Merkel’s Wishes for 2018: More Empathy and a New Government

By MELISSA EDDY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2CnhGRj
via IFTTT In her New Year’s address, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany promised to work swiftly on a new coalition, and to help heal rifts in society.

The U.S. Has Pummeled Al Qaeda in Yemen. But the Threat Is Barely Dented.

By ERIC SCHMITT and SAEED AL-BATATI from NYT World http://ift.tt/2q2Y9AI
via IFTTT Despite tripling airstrikes this year, American officials concede an attack emanating from the chaotic, ungoverned spaces of Yemen remains among their top terrorism fears.

Romania Braces for President’s Decision on Bills Seen as Weakening Judiciary

By KIT GILLET from NYT World http://ift.tt/2BYREk6
via IFTTT President Klaus Iohannis, who has long criticized efforts to weaken the fight against corruption, has 20 days to sign the measures into law or send them back to Parliament.

Kim Jong-un’s Overture to South Korea Signals Possible Thaw in Nuclear Crisis

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2DGEloU
via IFTTT The North Korean leader proposed talks with South Korea to discuss the North’s participation in the Winter Games, and boasted of having a “nuclear button” on his desk.

The World Celebrates New Year’s Eve

By JACEY FORTIN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2CjRO9W
via IFTTT As midnight struck from East to West, revelers welcomed 2018 with fireworks, festivities, food, drinks and dancing. (And hundreds of weddings.)

Costa Rica Plane Crash Kills 10 Americans and 2 Local Pilots

By MATTHEW HAAG from NYT World http://ift.tt/2lzsJwi
via IFTTT The Costa Rican government said the crash took place in the mountainous area of Punta Islita, a tourist destination about 140 miles west of the capital, San José.

Even in Poland, Workers’ Wages Flow to North Korea

By PETER S. GOODMAN, CHOE SANG-HUN and JOANNA BERENDT from NYT World http://ift.tt/2q4JzJ8
via IFTTT Defying Washington, a NATO ally hosts North Korean laborers, showing how difficult it is to sever the nuclear pariah state from the global economy.

Rouhani Urges Calm in Iran as Protests Continue

By MARTIN FACKLER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2lq9LJm
via IFTTT Two demonstrators were reported killed in recent days as protests quickly grew into a nationwide outpouring of anger.

Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 17 at Funeral in Afghanistan

By ZABIHULLAH GHAZI and FAHIM ABED from NYT World http://ift.tt/2CtReTR
via IFTTT The attacker, who was on foot, set off explosives in his vest among mourners gathered for the funeral of a former district chief at a cemetery in Nangarhar Province.

Laughter, Then Horror, as Flames Engulfed Upscale Mumbai Restaurants

By AYESHA VENKATARAMAN and KAI SCHULTZ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2lwlkxS
via IFTTT The fire at two restaurants on Friday killed 14 people. Patrons said the establishments had no fire alarms, sprinklers or clear emergency exits.

Coming Out in Lebanon

By LAURA BOUSHNAK and MONA BOSHNAQ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2lq5EwX
via IFTTT Openly gay, lesbian and transgender people face persecution across the Middle East. The exception may be in Lebanon, which has slowly grown more tolerant thanks to the work of activists.

A Year of Animal Oddities Around the World: 7 Reader Favorites

By THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT World http://ift.tt/2zRg1yf
via IFTTT From rare white giraffes to criminal donkeys to chilly elephants, take a look at some of our strangest stories about animals in 2017 that resonated with readers.

Greek Prime Minister Seeks to Block Asylum for Turkish Officer

By NIKI KITSANTONIS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2Cqfuc5
via IFTTT In an apparent effort to avoid antagonizing Turkey, Greece’s prime minister moved to block asylum for a Turkish officer who fled last year’s failed coup.

Battle Royale Over Rightful Heir to Israeli Self-Defense Discipline

By ISABEL KERSHNER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2CkOM4f
via IFTTT Krav Maga, which extols eye gouging and groin kicking, is a mainstay of military training and increasingly popular with civilians. Now, its founder’s disciples are sparring over who is the real grandmaster.

Iran Confronts 3rd Day of Protests, With Calls for Khamenei to Quit

By THOMAS ERDBRINK from NYT World http://ift.tt/2ltlnKR
via IFTTT As demonstrators called for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, to step down, about 4,000 people in Tehran took part in an annual rally in support of the government.

Origami-Style Cardboard Tents for Homeless in Brussels

By ELIAN PELTIER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2CdtJl3
via IFTTT The entrepreneur behind the project hopes to give people somewhere safe to sleep in a city that bans material tents.

