Trump Held His First News Conference as President-Elect

Also, Syria’s new leader called for sanctions to be lifted. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.

Jay-Z Will Seek Dismissal of Assault Lawsuit His Lawyer Calls a ‘Sham’

The woman who accused him of raping her in 2000, when she was a minor, acknowledged to NBC that there were inconsistencies in her account, but stood by her claim.

Dick Van Arsdale, 81, One of First Identical Twins in the N.B.A., Dies

A three-time All-Star, he played for the Knicks and the Phoenix Suns. For one season, he and Tom Van Arsdale were hard-to-tell-apart teammates.

Syrian Rebel Leader Calls for Lifting of Sanctions, as Assad Defends Exit

Ahmed al-Shara urged nations to remove sanctions from Syria and the terrorism designation from his group so Syria could rebuild. Bashar al-Assad also gave his first account of fleeing to Russia.

Ahmed al-Shara, Syrian Rebel Leader, Says Syria Tired of Wars

In an interview, Ahmed al-Shara shed his green fatigues and sought to leave his militant past behind to talk of rebuilding the state.

The Ordinary Explanations Behind the Reported Drone Sightings

As tips roll in, most reported incidents involve piloted planes and hobby drones, not foreign spying or secret programs, officials say.

‘Unfettered’ Gas Exports Would Harm U.S. Economy, Energy Secretary Warns

Jennifer Granholm said a new analysis showed that the continued pace of exports was “neither sustainable nor advisable.”

Young Republicans Gather, Ready to Make America Vengeful Again

At a gala on Wall Street for the New York Young Republican Club, attendees were looking forward to retribution from the next Trump era, and musing on another run in 2028.

Black Student Enrollment at Harvard Law Drops by More Than Half

After a Supreme Court decision ended race-based admissions, some law schools saw a decline in Black and Hispanic students entering this fall. Harvard appeared to have the steepest drop.

Gilgo Beach Prosecutor Promises Major Development in Serial Killing Case

The defendant, Rex Heuermann, is due in court Tuesday. Investigators have been trying to tie him to other unsolved killings on Long Island.

Carlos Watson, Ozy Media Co-Founder, Is Sentenced to Almost 10 Years in Prison

A federal jury in July found Mr. Watson, who started the digital media company in 2013, guilty of trying to defraud investors and lenders.

TikTok Asks Supreme Court to Block Law Banning Its U.S. Operations

The company and its Chinese parent invoked the First Amendment in urging the justices to step in before a Jan. 19 deadline to sell or be shut down.

Pete Hegseth’s Guard Left the Army After the Beating of a Civilian

John Hasenbein, who has escorted Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary to meetings on Capitol Hill, said he was unjustly prosecuted for the 2019 episode.

Putin Stays Silent on Syria in Meeting With Russia’s Military

In an hourlong televised meeting with his top military brass, Vladimir Putin left Syria unmentioned and made it clear that winning in Ukraine was his top priority.

The U.S. military says its airstrikes killed 12 Islamic State operatives in Syria.