MYANMAR STEPS UP CLAIMS MILITANTS TRYING TO FORM ISLAMIC STATEMyanmar security forces stepped up claims that Muslim militants were hoping to take advantage of turmoil in the west by establishing an Islamic state there. PHILIPPINES PREPARES 'BIG BATTLE' TO LIBERATE CITY HELD BY ISLAMIC STATE-LINKED MILITANTSNearly 100 days since Islamic State-linked militants occupied the southern Philippine city of Marawi, the army says it is planning a final assault to end a battle that took Manila and allied countries by surprise for its stubbornness and violence. RUSSIA SAYS WAR GAMES ARE 'PURELY DEFENSIVE'The Russian military on Tuesday dismissed Western concerns over a major war game in the Baltic Sea region, as the U.S. further beefed up its presence there. (For continuously updated news from the Wall Street Journal, see WSJ.com at http://wsj.com.) (END) Dow Jones NewswiresAugust 29, 2017 17:14 ET (21:14 GMT)

Source: Wall Street Journal August 29, 2017 21:22 UTC