Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country as rebel forces took control of Damascus, with celebrations breaking out. The rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has historic ties to Al Qaeda but recently renounced extremist elements. President Joe Biden praised the regime’s fall and outlined continued U.S. involvement in Syria. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to pardon supporters involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks, as revealed in an interview. He also discussed major policy priorities for his second term. In other news, rapper Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs were accused in a lawsuit of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000. New York police are searching for a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and Notre Dame reopened after a fire nearly destroyed it five years ago. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment effort, and Taylor Swift’s tour is coming to a close. Additionally, the FDA may ban artificial red food dye, and the College Football Playoff bracket was unveiled. Other news includes tragic incidents involving children falling through ice in Albany and a fatal plane crash in Florida. Rep. Lori Trahan received a bomb threat, individuals were arrested in connection with a social media drug ring at Rutgers University, and Aetna reached a class action settlement with same-sex couples in New York. Lastly, data shows changes in the popularity of Mariah Carey’s holiday classic song “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
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