Pocket Reader - News in English

Francis Opened Discussions to Those Outside the Church Hierarchy. This Cardinal Would, Too NYT &rt; World News Cardinal Mario Grech comes from Malta, but is known to cardinals around the world for his role as the secretary general of an advisory body of bishops.

Houthi Missile Hits Near Tel Aviv Airport NYT &rt; World News At least two people were reported injured, and flights were temporarily suspended.

After 100 Years, Britain’s Two-Party Political System May Be Crumbling NYT &rt; World News Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist party, Reform U.K., is presenting a serious challenge to the governing Labour Party and to the opposition Conservatives.

Poised to Expand Gaza Offensive, Israel Calls Up Thousands of Reserve Soldiers NYT &rt; World News The mobilization could indicate that the Israeli government is preparing to shift its tactics in its fight against Hamas.

Ukraine Rejects Russian Call for a Three-Day Cease-Fire NYT &rt; World News President Volodymyr Zelensky called the proposal a “theatrical show” and said such a short truce would not bolster negotiations for a lasting peace.

Oil Prices Are Falling. Here’s Where That Could Spell Trouble. NYT &rt; World News For countries that depend heavily on oil revenue, dropping prices are worrisome.

Hikers Stumble Upon a Pile of Gold Coins, Igniting a Historical Hunt NYT &rt; World News The discovery of coins and jewelry in the Czech Republic worth up to $680,000 raises a tantalizing mystery for historians and amateur sleuths: Who buried the treasure?

Memory Palace NYT &rt; World News Memorizing a poem is like taking a work of art that you love and letting it live and bloom inside of you.

Cardinal Parolin, Leader of Papal Conclave, Is Also a Top Candidate NYT &rt; World News Cardinals have talked about Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, as someone who could have a steady, bureaucratic hand on the church’s wheel.

Druse in Syrian Town Rocked by Violence Agree to Disarm Militias NYT &rt; World News After this week’s bloodshed, Druse leaders in Ashrafieh Sahnaya agreed to integrate militia fighters into government forces. But some residents remain wary.

The Frightening Precedents for Trump’s ‘Legal Abyss’ NYT &rt; World News The ‘dual-state theory’ explains how authoritarians bend the law to their will.

America’s Vietnam War Opponents Who Fled to Canada Reflect on the Past and Future NYT &rt; World News Some of the United States’ Vietnam War opponents found refuge in Canada. Fifty years after the end of the war, they’re still worried about the future.

These Contentious Issues Could Determine Who Becomes the Next Pope NYT &rt; World News As cardinals gather to elect Pope Francis’ successor, they are facing debates over whether the church most needs change or constancy.

After Leading a Liberal Comeback, Carney Hits the Ground Running NYT &rt; World News The prime minister will begin broad economic and security talks with President Trump next week and has set a timetable for his new government.

As China Looks for Way Out of U.S. Trade Deadlock, Fentanyl Could Be Key NYT &rt; World News Chinese officials have long used their willingness to cooperate to stem the flow of fentanyl to the United States as leverage in talks over broader disputes.

How Trump Dismantled His First-Term Policy on Crimea NYT &rt; World News After more than three years of war, President Trump proposed a peace plan for Russia and Ukraine in late April that would have the United States recognize Moscow’s 2014 takeover of the Crimean peninsula. Michael D. Shear, a former White House correspondent for The New York Times in London, explains how the proposal, which Ukraine has rejected, is a reversal from Mr. Trump’s first term as president.

Message From the Russian Military: ‘We Lost Your Son’ NYT &rt; World News Russia lacks any formal, organized effort to account for legions of missing soldiers. That often leaves relatives in limbo, fending for themselves with scant government information.

Ghana Wanted a Cathedral. It Got an ‘Expensive Hole’ Instead. NYT &rt; World News The nation had grand plans for a national cathedral designed by a celebrity architect. The $400 million project became a political battleground.

In Singapore’s Election, All Eyes Are on the Margin of Victory, Not the Winner NYT &rt; World News The People’s Action Party is widely expected to continue its six-decade reign. But discontent with its policies is fueling a growing opposition.

Voting in a Fraught World, Australians Focus on Cost-of-Living Concerns NYT &rt; World News Voters will decide who can turn Australia around from the throes of inflation and a housing crisis, and navigate relations with a volatile Washington.