THE TOP NEWS STORIES THIS WEEK
11-23-25 TO 11-29-25
GEMINI
🇺🇸 U.S. News
The week was heavily influenced by the Thanksgiving holiday travel rush and some high-profile crime stories.
Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Rush: Millions of Americans traveled, creating significant holiday rush congestion and logistics challenges.
Rising U.S.-Venezuela Tensions: Increased military activity by the U.S. in the Caribbean Sea fueled rising tensions with Venezuela.
Black Friday and Holiday Retail Outlook: Reports focused on the Black Friday sales performance and the general outlook for holiday retail spending.
DOJ Request on Epstein Transcripts: The Department of Justice requested to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts, drawing national attention.
Urgent Search for "Slender Man" Attacker: A high-profile search was underway for an individual involved in a "Slender Man" related attack.
Ohio Senior Living Facility Explosion: News covered a significant explosion that occurred at a senior living facility in Ohio.
UAB Football Players Stabbed: A story about University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) football players being stabbed before a game.
Effort to Lower Food Prices: A new initiative or policy effort was underway to address and lower the cost of food for consumers.
Carnival Cruise Death: A story focusing on a family speaking out following a death on a Carnival cruise ship.
"Wicked: For Good" Box Office Opening: The movie "Wicked: For Good" had a strong opening at the box office.
🏛️ Politics
The political news focused on the ramifications of the new U.S. administration, foreign policy, and climate change finance.
Trump's Ukraine Peace Proposal: Concerns grew over President Trump's proposed peace plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine War.
U.S. AI Partnerships for Intelligence/Defense: Two days after the 2024 elections, major companies (Amazon, Anthropic, Palantir) finalized a partnership to supply AI applications to U.S. intelligence and defense services.
COP29 Outcomes (Climate Finance Battle): The main political effort at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, centered on finance, with wealthy countries pledging $\$300$ billion a year by 2035 for climate justice, though this was seen as insufficient.
National Guard Member Death in Washington: News reported on the death of a National Guard member, Sarah Beckstrom, after a shooting incident in Washington.
Marjorie Taylor Greene's Exit: Reports covered the political implications and what's next following the "stunning exit" of Marjorie Taylor Greene from politics.
Pipeline Deal in Canada: Alberta Premier Smith and Carney signed a pipeline deal, potentially opening the door to changes in the B.C. tanker ban.
🌍 World Affairs
International focus included global security, economic concerns, and major scheduled diplomatic events.
G20 Summit in Brazil: The G20 Summit took place in Brazil on November 22-23, with global leaders addressing key economic and geopolitical issues.
Heightened Concern over Crime & Violence: A new Ipsos survey showed global concern over crime and violence reached its highest point since before the pandemic (34% across 30 countries).
Immigration Concern at Decade High: Global concern about immigration control reached the highest level in 10 years (19% across 30 countries).
Bleak Global Economic Outlook: Most countries continued to struggle to return to pre-pandemic levels of a "good economy" rating.
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People: This UN-observed day was scheduled for November 29, often bringing related diplomatic and humanitarian coverage.
Post-Election Sentiment Boost in Argentina and Netherlands: Argentina's and the Netherlands' "right track" scores rose significantly following their respective October elections.
China's Shenzhou-22 Launch: China launched an uncrewed Shenzhou-22 mission to its Tiangong space station as a lifeboat for the Shenzhou-21 crew following a space debris strike on their original capsule.
Soyuz MS-28 Launch and Docking: The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, carrying a crew of three, was scheduled for launch and docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thanksgiving Day.
European Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial Council Results: ESA held a press conference to share the results of its Council of Ministers meeting (CM25), deciding on the agency's budget and programs for the next three years.
🧑🎓 Education
News in education was heavily focused on the continuing integration and challenge of Artificial Intelligence in academic settings.
Agentic AI in Academia: Discussions and insights revolved around the impact of "agentic AI" and the need for a new product mindset in educational and research environments.
AI Tutoring Studies: Review and discussion of a June 2025 Harvard study on the effectiveness and implications of AI tutoring.
