World News at a Glance

Defeated Malaysian Prime Minister Is Barred From Leaving Country

Malaysia’s new prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, on Saturday barred his predecessor, Najib Razak, and wife from leaving the country as a leaked flight plan stirred suspicion they were planning to flee. The travel ban increases the likelihood that Najib will be investigated on corruption accusations over the misappropriation of billions of dollars from a state investment fund, including $731 million the U.S. Justice Department says was deposited into his accounts. On social media, Najib apologized “for any shortcomings and mistakes” but did not address the scandal at the fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad, known as 1MDB.

Noted Humanitarian Charged With Child Rape in Nepal, Stunning a Village

When Peter Dalglish, a lauded humanitarian worker, built a cabin near a Nepalese village of rutted roads and hills ribbed with rice paddies, locals knew virtually nothing about him. But over several years, Dalglish, a Canadian, endeared himself to many in the community, greeting villagers in Nepali, offering chocolates from Thailand to children playing in the forest and helping people rebuild their homes destroyed by devastating earthquakes in 2015. The goodwill was shattered last month when police swarmed Dalglish’s home and arrested him on charges of raping at least two boys, 12 and 14.

Insurgents Attack Town in Myanmar, Killing 19

An attack by an insurgent group killed at least 19 people in a town in Myanmar, officials said. The attack began early Saturday and lasted about three hours, beginning on the outskirts of the town of Muse in Shan state then moving into its outskirts, said Sai Kyaw Thein, a member of Parliament from Muse. Among the dead were 15 civilians, three soldiers and a police officer, he said. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said in a statement it was retaliating for a push by Myanmar’s military against the Kachin Independence Army.

North Korea Invites World to Watch the Closing of Nuclear Test Site

North Korea said Saturday that it will allow journalists from the United States and other countries to witness the shutting down of its underground nuclear test site between May 23 and 25, which will be done by collapsing its tunnels in a controlled explosion and sealing their entrances. North Korea decided last month to end all nuclear and long-range ballistic missile tests and close its only known nuclear test site. When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with South Korea’s president on April 27, he promised to invite outside journalists and experts to watch the dismantling of the test site, Moon’s office said.

14th Human Foot Washes Ashore

The mystery has haunted Canadians for more than a decade: One by one, human feet clad in running shoes have floated ashore on British Columbia’s southern coast with gruesome regularity. Last weekend, foot No. 14 was discovered by a man strolling on a beach on Gabriola Island, a sleepy and picturesque enclave, population 4,000, that is known for its close-knit artistic community. This time, the foot, squeezed between a pile of logs, wore what appeared to be a hiking boot, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The 13 feet found previously along the coast since 2007 were in running shoes.

Catalonia’s New Tack: Choosing a Leader Not Facing Prosecution

Catalonia’s main separatist parties took a significant step Saturday toward ending the region’s political deadlock by voting on a presidential candidate who is not facing prosecution in Spain. Quim Torra fell just short of winning a majority in Parliament, but he will get another chance in a second round of voting Monday, when the threshold will be lower. Torra, addressing lawmakers Saturday, said he was committed to turning Catalonia into a republic even after the region’s failed independence effort in October. He also presented himself as a stand-in for Catalonia’s former leader, Carles Puigdemont, whom he called “our president.”

China Blocks a Memorial Service to Sichuan Earthquake Victims

On the 10th anniversary of China’s deadliest earthquake in decades, police Saturday detained an outspoken pastor, Wang Yi, and blocked a service to mourn the 70,000 or more people killed when towns and villagers were crushed. The anniversary of the earthquake, which rippled across Sichuan province in southwest China on May 12, 2008, has been a time of renewed mourning for survivors, while the ruling Communist Party has used the date to praise China’s reconstruction of devastated areas. But officials in Sichuan have sought to stifle any unapproved commemorations that could rekindle angry questions about why many new buildings collapsed.

Man Wielding Knife Kills 1 and Wounds 4 in Terrorist Attack in Paris

A man armed with a knife attacked five people in a neighborhood near the Paris Opera on Saturday, French police said, killing one and wounding four, two of them seriously. Hours later, the Islamic State claimed responsibility, describing the attacker as a “soldier of the Islamic State.” President Emmanuel Macron called the assailant, who was killed by police, a “terrorist.” The Paris prosecutor’s office, which handles all terrorism cases, is taking over the investigation. The prosecutor, François Molins, confirmed that the attacker, whose name has not been released, had shouted “Allahu akbar,” Arabic for “God is Great,” during the assault.