On the Monday before Christmas, Americans are hitting the roads and heading to the airports. Travel experts said the holiday travel rush is now kicking into high gear.
AAA predicted Americans will set another record this Christmas and New Years. This comes after record-breaking travel during the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday.
The auto club expects 119.3 million will travel at least 50 miles between Saturday, Dec. 21, and Wednesday, Jan. 1. That’s about three million more than last year.
AAA said people are traveling in droves on the weekend before and after Christmas. They said this is because Christmas falls on a Wednesday.
The previous record for Christmas travel was set in 2019. Right now, the worst time to drive before Christmas is Monday, Dec. 23, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Roads are expected to be very congested.
Meantime, the TSA expects to screen about 40 million passengers from the time period that started last Thursday, Dec. 19, through Thursday, Jan. 2. That would be a 6% jump from the 2023 holiday season.
Looking ahead, the TSA anticipates Friday, Dec. 27, and Monday, Dec. 30, to be the next two busiest days for flying.
Despite airports being packed, AAA expects about 90% of holiday travelers, or roughly 107 million people, to drive to their destination. More than four million people will travel by other modes, such as bus or train, which would be the highest rate in 20 years.
AAA predicts record Thanksgiving week travel, nearly 80 million on the move
Americans are gearing up for the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest holiday for travel is only about a week away and AAA has its latest projections on how the busy travel season might look.
The group predicts 79.9 million Americans will drive, fly or take some other form of transportation 50 miles or farther during the Thanksgiving travel season.
The 2024 projection would be a 2% increase compared to last year or up by roughly 1.7 million travelers from 2023.
This year, AAA expanded its window for Thanksgiving holiday travel. It now goes from next Tuesday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 2, or the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Drivers will see lower gas prices. The national average is on pace to be below $3 per gallon for the first time since 2021.
Transportation experts say the best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when the highways are less congested. The afternoons of Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Wednesday, Nov. 27 are the worst times, according to AAA.
After the holiday, AAA expects the roads to be busiest Dec. 1, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Experts advise drivers to hit the road early in the morning if they plan on leaving that day.
If you plan on flying, AAA predicts about 5.8 million people will head to airports over the holiday week. That’s up by about 100,000 from last year.
Booking data shows the top destinations are warm places like Orlando and Las Vegas. Major metropolitan areas including Atlanta and Los Angeles are also popular among travelers.
Forecasters believe cooler temperatures, cold rain and snow in the higher elevations will arrive Sunday, Nov. 24, for the East Coast.
The U.S. Climate Prediction Center’s outlook shows California, the Pacific Northwest, Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Great Lakes States receiving above-average precipitation. However, meteorologists will know more as we get closer to Thanksgiving.
WalletHub has released its 2024 “Best and Worst Cities to Drive In” list on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Looking at the 100 most populated cities in the U.S., the company compared them using four key categories: cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance.
The methodology consisted of 30 different metrics for a particular city under those categories. Those metrics included average gas prices, average monthly car insurance premiums, annual hours spent in congestion, average commute time, number of days with precipitation, traffic fatality rate, number of adults who always wear seat belts, rate of car thefts, and number of auto-repair shops, car washes and parking lots.
The best city to drive in according to WalletHub is Raleigh, North Carolina. The rest of the top 5 is Boise, Idaho, Corpus Christi, Texas, Greensboro, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida.
WalletHub says Raleigh is the best city because it’s an inexpensive one, ranking low in categories like new car prices and parking rates. At the same time, Raleigh ranks high when it comes to drivers wearing seat belts and is one of the best cities for road maintenance.
On the other end of the list, the bottom five cities are Detroit Michigan at No. 96, followed by Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Oakland, California at No. 100. Oakland ranked the worst in the category of cost of ownership and maintenance risk and towards the bottom of safety risk.
According to the latest data from AAA released in September, drivers spend an average of 60.7 minutes on the road each day and, as WalletHub’s list shows, some cities offer better perks than others for when you do decide to get behind the wheel.
