Pocket Reader - News in English

How Mexican Cartels Test Fentanyl on Vulnerable People and Animals NYT » World News A global crackdown on fentanyl has led cartels to innovate production methods and test their risky formulas on people, as well as rabbits and chickens.

20 Years Since the Deadly Tsunami in Asia NYT » World News A look back at the horrible loss of life.

Prosecutors in Taiwan Indict Ko Wen-je, Former Presidential Candidate NYT » World News The prosecutors asserted that Ko Wen-je, a former mayor, took bribes. He and his supports have maintained that the charges are a political vendetta.

A Young Sudanese Trapped by War Makes Painful Choices and Is Viewed With Suspicion NYT » World News Trapped in Sudan’s brutal civil war, a young woman chose to work in a clinic on the front line, treating civilians and combatants. She had to navigate suspicion from both sides.

Still Sounding Young at 85, She Is the Voice of Old Japan NYT » World News Midori Kato is the last original member of the cast of “Sazae-san,” a cartoon series that premiered in 1969 and never quite joined the modern world.

Thursday Briefing NYT » World News Christmas Day attacks on Ukraine.

Five Journalists Killed in Gaza Strike, Palestinian Media Says NYT » World News The Israeli military said it had struck a vehicle containing a “terrorist cell” in the Nuseirat area of Gaza.

Hanukkah in Pictures: Keeping the Flame Alive NYT » World News Jews around the globe lit the first of eight candles on Wednesday and came together to celebrate and reflect on their history.

Thursday Briefing: Rebel Factions Try to Unite Syria NYT » World News Plus, “Squid Game” returns.

Famine Warning for Northern Gaza Draws U.S. Rebuke and Raises Questions NYT » World News The dispute highlights the difficulties with data collection in Gaza that have hampered humanitarian efforts since the war began.

Desi Bouterse, Fugitive Former Dictator of Suriname, Dies at 79 NYT » World News He took power in a military coup in 1980 and later served as the country’s president. He was also convicted of ordering the murder of 15 political opponents.

King Charles Addresses U.K. Riots and His Cancer in Christmas Speech NYT » World News The British monarch recorded his annual holiday address from the chapel of a former hospital, rather than from a palace.

Russia Launches an Attack on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure NYT » World News Moscow again struck Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, part of an effort to wear down the country. “In the trenches, there are no holidays,” one man said.

If Syrian Chemical Weapons Were Found, the U.S. Army Could Safely Destroy Them NYT » World News A civilian team at a base in Maryland disposed of Syrian toxins a decade ago after hundreds of people were killed in a nerve agent attack.

Pope Calls for Peace on Christmas as Church Begins Jubilee Year Celebrations NYT » World News Pope Francis’ Christmas message was a plea for reconciliation, peace and care for others.

Syria’s New Leaders Try to Unite Rebel Factions Under a Single Government NYT » World News The fighters who ousted Bashar al-Assad are aiming to transform their revolutionary movement and assert control over the country.

Cyclone on French Archipelago Exposes Resentments Over Immigrants NYT » World News In the ruins left by Cyclone Chido, people from Mayotte, off the eastern coast of Africa, are calling to deport the undocumented immigrants who had settled there from neighboring islands.

From Fighters to Policemen in a Post-Assad Damascus NYT » World News As the rebels who ousted Syria’s longtime dictator, Bashar al-Assad, transition from insurgents to administrators, maintaining order in the streets of the capital has become a top priority.

The Animal Celebrities Who Surprised, Soothed and Screamed at Us in 2024 NYT » World News Moo Deng the pygmy hippo, Flaco the escaped eagle-owl, Charlotte the maybe-pregnant stingray — they distracted us from the messy human world but were also clear reflections of it.

This 127-Year-Old Christmas Contest Has an Unusual Star: The Radish NYT » World News In southern Mexico, a city dazzles with a celebration of its rich culture and history through a radish-carving competition, a cherished tradition upheld by generations of families.