Pocket Reader - News in English

Hamas Choreographs a Show of Force as It Hands Over the Hostages NYT » World News Before their release, the hostages, four female soldiers, were led onto a stage in Gaza City, surrounded by masked, uniformed fighters.

Changing Tunes NYT » World News The artists we love are always changing. But there’s part of all of us that’s impervious to external forces.

Quebec’s Ban on Religious Symbols Will Be Tested at the Supreme Court NYT » World News Canada’s highest court will decide whether a law that Quebec enacted in 2019, barring public-sector workers from wearing religious symbols, violates their rights.

Gunfire and Bandits Make School an Impossible Dream for Haitian Children NYT » World News Some school buildings are in gang-occupied territory or have become de facto shelters for those forced from their homes, leaving hundreds of thousands with no chance for formal learning.

Israel Welcomes the Return of the Women Who Warned of a Raid From Gaza NYT » World News Young female “spotters” for Israel’s army reported suspicious activity across the border. When Hamas attacked, 15 were killed and seven abducted. Four came home on Saturday.

Hamas Releases Four Israeli Soldiers NYT » World News Israel’s military said the four hostages, all female soldiers, were being brought back to Israel from Gaza. Israel is now expected to release around 200 Palestinian prisoners.

Here’s What We Know About the 4 Released Hostages NYT » World News The young women were working as “spotters” for Israel’s army when they were abducted in the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

His Opponents Sidelined, Lukashenko Is Set for a 7th Term in Belarus NYT » World News President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia’s leader, Vladimir V. Putin, has been making signs of reaching out to the West. He is all but certain to win an election on Sunday.

Myanmar Rebels Are Opening Colleges NYT » World News As Myanmar’s civil war heads into a fifth year, anti-junta forces are opening universities and colleges as part of their pursuit of a federal democracy.

Israel Says UNRWA Has 6 Days to Halt Operations in East Jerusalem NYT » World News The directive came in a letter to the U.N., after the Israeli Parliament banned the relief agency that has aided Palestinian refugees for decades.

Arthur Blessitt, Who Carried a Cross Around the World, Dies at 84 NYT » World News A street preacher from Hollywood, he set out on a walk to New York City in 1969 with a 110-pound cross on his back. Then he kept going.

Greece Tightens Laws on Domestic Violence (but Not Enough, Critics Say) NYT » World News Amid a surge in reported cases, lawmakers imposed harsher punishments on perpetrators. Victims’ advocacy groups said the legislation was too thin on preventative measures.

In Response to Trump Tariff Threat, Ontario Premier Calls an Early Election NYT » World News Doug Ford, Ontario’s Conservative leader, has recently said that President Trump was “going to try to devastate our country” with a plan to impose tariffs on Canadian exports.

What Elon Musk’s Salute Was All About NYT » World News A gesture associated with the Nazis has a surprising history. But in Germany, there was little doubt about its meaning.

She Was Faulted in Her Divorce for Refusing Sex. A European Court Disagreed. NYT » World News A French court had ruled that a woman had violated her marital duties by not having sex with her husband. The European Court of Human Rights condemned that decision.

MeToo Outrage Leaves Japanese Broadcaster Without a Single Advertiser NYT » World News A popular TV host admitted trying to conceal a sexual assault complaint. This time, the reaction was swift and harsh, and aimed not only at him but also his employers.

Italy Arrested a Libyan Wanted for Crimes Against Humanity. Then It Sent Him Home. NYT » World News The government attributed the release to procedural reasons. But critics say it is because Italy depends on Libya to stem the flow of migrants from Africa.

Israel Appears Poised to Keep Its Troops in Lebanon Beyond Deadline NYT » World News Israel and Hezbollah agreed to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but Israel says that Hezbollah hasn’t upheld its promise and that the Lebanese Army isn’t ready to fill the void.

Ukraine Sends Volley of Drones at Russia, Hitting Oil Refinery NYT » World News Videos showed fireballs over a facility in Ryazan, 110 miles southeast of Moscow. Kyiv is seeking to disrupt Russian military logistics and put pressure on the country’s economy by striking its oil industry.

China Cracks Down on Online Panda Advocacy NYT » World News Panda fan culture once flourished in China. But Beijing is tightening control of discussion of a national symbol.