Pocket Reader - News in English

The Joy of Stoop Books NYT » World News Why is it that books found in giveaway piles cast such a spell on us?

Few Good Solutions as Home Affordability Plummets NYT » World News An economic analysis found that in several Canadian cities, prices would have to plummet, or incomes would have to soar improbably, to restore affordability.

Hard Lessons Make for Hard Choices 2 Years Into the War in Ukraine NYT » World News Western sanctions haven’t worked. Weapons from allies are running low. Pressure may build on Kyiv to seek a settlement, even from a weakened position.

Ukrainian Family Holds Out Hope Son Will Be Released by Russians NYT » World News After nearly two years and only scraps of information, a Ukrainian family still hopes their son, a marine captured by the Russians in Mariupol, will come home soon.

For Car Thieves, Toronto Is a ‘Candy Store,’ and Drivers Are Fed Up NYT » World News An epidemic of auto thefts in Canada’s largest city has left many residents exasperated, with some getting creative about deterrence efforts, such as installing bollards in home driveways.

Gaza Toilet Shortage Creates Sanitation Crisis NYT » World News “It is a public health concern,” one U.N. official said of the lack of toilets for displaced people in the territory. “But the second thing is simply just dignity.”

Want to Lose a Lot of Money, Fast? Buy a Small Soccer Team in England. NYT » World News The country’s lower leagues offer a tempting entry to ownership. But the sport’s economics mean even multimillionaires can struggle to compete.

France Will Cut Spending as It Sees a Weaker Economy Ahead NYT » World News War, high interest rates and slowdowns in major trade partners are trimming tax revenue and forcing the government in Paris to scale back.

Ship Attacked by Houthis in Red Sea Is Still Afloat, Its Operator Says NYT » World News The ship, called the Rubymar, will be towed to a port city in Yemen after what appeared to be the Houthis’ most damaging attack yet.

Netanyahu Issues First Plan for Postwar Gaza NYT » World News The proposal, which calls for indefinite Israeli military control and buffer zones in the territory, rankled Arab nations and was rejected by Palestinians.

Blinken Says New Israeli Settlements in West Bank Are Illegal, Reversing Trump Policy NYT » World News Mr. Blinken said he was disappointed with the announcement from Israel’s finance minister of plans for thousands of new residences in Palestinian territories.

Alfred Grosser, Champion of French-German Reconciliation, Dies at 99 NYT » World News A German-born Jew who became a French writer and activist, he devoted his life to healing the divide between two historic enemies after the trauma of World War II.

Russian Authorities Threaten to Bury Navalny on Prison Grounds, Aides Say NYT » World News Lyudmila Navalnaya was given a three-hour ultimatum to agree to a secret funeral, a spokeswoman for Aleksei A. Navalny said, but she refused to negotiate.

Want to Play in the Asian Champions League? It Will Cost You. NYT » World News The cost of business in Asia’s elite tournament keeps going up. The rewards do not.

How Netanyahu’s Plan for Gaza Clashes With U.S. and International Hopes NYT » World News The Israeli leader’s proposal is at odds with the United States and much of the world over Palestinian statehood, border areas and the future role of the Palestinian Authority.

Head of UN Aid Agency in Gaza Warns It Is at ‘Breaking Point’ NYT » World News UNRWA, the chief lifeline for Gaza’s population of 2.2 million people, has lost $450 million in donor funding since Israeli allegations that 12 of its employees were involved in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack.

German Lawmakers Move Closer to Legalizing Marijuana NYT » World News The measure still requires approval from the Council of States, but the vote brings the country closer to becoming the largest nation in Europe to legalize the drug for recreational use.

Argentina’s Leader Meets With Blinken, as He Heads to Meet Trump NYT » World News The Argentine president’s zeal to befriend the next occupant of the White House led him on a two-day tour of the political poles of the United States.

U.S. Imposes Major New Sanctions on Russia, Targeting Finance and Defense NYT » World News The Biden administration, responding to the death of Aleksei A. Navalny, unveiled its largest sanctions package to date as the war in Ukraine enters its third year.

Swedish Premier Visits Hungary to Discuss Stalled NATO Bid NYT » World News Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, now says a deal on military cooperation could help persuade his party’s lawmakers to back Sweden’s accession to the alliance.