Theresa May’s Lead in British Polls Narrows After Missteps

By DAN BILEFSKY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2slN0Y4
via IFTTT With a last-minute decision to join a debate Wednesday, Mrs. May’s rival, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is trying to paint the prime minister as evasive and out of touch.

Hard-Line Moralist in Indonesia Faces Pornography Charges

By JON EMONT from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rAOTnE
via IFTTT The police say Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islamic Defenders Front, broke the law by having a sexually explicit dalliance online. Supporters say he was framed.

Manchester Attacker Mainly Acted Alone, U.K. Police Say

By CEYLAN YEGINSU from NYT World http://ift.tt/2smwyHh
via IFTTT In the four days leading up to the attack, Salman Abedi bought and assembled most of the components for the bomb himself, investigators have found.

Catholic Priest Abducted in the Philippines Appeals to President in a Video

By FELIPE VILLAMOR from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qzOXDG
via IFTTT In the recorded message, Father Teresito Suganob said he was among more than 200 people seized, and he asked President Rodrigo Duterte to halt a military offensive in the city of Marawi.

China Woos South Korea’s New Leader, but the U.S. Left Behind a Spoiler

By JANE PERLEZ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qzIkgJ
via IFTTT A missile defense system that was set up just before Moon Jae-in took office is complicating efforts by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to fortify his influence in the region.

Trump Considers Rolling Back Obama’s Opening With Cuba

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qHMx1l
via IFTTT Clamping down on engagement with Cuba would allow Mr. Trump to fulfill a campaign pledge to Cuban-Americans, who disproportionately supported him.

Zain’s Ramadan Ad, With Images of Terrorism, Divides Twitter

By BEN HUBBARD from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qxuAmG
via IFTTT A three-minute video released just before Ramadan by Zain, a Kuwait-based telecommunications company, drew criticism and praise.

China Sees an Opening in Rift Between Trump and Germany

By ALISON SMALE and JANE PERLEZ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rbsHit
via IFTTT After the president managed to offend leaders in Europe, Chancellor Angela Merkel began to shift her attention toward Asia.

The Kabul Bombing: Wrenching Scenes of Carnage

By THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rDDgvY
via IFTTT A huge explosion near the Afghan presidential palace rocked Kabul, the capital, on Wednesday, killing at least 80 people and wounding hundreds of others.

What We Know: The Kabul Bombing

By THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT World http://ift.tt/2scSbKF
via IFTTT At least 80 people were killed and hundreds wounded when explosives were detonated in the diplomatic quarter of Afghanistan’s capital.

Macron Quickly Assumes a Presidential Attitude

By ADAM NOSSITER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rBZZsb
via IFTTT Seeking to dispel any concerns about his inexperience, Emmanuel Macron has shown himself as more decisive than the candidate he evoked in the campaign.

‘Liar, Liar’: A Song Assailing Theresa May Tops the Charts in Britain

By DAN BILEFSKY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qwlFGa
via IFTTT A scathing song that takes aim at the prime minister has climbed to the top of the British iTunes chart ahead of next week’s general election.

Kabul Bombing Kills at Least 80, Shaking City Center

By MUJIB MASHAL and FAHIM ABED from NYT World http://ift.tt/2riDBBg
via IFTTT The blast near the Afghan presidential palace wounded hundreds, and the death toll seemed certain to rise. Windows were shattered as far as a mile away.

Filipinos Who Fled ISIS-Inspired Fighting: ‘There Was Gunfire Everywhere’

By FELIPE VILLAMOR from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qv6TiN
via IFTTT Residents in the southern city of Marawi described homes invaded by militant Islamist fighters and making their way past bodies lying in the streets.

ISIS Blasts Kill Dozens at Family Gatherings, This Time in Iraq

By RUSSELL GOLDMAN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rgP9F8
via IFTTT A pair of attacks shook Baghdad on Tuesday, in one instance killing children out for ice cream with their families — creating a wrenching scene like that in Manchester last week.

Turkey Acquits 2 Men in Berlin ‘Honor Killing’ of Their Sister

By PATRICK KINGSLEY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2r8s0Gs
via IFTTT Hatun Surucu was shot at a bus stop in the German capital in 2005 by a third brother after she divorced a man her family had forced her to marry.

Border Advice for Muslims Alarms Australian Official — but It Came From His Department

By SARAH MALIK from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rPUGp1
via IFTTT The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, asked why a legal rights group told Muslims to delete violent images on their phones. But his department has said the same thing.

Egypt’s President Enacts Law Placing Severe Restrictions on Aid Groups

By DECLAN WALSH from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qAGLhS
via IFTTT The move by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stoked fears that his government intends to accelerate its harsh crackdown on human rights activists.

Blind Spots in Trump’s Trade Tirade Against Germany

By MARK LANDLER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2sc1Xg1
via IFTTT President Trump’s campaign against the U.S. trade deficit with Germany overlooks some crucial benefits and overstates Berlin’s ability to do much about it.

The Billionaire Gadfly in Exile Who Stared Down Beijing

By MICHAEL FORSYTHE and ALEXANDRA STEVENSON from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rlFD5L
via IFTTT Guo Wengui, an eccentric Chinese billionaire, has accused top Chinese leaders of graft. At first, the government retaliated. Then China stood down.

South Korea Leader Orders Investigation Into Unreported U.S. Launchers

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2sgDB3V
via IFTTT President Moon Jae-in demanded to know why four launchers were brought into South Korea as part of the American missile-defense system known as Thaad.

Manuel Noriega, Dictator Ousted by U.S. in Panama, Dies at 83

By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rhzAiv
via IFTTT Mr. Noriega, known for drug ties and double-dealing with Washington, was unseated in 1989 in what was then the largest American military action since Vietnam.

With Italy No Longer in U.S. Focus, Russia Swoops to Fill the Void

By JASON HOROWITZ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rP2HKU
via IFTTT Russia has made a concerted effort to build ties with Italy, which many officials believe is creating a slow but certain tilt toward Moscow.

U.K. Is Investigating Missed Signals Over Manchester Bomber

By CEYLAN YEGINSU from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rfDHM1
via IFTTT Britain’s domestic intelligence agency will focus on why, despite repeated warnings from the public, agents decided that the bomber, Salman Abedi, posed no threat.

China Charges Activist From Taiwan With ‘Subverting State Power’

By CHRIS HORTON and CHRIS BUCKLEY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2sdoCaZ
via IFTTT The mainland authorities have never leveled that charge against someone from Taiwan before, and his formal arrest adds a new strain to tensions between Beijing and Taipei.

Taliban Target: Scholars of Islam

By MUJIB MASHAL and JAWAD SUKHANYAR from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rdf2I0
via IFTTT There has been an uptick in the killing of scholars as the Taliban have intensified their efforts to disrupt the Afghan government.

Muslim Women in India Challenge ‘Instant Divorce’ Law

By GEETA ANAND from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rcL32U
via IFTTT Local Muslim authorities defend the traditional practice, in which a man can divorce his wife by saying “talaq” three times. But women do not have the same right.

Emmanuel Macron Challenges Putin on Syria and Gay Rights

By ALISSA J. RUBIN and AURELIEN BREEDEN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2s7szyP
via IFTTT France’s newly elected president said that the use of chemical weapons in Syria was a “red line,” and that the punishment of gay men in Chechnya would be monitored.

Shark Leaps Into Fisherman’s Boat in Australia

By AUSTIN RAMZY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rxQLx7
via IFTTT A 73-year-old angler was injured when a shark slammed into his arm, but he shrugged it off as “just a mundane story.”

Francesco Totti Leaves the Field, and Romans Weep for a Living Monument

By JASON HOROWITZ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rfnbLW
via IFTTT It’s been a rough decade for Rome. Jobs have left and garbage piles up in the streets. The latest kick in the gut? Francesco Totti has left the soccer pitch.

Christian-Backed School Teaches Scions of the Elite in Atheist North Korea

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rNBXdt
via IFTTT In a country that bans religion, the school educates a crop of handpicked students — and perhaps gives the government some leverage with Washington.

Philippine Forces Struggle to Evacuate City Overrun by Islamic Militants

By FELIPE VILLAMOR from NYT World http://ift.tt/2reMcXM
via IFTTT Troops have cleared half of Marawi of militants from ISIS-linked groups, an official said, adding that the government had called on civilians to help in the fighting.

As Iran and U.S. Leaders Trade Barbs, Big Deals Proceed

By THOMAS ERDBRINK from NYT World http://ift.tt/2s4CxB9
via IFTTT While Trump calls for Iran’s isolation and Khamenei snipes in return, the two sides are inking billion-dollar deals and keeping lines of communication open.

Foot Soldiers in a Shadowy Battle Between Russia and the West

By ANDREW HIGGINS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rw1I2h
via IFTTT Freelance agitators promote Russia’s agenda abroad, getting their backing from tycoons and others, not the state itself.

From Heavy Metal Frontman to Taiwan’s Parliament

By AMY QIN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qkkKIH
via IFTTT Freddy Lim left the “Black Sabbath of Asia” to start the New Power Party, which mixes liberal politics with a nationalist soft spot for President Trump.

British Airways Flight Disruptions Persist for 2nd Day

By YONETTE JOSEPH from NYT World http://ift.tt/2r9GgNr
via IFTTT The airline’s chief executive apologized for the delays and ruined travel plans of thousands of people after a global technological glitch.

Floods in Sri Lanka Displace Half a Million

By DHARISHA BASTIANS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2s40ice
via IFTTT Residents along the banks of three rivers were ordered to evacuate, and more rain is expected in the coming days.

Canada’s Conservatives Choose Andrew Scheer as Their New Leader

By IAN AUSTEN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2raYP5U
via IFTTT Mr. Scheer, a 38-year-old social conservative, has said that the party needs “to have something positive to say.”

North Korea Fires Missile That Lands in Sea Between Korea and Japan

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2sbA6vL
via IFTTT The apparent test of a ballistic missile that landed near Japan comes a week after the test of another ballistic missile.

Melania Trump, in Supporting Role, Shows Subdued Star Power on Trip

By MARK LANDLER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rLRVVA
via IFTTT Mrs. Trump’s travels with the president were something of a coming-out party, which may offer clues to what kind of first lady she could become.

Merkel, After G-7 Meeting, Laments Decline of Global Alliances

By ALISON SMALE from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rcaLEP
via IFTTT The German chancellor’s comments came after a contentious meeting of G-7 leaders attended by President Trump, who declined to back the Paris climate accords.

Philippine Military Recovers 16 Bodies in City Besieged by ISIS-Linked Militants

By FELIPE VILLAMOR and RICHARD C. PADDOCK from NYT World http://ift.tt/2s3Ehuk
via IFTTT The discovery underlined the civilian toll from the fight to retake control of Marawi City from the clutches of militants aligned with the Islamic State.

Greed, Injustice and Decadence: What 5 Scenes From a Hit TV Show Say About China

By JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qmPs49
via IFTTT “In the Name of the People” has become one of the most popular shows in Chinese history, with themes and scenes that mirror real life.

U.S. Sees a Vital Iraqi Toll Road, but Iran Sees a Threat

By TIM ARANGO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2rJDS2I
via IFTTT Along an insurgent-riddled Iraqi national highway, the United States wants new rest areas and cafes — and brokered a long security contract to shield them.

Schapelle Corby, Drug Trafficker and Australian Obsession, Returns Home

By DAMIEN CAVE and ISABELLA KWAI from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qn8OWW
via IFTTT In Australia, a still-fascinated public is divided over the homecoming of a woman who served nine years in prison in Indonesia for smuggling marijuana on a surfing trip.

BA Outage Creates London Travel Chaos; Power Issue Blamed

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2s0TMDh
via IFTTT British Airways canceled all flights from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports on Saturday as a global IT failure upended the travel plans of tens of thousands of people on a busy U.K. holiday weekend.

In Indonesia and Philippines, Militants Find a Common Bond: ISIS

By RICHARD C. PADDOCK from NYT World http://ift.tt/2r3CogV
via IFTTT There’s no indication that Islamic State leaders in the Mideast directed recent attacks in Southeast Asia, but like-minded extremists are believed to be responsible.

Kenya’s Struggling Uber Drivers Fear a New Competitor: Uber

By KIMIKO de FREYTAS-TAMURA from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qIkIsK
via IFTTT Drivers say that Uber’s plans to start a discounted service in Nairobi, the capital, will eat further into their already meager earnings.

‘Forgive Me’: Manchester Bomber’s Tangled Path of Conflict and Rebellion

By KATRIN BENNHOLD, STEPHEN CASTLE and DECLAN WALSH from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qmX2eV
via IFTTT The life of Salman Abedi, the bomber whose attack killed 22 people in Manchester this past week, was interwoven with the tortured recent past of Libya.

Their Government in Chaos, Brazilians Fear the Joke Is on Them

By SIMON ROMERO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2qsGsWg
via IFTTT President Michel Temer has grown so unpopular that some in Brazil believe the coach of the national soccer team, or a clown named Grumpy, would be better choices.