Some Afghan Children Find an Alternative to Jail — for Now

By ROD NORDLAND from NYT World http://ift.tt/2Co5UGF
via IFTTT Orphanages for Afghan children of jailed mothers meet part of the need, but funding cuts threaten their future and many others stay in prison.

Kazakhstan Prizes Its Cowboys, but Few Want to Saddle Up for Harsh Life

By ANDREW HIGGINS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2llZrCg
via IFTTT Kazakh cowboys, while proud of providing their rapidly modernizing nation with a link to its nomadic past, rarely want their children to follow them onto the frigid steppes.

Congo Reports Arrest in Killing of 2 U.N. Experts

By STEVE WEMBI and JINA MOORE from NYT World http://ift.tt/2pX4NIK
via IFTTT The experts, Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a Swede, were investigating crimes associated with a rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The BBC in Pidgin? People Like It Well-Well

By KIMIKO de FREYTAS-TAMURA from NYT World http://ift.tt/2zPjVYr
via IFTTT The British broadcaster, once a bastion of “received pronunciation,” has learned that if it wants to reach new audiences, it needs to try new approaches.

Nepal Bars Solo Climbers From Mount Everest

By RAJNEESH BHANDARI from NYT World http://ift.tt/2EjBnYG
via IFTTT The action was an attempt to promote safety and reduce accidents, officials said, although some climbers said they intended to challenge the rule.

Germans Will Ring in New Year With Extra Security, Especially for Women

By MELISSA EDDY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2BU7nRs
via IFTTT Since attacks two years ago in Cologne, German cities, including Berlin, are setting up safety zones for women who feel threatened or have been assaulted.

City of the Future? Humans, Not Technology, Are the Challenge in Toronto

By IAN AUSTEN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2CnMjUr
via IFTTT Plans by a Google sibling for a development where robots collect trash and heated paths melt snow have generated excitement. But its data-collection sensors have spurred privacy concerns.

Scattered Protests Erupt in Iran Over Economic Woes

By THOMAS ERDBRINK from NYT World http://ift.tt/2lu9Rz4
via IFTTT Demonstrations spread to Tehran and other cities, highlighting weak economic conditions in a country where youth unemployment is over 40 percent.

We’re Not ‘National Hangover Service,’ N.H.S. Tells U.K. Drinkers

By CEYLAN YEGINSU from NYT World http://ift.tt/2zMEIf0
via IFTTT The chief executive of the National Health Service in England said people who drank to excess were “selfish” and suggested greater use of drunk tanks.

Mumbai Restaurant Fire Kills at Least 14

By KAI SCHULTZ and HARI KUMAR from NYT World http://ift.tt/2lhHiVW
via IFTTT A blaze engulfed two rooftop restaurants in Mumbai on Friday. The police filed criminal complaints against restaurant managers.

Gunmen Attack Cairo Church, Killing at Least 9

By NOUR YOUSSEF from NYT World http://ift.tt/2C9NAlj
via IFTTT The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault on a Coptic Orthodox Church, which was the latest in a wave of violence targeting the Christian minority in Egypt.

She Broke Japan’s Silence on Rape

By MOTOKO RICH from NYT World http://ift.tt/2ls1YtP
via IFTTT She was a news intern. He was a TV journalist. She says he raped her, and she decided to do something Japanese women rarely do: Speak out.

Zimbabwean Family Lingers in Limbo at Thai Airport for 2 Months

By RICHARD C. PADDOCK and MUKTITA SUHARTONO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2EcsVdp
via IFTTT The eight travelers, including children, are unwilling to return home because of political uncertainty and unable to secure visas to a third country.

Decoy Cellphones and Armored Cars: How Venezuelans Avoid Being Robbed

By MEGAN SPECIA from NYT World http://ift.tt/2pRQ0iB
via IFTTT Street crime, kidnappings and theft are part of everyday life in Caracas, Venezuela. So how do residents of the country’s capital city cope with the constant threat?

More Than 1,000 Died in South Asia Floods This Summer

By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2vHr7Ud
via IFTTT Flooding and landslides resulting from monsoon rains have directly affected at least 41 million people in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, the United Nations says.

Iran and Saudis’ Latest Power Struggle: Expanding Rights for Women

By ANNE BARNARD and THOMAS ERDBRINK from NYT World http://ift.tt/2Dv6HCp
via IFTTT The archrivals of the Middle East appear to be vying over who can be quicker to overhaul their repressive rules for women.

South Korea Seizes Ship Suspected of Sending Oil to North Korea

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2lqqFH4
via IFTTT The seizure of the Lighthouse Winmore was revealed after President Trump accused China of secretly transferring petroleum to North Korean ships.

Facebook Removes Chechen Strongman’s Accounts, Raising Policy Questions

By MEGAN SPECIA from NYT World http://ift.tt/2DrwGKU
via IFTTT Ramzan Kadyrov and Russian officials challenged Facebook’s decision to end his Instagram and Facebook accounts after the U.S. hit him with sanctions.

