The Week of December 1, 2024 by CoenM

President Biden surprised politicians on both sides of the aisle by issuing a full pardon for what SON? Biden had stated he would not issue a pardon, but justified it by questioning the objectivity of his son's prosecution.

A manhunt gripped New York after the killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of what HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY? The killer shot Thompson while he was walking to an investor's meeting for the group that owns the company.

The surprise offensive by rebel groups in Syria succeeded in toppling the government of what FORMER LEADER, who was able to escape to Russia, where he was granted asylum.

Nearly 100,000 workers at what LARGEST AUTO COMPANY IN EUROPE went on strike, protesting plans to lay off workers, cut pay, and shutter Germany factories for the first time in customer history? The targeted strikes are expected to expand next week.

Doctors in what AFRICAN COUNTRY reported a mysterious respiratory illness spreading in its remote Panzi district, which has killed at least 80 people? The country, the source of the Ebola virus, also has an ongoing mpox outbreak that's killed over 1000 people.

Police in the Dominican Republic scored the largest seizure of what NARCOTIC in history, finding 9.5 tons of it hidden in a shipment of bananas from Guatemala? The drugs have an estimated street value of $250 million.

A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that the addition of lead to what FUEL led to over 150 million excess cases of mental illness in the US? The study posits that exposure to lead in exhaust resulted in childhood developmental issues.

After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union struck a trade deal with Mercosur, which represents most countries on what CONTIENT, which will create a mostly open market covering 700 million people between the two blocs?

What FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR and Trump loyalist was nominated to be the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation? A believer in the deep state, he has already noted that the FBI will target Trump opponents, including media.

Your HallR Memorial Mini-Theme of the Week: Unconfident. What ASIAN COUNTRY was put under martial law for several hours after its president accused the Democratic Party of harboring "anti-state elements?" That party, and the president's People Power Party, led a unanimous vote for a resolution revoking martial law, but the parties were unable to agree to the president's impeachment.

France's parliament passed a vote of no confidence against prime minister Michel Bernier, the first such successful vote since what PRIME MINISTER AND FUTURE PRESIDENT lost a no confidence vote in 1962? Then-president Charles de Gaulle dissolved the assembly, his party won the following election, and he reinstalled this man as prime minister.

A federal judge ruled that what US SERVICE ACADEMY could consider race in its admission policy, citing the positive effect a diverse officer corps would have on security and force cohesion?