Pocket Reader - News in English

Could Cats Become a Vector for Bird Flu? NYT » World News A new study highlights the need for public health officials to ramp up bird flu surveillance in our feline companions.

Who Is Mohammed al-Bashir, Syria’s New Prime Minister? NYT » World News Mr. al-Bashir previously headed a rebel-led administration in northwestern Syria. He has been tasked with running the country’s interim government until March.

Who Set the Stage for al-Assad’s Ouster? There Are Different Answers in the U.S. and Israel. NYT » World News President Biden says he weakened Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, laying the groundwork for Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Syrian leader would still be in power had he listened to American advice.

Scholz Calls for Confidence Vote, in Step Toward German Elections NYT » World News Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had little choice but to call for the vote, is widely expected to lose when Parliament takes up the measure on Monday.

Syria After al-Assad’s Overthrow: What’s Happening and What Comes Next NYT » World News Rebels are asserting control in Damascus as Israel and other countries carry out military operations.

Syria Live Updates: U.S. Tries to Manage Fallout From al-Assad’s Ouster NYT » World News U.S.-backed fighters said they had reached a truce with Turkish-supported forces in a northern Syrian town. The head of the U.S. military’s Central Command visited Syria and Iraq.

Explosion in Afghanistan Kills Minister in Highest-Profile Blast Since Taliban’s Return NYT » World News Khalil Haqqani, Afghanistan’s refugee minister, died in an explosion inside the ministry, officials said.

How Many People Have Died in Syria’s Civil War? NYT » World News The United Nations and human rights organizations have faced challenges in counting all those killed and missing in the conflict that began in March 2011.

Prince William’s Chat With Trump Shows Why Royals May Be Potent Diplomatic Tool NYT » World News President-elect Donald J. Trump has a reverence, bordering on awe, for the royal family. British diplomats hope that will help safeguard relations with Washington in a fractious political climate.

In Aleppo, Rebels Give a Sense of What Is to Come for Syria NYT » World News Rebel fighters who took control of Aleppo about two weeks ago have promised security and continuity. Prices have skyrocketed, but residents express some hope for the future.

The Gold Rush at the Heart of a Civil War NYT » World News Famine and ethnic cleansing stalk Sudan. Yet the gold trade is booming, enriching generals and propelling the fight.

Biden Administration Looks to Reinforce U.S.-China Ties Ahead of Trump’s Return NYT » World News Senior Treasury officials are holding a final round of talks with a new round of economic volatility on the horizon.

Tangled and Troubling Legacy Pushes Romanians Further to the Right NYT » World News An ultranationalist politician’s surge in Romania shows how many people there would rather forget the country’s fascist past during World War II, experts say.

How ‘Her Story,’ a Feminist Comedy, Came to Rule China’s Box Office NYT » World News “Her Story” touches on sensitive topics in China, like censorship and gender inequality. But its humorous, nonconfrontational approach may have helped it pass censors.

Tangled and Troubling Legacy Pushes Romanians Further to the Right NYT » World News A ultranationalist politician’s surge in Romania shows how many people there would rather forget the country’s fascist past during World War II, experts say.

Wednesday Briefing NYT » World News A wave of attacks on Syria.

South Korean Police Raid President Yoon’s Office in Martial Law Probe NYT » World News The authorities are investigating whether President Yoon Suk Yeol committed an act of insurrection when he declared martial law last week, plunging the country into crisis.

A Ghastly Search for Loved Ones Who Disappeared in Syria NYT » World News Syrians raced to newly emptied prisons to reunite with loved ones snatched away by the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad, but their quest sometimes took them to the morgue.

Houthi Attacks Continue to Disrupt Shipping Industry As Israel-Hamas War Rages On NYT » World News The transport route around the southern tip of Africa was once little used — but freighters are now forced to take it and are charging higher rates.

North Korea Breaks Silence on South Korea’s Martial Law Declaration NYT » World News In its first statement about the turmoil over President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law decree, the North said nothing about how inter-Korean relations might be affected.