Happy Friday, it's Tamara Baluja and John Mazerolle.

Businesses across the country are preparing for the GST/HST holiday tax break, which comes into effect this weekend. 

Later today, we'll be following the developments from Ottawa as four airline CEOs (Air Canada, Westjet, Porter and Air Transat) face questions about carry-on baggage fees when they appear before the House of Commons transport committee.

Also in the newsletter: tips to watch tonight's stunning meteor shower.

But first, the latest from two Middle East hotspots, including reporting from our colleague Margaret Evans in Syria.

CBC in Syria: Aid groups told that workers would be safe amid regime change

The story: Kenn Crossley, a Canadian and the World Food Program's country director and representative for Syria, says humanitarian workers were told "not to panic" via messages from the opposition, as rebels made their way through the country and ousted the government in 11 days.

The view on the ground: ​​​​​​Crossley, a Canadian who has been in the post for two years, was speaking to CBC News at the WFP's offices, located, along with other United Nations agencies, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus.

It's where rebel soldiers reportedly escorted former Syrian prime minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali for discussions over a transition of power after Assad fled the capital and was granted asylum in Russia.

The new Syrian flag — now bearing three stars, chosen by the country's opposition groups — is posted on either side of the hotel's glass entrance doors, and there is a clear layer of added security on top of the hotel's usual staffing.
 

Dozens of Palestinians sheltering in Gaza post office killed in Israeli strike

The latest: An Israeli strike on a post office sheltering Gaza residents killed at least 30 Palestinians and wounded 50, medics said, and the Israeli military said today it had been targeting a senior Islamic Jihad member.

Ceasefire hopes: Months of ceasefire efforts by Arab mediators, Egypt and Qatar, backed by the United States, have failed to conclude a deal between the two warring sides. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in Tel Aviv yesterday he believed a deal on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release may be close as Israel had signalled it was ready and there were signs of movement from Hamas.

As GST break approaches, small businesses prepare for a tax holiday headache

Shoppers on Sainte-Catherine Street take advantage of deals on Black Friday in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Starting Saturday: With less than 24 hours left until the federal government's GST holiday kicks in, small retailers say they're preparing as best as they can for what could be a period of shopping chaos. While it could be a holiday boon for some, it's also caused some administrative headaches, with retailers preparing to reprogram their cash registers and sale systems and make sense of which goods are eligible or not.

What it means for your wallet: The tax break applies to goods such as: prepared foods and restaurant meals; children's clothing, diapers, footwear, car seats and toys; jigsaw puzzles, video game hardware, print books and newspapers; and Christmas trees. CBC News has a full breakdown here.

How do you get the tax break? Shoppers do not need to do anything; there is no claims process. The GST or HST will simply not be charged at the time of purchase.

Will a shocking crime spur change in U.S. health care? Don't count on it

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, was arrested in Pennsylvania Monday and charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare's CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. (Matthew Hatcher/Reuters)

The shooting of insurance CEO Brian Thompson unearthed a wellspring of hatred for his industry.

How else to explain the 126,000 people posting laughing emojis on a Facebook page mourning his murder while thousands more posted online messages praising his alleged killer Luigi Mangione?

But here's a reality check from my Washington-based colleague Alexander Panetta: Most Americans like their health care and haven't voted for change. In fact, up to 81 per cent consistently tell pollsters they're happy.  

And why risk upsetting that majority? Barack Obama's Democrats suffered the worst loss of seats since 1938, in no small part because his popularity collapsed during the health reforms of 2009-10.

BEHIND THE SCENES

How we talk to soldiers on the front lines of the war in Ukraine

BY BRIAR STEWART | LONDON

With U.S. president-elect Donald Trump vowing to end the Ukraine war soon after he is sworn into office in January, we wanted to speak with Ukrainian soldiers, particularly those deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, to get their sense of the state of the battle and the prospect of ceasefire negotiations. 

In order to get in touch with soldiers, we cast a wide net. During an earlier reporting trip to Ukraine, I met a man who collects "war trophies" and frequently makes trips to the front line. He was able to connect me with a few fighters, and local freelance producers who occasionally work with CBC News in Ukraine reached out through their contacts to find more. 

We spoke with more than half a dozen soldiers, including one who was British and arrived in Ukraine about six months ago. All of them had spent most of the fall deployed to Kursk but had been given occasional rest days in the Sumy region, which is on the Ukraine side of the border.

What struck me about the conversations, which we conducted by phone and Zoom, is that while the soldiers said they were focused on their orders, which is to hold the line, they are conflicted about what the new year and a new U.S. president will bring. They thought negotiations to end the war were very likely but were pessimistic they would lead to any kind of stable peace.

One soldier said it was clear that Ukraine can’t get its territory back by military means at this point while another asked, why, if Russian President Vladimir Putin is just given everything he wants in negotiations, did tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers die.

In case you missed it

• Two people were hospitalized following a search for suspected migrants crossing through a First Nations territory that straddles the Canada-U.S. border.
• Canada will slash carbon emissions by at least 41 per cent in the next 10 years to meet its new 2035 emissions target. Ottawa wants provinces to step up to make that happen.
• Police are investigating a Utah mom-fluencer after online uproar over a video she posted of her son seemingly flinching.
• And, from overnight: Russia fired nearly 300 drones and missiles in attack on Ukraine energy sector, Kyiv says

And, finally, we've got some exciting and good news to share...

Look up! The Geminid meteor shower will peak tonight

The annual Geminid meteor shower is among the best meteor showers of the year. (Malcolm Park)

Along with the Perseid meteor shower in August, the Geminids are typically one of the biggest meteor showers of the year. 

This meteor shower has been underway since Dec. 2, but it peaks overnight tonight.

But even if you have clear skies, there's a little problem: the moon. It will be almost 97 per cent illuminated and fairly high in the sky early in the evening, when the Geminids peak.

Here's where the good news comes in: the Geminids tend to produce bright fireballs, so you'll still have a good chance of seeing some meteors.

Calling all stargazers: Share your photos and videos of the Geminid showers with CBC. Email us at ask@cbc.ca.