Pocket Reader - News in English

Gananath Obeyesekere, 95, Dies; Anthropologist Bridged East and West NYT &rt; World News His wide-ranging work drew on field research in his native Sri Lanka as well as his extensive study of English literature and Christian mysticism.

Marine Le Pen Could Be Banned From France Election if She’s Found Guilty of Embezzlement NYT &rt; World News A verdict Monday in an embezzlement trial is seen as a test of the country’s democracy — and the rule of law.

Hegseth Pledges to Step Up Military Cooperation With Japan and Deter China NYT &rt; World News The U.S. defense secretary sought to reassure its ally over security ties and vowed to speed up the creation of a joint “war-fighting headquarters” to deter China.

Prince Harry Accused of ‘Bullying’ by Chair of Charity He Co-founded NYT &rt; World News Sophie Chandauka said Harry quit as patron of the organization to damage it after failing to oust her from the role following a series of board conflicts.

What We Know About Talks for a Renewed Gaza Cease-Fire NYT &rt; World News Hamas said it had accepted a proposal for a new cease-fire, which would see some hostages released from captivity in Gaza. But details were elusive.

Syrians Wake Up to a New Government NYT &rt; World News The list of ministers appears to be a compromise between calls for a diverse cabinet to unite the divided country while keeping allies of the interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, in powerful roles.

Haiti Doesn’t Make Guns. So How Are Gangs Awash in Them? NYT &rt; World News Federal authorities in several countries have recently nabbed several caches of weapons headed to Haiti, but armed violence continues to rise there, with gangs increasingly obtaining high-caliber firearms and ammunition.

In Myanmar, Earthquake Aftershocks and Airstrikes Terrorize Residents NYT &rt; World News New tremors rattled survivors of Friday’s earthquake, which killed more than 1,600 people, while the government continued its bombing campaign elsewhere in the country.

In Tokyo, Rice Farmers Protest ‘Misguided’ Rules Fueling Shortages NYT &rt; World News A scarcity of rice is causing discontent among farmers and consumers in Japan and drawing attention to a policy some say has worsened shortages.

After Bangkok Building Collapse, Fearing High-Rises NYT &rt; World News Buildings are rising all over the city, emblems of economic growth. But an earthquake that sent one crashing to the ground has stirred fears about building safety.

How the U.S. Broke Its Own Rules to Help Ukraine NYT &rt; World News A New York Times investigation reveals that the United States was much more involved in Ukrainian military operations than publicly disclosed. Adam Entous, a Times investigative reporter, breaks down a key moment in the war when the Biden administration changed its policy on the war in Ukraine.

French Schools Will Finally Teach Sex Education NYT &rt; World News For 25 years, France has said schools must teach sex ed. Now the government is at last putting a curriculum in place.

Key Takeaways From America’s Secret Military Partnership With Ukraine NYT &rt; World News An investigation by The New York Times has revealed that America was woven into the war far more than previously known.

‘They Will Label Us as Spies’: The Afghan Students Abandoned by America NYT &rt; World News Students at the American University of Afghanistan in Qatar fear having to return to their Taliban-ruled homeland after aid and visa cutoffs by the Trump administration.

Syria’s Leader Appoints New Government After Ousting Assad NYT &rt; World News The choice of cabinet officials was seen as a litmus test for whether the rebels who ousted Bashar al-Assad would deliver on a pledge to create a government representative of all Syrians.

Taliban Appears to Free American Woman Detained in Afghanistan NYT &rt; World News President Trump and a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan shared a video of a woman identified as Faye Hall thanking the president for her release from Afghanistan.

No Second Lady, No Problem: Greenland’s Dog Sled Race Goes Barking On NYT &rt; World News One of Greenland’s national pastimes was nearly hijacked this week after the White House said the Second Lady would attend. She didn’t. But a lot of people talked about this as the mushers did their work.

Myanmar Earthquake Toll Surpasses 1,600 Dead Amid Search for Survivors NYT &rt; World News Aid workers delivered the first shipments of help to Myanmar, but will have to cross a country buckled by the disaster and divided by civil war, arms dealers and drug syndicates.

Found: British Military Documents, Scattered on the Street NYT &rt; World News A man in Northern England said he had stumbled upon hundreds of documents, including threat assessments, armory codes and detailed base patrols. The Ministry of Defense said it was investigating.

Search for Survivors at Collapsed Bangkok Building NYT &rt; World News The collapse of a 30-story building under construction was “not normal,” an engineering expert said. It was one of the biggest projects ever done by a Chinese state-owned company.