Israel strikes Hezbollah site in Lebanon; both sides claim victory
Israel and Hezbollah are both claiming victories after their biggest exchange of fire yet. And two NASA astronauts stuck aboard the International Space Station will have to stay there a few more months. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.
Israel strikes Hezbollah site in Lebanon; both sides claim victory
There are new concerns over the war in the Middle East expanding into a larger conflict after Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon had their biggest exchange of fire since the conflict broke out in the region ten months ago. Both sides are claiming victories.
On Sunday, Aug. 25, Israel launched what it described as “a preemptive strike” against a major attack that Hezbollah was planning to launch on Israeli soil. Israel said 100 of its military planes successfully took out thousands of “rocket launcher barrels,” and six Hezbollah fighters were killed.
Hours later, Israel’s missile defense system intercepted 300 rockets and drones launched by Hezbollah toward Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said one navy officer was killed after being hit by shrapnel when the Iron Dome was intercepting the drones.
In a televised address, Hezbollah’s leader called this a victory for their side, saying the attack was in retaliation for the recent assassination of one of its founders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this attack “will not be the final word.”
ISIS claims responsibility for deadly Germany stabbing attack
ISIS has now claimed responsibility for a deadly stabbing attack in Germany that happened during a festival Friday night, Aug. 23. A 26-year-old man from Syria has been arrested in connection with the attack.
Police said the man turned himself in for the knife attack that left three people dead, and eight others injured. Officials say the man has “radical Islamist beliefs” and “wanted to kill as many people as possible.”
ISIS said in a statement Saturday, Aug. 24, the man is “a soldier for the Islamic state” who was “targeting Christians” in his attack.
The festival was commemorating the 650th anniversary of the western German city of Solingen.
Harris, Trump campaigns to focus on battleground states this week
On the campaign trail, the 2024 candidates are focusing on battleground states this week. Vice President Kamala Harris will be launching a bus tour in southern Georgia and former President Donald Trump will hit multiple swing states.
On Monday, Aug. 26, Trump is set to address the National Guard Association’s conference in Detroit. He’s also slated to hold a rally in Michigan, a town hall in Wisconsin, and a rally in Pennsylvania.
This comes after both campaigns had big weeks last week.
Harris officially accepted her party’s nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, Aug. 22. The Harris campaign said they’ve raised $540 million in only a month since it launched.
While she hasn’t yet done a sit-down interview with the media since emerging as a presidential candidate, that will soon change. She is expected to sit down with her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to record their first joint interview next week.
NASA astronauts to stay on ISS until February
Two NASA astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station since June will have to stay there a few more months. On Saturday, the space agency decided it’s not safe enough for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return to Earth in Boeing’s Starliner.
Concerns linger over multiple helium leaks and degraded thrusters. Instead, Wilmore and Williams will wait until February when SpaceX already has a mission to the ISS planned and will pick them up.
“Spaceflight is risky even at its safest,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “And so, the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety.”
The decision means two of the four astronauts who were supposed to go to the ISS in February for the SpaceX mission will have to give up their seats so NASA’s astronauts can finally come home. They were originally only supposed to stay on the ISS for about a week.
Meanwhile, SpaceX is getting ready for a high-stakes mission Tuesday, Aug. 27. Private astronauts on the Polaris mission are set to attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk.
Long Labor Day weekend travel expected to break records
We’re just days away from the unofficial end of summer and this Labor Day travel weekend is gearing up to be a busy one. The TSA predicts it will be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record.
AAA predicts the roads won’t be any less crowded, as gas prices are lower than last year.
If you are hitting the road, AAA said expect the heaviest traffic in the afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, Aug. 30. For those traveling on Saturday, Aug. 31, AAA suggests departing in the afternoon for smoother traffic.
If you’re returning home on Sunday, Sept. 1, or Labor Day, Sept. 2, AAA said it’s best to leave as early as possible to avoid heavy afternoon traffic.
Babe Ruth’s 1932 ‘called shot’ jersey sells for record $24.12M
Almost a century after Babe Ruth called his shot during the 1932 World Series he’s made history again. More specifically, his jersey has.
