Pakistan shuts phone networks as Islamists protest over Christian woman
Pakistan suspended mobile phone networks in major cities on Friday and many schools were closed as Islamist groups protested for a third day against the acquittal of a Christian woman facing the death penalty for blasphemy.
South Sudan frees rebel chief’s associates to back peace deal
South Sudan freed two associates of rebel leader Riek Machar from prison on Friday, advancing a peace agreement to end almost five years of civil war.
Indonesia struggles with damaged black box from crashed jet, hunts for second
Indonesian divers hunted on Friday for a second black box from an aircraft that crashed into the sea this week with the loss of all 189 people on board, as investigators tried to get data from a partly damaged recorder already found.
Shelling kills eight in de-escalation zone around Syria’s Idlib
At least eight people were killed by Syrian government shelling of the rebel-held Idlib province on Friday, according to a monitoring group — the highest daily toll since a Russian-Turkish demilitarization zone was set up around the region.
Chinese students assaulted at pro-Marxist society protest
Two Chinese students were assaulted and hauled away, according to a witness and video footage, after they led protests against their university on Thursday for refusing to recognize an on-campus Marxist student society.
Spain’s State Attorney drops call for rebellion charges against jailed Catalan leaders
Spain’s State Attorney dropped a call for rebellion charges to be brought against jailed Catalan independence leaders on Friday, and said it would seek lesser charges of sedition and misappropriation of funds.
Netanyahu condemns Khashoggi killing but keeps focus on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday condemned the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, but said the bigger problem facing the region was Iran.
Japanese journalist apologizes, recounts days as hostage in Syria
Jumpei Yasuda, a Japanese journalist held by militants in Syria for more than three years, said on Friday he told his captors to deafen him if they suspected he was eavesdropping on their conversations.
Israeli official damns Khashoggi killing but deems Riyadh ally against Iran
An Israeli official on Friday called the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul “despicable” but said that co-operating with Riyadh against their common foe Iran was Israel’s priority.
League’s Salvini is Italy’s real leader, poll finds
Most Italians view Matteo Salvini, the outspoken leader of the anti-immigrant League party, as the real head of government, with just one in six casting Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in that role, a poll showed on Friday.
