Pocket Reader - News in English

Russian Casualties in Ukraine Mount, in a Brutal Style of Fighting NYT » World News More than 1,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine were killed or wounded on average each day in May, according to NATO and Western military officials.

How to Escape From the Russian Army NYT » World News Facing grim job prospects, a young Nepali signed up to join Russia’s military, which sent him to fight in Ukraine. His ordeal of combat, injury and escape turned into a tale worthy of Hollywood.

China Levels Graft Charges Against Former Defense Ministers NYT » World News The two generals were accused of taking huge bribes and of corruption that reached into the armaments sector, indicating that the country’s military has not shaken off old habits.

Israeli Soldier Is Killed During Raid in West Bank, IDF Says NYT » World News As well as the officer who died, another was severely wounded during the operation in Jenin, a bastion of armed resistance to Israel’s occupation. One Palestinian was also reported wounded.

Gazans Describe Life on the Verge of Famine NYT » World News A panel of global hunger experts warned this week that the Gaza Strip could soon face famine, but to many Gazans, it feels as if one has already arrived.

Rich Gulf States Have Huge Ambitions. Will Extreme Heat Hold Them Back? NYT » World News The high temperatures blamed for the deaths of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are taking a broad toll in countries that have spent vast sums to attract tourists and investors.

Amsterdam Museum to Return a Matisse Work Sold Under Duress in World War II NYT » World News The painting, “Odalisque,” was sold to the Stedelijk Museum in the early 1940s by a German-Jewish family desperate to escape the Nazis.

Shahjahan Bhuiya, Executioner Turned TikTok Star, Dies in Bangladesh NYT » World News He hanged high-profile inmates in exchange for a reduction in his own robbery and murder sentences, and became a social media sensation after his release.

How a Tiny Circle of Advisers Helped Prod Macron to Call France’s Snap Election NYT » World News President Emmanuel Macron’s governing style has always been intensely top-down. But with far-right nationalists in France closing in on power, some believe he may have gone too far this time.

Julian Assange’s Polarizing Legacy: From Hacker to Hunted Figure NYT » World News The co-founder of WikiLeaks was a heroic crusader for truth to many people for publishing government secrets. To others, he was a reckless leaker endangering lives.

Middle East Crisis: ‘Now There’s Barely Anything’: Gazans Describe Life on the Verge of Famine NYT » World News A panel of global hunger experts warned this week that the Gaza Strip could soon face famine, but to many Gazans, it feels as if one has already arrived.

Iranians Say, ‘We Have Been Going Backward’ NYT » World News Iranians say they have little faith their votes in Friday’s presidential election will improve their lives, and many are planning to sit it out.

Israeli Officials Tour Lebanon Border Amid Escalating Tensions With Hezbollah NYT » World News Israeli officials toured the northern border as U.S. officials stressed the need for a diplomatic solution to tensions with the militant group Hezbollah.

The Etiquette of Remembering Your Friend’s Pet’s Name NYT » World News At a barbershop in Colorado, stylists and customers discussed a matter of social protocol.

Thursday Briefing NYT » World News Evan Gershkovich’s trial began in Russia.

North Korea Says It Tested Multi-Warhead Missile Technology NYT » World News The announcement, coming days after Vladimir V. Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, suggests an ambitious attempt to upgrade the North’s nuclear arsenal.

Is King Charles III About to Get a Prime Minister He Likes? NYT » World News The British monarch is constitutionally barred from any role in politics. But experts say that Charles and the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, have much in common.

Bolivia’s Military Accused of ‘Coup Attempt’ NYT » World News The democratically elected president, Luis Arce, called on Bolivians to mobilize against those trying to seize power, as troops filled a central square and tried to force their way into the palace.

Thursday Briefing: Evan Gershkovich’s Trial NYT » World News Also, Kenya’s president shelved the tax bill.

Brazil’s Supreme Court Decriminalizes Marijuana Possession for Personal Use NYT » World News The country’s Supreme Court voted to remove criminal penalties for possession of up to 40 grams of marijuana.