A dangerous wildfire suddenly exploded in Southern California, surrounding Pepperdine University and putting thousands of homeowners and nearby college students on high alert. NBC’s Dana Griffin reports and TODAY’s Al Roker tracks the latest forecast.source

The first place hundreds rushed to when news broke that the Assad regime had fallen was the military prison in Saydnaya, a place so notorious for its horrors it was long known as “the slaughterhouse.”source

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has undergone emergency surgery to drain a bleed on his brain.source

The New Zealand government said Tuesday that it would ban greyhound racing starting in 2026, citing concerns over the rate of injuries and fatalities among racing dogs.source

A new lawsuit accuses music moguls Shawn Carter, known as Jay-Z, and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping a 13-year-old girl more than two decades ago. Both music moguls deny the accusations. NBC News’ Chloe Melas reports.source

The man arrested Monday in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is alleged to have had a type of homemade weapon known as a “ghost gun.”source

Standing before a cheering crowd in Damascus’ historic Umayyad Mosque, the broad and bearded Abu Mohammad al-Jolani declared a new chapter in Syria’s history.source

The Assad regime’s fall marks a damaging defeat for Iran, the latest in a string of setbacks that have punctured assumptions about Tehran’s power in the region.source

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed a law Monday prohibiting public schools and libraries from banning books and protecting librarians who obey state law.source