Republicans sweep election

In a dramatic shift from 2020, Donald Trump won every swing state as well as the popular vote, securing a return to power. Republicans also made significant gains in the senate, flipping four seats. In the house, Republicans lost two seats — but kept a five-seat majority. 

South Korean President declares martial law

On Tuesday, December 3, South Korean President Yook Suk Yeol declared martial law. Yook claimed that the Democratic Party of Korea — which holds a majority of the Korean National Assembly — was collaborating with North Korea and banned political gatherings and protests.

Despite police efforts, lawmakers were able to enter the assembly and unanimously voted to overturn the martial law. The next day, the opposition majority attempted to impeach Yook — but as Yook’s People Power Party refused to vote, the two-thirds majority needed for impeachment was not reached.

Ceasefire in Lebanon

On Wednesday, November 27, Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a 60-day ceasefire. In the agreement both Israel and Hezbollah withdraw from Southern Lebanon, and 5000 Lebanese soldiers are stationed to keep the peace. Though both sides violated the ceasefire in targeted strikes, no widespread fighting has occurred.

Assad Regime falls in Syria

On the same day as the Lebanese ceasefire, rebels in Northern Syria advanced on Aleppo and Hama, while rebels in the south advanced on Damascus. By December 8, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad had fled the country, the largest cities in Syria were controlled by rebels, and Syria’s 13 years of civil war had ended. The fall of the Assad regime was another blow to Iran’s axis of resistance, and to Russia’s influence in the Middle East. In the following days, airstrikes by Israel destroyed much of the former regime’s military equipment and infrastructure.

Suspected shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEO arrested

On the morning of Wednesday, December 4, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was killed by a masked shooter on a New York street. During Thompson’s term as CEO, UnitedHealthcare’s insurance claim denial rate rose to 32 percent — double the industry average. Thompson’s death was met with a large apathy by the public, with little public support in the search of the shooter. On Monday, December 9, Luigi Mangione — a UPenn and Stanford graduate — was arrested in Pennsylvania and charged for murder. Mangione was found with a 3D-printed “ghost gun”, a suppressor, and a manifesto.

This article was accurate as of press time on December 10