Pocket Reader - News in English

China’s New Barges Reveal How it Might Try to Seize Taiwan NYT &rt; World News The barges, which link up to form a bridge, could give China a way to land large numbers of vehicles and troops on Taiwan, solving a major logistical problem.

Wednesday Briefing: An Elections Test for Trump NYT &rt; World News Plus, the enigmatic “goddess” of the piano.

Betty Webb, Who Helped Bletchley Park Code Breakers, Dies at 101 NYT &rt; World News Sworn to secrecy about the goings-on at Britain’s storied World War II decryption operation, she only later recounted the efforts to crack German signals.

More than 230 People Infected With Norovirus on Luxury Cruise Ship NYT &rt; World News Passengers and crew traveling on the Queen Mary 2 from England to the Caribbean reported symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.

Immigration Officials Detain Former Taliban Ambassador to Spain NYT &rt; World News Mohammad Rahim Wahidi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was detained for more than 30 hours upon returning to the country over the weekend.

Venezuelan Migrants Ask Supreme Court to Block Deportations NYT &rt; World News Lawyers for Venezuelan migrants asked the justices to keep in place a pause on President Trump’s deportation plan, calling it “completely at odds” with limited wartime authority given by Congress.

Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs Are Coming, but at a Cost to U.S. Alliances NYT &rt; World News President Trump is already showing signs of concern that his targets may team up against him.

Rubio Orders U.S. Diplomats to Scour Student Visa Applicants’ Social Media NYT &rt; World News The order comes as President Trump expands deportation efforts, including of students who have spoken out in support of Palestinians during Israel’s war in Gaza.

France’s Parliament Is Set to Debate Changing Rape Law to Include Consent NYT &rt; World News After dozens of men were convicted of raping a drugged Gisèle Pelicot, lawmakers moved to require that consent be given for sex to be considered consensual.

Fourth U.S. Soldier Is Found Dead in Lithuania NYT &rt; World News The soldier and three others had gone on a training mission in a 70-ton vehicle that sank in a bog near the border with Belarus.

‘I Am Disgusted’: Le Pen Voters Voice Outrage Over Her Conviction NYT &rt; World News National Rally supporters say the court decision punishing France’s far-right leader for embezzlement will ultimately redound in her favor.

Italy Tightens Citizenship Rules Amid Influx of Applications NYT &rt; World News The government says it tightened citizenship rules because of a deluge of applications from the descendants of emigrants who only coveted an Italian passport.

U.N. Accuses Israel of Killing 15 Rescue Workers in Gaza NYT &rt; World News The United Nations said Israeli forces killed the people as they were trying to aid injured civilians, then buried them in a mass grave. Israel said nine of the 15 dead were Palestinian militants.

Millions of Women Will Lose Access to Contraception as a Result of Trump Aid Cuts NYT &rt; World News The United States was a key supplier of contraceptives in many developing countries. The Trump administration has ended that support.

Marine Le Pen’s Embezzlement Conviction: What to Know and What’s Next NYT &rt; World News The far-right French politician was a leading candidate to become the country’s next president, but has now been barred from running for public office for five years.

Netanyahu Drops Nominee for Spy Chief After Backlash NYT &rt; World News Eli Sharvit was a controversial choice after Israel’s prime minister fired his predecessor. Revelations that he wrote a column criticizing President Trump may have helped sink his chances.

Pope Francis’ Health Continues to Improve, Vatican Says NYT &rt; World News A little over a week after returning to the Vatican guesthouse to convalesce, the pope was showing gradual improvements in his movements and speech.

Hooters Files for Bankruptcy, but Its Restaurants Will Stay Open NYT &rt; World News A group that includes the restaurant’s founders will buy restaurants from the private equity firm that owns many locations of the chain.

SpaceX Puts Humans in Orbit Over Earth’s Poles for the First Time NYT &rt; World News Chun Wang, a Chinese-born crypto entrepreneur, paid an undisclosed amount for the mission. Some satellites are already in polar orbit, and researchers called it a routine flight.

Iceland Volcano Eruption Near Grindavik Prompts Closure of Blue Lagoon NYT &rt; World News The eruption began near Grindavik, a small town long threatened by volcanic disruptions, and prompted the closure of a popular tourist destination.