Pocket Reader - News in English

Hungary Changes Constitution to Mandate Two Genders NYT &rt; World News The governing Fidesz party passed a constitutional amendment stating that all Hungarians are either male or female, and another protecting the “moral development” of children.

Pete Marocco, Who Helped Gut Foreign Aid for Trump, Leaves State Department NYT &rt; World News Pete Marocco oversaw the cutting of thousands of contracts at U.S.A.I.D. and the firing of most of its roughly 10,000 workers. Aid agency employees have accused him of mismanagement.

Military Leader Wins Presidential Election in Gabon NYT &rt; World News Brice Oligui Nguema had promised to relinquish power after he led a coup in 2023. He now is set to lead the oil-rich country for the next seven years.

Trump Calls Russia’s Strike on Sumy a ‘Mistake’ NYT &rt; World News At least 34 people were killed in the attack on Sumy, which came as Ukraine’s leader urged President Trump to come witness the realities of war firsthand.

When Elected Leaders Pursue Risky Policies, What Can Stop Them? NYT &rt; World News President Trump issued a partial, temporary reprieve on tariffs that had sent the stock market tumbling. He did so only after U.S. government bonds showed signs of distress.

Why Europe Fears a Flood of Cheap Goods From China NYT &rt; World News President Trump’s tariffs on China could lead to a hazardous scenario for European countries: the dumping of artificially cheap products that would undermine local industries.

Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel-Winning Peruvian Novelist, Dies at 89 NYT &rt; World News Mr. Vargas Llosa, who ran for Peru’s presidency in 1990 and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010, transformed episodes from his personal life into books that reverberated far beyond the borders of his native country.

How to Evade Taxes in Ancient Rome? A 1,900-Year-Old Papyrus Offers a Guide. NYT &rt; World News A manuscript discovered in the Judean desert contains trial notes on an intricate tax-evasion scheme that involved forgery, fiscal fraud and the false sale of slaves.

Ancient Syrian Town Seeks Interfaith Peace After Long War NYT &rt; World News Syria’s civil war drove a wedge between the residents of the small town of Maaloula, where two-thirds are Christian and one-third Muslim. Can they live together peacefully again?

This Canadian Conservative Is Playing ‘Good Cop’ With Trump NYT &rt; World News Danielle Smith, the premier of the oil-rich province of Alberta, takes pride in her MAGA ties. As her country faces existential threats from President Trump, she thinks her party and her province stand to gain.

Trump Cracks Down on Cuba and Its Medical Missions Around the World NYT &rt; World News The administration has begun to pull the U.S. visas of foreign officials in countries that pay the Cuban government for doctors and nurses.

The Former C.I.A. Officer Capitalizing On Europe’s Military Spending Boom NYT &rt; World News Eric Slesinger made a career shift from the spy agency to venture capital, championing military start-ups as Europe beefed up its defenses amid an uncertain relationship with the United States.

In Ukraine, Porn Is Illegal. So Why Are Its Creators Paying Taxes? NYT &rt; World News Ukraine makes tax revenue off the creators of pornographic content, but also threatens them with prosecution. A draft law aims to fix what many say is an unfair contradiction.

A Small City That Lost Big in the Dominican Nightclub Tragedy NYT &rt; World News Haina, a city just outside the Dominican capital, lost 25 people in the Jet Set disaster, including community leaders and cultural icons.

China’s Xi Courts Vietnam as Trade War With the U.S. Mounts NYT &rt; World News Xi Jinping is in Southeast Asia to build bonds with countries that also face U.S. tariffs and have come under pressure from Washington to curb the transshipment of Chinese goods.

Musicians Who Knew Amadou Bagayoko Pay Tribute With Their Songs NYT &rt; World News Amadou Bagayoko and his wife, the singer Mariam Doumbia, rose from icons in Mali to international success over the last two decades. After Mr. Bagayoko’s death, those who knew him chose a few of their favorite songs.

Ecuadorean President’s Opponent Contests His Re-Election Win NYT &rt; World News In a divisive election season, Daniel Noboa pledged to bring law and order. His opponent immediately contested the results.

Monday Briefing: China Pauses Crucial Exports NYT &rt; World News Plus, an art forest in Thailand.

UK Laws Are Not ‘Fit for Social Media Age,’ Says Report Into Summer Riots NYT &rt; World News Outdated legislation prevented the police from rapidly correcting misinformation after a stabbing attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last summer, lawmakers said.

Monday Briefing: China Pauses Crucial Exports NYT &rt; World News Plus, an art forest in Thailand.