Pocket Reader - News in English

Tropical Storm Trami Hits Vietnam After Killing Dozens in the Philippines NYT » World News The storm made landfall near Danang on Sunday after leaving at least 80 people dead last week.

For Catholic Jubilee, Days of Joy and Sadness in Rome and Bethlehem NYT » World News For Rome, the rare Christmas Eve rite of redemption is cause for celebration this year. For Bethlehem, it is another grim reminder of the generations of war and deprivation.

How Years of Government Failure Led to Nigeria’s Worst Flood in Decades NYT » World News After a recent dam disaster, Nigerian officials blamed God, climate change and poor people. But experts had warned the dam was at risk well before it collapsed. The officials did nothing.

Living on a Volcano’s Edge, Italians Practice for Disaster NYT » World News The Italian authorities carried out a drill of their plan to save a half-million people from toxic fumes, deadly quakes or a full eruption. Vesuvius isn’t the volcano they’re worried about.

Ukraine Invaded Russia. Here’s What It Was Like for Civilians. NYT » World News Russians in the area of Ukraine’s invasion have described seeing signs of violent encounters, as well as respectful treatment from Ukrainian troops.

For First Time in Decades, Japan Votes in a Knife-Edge Election NYT » World News The Japanese electorate seemed poised to punish the Liberal Democrats, even if it does not go so far as to hand power to the opposition.

Israel Struck Air Defenses Around Critical Iranian Energy Sites, Officials Say NYT » World News Israeli attacks hit air-defense systems around important energy sites but avoided the facilities themselves, Iranian and Israeli officials said. The United States had urged Israel not to strike energy and oil facilities.

The Curious Case of a Temple Sweet: How Food Increasingly Divides India NYT » World News A Hindu politician has accused his Christian predecessor of allowing a temple’s sanctity to be violated with an animal product.

What We Know About Israel’s Strikes On Iran NYT » World News After military-on-military attacks, will Israel and Iran be able to contain their conflict? Maria Abi-Habib, an investigative correspondent for The New York Times, looks at an unprecedented new chapter in the Middle East.

Why Are North Korean Troops in Russia? NYT » World News Over the last month, North Korea’s role aiding Russia in its war in Ukraine has significantly escalated. U.S. officials reported that North Korean soldiers are already operating in the Kursk region in western Russia, where Ukrainian forces are staging a counteroffensive. Michael Shear, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, explains what the deeping relationship between Russia and North Korea means for the war in Ukraine and the world.

U.K. Man Who Posed as a Girl to Extort Teens Online Gets 20 Years in Prison NYT » World News The Northern Ireland resident sought explicit images from thousands of girls he had groomed and blackmailed, leading to the death of a 12-year-old girl in the United States.

Israeli Attack Puts Iranians on Edge: ‘The Vibe Is Not Normal’ NYT » World News A sense of uncertainty prevailed in Iran after an Israeli retaliatory strike. Explosions kept some awake, while others hoped life would go back to normal.

In Deciding Whether to Retaliate, Iran Faces a Dilemma NYT » World News If Iran strikes back at Israel, it risks further escalation at a time when its economy is struggling and its military is vulnerable. If it doesn’t, it risks looking weak.

Hundreds Killed in Days in Sudan as War Surges NYT » World News Paramilitary forces ransacked villages and killed hundreds of people, activists said, hastening calls for the United Nations to deploy a mission to protect civilians.

A Skeleton Bank of Understudied Species NYT » World News With a new database of medical images, zoo and wildlife vets can finally see what healthy uncommon animals, from rhinos and tamarins to pangolins and sea stars, should look like on the inside.

Is Canada’s New Immigration Policy Really the End of an Era? NYT » World News Critics say the review of the permanent and temporary residents’ programs amounts to the abandonment of decades of “welcome mat” policy. But globally, Canada is still peerless in its openness.

Global Economic Leaders Confront a New Era of Industrial Policy NYT » World News Policymakers brace for more protectionism and the demise of “neoliberalism” if Donald J. Trump is re-elected in the U.S.

Israel’s Strike Marks New Phase of Conflict, but Stops Short of All-Out War NYT » World News Iran’s initial reaction suggested that the sides had once again averted an uncontrolled war, even if the prospect looms larger than ever.

At Vatican Synod, Women’s Issues Are Relegated to a Side Group NYT » World News Pope Francis has made clear that contentious issues like the ordination of women are not on his agenda, but that hasn’t stopped the demand for greater equality.

Iran’s State Media Plays Down Israeli Attacks NYT » World News Explosions woke Iranians up and rattled their windows as strikes targeted sites in at least three provinces.