Focus on Generative AI in Higher Education: Universities were proactively developing programs to train graduates for the rapidly evolving AI-driven job landscape.
Status of DEI in Higher Education: A monthly report or update addressed the status of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives on college campuses in November 2025.
AI's Potential to Surpass Schools: Continued debate and speculation that AI could surpass traditional schools for academic learning within 5-10 years.
Lateral Violence in Academia: Discussion on breaking the cycle of lateral violence, particularly within nursing and academic fields.
📈 Economy
Global financial markets and key commodity updates dominated the economic news.
Global Equity Rally Stalls: Asian stocks were set for a muted open as the global equity rally from the previous week began to slow down.
Black Friday and Holiday Retail Sales: Economic analysis of Black Friday performance and the general consumption trends heading into the main holiday shopping period.
Oil Prices and OPEC+ Meeting: Oil edged higher ahead of an anticipated OPEC+ gathering to discuss output and amidst U.S.-led efforts to end the Ukraine conflict.
Bitcoin Price Stability: The price of Bitcoin was reported to be little changed, hovering around
21 $\$91,386$.Yen and Dollar Stability: The Japanese yen and the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index were largely unchanged, reflecting a momentary pause in currency volatility.
Retail Sales Driven by Tech Gadgets: Earlier economic reviews highlighted retail sales growth being driven by new technology gadgets like the iPhone 17.
💻 Technology
Artificial Intelligence and major deals involving tech giants continued to be the top stories.
Amazon/OpenAI $\$38$ Billion Deal: A massive deal closed between Amazon and OpenAI, underscoring the rapid growth and investment in AI.
OpenAI Surpasses 1 Million Business Users: The company reached a significant milestone in its enterprise adoption.
Qualcomm Acquires Arduino and Launches UNO Q: Qualcomm acquired the open-source electronics platform Arduino and launched a new single-board computer, the Arduino UNO Q.
AI Job Displacement Study: An MIT study claimed that AI could currently replace 12% of the total U.S. jobs market, prompting discussion about future job cuts.
Google Assistant Shutdown for Android Auto: Google hinted at a shutdown date for Google Assistant on Android Auto and the implications for users.
AWS Data Center Scale: Reports indicated that Amazon Web Services (AWS) might now have around 900 data centers, a significant expansion.
HP Staff Cuts Due to AI Adoption: HP announced plans to cut thousands of staff as it embarks on a major AI adoption project.
New macOS Malware Chain: A new malware chain affecting macOS was reported, causing a major security headache.
EU Clamps Down on Online Fraud and Hidden Fees: The European Union implemented stricter regulations to combat online payment platform fraud and undisclosed charges.
New Meta Quest 4 Rumors: Fresh rumors about the specs, pricing, and a lighter design for the upcoming Meta Quest 4 virtual reality headset circulated.
⚕️ Health
Policy and public health debates surrounding specific medical treatments and healthcare costs dominated the headlines.
Proposed Public Charge Rule: DHS issued a proposed rule to replace the definition of "public charge," which could discourage immigrants from using public assistance programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
Report on Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: HHS released a peer-reviewed report stating that the negative impacts of "sex-rejecting procedures" for pediatric gender dysphoria are substantial and insufficiently tracked, calling such procedures "malpractice."
ACA Premium Tax Credit Expiration Debate: The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the rising cost of healthcare, specifically addressing the upcoming expiration of enhanced premium tax credits for ACA Marketplace plans on December 31, 2025.
FDA Removes Black Box Warning on Menopause HRT: The FDA announced plans to remove the "black box warning" from hormone replacement products for menopause, with new age-specific guidance.
Concerns Over New Flu Strain: Global health experts raised concerns about a new strain of the influenza virus that emerged after the composition of the current year's flu shots had been decided.
Ultraprocessed Food and Cancer Risk: A study suggested that consuming ultraprocessed foods may significantly raise the risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer.
🏈 Sports
NFL and college sports playoffs were the main focus of the week, coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday.