Ruth’s famous “called shot” came as the Yankees and Chicago Cubs faced off in game three of the world series at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on October 1, 1932. In the fifth inning, Ruth made a pointing gesture while at bat and then hit the home run off Cubs pitcher Charlie Root, ultimately leading to the Yankees winning the World Series.
The jersey is now the most expensive sports memorabilia ever sold at auction, according to MLB.com.
Chinese video game flaunts commercial success amid censorship controversy
The first big-budget video game produced by a Chinese developer is being lauded as a success. But while sales are strong, so are accusations of censorship.
“Black Myth: Wukong” is loosely inspired by the Chinese epic “Journey to the West.” Game Science developed the game with the backing of Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent. While the Game Science team comprises former Tencent employees, Tencent holds just a 5% stake in the company.
Chinese media said it’s the most expensive game ever developed in the country. The budget exceeded $50 million and it’s considered China’s first AAA title. AAA is a classification for games produced by mid-sized or large publishers that have large development and marketing budgets.
In the first 48 hours since the game’s release, reviewers and users alike are praising it. It currently has a “generally favorable” score of 81 on video game review aggregator metacritic.
“Black Myth: Wukong” made headlines for being the most-played game on Steam with more than 2.2 million concurrent players as of Wednesday morning, Aug. 21.
But French streamer and video games journalist Benoit Reinier, who goes by the name Ex Serv, criticized the companies involved after reviewers who received advanced copies of the game were provided with a list of topics to avoid.
“I have never seen anything that shameful in my 15 years doing this job,” Reinier said in a French-language video posted to YouTube. “This is very clearly a document which explains that we must censor ourselves.”
Beijing-based Hero Games, a company that handled the marketing for the game, sent out a document featuring a list of do’s and don’ts for content related to the game.
The do category just said to “enjoy the game.”
But the list of don’ts is what caught the attention of reviewers like Reinier. First, reviewers were to avoid using “trigger words such as ‘quarantine’ or ‘isolation’ or ‘COVID-19.’”
China faced mass protests in 2022 over its strict “zero-Covid” restrictions, which included lockdowns in major cities. There was also the proliferation of the term “China virus” that manifested in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.
Another bullet told reviewers to refrain from including “politics, violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization and other content that instigates negative discourse.”
It’s unclear what exactly constitutes “feminist propaganda,” but a report from France24 in July said the Chinese Communist Party wants women to focus on motherhood and the home, and it has cracked down on feminist activities, like talking about discrimination, inequality and striving for independence.
China also locked up a journalist for writing about the #MeToo movement, saying she’s guilty of subverting state power.
Meanwhile, another point in the document said do not “discuss content related to China’s game industry, policies, opinions, news, etc.”
China famously made efforts to reduce video game addiction in young people including limiting game time to no more than 90 minutes on weekdays and three hours on weekends and holidays. It also banned incentive-based gaming rewards that can lead to spending more in the game.
Chinese-produced games don’t usually make a global impact. Goldman Sachs says the immediate success of “Black Myth: Wukong” opens the door to more Chinese AAA games on the global market.
The game itself doesn’t include microtransactions, which have become commonplace in nearly every major game released recently. That means the developer and publisher are only relying on the one-time sale price of the game.
But Chinese state-owned paper Global Times said the important thing is, “China is finally getting its own AAA game that can excite the world.”
Biden looks to solidify support from Democrats after debate
The White House released President Joe Biden’s next plans to reassure concerned Democrats after last week’s debate. And July 4 holiday travelers are expected to break records on the road amid soaring temperatures. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Biden looks to solidify support from Democrats after debate
President Joe Biden and his team are taking this holiday week to reassure supporters that his decision to remain in the presidential race is the right one after his performance during the June 27 debate left some in his party questioning his candidacy. During a campaign fundraiser event in Virginia Tuesday, July 2, Biden blamed his poor performance on jet lag from back-to-back European trips, telling donors that “he wasn’t very smart” that he “didn’t listen” to his staff.
Reports also said Biden added that he almost “fell asleep during the debate.” To what extent the president was joking is not clear.
Previously, Biden’s campaign had said the president had a cold going into the debate.
