PARIS
Eight charged in probe of alleged terror plot
Eight people suspected of belonging to a French far-right extremist group have been given preliminary terror charges for allegedly plotting attacks against mosques, politicians and migrants.
A judicial official told The Associated Press the suspects were charged with criminal terrorist association on Saturday night. Three of the eight charged are minors. Seven are in custody.
The suspects are allegedly linked to the founder of a newly formed ultra-nationalist group, the official said. The founder, identified only as Logan N., was arrested in southern France in June.
The official says investigators believe the group was planning to extort money from business leaders and use it to buy weapons. Some of its members had trained in shooting and stolen a vehicle for the alleged plot.
The official requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing case.
JAKARTA, Indonesia
Indonesia seeks answers from U.S. as general denied entry
Indonesia’s government is seeking clarification from the U.S. after the Indonesian military chief was denied entry to the country, an official said Sunday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said the Indonesian Embassy in Washington had sent a diplomatic note to the State Department.
Nasir said the U.S ambassador to Indonesia was not in the country and his deputy has been summoned to provide more information on Monday.
Military spokesman Wuryanto, who goes by one name, said military chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and his wife had planned to leave Indonesia on Saturday evening but were told by their airline shortly before departure that U.S. Customs would deny their entry.
Nurmantyo had been invited to attend a conference in Washington on extremist organizations by Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Wuryanto said that Nurmantyo, his wife and entourage of four officials had U.S. visas and that Nurmantyo last visited the U.S. in February 2016.
Relations between the U.S and Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, are generally friendly.
Indonesia’s military has a checkered human rights record, but Nurmantyo himself has not been accused of rights abuses.
Nasir said any possible Indonesian response will depend on the U.S. explanation.
TOKYO
Typhoon brings heavy rain to western Japan
A powerful typhoon was heading toward Japan’s main islands early today, already bringing heavy rain to western Japan and slightly injuring at least five people.
Typhoon Lan, which had maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour, was on track to make landfall on the Pacific coast of central Japan before dawn today and continue northeast toward Tokyo.
Authorities have issued flood and landslide warnings and evacuation advisories to hundreds of thousands of residents in western and central Japan and the Tokyo area ahead of the approaching storm.
Some of Japan’s “bullet” express trains, and other trains, were suspended in central Japan, and parts of expressways were closed as a precaution for possible flooding. Dozens of domestic flights in and out of Central Japan International Airport were canceled Sunday, and more cancellations were planned today.