At an Air Show in China, Drones, Not Jets, Are the Stars

By LAM YIK FEI and RAYMOND ZHONG from NYT World http://ift.tt/2zFcQd1
via IFTTT China makes the world’s most popular drones. The country’s passion for unmanned flying machines runs deep — and starts at an early age.

George Weah Wins Liberia’s Presidency, Unofficial Results Show

By CLAIR MacDOUGALL and HELENE COOPER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2E67YB3
via IFTTT Mr. Weah, a former soccer player making his third run for the presidency, was well ahead at the polls, election officials said.

Shunned by Pakistan’s Muslims, Ahmadis Find Refuge in a City of Their Own

By MEHREEN ZAHRA-MALIK from NYT World http://ift.tt/2BIQl8R
via IFTTT Rabwah, home to about 70,000 Ahmadis, has a veneer of calm, even affluence, that is at odds with the growing hatred against the sect elsewhere in the country.

Brazil President’s Christmas Decree Draws a Firestorm, and a Rebuff

By ERNESTO LONDOÑO and LIS MORICONI from NYT World http://ift.tt/2pP1Aer
via IFTTT A Supreme Court justice blocked key provisions of a decree that critics said might one day spare President Michel Temer and allies from years in prison.

The Lost Children of Tuam

By DAN BARRY from NYT World http://ift.tt/2i9A3go
via IFTTT Ireland wanted to forget. But the dead don’t always stay buried.

After St. Petersburg Explosion, Putin Orders Police to ‘Liquidate’ Terrorists

By ANDREW E. KRAMER from NYT World http://ift.tt/2CfK5bT
via IFTTT Vladimir V. Putin, who is running for a fourth term as Russia’s president, has burnished his reputation for being tough on extremists.

Islamic State Claims Deadly Blast at Afghan Shiite Center

By FAHIM ABED, FATIMA FAIZI and MUJIB MASHAL from NYT World http://ift.tt/2DpUxKR
via IFTTT A suicide bomber struck a crowded gathering in Kabul, leaving more than 40 dead. The group has claimed several attacks on Shiite targets across the country.

Tel Aviv’s Toy-Block Tower Measures Up for a Record

By PALKO KARASZ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2E16VCb
via IFTTT Half a million toy bricks were used for the community project, carried out in memory of an 8-year-old who died of cancer.

A Trip, and a Life, Interrupted

By DIANA OLIVA CAVE from NYT World http://ift.tt/2Csrru7
via IFTTT Australian strangers comfort an American woman after her friend died.

Tired of Regional Critics, Venezuela Looks to Russia and China

By ERNESTO LONDOÑO from NYT World http://ift.tt/2pJIzd7
via IFTTT Once a regional heavyweight, Venezuela is losing allies in its region, causing it to deepen its dependence on China and Russia.

Assad Must Go, Says Turkey’s Leader, Seeking Leverage as War Winds Down

By ANNE BARNARD from NYT World http://ift.tt/2CbFZ4E
via IFTTT The denunciation appeared to be Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s effort to remind Russia, Syria’s most powerful ally, that it cannot dictate the country’s postwar future alone.

Israeli Minister Wants to Name a Jerusalem Train Station for Trump

By DAVID M. HALBFINGER and IRIT PAZNER GARSHOWITZ from NYT World http://ift.tt/2E3L4dw
via IFTTT The proposed station would deposit tourists in the Old City, a few hundred yards from the Temple Mount.

Once a Cash Cow, Venezuela’s Oil Company Now Verges on Collapse

By KIRK SEMPLE and CLIFFORD KRAUSS from NYT World http://ift.tt/2DmD7Pk
via IFTTT The deepening troubles threaten to further destabilize a nation facing a dire recession and unbridled crime, as well as food and medicine shortages.

Saudi Arabia Blocks Israel’s Chess Team From World Championships

By NIRAJ CHOKSHI from NYT World http://ift.tt/2l0FwZm
via IFTTT The team’s seven players are demanding financial compensation after being unable to obtain the visas they needed to attend the competitions.

The Betoota Advocate, a Fake News Site Australians Really Love

By ISABELLA KWAI from NYT World http://ift.tt/2Cae2Ih
via IFTTT Often compared to The Onion, the satirical news site has spun off a beer and clothing line. But has the voice of disenchanted millennials gone mainstream?

North Korean Defectors Show Signs of Possible Radiation Exposure

By CHOE SANG-HUN from NYT World http://ift.tt/2pGrBfO
via IFTTT South Korea examined the health of North Korean defectors amid fears that nuclear tests may have released radioactive fallout.