NFL Week 13 Matchups: Fantasy football and playoff implications were key topics for Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season, featuring major matchups like the Steelers vs. Bills.
Bears Win Over Eagles on Black Friday: The Chicago Bears defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday, impacting the NFC Playoff Picture and raising questions about the Eagles' defense.
NBA Injury and Trade News: Reports focused on the NBA, including Stephen Curry's quad contusion, Jalen Williams' season debut for the Thunder, and trade rumors involving Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship Quarterfinals: Three ACC teams (Stanford, Duke, and Florida State) prepared to host quarterfinal matches in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship.
MLB Free Agency Heats Up: The "Hot Stove" period in Major League Baseball heated up with signings, including Dylan Cease reportedly agreeing to a seven-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Ole Miss Coaching Rumors: Speculation surfaced that if Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss, Joe Judge would likely become the interim head coach.
- National Guard Shooting in Washington, D.C.: Two National Guard members were shot near the White House; one died, leading to murder charges against suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in 2021. The incident sparked a nationwide investigation.
- Trump's Immigration Pause Announcement: President Trump declared a "permanent pause" on migration from "Third World countries" in response to the D.C. shooting, halting Afghan visas and drawing widespread criticism.
- Record Thanksgiving Travel Surge: Millions faced holiday travel chaos with record-high volumes, including fiery truck crashes on I-95 and airport evacuations due to storms.
- Honduran Ex-President Convicted: Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was sentenced to 45 years in U.S. prison for drug trafficking and weapons charges.
- U.S. Airstrike in Caribbean Kills Three: A U.S. military strike on a suspected drug trafficker's boat in the Caribbean Sea resulted in three deaths, escalating the War on Drugs.
- Morgan Geyser Escape from Monitoring: The 23-year-old convicted in the 2014 Slender Man stabbing case cut off her ankle monitor and vanished, prompting a manhunt.
- Excessive U.S. Parking Space Debate: Reports highlighted America's overbuilt parking infrastructure, with estimates of six spaces per car, exceeding housing square footage.
- Trump's Thanksgiving Turkey Pardons Controversy: At the annual ceremony, Trump joked about deporting the turkeys and invalidated prior pardons, blending grievances with tradition.
- Retail Trends Signal Economic Shifts: Experts analyzed Black Friday shopping habits at malls, revealing consumer caution amid uneven recovery.
- Volunteerism Surge in Communities: Stories of nationwide volunteer efforts—from home-building to historical reenactments—highlighted post-pandemic civic revival.
- Trump's Ukraine Peace Plan Talks in Geneva: U.S. officials, including Secretary Rubio, met Ukrainian and European leaders on a controversial Russia-favoring proposal, amid ally concerns.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene Resigns from Congress: The Republican announced her January exit, pivoting from Trump ally to critic, sparking 2028 speculation.
- Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days: The longest in history concluded with a funding bill through January, but left lasting GDP damage estimates of 0.1-0.2%.
- Trump Dismisses Georgia Election Case: A court ruling ended the 2020 interference charges against Trump, a major legal win.
- Tipped Income Rebate Checks Roll Out: $2,000 payments for tipped workers and overtime began, fulfilling a Trump campaign promise.
- Venezuela Cartel Designated Terrorist Group: The Trump admin escalated pressure on Maduro by labeling Cartel de los Soles, increasing military activity.
- U.S. Boycotts G20 Summit in Johannesburg: Citing Afrikaner persecution, no delegates attended, leading to a ceremonial snub.
- Zelenskyy Resigns Chief of Staff Amid Probe: Andrii Yermak stepped down after anti-corruption searches, tied to U.S. peace talks.
- Democrats Sweep 2025 Off-Year Elections: Wins in key races, including NYC mayoral upset by Zohran Mamdani, signal early Trump referendum.
- California Emerges as 2025 Political Battleground: Newsom's rising approval and redistricting fights position the blue state at the national forefront.