On Wednesday, July 3, the president will speak with Democratic governors and party leaders as he looks to calm their fears. The White House reportedly will also be holding an all-staff meeting which the Associated Press describes as a “morale-booster.”
Biden has also agreed to sit down for an interview ABC News on Friday, July 5.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration really wants to turn the page on this topic with Biden heading to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the coming days, but that didn’t stop reporters from pressing the issue.
“I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this: Does President Biden, at 81 years old, have Alzheimer’s any form of dementia or degenerative illness that would cause these sorts of lapses?” Andrew Feinberg, a reporter with The Independent, said. “And it’s a yes or no question and if you don’t know, why don’t you, as one of his senior staff members, know?”
Jean-Pierre fired back, “I have an answer for you. Are you ready for it? It’s a ‘no’ and I hope you’re asking the other guy the same exact question.”
This all comes as some members of the Democratic party are calling for Biden to step aside.
“I thought it was time for me to speak up, not for any self-gain, but because I think the risk to our country is so great we need to have the strongest candidate possible in order to ensure that the values that we hold for our democracy are not traded for an authoritarian strongman bent on revenge against his opponents,” Doggett told NBC News.
In a Newsweek opinion column, former Ohio congressman and presidential candidate Tim Ryan promoted the idea for Vice President Kamala Harris to replace Biden on their party’s ticket.
Speaking to CBS News after leaving a fundraiser in California, the vice president confirmed President Biden remains the Democratic nominee.
“Look, Joe Biden is our nominee,” Harris said. “We beat Trump once and we’re going to beat him again. Period.”
Harris added, “I am proud to be Joe Biden’s running mate.”
Judge delays sentencing in Trump criminal case
Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing in his New York criminal trial has been pushed back to at least September. The judge’s decision came out Tuesday, July 2, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court handed the former president a big win, ruling he has some immunity from being criminally prosecuted on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
Trump’s sentencing in New York was originally scheduled for next Thursday, July 11. Now, the judge overseeing the trial says Trump will be sentenced on Sept. 18 “if such is still necessary.”
That’s an “if” because Trump’s lawyers say the Supreme Court ruling should not only delay the sentencing but lead to tossing out his conviction completely.
Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social after the decision came down, saying the Supreme Court’s decision awarded him “total exoneration” in this and other criminal cases he faces.
Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony in May, when a Manhattan jury found him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The Supreme Court’s decision has cast doubt on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment of Trump on election subversion charges, and a trial before the November election is highly unlikely now.
Giuliani disbarred in New York for 2020 election interference efforts
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred in New York after a Manhattan appeals court found he repeatedly made false statements about former President Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. The court said Giuliani “flagrantly misused” his position.
Giuliani, once a legal adviser to Trump, has been banned from practicing law in “any form” in New York. Giuliani’s lawyer said his legal team was disappointed by the court’s decision.
Island-wide emergency declared in Jamaica ahead of Beryl
As Hurricane Beryl hurtles toward Jamaica, the country’s prime minister preemptively declared the whole island a disaster area. He’s also instated an island-wide curfew for Wednesday, July 3.
Beryl has been downgraded to a Category 4 storm now, but it’s already caused at least six deaths in the Caribbean.
Beryl is forecast to weaken more as it gets closer to Jamaica, but is still expected to be a major hurricane — at least a Category 3 — when it hits, bringing life-threatening winds and storm surge.
Eli Lilly’s drug has been shown in clinical trials to slow a decline in memory and thinking abilities in people in the early stages of the disease. The drug, which will be sold in the coming weeks under the brand name Kisunla, is an infusion given every four weeks that targets a protein buildup in the brain — considered to be the main indicator of Alzheimer’s.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 6.7 million people in the U.S. 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s last year. That number’s expected to increase to 13.8 million by 2060.
Watch for heat, rain, busy roads this July 4 holiday
The July 4 holiday is almost here, and while people get set to celebrate America’s independence, they may find themselves having to face two separate issues — the weather and the roads. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the brief break from the heat in the eastern U.S. is over, with heat and humidity pushing through New England.
