and West Papua provinces, the resource-rich western part of the island of New Guinea, make up a former Dutch colony that was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised UN-backed referendum in 1969. President Joko Widodo has sought to ease tension in the restive region with steps such as building the Trans Papua highway to spur economic activity and boost welfare. However, unrest has persisted and separatists killed a group of construction workers in December 2018, triggering a military crackdown that displaced thousands in the Nduga area.

Indonesia president urges calm after violent protests in Papua cities

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