Pocket Reader - News in English

From Oregon, a Chocolate Cake That Changes Hearts and Minds NYT &rt; World News The Portland area is a hot spot for vegans, who have the most environmentally friendly diets. It has also yielded a game-changing dessert.

Venezuela Frees an Air Force Veteran the U.S. Says Was Wrongfully Held NYT &rt; World News The family of Joseph St. Clair confirmed his release. The move comes as the United States threatens to choke off Venezuela’s critical oil revenue.

Trump’s New Position on the War in Ukraine: Not My Problem NYT &rt; World News In a reversal, President Trump appears to have backed off joining a European push for new sanctions on Russia, seemingly eager to move on to doing business deals with it.

Wednesday Briefing: Israel’s Allies Tell It to Stop NYT &rt; World News Plus, the International Booker Prize.

E.U. to Lift Economic Sanctions on Syria NYT &rt; World News European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday agreed to lift the remaining economic curbs on the war-torn country, amid concerns it could slip back into conflict.

G7 Officials Gather Amid Headwinds From Trump’s Trade War NYT &rt; World News Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet his international counterparts at a G7 finance ministers meeting in Canada.

R.F.K. Jr. Has Unlikely Allies in His Drive to Limit Atrazine NYT &rt; World News An unlikely group is coalescing around the health secretary’s drive for restrictions on atrazine, which is linked to cancer, birth defects and low sperm counts.

EU Plans New Sanctions on Russia in Push for Ukraine Cease-fire NYT &rt; World News The European Union has now targeted Moscow’s fleet of covert oil tankers and plans more restrictions, as the Trump administration’s approach to the war shifts.

Ukrainians Brace for a Lonelier Fight as Trump Backs Off Cease-Fire Call NYT &rt; World News President Trump appears to be stepping back from trying to end the war in Ukraine. Many in the country see little choice but to battle on.

In Trump Call, Putin Notches a Diplomatic Win, With an Economic Caveat NYT &rt; World News The Kremlin has withstood pressure for an immediate cease-fire as a precondition for peace talks, but the Russian president’s push for normalizing relations with the United States appears in limbo.

Israel’s Allies Denounce Its New Gaza Offensive NYT &rt; World News Britain, France and Canada, all powerful supporters of Israel, called plans for an escalation of the Gaza war “disproportionate” and “egregious.”

Telefonica Outage in Spain Knocks Out Emergency Lines NYT &rt; World News The outage Tuesday knocked out emergency phone lines in several parts of the country for several hours.

U.S. Bill Named for Artemis Ghasemzadeh Aims to Shield Asylum Seekers NYT &rt; World News A lawmaker is introducing a bill named for Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an Iranian Christian convert, that seeks to stop the expedited removal of people fleeing countries that persecute religious minorities.

In Trump Call, Putin Notches a Diplomatic Win, With an Economic Caveat NYT &rt; World News The Kremlin has withstood pressure for an immediate cease-fire as a precondition for peace talks, but the Russian president’s push for normalizing relations with the United States appears in limbo.

Second Man Charged Over Fires at Properties Linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer NYT &rt; World News The British police said they had charged a Romanian national, Stanislav Carpiuc, with conspiracy to commit arson. Fires struck two buildings and a car linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Gulf Deal-Making Spree Also Benefited Elon Musk and His Family NYT &rt; World News The world’s richest man inked new deals as he tagged along on Trump’s tour of the Gulf.

U.S. Says It Wants Trade, Not Aid, in Africa. Cuts Threaten Both. NYT &rt; World News President Trump’s slashing of foreign assistance threatens road and energy projects that diplomats and experts say align with U.S. priorities.

China’s Fighter Jets and Missiles Get a Boost From the India-Pakistan Clash NYT &rt; World News The reported success of Chinese-made fighter jets and air-to-air missiles in the conflict has fed nationalist pride in China, and has renewed warnings to Taiwan.

Tuesday Briefing NYT &rt; World News President Trump’s conversation with Vladimir Putin.

UK’s Trade Deals Bare the Reality It’s a Midsize Economy Among Giants NYT &rt; World News Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government had to make some politically fraught concessions, reflecting the country’s status as a midsize economy in a volatile market.