Indonesia church attacker wanted to join IS in Syria

Johnson talks Rohingya, election

JAKARTA, Feb 12, (Agencies): The Indonesian who attacked a church congregation with a sword during Sunday Mass is a radical Islamist who had wanted to fight with the Islamic State group in Syria, police said Monday.

Around 100 people were attending the service at a Catholic church in Yogyakarta province on Java island when Suliyono, 23, barged in wielding a onemetre-long sword and began attacking terror-stricken people, seemingly indiscriminately.

Four people, including 81-year-old German-born priest Edmund Prier who was standing at the altar, were seriously injured. The extremist, who was later shot in the leg after ignoring a police warning shot, also decapitated a Virgin Mary statue with his sword.

Prier

IS-linked militant jailed for 7 yrs:

The Indonesian leader of an Islamic State-linked militant group was jailed for seven years Monday over plans to smuggle weapons from the southern Philippines, a court said.

Zainal Anshori, 43, head of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, was found guilty of committing a “criminal act of terrorism” by the Jakarta court.

Malaysians held in death of maid:

Three members of a Malaysian family have been detained in the death of their Indonesian maid, who suffered injuries and was forced to sleep outside on a porch with the family’s dog, police said Monday. The alleged maid abuse prompted calls by activists and lawmakers for better laws to safeguard migrant workers.

Lawmaker Steven Sim said his office received information from concerned neighbors about the possible abuse of 26-year-old Adelina Lisao on Saturday and went to investigate, but her employer refused to cooperate. After they lodged a complaint with police, the employer brought Lisao to the police station and she was then hospitalized but died on Sunday, Sim said.

Boris discusses polls in Thailand:

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson met Monday with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and other Thai officials and discussed neighboring Myanmar’s persecution of ethnic Rohingya Muslims and plans for elections in Thailand to end military rule.

A statement from Britain’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office said their discussions also covered “cooperation on education, the digital economy, science and innovation, financial technology, and trade and investment, as well as further co-operation to tackle the Illegal Wildlife Trade.”

Philippines may turn to China:

The Philippines may turn to non-Western defence manufacturers, including China and Russia, to acquire 16 helicopters after it had to scrap a $233 million deal with Canada, its defence minister said on Monday.

Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s trade minister, has ordered a review of the contract over concerns about Manila’s intended use for the helicopters.

Tonga braces for Cyclone Gita:

Some people in Tonga were nailing pieces of wood over their windows while others were evacuating as they braced for a cyclone that was due to hit Monday night.

The Pacific island nation has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Cyclone Gita.