- Israel Kills Top Hezbollah Commander in Beirut: An airstrike on Haytham Ali Tabatabai, despite a 2024 ceasefire, killed five and wounded 28, risking escalation.
- Typhoon Kalmaegi Devastates Philippines and Vietnam: Death toll hit 142 with 127 missing; the storm caused massive flooding and infrastructure damage.
- U.S.-China Trade Talks Intensify: Diplomatic calls addressed tariffs and tech exports, amid broader economic parries.
- Hong Kong Apartment Fire Warnings Ignored: Officials overlooked flammable panels for over a year before a deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court.
- Mexico Store Explosion Kills 23: A fire and blast at a Waldo's in Hermosillo injured 11, prompting safety probes.
- Tenerife Storm Surges Claim Three Lives: Rough seas off Spain killed three and injured 15 amid severe weather.
- Greek Immigration Riot at Detention Site: 29 arrested after clashes injured two officers in Sintiki.
- Pakistan's Massive Vaccination Drive: Initiative targets 34.5 million kids for measles/rubella and 23.3 million for polio.
- DRC Plane Crash Avoids Casualties: AirJet Angola flight with 29 aboard skidded off runway at Kolwezi Airport.
- Spain's Franco Revival Sparks Democracy Push: Youth interest in the dictator prompts government apps and games to promote democratic values.
- Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence" Challenged: Legal scholars across ideologies called it unconstitutional, urging colleges to reject federal overreach on academic freedom.
- Texas Approves 2025 Instructional Materials: State Board finalizes K-12 list, impacting publishers in the second-largest U.S. market.
- eRaksha 2025 Cyber Safety Competition Launches: NCERT, CyberPeace, and Google.org's nationwide event on AI ethics for students; deadline January 20.
- Noida International University MBA Accredited: Gains National Board of Accreditation; Galgotias University ranks #18 in QS private institutions.
- National Well-being Conclave at IIT Bombay: Focused on mental health integration in higher ed; emphasized student support post-pandemic.
- India-Australia MoU on Creative Tech: IICT and Deakin University partner for education and mobility at IFFI 2025.
- Khelo India University Games Kick Off: 7,000 participants from 230 universities in 23 sports; highlights youth talent development.
- Nayanta University Starts First UG Session: Pune-based institution opens admissions for 2026-30 BA/BSc honors classes.
- NIT Karnataka's 23rd Convocation: 1,995 graduates; Volvo India's MD as chief guest stresses industry-academia ties.
- EU-India Education Summit at SRM: Theme "Learning Without Borders" promotes employability and partnerships.
Rank | Story | Key Details | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | U.S. GDP Growth at 8.2% in Q2 | Quickened despite shutdown; CEA predicts 7%+ for 2025. | |
2 | Fed Lacks October CPI Data | BLS cancellation delays inflation insights before rate decision. | |
3 | China Investment Down 1.7% | Fixed-asset drop signals slowing growth amid U.S. trade tensions. | |
4 | DOGE drives one-third; Yale says broader impact delayed. | ||
5 | U.S. Current-Account Deficit Narrows 42.9% | To $251.3B in Q2; revised Q1 at $439.8B. | |
6 | Adobe reports record e-commerce amid uneven recovery. | ||
7 | U.S. Payroll Growth Averages 51K/Month | Q3 slowdown partly from federal cuts; unemployment at 4.29%. | |
8 | Euro Area GDP Up 0.2% in Q3 | Strong in Portugal/Spain; forecast upgraded to 1.4% for 2025. | |
9 | India Forex Reserves Drop $4.47B | To $688.1B; fiscal deficit at 52.6% of FY26 target. | |
10 | Global Equities Choppy on Tech Valuations | U.S. shutdown's 43-day drag; shadow banking props stocks. | , |
- Alibaba Launches Quark AI Glasses: Enters global wearables with China sales; challenges Meta/Apple in AR.
- Banks Eye $38B Loan for OpenAI Sites: Funding data centers amid AI infrastructure boom.
- Naver Acquires Crypto Exchange for $10B: South Korean payment arm's deal expands blockchain services.
- