After Gains Against ISIS, American Focus Is Turning to Mosul

By HELENE COOPER and MATTHEW ROSENBERG from NYT World http://ift.tt/1oKFEev
via IFTTT The Pentagon is laying groundwork for a fight to retake Iraq’s second-largest city, moving to isolate it from the Islamic State’s headquarters in Syria.

Parents of American Held in North Korea Unable to Speak with Him

By RICK GLADSTONE and CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/1OJl17G
via IFTTT In their first comment on the arrest, the parents of Otto F. Warmbier said they hoped North Korea would free him after he admitted stealing a political banner.

Narendra Modi Struggles to Fulfill His Plan to Rejuvenate India

By GEETA ANAND from NYT World http://ift.tt/1LQ0r5F
via IFTTT The prime minister’s pledge to revitalize the economy and create a deluge of jobs has become subsumed in political turmoil.

Iranian President and Moderates Appear to Make Strong Gains in Elections

By THOMAS ERDBRINK from NYT World http://ift.tt/1Sd20Bd
via IFTTT President Hassan Rouhani and his allies seem to have run strongly in voting for Parliament and Iran’s clerical panel, though official results are pending.

Woman Waving Child’s Severed Head Is Arrested in Moscow

By IVAN NECHEPURENKO from NYT World http://ift.tt/1QnTIlm
via IFTTT Witnesses said a woman waved the severed head of a small child outside a Moscow subway station on Monday.

Trial of Former SS Medic at Auschwitz Verging on Collapse

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1LP4Y8A
via IFTTT The trial of a former SS medic on 3,681 counts of accessory to murder for allegedly helping the Nazis' Auschwitz death camp function appeared close to collapse Monday, after a doctor found the 95-year-old unfit to be transported to the court.

Bounce Back From Law School Rejection, Apply With a Low GPA

New application essays and letters of recommendation can help rejected law school applicants be admitted.

from U.S. News - Education http://ift.tt/1LqiZ1A
via IFTTT

Iranian Moderates Win Majority in Parliament, Clerical Body

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1XUueB2
via IFTTT Iranian moderates have won a majority in parliament and a top clerical body charged with selecting the next supreme leader, dealing a major blow to hard-liners in the first elections held since last summer's landmark nuclear agreement with world powers.

New SAT Requires Updated Test-Day Techniques

Students will need different approaches for the essay, reading and math portions of the redesigned test.

from U.S. News - Education http://ift.tt/1oJ5DD7
via IFTTT

Riots Break Out Along Greece’s Border With Macedonia

By LIZ ALDERMAN and DAN BILEFSKY from NYT World http://ift.tt/1naYw5s
via IFTTT Refugees hit a razor-wire fence separating the two countries with a battering ram after the Macedonian authorities sealed the frontier.

High School Teachers Tune In Students With Podcasts

Podcast assignments can show teens another way to tell stories.

from U.S. News - Education http://ift.tt/21vHQs4
via IFTTT

New Best Graduate Schools Rankings Coming March 16

U.S. News will publish a new ranking of Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in the 2017 edition of Best Graduate Schools.

from U.S. News - Education http://ift.tt/1VMIhav
via IFTTT

China Deletes Microblog of Critic of President Xi Jinping

By EDWARD WONG from NYT World http://ift.tt/1XSTW9l
via IFTTT An official statement said the property tycoon Ren Zhiqiang had exerted a “vile” influence by spreading illegal information on the Sina Weibo platform.

Former Auschwitz SS Medic to Stand Trial in Germany

By REUTERS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1Tf425s
via IFTTT A 95-year-old former Nazi SS paramedic at the Auschwitz death camp, accused of being an accomplice to the murder of thousands, is to stand trial in Germany on Monday, one in a series of such recent cases.

U.S. Student Held in North Korea Apologizes for Taking Banner at Hotel

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/1oIsVsL
via IFTTT It remained unclear whether the student, Otto F. Warmbier, who has been in custody since Jan. 2, was coerced to apologize at a news conference.

Two Bombings Kill Dozens at a Baghdad Market

By OMAR AL-JAWOSHY from NYT World http://ift.tt/1piXFBp
via IFTTT The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Sunday for two attacks at a market in the Sadr City district that killed at least 42 people.

Pakistan Hangs Guard for Assassination of Outspoken Secular Politician

By SALMAN MASOOD from NYT World http://ift.tt/1na27k4
via IFTTT Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri fatally shot Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Punjab Province and a staunch opponent of the country’s blasphemy law.

Netanyahu Welcomes Cease-Fire in Syria, but Adds a Warning

By ISABEL KERSHNER from NYT World http://ift.tt/1XTqGPN
via IFTTT Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would continue to defend its own interests and would block any Iranian-backed attacks from Syrian territory.

With Humility, Starbucks to Enter Italian Market

By JIM YARDLEY from NYT World http://ift.tt/1TITVUR
via IFTTT Howard D. Schultz, head of the coffee chain, credits Italy’s distinct coffee culture for inspiring him to create the Starbucks of today.

Facing the Taliban and His Past, an Afghan Leader Aims for a Different Ending

By MUJIB MASHAL from NYT World http://ift.tt/1n8Al7r
via IFTTT Abdul Jabar Qahraman, who surrendered Lashkar Gah to rebels two decades ago, has returned as President Ashraf Ghani’s representative and tried to negotiate, rather than fight, with today’s insurgents.

In Toronto, a Neighborhood in Despair Transforms Into a Model of Inclusion

By DAN LEVIN from NYT World http://ift.tt/1XTUI5S
via IFTTT An ambitious plan for the 69-acre Regent Park neighborhood is disrupting entrenched notions of class, race and religion, at a time when concerns over income inequality and immigration are growing.

A Chilean Ex-Soldier Guiltily Recalls His Unit’s Atrocities

By PASCALE BONNEFOY from NYT World http://ift.tt/1XTTreV
via IFTTT Guillermo Padilla says he was part of a commando unit in 1973 that tortured and executed suspected opponents of General Augusto Pinochet.

In Iran Elections, Conflicting Forecasts Emerge Along Rival Lines

By THOMAS ERDBRINK from NYT World http://ift.tt/1OFAdTm
via IFTTT After many reformist candidates won in large cities where results had been announced, state media suggested a nationwide triumph for hard-liners in areas waiting for results.

The Latest: Irish Confirm National Popular Vote in Election

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1QDsGpv
via IFTTT The Latest on the 2016 Irish election (all times local):

Rescue Workers and Miners Are Killed in Russia Accident

By ANDREW E. KRAMER from NYT World http://ift.tt/1Usq6sn
via IFTTT Six rescue workers were killed on Sunday in a failed attempt to reach 26 stranded miners at a coal mine in Russia. The trapped miners were also declared dead.

Assassination of Putin Critic Remembered in Moscow

By IVAN NECHEPURENKO from NYT World http://ift.tt/1LmbpoK
via IFTTT Tens of thousands of people joined a solemn march on Saturday to commemorate the first anniversary of the assassination of Boris Y. Nemtsov, a Russian opposition leader.

Early Tallies Show Irish Voters Rejecting Government

By DOUGLAS DALBY from NYT World http://ift.tt/212htVb
via IFTTT The governing coalition will lose too many seats in Parliament to retain power, but it is unclear if any party will have enough seats to form a government.

Russian Coal Mine Accident Kills 36, Including 5 Rescuers

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1Tfcce3
via IFTTT A methane gas leak at a coal mine in Russia's far north triggered three explosions that ignited a raging fire and partially collapsed the mine, killing 36 people, officials said Sunday.

Monarch Butterfly Migration Rebounds, Easing Some Fears

By VICTORIA BURNETT from NYT World http://ift.tt/1QkCpVS
via IFTTT Monarch butterflies, which fly each year to Mexico from Canada and the United States, covered about 10 acres this winter, an area more than three times as large as last year.

Violence in Syria Abates on Day 1 of Cease-Fire

By ANNE BARNARD from NYT World http://ift.tt/21q39LI
via IFTTT Fighting decreased significantly in the country following a truce brokered by the United States and Russia, though there were reports of scattered violations.

Suicide Bombings in Afghanistan Kill at Least 26

By MUJIB MASHAL and JAWAD SUKHANYAR from NYT World http://ift.tt/1VJRY9T
via IFTTT The two attacks, in Kabul and Kunar Province, also wounded nearly 50 people days ahead of expected talks between the government and the Taliban.

Suicide Bombings in Afghanistan Kill at Least 26

By MUJIB MASHAL and JAWAD SUKHANYAR from NYT World http://ift.tt/1VJRY9T
via IFTTT The two attacks, in Kabul and Kunar Province, also wounded nearly 50 people days ahead of expected talks between the government and the Taliban.

Islamic State Attacks Kurdish-Held Town on Turkish Border

By REUTERS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1QDcNzi
via IFTTT Islamic State militants launched an assault on a Kurdish-controlled town on Syria's border with Turkey on Saturday, prompting air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition to try to drive them back.

Scientists Protest Cuts and Commercialization at Australian Climate Center

By MICHELLE INNIS from NYT World http://ift.tt/21qW9OE
via IFTTT A decision by Australia’s science agency to lay off researchers and focus more on commerce threatens climate studies around the globe.

Ex-Official Calls for Malaysian Prime Minister to Step Down

By RICHARD C. PADDOCK from NYT World http://ift.tt/1LmjvgV
via IFTTT A Malaysian official who has been removed from a top party job said he had seen proof that Prime Minister Najib Razak committed a crime related to the country’s sovereign wealth fund.

Italy Growers Wary of Olive Oil Fraud as New Law Is Weighed

By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO from NYT World http://ift.tt/1S91S5Y
via IFTTT Olive oil producers in the nation are troubled by draft legislation that would tinker with penalties for passing off counterfeit olive oil and its origin.

Bolivian Town Drifts From President Evo Morales, Despite Promises Kept to Left

By NICHOLAS CASEY from NYT World http://ift.tt/212OfFO
via IFTTT Residents of Cobija, which has prospered under ​Mr. Morales, expect his left-wing policies to continue even though he was denied the chance to seek another term.

U.N. Security Council Endorses Truce Deal for Syria

By SOMINI SENGUPTA from NYT World http://ift.tt/1KQxueZ
via IFTTT “It is, potentially, a historic junction,” the United Nations mediator, Staffan de Mistura, said of the cease-fire negotiated by the United States and Russia.

Talk Grows About Who Will Succeed Palestinians’ Fading Mahmoud Abbas

By STEVEN ERLANGER from NYT World http://ift.tt/1oP9Hm1
via IFTTT The aging Palestinian president, likened to a tree with leaves blowing off, rules ineffectively over a divided people and failing institutions.

Early Results Show Reformists and Moderates Drawing Votes in Iran Elections

By THOMAS ERDBRINK from NYT World http://ift.tt/1RvwAnp
via IFTTT Preliminary results released Saturday showed that reformist and moderate candidates were leading in one of the two elections just held by Iran, state news media quoted the Interior Ministry as saying.

2 Die in Second Deadly Plane Crash in Nepal in a Week

By BHADRA SHARMA from NYT World http://ift.tt/1TI90r2
via IFTTT Initial reports showed that the Air Kasthamandap plane was trying to make an emergency landing after noon because of a technical problem.

Philippine Army Kills 42 Islamist Militants in Battles in South

By REUTERS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1R682yJ
via IFTTT Philippine security forces killed as many as 42 Muslim rebels claiming links with Islamic State and captured their stronghold during five days of fighting in the mountains of a southern island, an army spokesman said on Friday.

China Says Taiwan President-Elect Must Respect Constitution

By REUTERS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1Q8uwkW
via IFTTT Taiwan's president-elect Tsai Ing-wen must respect the island's own constitution that states Taiwan and the mainland are both part of one China, China's foreign minister has said during a visit to Washington.

Doubts in Asia Over Whether New Sanctions Against North Korea Can Work

By CHOE SANG-HUN and EDWARD WONG from NYT World http://ift.tt/1XPNyiW
via IFTTT Analysts say a draft resolution circulating at the United Nations has too many loopholes for it to induce the isolated nation to denuclearize.

Pastor in China Who Resisted Cross Removal Gets 14 Years in Prison

By EDWARD WONG from NYT World http://ift.tt/1TCT1sU
via IFTTT The pastor, Bao Guohua, and his wife were convicted on graft and other charges amid a campaign in southeastern China to limit Christian churches’ influence.

S. Korean Filibuster Against Anti-Terror Bill Enters 5th Day

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1QMpCgX
via IFTTT South Korea's opposition lawmakers on Saturday continued their non-stop speeches for a fifth straight day in parliament to block a vote on a government-backed anti-terrorism bill they say would threaten personal freedoms and privacy if passed into law.

Relatives of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Victims Denounce Government’s Move

By RICHARD C. PADDOCK from NYT World http://ift.tt/1TD1yMm
via IFTTT Some family members contend that the restructuring of the struggling carrier could leave it without sufficient assets to compensate them.

Syria Truce Comes With Price, but Not for Assad

By DAVID E. SANGER from NYT World http://ift.tt/210PtRL
via IFTTT European and Israeli intelligence officials believe the pause in fighting may consolidate President Bashar al-Assad’s hold on power.

Palestinian Fugitive Found Dead Outside Embassy in Bulgaria

By DIAA HADID from NYT World http://ift.tt/1pcNXjZ
via IFTTT Omar Zayed, 52, had been living in Bulgaria after he escaped in 1990 from custody in Israel, where he was convicted of killing a yeshiva student.

Amid Iraqi Chaos, Moktada al-Sadr, an Old Provocateur, Returns

By TIM ARANGO from NYT World http://ift.tt/1QC59VZ
via IFTTT Mr. Sadr, a cleric whose command of the Iraqi Shiite street is unmatched, is ostensibly lending support to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Questions Nag in Sweden 30 Years After Leader’s Assassination

By DAVID CROUCH from NYT World http://ift.tt/1XQcnvl
via IFTTT The unsolved shooting of Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986 was a watershed moment in history that continues to fascinate and haunt the country.

Elias Demetracopoulos, Journalist Who Linked Greek Junta to Nixon Campaign, Dies at 87

By SAM ROBERTS from NYT World http://ift.tt/1QMf3dW
via IFTTT The enigmatic Mr. Demetracopoulos often exasperated the State Department, once sued the C.I.A. and was honored in his homeland as a champion of freedom.

Japan Lost Nearly a Million People in 5 Years, Census Says

By JONATHAN SOBLE from NYT World http://ift.tt/210jBgd
via IFTTT A downward trend had been indicated for years, but a national count made it official. The population total in 2015 was lower, by almost a million, than that of the census in 2010.

Ex-Official in China Blames Torture for Graft Confession

By AUSTIN RAMZY from NYT World http://ift.tt/1QfLBdY
via IFTTT The accusations raise deeper questions about the broader crackdown on graft promoted by President Xi Jinping.