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This is the World in Brief from The Economist.

Our top stories. Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who Our Top Stories

Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted for illegally owning a gun

and also faced several tax-related charges.

For months, America's president had insisted he would not use executive powers to help his son,

but the president said his son had been selectively and

unfairly prosecuted and that politics had infected the process of justice.

Russian and Syrian air forces intensified their attacks on Syrian rebels, who were advancing

south after seizing most of Aleppo, the country's second biggest city.

Jets targeted the rebel-held city of Idlib. It is the first time Syria's opposition has captured

territory from the regime in years. Meanwhile, Donald Trump picked Massad Bulos, a Lebanese-born billionaire,

who is his daughter's father-in-law, to advise him on the Middle East.

Mr. Trump also said he would appoint Cash Patal to be director of the FBI.

Mr. Patel, who advised the Secretary of Defense during Mr. Trump's previous administration,

...