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Monday Briefing NYT » World News Here’s what you need to know.

Druse Leader Aims to Secure Place for Syrian Minorities NYT » World News Despite assurances from the rebels-turned-leaders, members of some religious groups worry what life will be like for them in a post-Assad Syria.

Monday Briefing: Number of Missing Rises in L.A. NYT » World News Plus, how cured ham fixed an antique organ in France.

Italian Justice Ministry Moves to Release Iranian Man Sought by the U.S. NYT » World News The request to revoke the man’s arrest came only days after Iran released an Italian journalist being held in Tehran.

Israeli Security Chiefs Join Critical Talks for a Cease-Fire in Gaza NYT » World News Pressure is on to reach a deal that would see Hamas release at least some hostages before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.

Syria Faces Big Challenge in Seeking Justice for Assad Regime Crimes NYT » World News The rebel alliance that took power has vowed to prosecute senior figures from the ousted government, but accountability will be hard to achieve in a vulnerable, divided and battered country.

Brazil’s Mafia-Run Animal Lottery Was Invincible. Online Games Changed That. NYT » World News Digital gambling could spell the end for a lottery run by criminal gangs that has been a fixture of Brazilian life for decades.

Battling Militants Backed by Islamic State in Mozambique NYT » World News For more than seven years, an insurgency backed by the Islamic State has raged across Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, completely upending life in this coastal province rich with natural resources. John Eligon, The New York Times Johannesburg bureau chief, traveled across the province to speak with people trying to rebuild their lives.

This Part of Mozambique Was Like Paradise. Now It’s a Terrorist Hotbed. NYT » World News Islamic State militants have rampaged across the northern Cabo Delgado Province for more than seven years. The government says the situation has stabilized. Residents tell a different story.

A French Cathedral Turned to Hams to Restore Its Organ NYT » World News A dispute over a project to cure hams in a bell tower underscored the difficulties that churches in France face trying to pay for restorations.

Sudan Military Recaptures Key City From Paramilitary Accused of Genocide NYT » World News Celebrations erupted in military-controlled areas, stoking hopes the victory might be a turning point in Sudan’s ruinous civil war.

Far From the Fires, the Deadly Risks of Smoke Are Intensifying NYT » World News Researchers see a growing health danger from the vast plumes of pollution spawned by wildfires like the ones devastating Los Angeles.

Ukraine Says It Captured 2 North Korean Soldiers Fighting for Russia NYT » World News President Volodymyr Zelensky said the soldiers were captured in the western Kursk region, where Ukraine has been fighting to hold on to territory it seized last summer.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Meets With Syrian Leader NYT » World News The visit by Prime Minister Najib Mikati was the first official trip by the Lebanese leader to meet with the new government of Syria.

Reading Aloud NYT » World News Reading alone is a deeply enjoyable activity. But being read to has its own irreplaceable allure.

Out in the Cold With Justin Trudeau NYT » World News The prime minister’s celebrity helped bring him to power. Even after his popularity collapsed, it still drew crowds.

Jeju Air Flight Recorder Stopped Working 4 Minutes Before Plane Crash NYT » World News The missing data deepens the puzzle of what caused the deadly air disaster in Muan, South Korea, late last month.

Photograph Revives Ukraine-Russia Culture War NYT » World News An image depicting a famous 19th-century painting of Cossacks, with current Ukrainian soldiers standing in for the warriors, has struck a chord as Kyiv battles to assert its identity.

Israel’s Campaign in Syrian Border Area Prompts Fears It Plans to Stay NYT » World News Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for Israeli troops to “take over” a buffer zone with Syria upended decades of relative calm along the de facto border between the two countries.

The Fight Over Lee Kuan Yew’s House NYT » World News A son of the country’s founding father says he has been persecuted by the government because of a feud with his older brother, who until May was prime minister.