A Turkish ground and air offensive against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria has killed at least sixteen people (NYT), according to a UK-based monitoring group, and reportedly struck targets (Al Jazeera) as far as thirty miles from the border. The UN Security Council will meet today (Reuters) to discuss possible responses to the incursion. 

The Turkish operation began after the United States agreed to pull back its troops in the area. U.S. and Syrian officials said operations against the self-proclaimed Islamic State have been halted (FP) while Kurdish fighters focus on self-defense, and the U.S. military is transferring Islamic State detainees (NYT) out of Kurdish-run prisons. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said civilians would not be harmed (Anadolu), and he threatened to allow millions of Syrian refugees into Europe if the European Union calls the operation an invasion.

The tech giant has removed a smartphone application (SCMP) that crowdsourced the locations of pro-democracy protesters and security forces in Hong Kong, saying its use threatened public safety.

Japan: Major railway and airline operators warned that transportation could be canceled over the weekend as Typhoon Hagibis approached Japan (Japan Times).

The advisory for tourists to stay out of the region is set to be lifted today (Hindu), more than two months after it was issued as part of a security lockdown by the Indian government. 

CFR lays out what to know about the disputed region of Kashmir.

Afghanistan: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a joint statement endorsing an Afghan-led peace process (TOLO) in the country. 

A Tunisian court ordered that Nabil Karoui, a candidate in the country’s presidential runoff this weekend, be freed from prison (BBC) while he awaits trial on charges of money laundering and tax fraud. The electoral commission has said Karoui could appeal an election loss because he was not allowed a fair campaign.

Prices shot up more than 300 percent (VOA) after the energy authority approved a price hike, the second in three months. The national power company has struggled to fund its own maintenance amid a protracted economic crisis.

CFR looks at why Zimbabweans are on the brink of starvation.

Kenya: Lawmakers approved a fixed debt ceiling (Star) of $86 billion, replacing the previous debt limit of 50 percent of gross domestic product, in a bid to control spending.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in northwestern England today for talks with Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, about a possible compromise (Guardian) on post-Brexit Irish border arrangements. Johnson’s latest talks in Brussels failed to reach a breakthrough.

Germany: Police are investigating a man who livestreamed a shooting (DW) he carried out at a synagogue in the country’s east. One person was killed at the synagogue and another at a nearby shop.

The United States is preparing fresh sanctions on Cuba (Reuters) over its support of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to U.S. special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams. The sanctions will likely target the tourism sector and Venezuelan oil imports.

See how much you know about Cuba with this CFR quiz.

Haiti: Protesters rejected President Jovenel Moise’s proposal (AFP) to create a committee to lead a peace dialogue and continued calls for Moise to resign. Anti-government demonstrations began more than a month ago.

Power utility PG&E cut off electricity (WaPo) for twenty California counties ahead of projected strong winds in an attempt to forestall wildfires sparked by fallen power lines. Some residents will wait days before their power returns, and cuts could occur across half of the state.