Daily Briefing: The end of an Eras Tour

After 149 concerts, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour came to a close. Long-time President Bashar Assad has fled battle-scarred Syria. Jay-Z has been accused of raping and drugging a minor in the 2000s.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Are you too old to be shoveling the snow?

Taylor Swift ends the Eras Tour in Vancouver

The two-year adventure of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour spanned 18 years of music as the singer traversed five continents. As the show ended in a haze of confetti and a group hug from Swift and her dancers and singers, many fans stood in disbelief that it was over. She didn't bring out any special guests. She didn't announce any new movies or "Reputation (Taylor's Version)." In the end, it was just Swift, the ultimate professional, having the time of her life, and bringing us all with her.

✨ Read more from Paste BN about the last Eras Tour show:

• Paste BN's Taylor Swift reporter recapped Sunday's final show.
• Here's Swift's final message to fans: The tour was the "most thrilling chapter" of her life.
• Here are our top 13 favorite moments from the Eras Tour.
• Swift took the crowd on "one last grand adventure," which, she said, has been shared with more than 10 million people since her live extravaganza began.

A new look at a suspect

The manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson intensified Sunday after New York authorities released two new photos of the widely sought suspect and hinted the killer's identity may have been determined.

Why these photos matter: Previously released photos have provided a relatively clear view of his face.

• What the new images show: The photos appear to have been taken from a camera in a cab, which authorities believe the suspect boarded after the shooting and show him wearing a blue medical mask and a hooded jacket.
• NYC mayor: "The net is tightening" in the search. Police, primarily through surveillance cameras around the city, tracked the gunman's movements. Authorities said the assailant, wearing a hooded jacket, balaclava, and gray backpack, fled on foot before mounting an electric bike and riding into Central Park.
• Some aren't feeling so sympathetic about Thompson's death. The brazen killing has unleashed social media scorn at the U.S. health insurance industry.

More news to know now

• Trump called for an "immediate" cease-fire in Russia-Ukraine war after meeting with Ukraine's Zelenskyy.
• South Korea President Yoon survived an impeachment vote after declaring martial law last week.
• Here's what's going on with all those drone sightings in New Jersey.
• Will Americans trim their holiday spending?

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

How Syria rebels' stars aligned for Assad's ouster

After 13 years of civil war, Syria's opposition militias sensed an opportunity to loosen President Bashar al-Assad's grip on power. Launched barely two weeks ago, the operation's speedy success in achieving its initial goal - seizing Syria's second city, Aleppo - took almost everybody by surprise. From there, in a little more than a week, the rebel alliance reached Damascus and on Sunday put an end to five decades of Assad family rule. Here's how the lightning advance proceeded.

Officials make it clear - some unpasteurized milk contains the bird flu virus

Federal and state officials say pasteurized milk available in grocery stores is safe from bird flu but caution that raw milk is not. Last week, California public health officials announced a voluntary recall by Raw Farm LLC after detecting the virus in raw milk and cream at company bottling and storage sites. Officials decided to step up testing of milk on farms, both to keep the public from ingesting the virus and to more quickly identify its spread among farms. Here's how do you know what you're drinking is safe.

Today's talkers

• Not traveling home for the holidays? You're not alone.
• Here's the entire college football postseason lineup.
• Juan Soto bet on himself and got $765 million.
• Librarians stand firm as book bans stack up.
• Are you eligible for Amazon's $25 flight deal?

Jay-Z accused of raping, drugging 13-year-old girl

Jay-Z has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs in the early 2000s. In an amended lawsuit filed Sunday, an Alabama woman — identified anonymously as Jane Doe — claims the billionaire music mogul, born Shawn Carter, and Combs drugged and raped her at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000. Jay-Z vehemently denied the allegations against him in a statement Sunday.

Photo of the day: 'Our fair lady' reopens

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed world leaders, first responders and artisans over the weekend to celebrate the restoration of the 860-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral, which had been devastated by a fire in 2019. Read more about the global ceremony.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.