In California and portions of the southwest, triple-digit temperatures are expected throughout the holiday week. Meanwhile in the Midwest, NOAA said rain could spoil the cookouts.
Then there’s the jam-packed roadways. AAA projects a record 60.6 million people will drive over the July 4 week. That’s nearly 3 million more than last year and would surpass 2019’s pre-pandemic levels, when around 55 million traveled by car.
Busy Memorial Day weekend to see record number on the roads
If you’re planning to travel for Memorial Day, you will be among a near-record number of people to be on the move this holiday weekend — a number not seen in almost 20 years. AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the five-day Memorial Day holiday period, which began on Thursday, May 23 and extends through Monday, May 27.
AAA said the total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and is very close to matching 2005’s record high of 44 million travelers.
“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
AAA is projecting at least one record will be broken as 38.4 million travelers are expected to hit the road. That’s the highest number for a Memorial Day weekend since AAA began tracking in 2000.
“Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of the convenience and flexibility it provides,” AAA said.
According to Hertz, Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand.
Meanwhile, AAA expects 3.51 million will choose to fly this weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and a 9% jump compared to 2019.
NCAA agrees to deal to allow schools to directly pay players
In a historic move for college sports, the NCAA agrees to a deal that would allow schools to directly pay their players. And a group of graduates walk out of Harvard’s commencement after 13 students are barred from the ceremony. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, May 24, 2024.
NCAA agrees to deal to allow schools to directly pay players
A big change is on the horizon for college sports after the NCAA and its five power conferences have agreed to allow schools to pay student-athletes directly for the first time.
The agreement, disclosed on Thursday, May 23, is part of a multi-billion dollar settlement concerning three antitrust cases accusing the NCAA of restricting compensation and benefits to college players. The NCAA has denied any wrongdoing.
The NCAA, in statement, called the settlement “ a road map for college sports leaders and Congress to ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students.”
Under the proposal, the NCAA and the five conferences would pay nearly $2.8 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current student-athletes.
The deal also calls for revenue sharing between schools and players, permitting each school to set aside up to $21 million to go directly to students.
The exact nature of how the damages will be dispersed and how the revenue-sharing system will be implemented still needs to be worked out.
The terms of the deal still need approval by a federal judge.
Israeli army says 3 more bodies of hostages recovered in Gaza
The Israel army said the bodies of three more hostages have been recovered in Gaza on Friday morning. Officials said the three were killed on the day of Hamas’ attack in Israel and their bodies were then taken into Gaza.
They have been identified as Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez Radoux. Israeli officials said their families have been notified.
Last week, the Israeli army said it found three other bodies of hostages killed by Hamas as they were fleeing a music festival.
Israel believes around 100 hostages remain in Gaza.
Later today, the United Nations’ International Court of Justice is expected to rule on whether Israel should cease military operations in the Gaza city of Rafah.
Though the court has no way of enforcing its ruling, the case brought by South Africa comes amid growing worldwide scrutiny over Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Group of students walk out during Harvard graduation
The latter chant was about 13 students the school barred from receiving their degrees at commencement due to their conduct at an on-campus protest encampment.
Harvard said the students were not in good standing and violated the university’s policies despite a recommendation from faculty members that the students be able to receive their diplomas.
The pro-Palestinian encampment, which lasted three weeks at Harvard, aimed to get the school to divest from companies that support Israel and the war in Gaza. Harvard agreed it would discuss the protester’s demands.
Also on Thursday, the presidents of Northwestern and Rutgers universities testified in front of a House committee where they defended their decisions to negotiate with protesters to end encampments on their campus.
The chancellor of UCLA also took questions about the delay in sending in police to respond to violence between sparring protesting groups on the California campus.
Hundreds feared dead after major landslide in Papa New Guinea
The landslide struck the South Pacific nation around 3 a.m. local time, reportedly flattening dozens of homes as people were asleep inside.
The Australian Broadcasting Company reported more than 100 people have been killed, but authorities have not released an official death toll as of yet.
Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement, “We are sending in disaster officials, PNG Defence Force, and the Department of Works and Highways to meet provincial and district officials in Enga and also start relief work, recovery of bodies, and reconstruction of infrastructure. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the landslide disaster.”
