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Are We Reading Less Because of the Web?

Many analysts suspect that President Bashar al-Assad is losing his grip on power in Syria, and that his fall is now inevitable. But that leaves many difficult questions about what happens the day after. NPR commentator Ted Koppel talks about the tipping point in Syria and what comes next.

The World Health Organization said Monday the world has moved a significant step closer to a global flu pandemic. The WHO says the newly discovered swine flu virus has proved itself capable of passing readily from person to person.

Children go to school in roughly 200 buildings across San Diego County where earthquake safety is still an unanswered question.

Investment banker Frank Quattrone, who rose to fame during the dot-com stock bubble, is convicted of obstructing justice in a federal investigation. After deliberating for more than seven hours, a federal jury found Quattrone guilty in a case that hinged on an email in which Quattrone encouraged colleagues to destroy files. An appeal is expected. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Jim Zarroli.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland bills itself as the world's biggest arts festival. The Fringe is the place where comedians, actors and playwrights go to be discovered. Each year, one play tends to grab the headlines and awards. This year it's Precious Little Talent by 24-year-old Ella Hickson. Last year, her play Eight got her noticed.

Caroline Kennedy's new Christmas anthology opens with her 1962 letter to Santa. In it, she wished for skates, dolls and a "pet reindeer" for herself and "some noisy thing" for her brother John. But a family tradition shunned toys for oranges and walnuts.

Danish police fired pepper spray and beat protesters with batons outside the U.N. climate conference on Wednesday, as disputes inside left major issues unresolved just two days before world leaders hope to sign a historic agreement to fight global warming.

The season of pleasure reading is upon us, and the publishing world has readied a handful of thrilling titles to be released just in time for the summer heat. After surveying the crop, here are our picks for fun reading in the sun.

Tiger Woods will have to come out of seclusion at some point, and when he finally does, his first TV interview will be a major get. NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik describes the frenzied angling among producers and anchors desperate to get Tiger on their network.