Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,243 words, a 5-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Russian general assassinated

• Bucks win NBA Cup

• Taco Bell chicken nuggets

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Big Story

Mass Graves in Syria

The US-based Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) revealed that a mass grave near Damascus contains the remains of at least 100,000 people killed during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad.

• The site is one of five mass graves identified by SETF, though it believes there are more. The victims reportedly include Syrians as well as foreigners, including US and British citizens.

• The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Both Assad and his late father, Hafez al-Assad, have faced accusations of systematic human rights abuses, including mass executions and extrajudicial killings. Assad’s regime has consistently denied such allegations, labeling critics as extremists.

• The SETF said that bodies were transported to mass graves using refrigerated trucks, with municipal workers and bulldozer drivers forced to dig and bury victims. The organization gathered the intel by interviewing people who helped with the burials, some of whom fled Syria.

Big Story

Ukraine Assassinates Russian General

Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, a top Russian military leader, was killed by a bomb hidden in a scooter outside his Moscow apartment on Tuesday.

• Kirillov, 54, led Russia's nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces and was under international sanctions for his role in the Ukraine war. The Ukrainian Security Service claimed responsibility, calling Kirillov a "legitimate target" and accusing him of directing the use of banned chemical weapons. The explosion also killed his assistant.

• Ukraine alleges that Russia has used chemical weapons over 4,800 times since its 2022 invasion, including poison gas. Russia denies these claims and accuses Ukraine of using toxic agents instead. Russian authorities are investigating Kirillov’s death as terrorism and officials vowed retribution against Ukraine.

• Kirillov's assassination adds to a string of targeted killings tied to the war. Prominent figures like Darya Dugina, military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, and ex-lawmaker Illia Kyva were killed in bombings or shootings over the past two years. Ukrainian officials have sometimes claimed responsibility for such attacks.

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Big Story

Food Recalls Increase in 2024

Food and cosmetic recalls in the US have nearly doubled since 2012, with 1,908 products recalled during the 2024 fiscal year.

• The increase is linked to growing consumer demand for ready-to-eat and pre-packaged meals, which carry higher contamination risks, and to the globalization of food production. Weaknesses in federal sanitation inspections are also to blame.

• High-profile recalls in 2024 included Boar’s Head ready-to-eat meats, which caused listeria outbreaks, resulting in 57 hospitalizations and nine deaths. Another major incident involved an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s burgers, infecting over 100 people across 14 states. Fresh onions were also recalled from popular fast-food chains due to contamination concerns.

• So who’s to blame? US food safety is a shared responsibility. Federal agencies set rules and guidelines, but states also play a big role, with about 3,000 local food safety jurisdictions. Often, these groups don’t fully align.

• Food safety advisor Darin Detwiler urges people to be their own advocates for food safety and speak up if they suspect food mishandling or contamination.

Quick Stories

US News

• Congressional leaders agreed to extend the government funding deadline to March 14 and approved over $100 billion in emergency disaster relief. The agreement includes restrictions on US investment in China, a one-year farm bill extension, continued health program funding, $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, and nationwide approval for year-round E15 ethanol sales. (More)

• Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) secured his position as the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, defeating Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in a closed-door vote among House Democrats on Tuesday. (More)

• A recent Emerson College poll found that 68% of US voters overall deemed the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson unacceptable, while 17% found it acceptable. However, voters aged 18-29 were more divided, with 41% accepting the killing and 40% rejecting it. (More)

World

• Israel and Hamas appear closer to a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal after months of stalled negotiations. A senior Palestinian official said the talks are in a “decisive and final phase.” Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, also indicated that an agreement is closer than ever. (More)

• A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off Vanuatu’s coast Tuesday, causing widespread destruction, killing 14, and injuring hundreds. While a tsunami warning was lifted within two hours, communication outages have left details scarce. (More)

• China announced an expanded visa-free transit policy, allowing travelers from 54 countries, including the U.S., Canada, and several in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, to stay in select regions for up to 240 hours (10 days). (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -0.39%, Nasdaq -0.32%, Dow -0.61%). The Dow has its first nine-day losing streak since 1978. The losses are being driven by a shift into technology stocks and away from some old-economy stocks that saw gains in November. (More)

• The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule Tuesday requiring businesses to disclose the full price, including fees, for live event tickets and short-term lodging. The rule aims to stop "deceptive" bait-and-switch pricing that hides mandatory fees and additional charges from advertised prices. (More)

• Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle an FTC lawsuit alleging it misled customers and drivers while harming restaurant reputations. The FTC accused Grubhub of advertising inflated driver pay rates and obscuring service costs by adding hidden delivery fees that increased customers' final bills. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Milwaukee Bucks claimed the NBA Cup title with a dominant 97-81 victory over the Thunder in Tuesday's championship game in Las Vegas. The win capped a perfect 7-0 run in NBA Cup play, reaffirming the Bucks as top contenders in the Eastern Conference. (More)

• Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior was named FIFA's Best Men's Player of the Year, while Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí claimed The Best Women's Player honor for the second time. Vinícius finished runner-up to Manchester City's Rodri for the Ballon d'Or in October. (More)

• The New York Yankees acquired 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Cubs are sending $5 million to the Yankees in the deal, while receiving right-handed reliever Cody Poteet in return. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• 53-year-old Towana Looney is recovering after receiving a gene-edited pig kidney transplant last month, freeing her from years of dialysis. Looney is the fifth American to receive a pig organ, but unlike earlier recipients who died within two months, she is experiencing a promising recovery. (More)

• Researchers in Spain have discovered the oldest known therapsid with saber-toothed teeth, offering new insights into mammalian evolution. The "dog-like" relative of mammals was found on the Spanish island of Mallorca. It lived 2770-250 million years before the age of dinosaurs. (More)

• Meta has introduced three new features for its Ray-Ban smart glasses: live AI, live translations, and Shazam. Live AI and live translation are currently available only to members of Meta's Early Access Program, while Shazam support is accessible to all users in the US and Canada. (More)

Extra Credit

🎨 “Marge Simpson” painting discovered in ancient Egyptian tomb.

👶 Man sentenced to prison for running US “birth tourism” business.

🐻 A Virginia man died after a bear shot in a tree fell on him.

🌮 Taco Bell is adding chicken nuggets to its menu for a limited time.