NOAA releases its busiest hurricane season forecast ever
It is anticipated to be a very active hurricane season this year, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) releasing its busiest hurricane season forecast ever.
According to NOAA scientists, there will be between 17 and 25 named storms, compared to an average of 14.
Of those storms, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes, including 4 to 7 major hurricanes which are classified as category 3, 4, or 5 and have wind speeds of 111 miles per hour or higher.
Officials said near-record warm temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and the development of La Nina in the Pacific are among the factors contributing to this record forecast.
AAA projects nearly 44 million people will travel for Memorial Day
We have a warning for you if you’re traveling for Memorial Day: You will be among a near-record number of people to be on the move this holiday weekend — a number not seen in almost 20 years.
AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the five-day Memorial Day holiday period, which began on Thursday, May 23 and extends through Monday, May 27.
AAA said the total number of travelers is a 4 percent increase over last year and is very close to matching 2005’s record high of 44 million travelers.
AAA is projecting at least one record will be broken as 38.4 million travelers are expected to hit the road. That’s the highest number for a Memorial Day weekend since AAA began tracking in 2000.
Sneakers, owned by SAN producer Brent Jabbour, has an entire closet of holiday wear.
#5: Clothing
Two-thirds of American households own pets and a third of them will buy holiday clothing for those pets, according to SoFi.
The most popular clothes are holiday sweaters, followed by collars, harnesses and hats. That’s not even accounting for holiday costumes, but for a more understated look, you can always go for a classy holiday bowtie.
It’s easy to think of dogs and cats the most in this category, but there is also a robust market for dressing guinea pigs.
For the 26% that will board animals this season, it can run them an average of $45 per night, according to Rover.
It’s always free if you can hand them off to friends and family, but that might cost you in goodwill, depending on their behavior.
#3: Grooming
Just like human children, you have to make sure your pet looks good for get-togethers. Thirty-eight percent of pet parents budget for grooming.
No one wants a smelly dog running around the house when your family is visiting. Beyond a haircut and bath, a nail trim is always helpful.
The average trip to an animal spa day runs $50-$125. To knock out grooming and travel, some places that handle boarding can also pamper your pet so they are nice and clean when you get home.
If you go through all the trouble of buying holiday clothes and getting them groomed, you might as well professionally document it for everyone you know.
#1: Gifts
So it’s clear people are somewhat obsessed with their pets. SoFi says 70% will buy a gift for them, with 27% spending more than $100 on pet gifts.
Israel, Hamas reach deal to release hostages, pause fighting: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 22, 2023
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a hostage release deal that will see a four-day pause in fighting. And he’s back — less than a week after being fired, Sam Altman is returning as the CEO of OpenAI. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
Israel, Hamas agree to hostage release deal, four-day pause in fighting
President Biden released a statement thanking Qatar and Egypt for helping broker the deal, and saying this agreement “will bring home additional American hostages.” A senior U.S. official said three Americans, two women and a girl, are expected to be among those released.
As President, I have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage around the world.
President Biden
“As President, I have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage around the world,” Biden said. “That’s why—from the earliest moments of Hamas’s brutal assault—my national security team and I have worked closely with regional partners to do everything possible to secure the release of our fellow citizens.”
Israel said the pause in fighting would be extended for every additional 10 hostages Hamas releases. The deal also includes the release of 150 Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons, who according to NBC News citing Israeli officials were accomplices in terror offenses.
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More humanitarian aid and fuel will be allowed to enter Gaza during the freeze in fighting. According to local reports, the four-day cease-fire will begin Thursday morning. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s war against Hamas will not stop following the temporary pause in fighting.
US strikes Iranian-backed group’s facilities in Iraq
The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday, Nov. 21, that the U.S. conducted airstrikes on two facilities in Iraq used by a militia group linked to Iran. The strikes followed a ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces at the Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq that resulted in minor injuries and damage to the base.
According to the Pentagon, the militant group behind the attack, Kataeb Hezbollah, is backed by Iran.
