Arrest warrant for cleric in pornography case

JAKARTA • Indonesian police have issued an arrest warrant against an Islamist leader after he was named a suspect in a pornography case.

Firebrand cleric Rizieq Shihab, who helped organise mass protests against Jakarta's outgoing Christian governor, is accused of exchanging sexually explicit messages and nude photos with a woman.

The warrant issued on Tuesday will be used to put Rizieq on the police's most-wanted list, reported Antara news agency.

Rizieq, who is also being investigated by police over a separate defamation case, travelled recently to Saudi Arabia and has failed to return despite repeated summons from the police for questioning.

Plane skids off runway in eastern Papua region

JAKARTA • An Indonesian passenger plane carrying 146 people skidded off the runway as it landed in the eastern Papua region yesterday, an official said, the latest accident to hit the country's aviation sector.

No one was hurt after the Boeing aircraft operated by domestic carrier Sriwijaya Air overshot the wet runway at the airport in Manokwari city, said transport ministry spokesman J. Adravida Barata.

TV footage showed people being evacuated from the plane, as it rested on its belly on grass next to the runway. The airport was closed for several hours.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

'Toilet revolution' under way in China

BEIJING • The Chinese authorities have installed or upgraded more than 50,000 toilets in a "national toilet revolution" designed to clean up filthy public restrooms.

By the end of the year, China expects to have added or upgraded a total of 71,000 toilets, well exceeding a target set in 2015. The plan to fix the country's bad reputation for grimy and smelly facilities has focused on restrooms in tourist sites.

In some places, shiny new toilets have replaced unhygienic open pits. More sanitation workers have also been hired.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE