China Fears India May Be Edging It Out in Culture Battle

By AMY QIN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yesAao
via IFTTT As Beijing and Delhi vie for regional dominance by deploying various forms of soft power, a Bollywood movie becomes a huge hit in China.

After the Vote, Does the Kurdish Dream of Independence Have a Chance?

By DAVID ZUCCHINO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yea3eB
via IFTTT Iraq’s Kurds voted overwhelmingly for an independent state, but their territory lacks democratic institutions, and their troubled economy is dependent on hostile neighbors.

Thousands Rally in Dublin Against Ireland’s Abortion Ban

By MEGAN SPECIA from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fGxGVa
via IFTTT This year’s march occurred just days after the government announced that a referendum on the nation’s abortion law would be held next year.

Engine Explodes on an Air France Plane, Forcing an Emergency Landing

By VIVIAN WANG from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fZuroY
via IFTTT The plane bound for Los Angeles from Paris landed safely at a small airport in Labrador, Canada.

Far-Right Gains Leave Germans Wondering, What Now?

By MELISSA EDDY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yyjzoO
via IFTTT Dismay, confusion, fear and a search for answers for Germans who did not vote for far-right AfD, but must come to terms with it shaping their future.

Catalans Camp at Voting Sites as Independence Confrontation Looms

By ELLEN BARRY and RAPHAEL MINDER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yeCY29
via IFTTT Scores of polling stations were occupied by people intent on keeping them open for Sunday’s independence referendum in defiance of the Spanish government.

U.S. in Direct Communication With North Korea, Says Tillerson

By DAVID E. SANGER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yz34J3
via IFTTT The confirmation marks the first time the Trump administration has acknowledged it is in contact with Pyongyang without the help of an intermediary.

In Tillerson’s China Stop, Questions on North Korea but Slim Chance of Clarity

By DAVID E. SANGER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2hDKegD
via IFTTT The secretary of state is to arrive in Beijing to discuss North Korea. Chinese officials are likely to see if he can clarify inconsistent statements made by U.S. officials.

Threatened by Madrid, Catalonia Referendum Is Game of Cat and Mouse

By RAPHAEL MINDER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xHkUdR
via IFTTT Far from the orderly vote that separatists wanted to stage, it has turned into a covert operation to avoid a Madrid-ordered shutdown.

Fear of Volcano Eruption on Bali Drives 145,000 From Homes

By AUSTIN RAMZY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xPFIlk
via IFTTT Mount Agung, which killed hundreds on the Indonesian island in the 1960s, has shown signs it will explode again soon. But no one can say exactly when.

Cubans Alarmed at U.S. Embassy Withdrawals and Travel Warning

By ERNESTO LONDOÑO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xHMgAy
via IFTTT The actions, triggered by unexplained health problems among diplomats, dealt a harsh blow to the island’s plans for economic growth.

As Kurdish Borders Close, War of Words Heats Up

By ROD NORDLAND and DAVID ZUCCHINO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xIkgMW
via IFTTT Kurds insist on independence talks, and warn of retaliation as Iraq increases its crackdown, shutting off flights and closing borders.

North Korea Says U.N. Sanctions Are Causing ‘Colossal’ Damages

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xDHd6I
via IFTTT North Korea says it would be “foolish” for the United States to expect it to abandon its nuclear weapons, despite damaging sanctions.

Kurds Voted for Independence. Here’s Who Else Has a Say.

By RUSSELL GOLDMAN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2x2Uvd8
via IFTTT After years of autonomy in Iraq, Kurds overwhelmingly supported a referendum on independence, creating another destabilizing crisis in the Middle East.

Catalonia, Elated but Fearful, Braces for Independence Vote

By ELLEN BARRY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fDqyJ9
via IFTTT Spain has ordered security forces to stop Sunday’s referendum, but many Catalans plan to defy them, after “waiting for this moment for 300 years.”

Stampede at Mumbai Railway Station Kills at Least 22

By HARI KUMAR from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fxVjM0
via IFTTT Commuters were crushed at an overpass in the Indian city, and news reports showed some jumping from the narrow bridge and others hanging desperately from the railing.

In Paris, Worn-Out Notre-Dame Needs a Makeover, and Hopes You Can Help

By AURELIEN BREEDEN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xDC8bO
via IFTTT Rain, wind and pollution have battered the cathedral, which is seeking funds in France and in the United States to help pay for extensive renovations.

Catalans and Kurds Discover the Hard Truth About Secession

By MAX FISHER and AMANDA TAUB from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fDaSGb
via IFTTT Independence referendums in Spain and Iraq reveal the deep contradiction between the norms and rules of secession.

Cuban Doctors Revolt: ‘You Get Tired of Being a Slave’

By ERNESTO LONDOÑO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2x1glZP
via IFTTT In a rare act of defiance, some 150 Cuban doctors serving in Brazil have sued to work as independent contractors, cutting out the Havana government.

In Grim Camps, Rohingya Suffer on ‘Scale That We Couldn’t Imagine’

By BEN C. SOLOMON from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yboWy0
via IFTTT Half of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims are now packed into tarp huts in Bangladesh, and aid workers are just starting to reach some of the most desperate.

ISIS Releases Recording Said to Be of Its Leader

By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI from NYT World http://ift.tt/2wZEnEx
via IFTTT The recording suggests that the Islamic State’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is still alive. If confirmed, it is his first public communication in nearly a year.

Why the BBC’s Star Political Reporter Now Needs a Bodyguard

By PATRICK KINGSLEY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fyrsaa
via IFTTT Laura Kuenssberg, one of the public broadcaster’s top correspondents, was assigned protection during a Labour Party gathering after a series of threats.

Huge Ammunition Depot Catches Fire in Ukraine

By IULIIA MENDEL from NYT World http://ift.tt/2wWqV9r
via IFTTT One of the army’s largest storage sties caught fire, setting off tons of explosives. The authorities have blamed a drone for the attack.

Is Germany Still a Haven for Israelis? After Election, Some Wonder

By DAVID M. HALBFINGER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xE4u7s
via IFTTT Some Jews read the worst into gains made by the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Others said Germany was still more progressive than Israel.

Catalan Officials Squeezed as Madrid Tries to Stop Independence Vote

By RAPHAEL MINDER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fseh6M
via IFTTT As Sunday’s independence referendum nears, mayors risk suspension from office for violating Spain’s Constitution — or the wrath of frustrated voters.

Stray Dogs Started Turning Blue. Then the Street Mobilized.

By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2ytFGNh
via IFTTT When a community in Mumbai turned out to help the canines, it was in a long tradition of caring for “community dogs,” protected by Indian law.

Chad’s Inclusion in Travel Ban Could Jeopardize American Interests, Officials Say

By HELENE COOPER, MICHAEL D. SHEAR and DIONNE SEARCEY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2hujgbs
via IFTTT Experts on Africa in the Trump administration said they were mystified by the ban on travel from Chad, an American counterterrorism partner in Africa.

Remote Textile Plant May Secretly Fuel North Korea’s Weapons

By MAX FISHER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fQOW7a
via IFTTT A new assessment suggests that the fuel, which some had thought might be imported from Russia or China, is made within North Korea.

Kurds Back Independence by 92% in Referendum; Iraq May Send Troops

By DAVID ZUCCHINO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2y8fWdg
via IFTTT Airlines based in Egypt and Lebanon suspended flights to and from the autonomous Kurdish region, following a similar move by Iran.

Rockets Hit Kabul as U.S. Defense Secretary and NATO Chief Visit

By MUJIB MASHAL and FAHIM ABED from NYT World http://ift.tt/2y8izvh
via IFTTT The attack at the international airport and near the American Embassy underscored the fragile security in Afghanistan and the insurgency’s broad reach.

Saudi Arabia Resists Independent Inquiry on Yemen Atrocities

By SOMINI SENGUPTA from NYT World http://ift.tt/2wilc9r
via IFTTT Renewed efforts to set up a U.N.-backed commission of inquiry on Yemen rights abuses is called “premature” by Saudi Arabia, a party to the conflict.

Parents of Otto Warmbier, North Korea Captive, Say He Was Tortured

By RICK GLADSTONE from NYT World http://ift.tt/2hyFPYC
via IFTTT In their first interview since their son died in June, they called North Korea a terrorist state for what they said his captors had done.

Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive

By BEN HUBBARD from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xxS67j
via IFTTT The monarchy abandoned its driving ban for women, long criticized as an infringement on women’s rights and a drag on the economy and society.

Behind North Korea’s Bluster, Some See Caution

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2fxyqfk
via IFTTT Pyongyang is anxious to avoid a war it can’t win, according to some analysts, and is careful to leave itself a rhetorical way out when it makes threats.

Snapshots Along the River Where China Meets North Korea

By Unknown Author from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yDWGkM
via IFTTT As tensions grow over North Korea’s nuclear tests and China’s sanctions, tourists and residents in the region seemed divided over where to cast blame.

Syrian War Drags On, but Assad’s Future Looks as Secure as Ever

By BEN HUBBARD from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yAizRP
via IFTTT Bashar al-Assad has not declared victory but no one is left who could oust him, and regional powers increasingly operate as though he is here to stay.

As Kurds Celebrate Independence Vote, Neighbors Threaten Military Action

By DAVID ZUCCHINO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xv5Akw
via IFTTT The vote, a milestone in Kurdish aspirations for their own state, was opposed by Iraq, Turkey and Iran, which held military exercises on the border.

Germany’s Far Right Complicates Life for Merkel — and the E.U.

By STEVEN ERLANGER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xrXCuQ
via IFTTT Political fragmentation and populism in Germany will make it harder for Angela Merkel to pair with President Emmanuel Macron of France to revitalize Europe.

Alternative for Germany: Who Are They, and What Do They Want?

By MELISSA EDDY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yByWxr
via IFTTT The party that placed third in Sunday’s German elections is a young right-wing movement with divided leadership and a nationalist message.

Former Hostage Held by Al Qaeda Describes 6-Year Ordeal in the Sahara

By CHRISTINA ANDERSON from NYT World http://ift.tt/2wNC8sU
via IFTTT Johan Gustafsson, a Swede kidnapped at gunpoint in Timbuktu, Mali, by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in 2011 and recently freed, tells of his captivity and his conversion to Islam.

After Mexico Earthquake, Tremors of Anxiety

By AZAM AHMED and PAULINA VILLEGAS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xqfPZJ
via IFTTT Even as Mexico City begins to recover and normal rhythms return to its streets, the psychic damage lingers.

US-Based Actor Jan Triska Dies After Fall From Prague Bridge

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2yBYJ8G
via IFTTT Jan Triska, an actor who moved to the U.S. after being banned by the Czechoslovak Communist regime, has died, more than a day after he fell from Prague's iconic Charles Bridge. He was 80.

North Korea Says It Has the Right to Shoot Down U.S. Warplanes

By RICK GLADSTONE from NYT World http://ift.tt/2htLQWR
via IFTTT The country’s foreign minister also said the North considered President Trump’s threatening comments about the country and its leadership “a declaration of war.”

Shinzo Abe of Japan Calls Early Election, as a Rival Party Forms

By MOTOKO RICH from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xzEKsU
via IFTTT The prime minister’s announcement comes as his approval ratings have been rising during the North Korea crisis and the economy has been growing.

68 Things You Cannot Say on China’s Internet

By STEVEN LEE MYERS and AMY CHENG from NYT World http://ift.tt/2y1RHNB
via IFTTT China’s censorship system is expanding forbidden topics far beyond politics, in line with President Xi Jinping’s prim, paternalistic vision for the “China dream.”

Recalling a Tortured Past, Iraqi Kurds to Vote on Independence

By DAVID ZUCCHINO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2hoObpk
via IFTTT Almost every Kurd in northern Iraq has a family history stained by treachery and dispossession. A vote for independence would be a step toward realizing a national dream.

Merkel, Reluctant Leader of the West, ‘Has Gotten the Taste for It’

By STEVEN ERLANGER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2y1ZLOt
via IFTTT Elected to a fourth term as chancellor of Germany, Ms. Merkel wants to put the European Union, post-Brexit and in the age of Trump, on a stable, vigorous path.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Rise From Political Dinosaur to Potential Leader

By STEPHEN CASTLE from NYT World http://ift.tt/2y0phUk
via IFTTT The leader of the Labour Party, written off a year ago, can expect a rapturous reception at this year’s party conference. But can he win a broader audience?

Outlasting Chirac, Berlusconi and Blair: How Angela Merkel Compares to Three Decades of European Leaders

By GREGOR AISCH from NYT World http://ift.tt/2xpnAiw
via IFTTT According to exit polls, Angela Merkel is headed toward a fourth term as German chancellor of Germany on Sunday. Her longevity in power has helped her cement her formidable position in Europe.

Angela Merkel Is Headed for German Election Victory as Far Right Enters Parliament

By STEVEN ERLANGER and MELISSA EDDY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2hqKagI
via IFTTT Although the polls predict Angela Merkel will remain chancellor, a far-right party is expected to enter Parliament for the first time in decades.