Surge in Thanksgiving Travel, Stock Markets Soar, Mystery Dog Illness in U.S.

US News

Thanksgiving Travel Surge: Despite inflation and previous issues with holiday travel, a large number of people are expected to travel this Thanksgiving. The busiest travel days are anticipated to be Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

U.S. Stock Market Performance: The U.S. stock market experienced gains, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average showing significant increases. This trend is linked to expectations of a slowdown in U.S. interest-rate hikes and indications of diminishing inflation. There's a growing belief that the Federal Reserve may halt its rate increases, with some speculation about potential rate cuts soon.

Mysterious Illness in Dogs: A mysterious respiratory illness is spreading among dogs across the U.S. It starts with a cough that can last for weeks and has the potential to be fatal.

Disneyland Lamp Post Incident: Several Disneyland guests were injured due to a lamp post falling over in high winds. One individual was hospitalized following the incident.

Stock Market Highlights: Nvidia and Microsoft reached record highs, impacting the stock market significantly. Nvidia's performance is notable due to the AI hype, while Microsoft's stocks surged following significant developments at OpenAI.

Global News

Gaza Hospital Shelling: A shell hit a hospital in northern Gaza, resulting in at least 12 fatalities. The attack is part of Israeli military operations focusing on medical facilities, where Hamas militants are suspected of taking cover.

Gaza Evacuations to Egypt: In a response to the conflict in Gaza, 29 premature babies were evacuated from the region to Egypt. This action is part of a broader humanitarian effort following a recent deadly strike in Gaza.

China's EV Market Impact: China is poised to become the world's leading producer of low-cost electric vehicles (EVs). This surge is expected to significantly influence global markets and might lead to protective measures from Western countries.

Javier Milei Elected President of Argentina: Javier Milei, a libertarian and an outsider, has been elected as the president of Argentina. Known for his radical economic reform ideas and unique personality, Milei's victory represents a notable shift in Argentina's political landscape and has elicited mixed reactions internationally.

Global Market Trends: Key figures in the business world, such as the CEOs of Walmart and ARK Investment, are discussing the possibility of deflation in the global economy. Meanwhile, Brazil's maturing private-capital industry is drawing increased interest from U.S. investment firms.

Climate Change Warning: The United Nations 2023 Emissions Gap Report warns of a potential increase in global temperatures of 2.5 to 2.9 degrees Celsius this century if stronger climate action is not undertaken. The report highlights the urgency for countries to adopt strategies exceeding the commitments made in the Paris Agreement to effectively address climate change.

Financial News

Wall Street's Positive Performance: Wall Street has seen a significant rise, reaching its best level in over three months. This uplift is marked by gains in the S&P 500, which has now had its third consecutive winning week, signaling a robust and confident stock market.

Citigroup's Organizational Changes: Citigroup is undergoing a major reorganization, which includes extensive layoffs and a management overhaul. This move, as part of aligning with the company’s new, simplified operating model, could potentially lead to thousands of job cuts.

Blackstone Fund Closure: Blackstone is shutting down a multi-strategy fund after a dramatic 90% fall in its assets. This fund, which was involved in trading in areas like equities and credit, experienced a steep decrease in assets, leading to its closure. This reflects a significant change in Blackstone's investment strategy and broader market trends.

Toyota Motor Credit Penalized: Toyota Motor Credit Corporation has been ordered to pay $60 million in redress and penalties by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This action comes in response to Toyota's illegal scheme that hindered borrowers from cancelling product bundles, thus increasing their monthly car loan payments. This regulatory move underscores the heightened scrutiny on auto lending practices.

Sports News

College Basketball: Kevin McCullar Jr. of the Kansas Jayhawks recorded a back-to-back triple-double, and Hunter Dickinson scored 31 points with 11 rebounds as No. 1 Kansas defeated Chaminade 83-56 in the first round of the Maui Invitational.

Euro 2024 Qualifying: The road to Euro 2024 continues with the latest set of matches, including teams like England and Scotland.

2023 FCS Playoffs: The full 24-team field for the 2023 FCS playoffs was revealed, with South Dakota State taking the top seed, followed by Montana and South Dakota.

Tennis: Novak Djokovic admitted to having doubts about his game leading up to the 2023 French Open, due to less-than-ideal results in preceding tournaments.

Entertainment News

Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck's Family Outing: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were spotted enjoying a family dinner in Beverly Hills, California, with some of their children.

Travis Kelce’s Mom on Taylor Swift: Travis Kelce's mother expressed regret over her earlier comments about Taylor Swift made during an October interview.

New Streaming Releases:

• Faraway Downs: A Hulu series directed by Baz Luhrmann, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
• Genie: A holiday film with Melissa McCarthy as a genie, premiering on Peacock.
• Squid Game: The Challenge: A real-life version of the Netflix series with a $4.56 million prize.
• 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Set to air and stream on NBC and Peacock.
• Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas: A Christmas special on Apple TV+ featuring Hannah Waddingham.
• Good Burger 2: The sequel to the classic film, premiering on Paramount+.
• The Crown (Season 6): The final season now streaming on Netflix.

Documentaries and Series:

• House of Kardashian: A three-part documentary on the rise of the Kardashian family, available on Peacock.
• Maxine's Baby: The Tyler Perry Story: A documentary about Tyler Perry's life and career, premiered on Prime Video.
• All the Light We Cannot See: A series based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, available on Netflix.
• The Real Housewives of Miami (Season 6): The latest season streaming on Peacock.

Other Notable Releases:

• Dashing Through the Snow: A family Christmas movie that premiered on Disney+.
• Best. Christmas. Ever!: A holiday movie that premiered on Netflix.
• NCIS: Sydney (Season 1): A new spin-off of the NCIS series, available for streaming.
• A Murder at the End of the World (Limited Series): A series that premiered on Hulu.
• The Killer: An action thriller that premiered on Netflix.
• Quiz Lady: A comedy streaming on Hulu.
• Fingernails: A romantic film available on Apple TV+.
• Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Season 1): A series about one of the first Black U.S. Marshal deputies, available on Paramount+.
• Lessons in Chemistry (Limited Series): Based on a best-selling novel, this series premiered on Apple TV+.