“Immediately following the attack, a U.S. military AC-130 aircraft in the area conducted a self-defense strike against an Iranian-backed militia vehicle and a number of Iranian-backed militia personnel involved in this attack,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said. “This self-defense strike resulted in some hostile fatalities.”
Singh added that the U.S. was able to identify where the attack on U.S. troops originated from quickly as the AC-130 gunship was already in the air at the time and spotted the group of militants launch the missile attack.
The targeted attacks destroyed a Kataeb Hezbollah operations center and command and control node south of Baghdad and marked the first time the U.S. conducted strikes in Iraq; previously, airstrikes were focused mainly in Syria.
According to the Pentagon, since Oct. 17, there have been 66 attacks on U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq; this latest attack marked the first use of a ballistic missile against Americans in the region.
Sam Altman returning as CEO of OpenAI after being fired days ago
In a twist to the AI saga that began last week, Sam Altman will return as CEO of OpenAI, the same company whose board fired him just five days ago. The latest shakeup at ChatGPT’s parent company also includes former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers joining the board.
Hours after Altman was ousted from the company he co-founded, he signed on to lead a new advanced AI research team with Microsoft, the largest investor of OpenAI.
On Monday, Nov. 20, hundreds of OpenAI employees, including one of its co-founders, signed a letter that said if the board did not resign and bring Altman back to the company, they would jump ship to Microsoft.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the return of Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman to OpenAI will ensure the AI startup will continue to “thrive and build on its mission.”
i love openai, and everything i’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together. when i decided to join msft on sun evening, it was clear that was the best path for me and the team. with the new board and w satya’s support, i’m…
Altman took to “X” overnight and posted, “I love OpenAI, and everything I’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together…with the new board and with Satya’s support, I’m looking forward to returning to OpenAI, and building on our strong partnership with Microsoft.”
3 people dead, 3 missing after landslide in Alaska
State troopers said that immediate search and rescue attempts were impossible as the scene was too unstable.
Once rescue efforts were able to get underway, officials said during the initial search, rescue personnel found the body of a girl, and on Tuesday, Nov. 21, they located the bodies of two adults using a drone. The rescue teams are using a cadaver dog and thermal imaging as they try to locate two children and one adult who are still missing.
Officials also warn of the threat of more landslides in the area. Telling residents stranded on the other side of the slide to evacuate by water taxi.
Severe weather threatens holiday travel plans
With Wednesday, Nov. 22, being one of the busiest travel days of the year, severe weather across the country is threatening the Thanksgiving holiday plans of millions of travelers.
On Tuesday, Nov. 21, more than 5,000 flights were delayed, and over 70 were canceled due to a storm system bringing heavy rain, strong winds to the south and northeast, and even some snow farther north.
A cold front is producing strong winds, high-elevation snows, coastal and low-elevation rains, and a surge of cold air across much of the western U.S. Marginally severe hail may occur with evening/overnight thunderstorms in parts of Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/clZ7Xzk8Ji
The National Weather Service warns holiday travelers to be “weather aware.” New York City has issued a travel advisory through Wednesday, Nov. 22, due to the wintry weather — the mayor told travelers to leave extra time.
More than 10 million people have already made it through airport security, outpacing 2019’s pre-pandemic levels. As Straight Arrow News has reported on The Morning Rundown, TSA expects to screen more than 30 million people over the Thanksgiving holiday.
AAA estimates more than 55 million drivers will travel more than 50 miles. As for Thanksgiving Day, most of the country looks to clear up, except the northern Rocky Mountains, which could see some accumulating snow.
Poll: Most voters want to avoid politics at the Thanksgiving table
Millions of Americans will come together with family and friends on Thursday, Nov. 23, to talk about what they’re thankful for, but most say leave the political talk off the Thanksgiving table. According to a Quinnipiac University national poll, 61% of American voters would rather not talk about politics while dining on their stuffing and cranberry sauce.
The poll says the wish for a politics-free dinner was similar across all political affiliations and age groups. The poll, however, found that 29% of voters are looking forward to having a political discussion with family during their holiday feast. It remains to be seen if their loved ones feel the same way.
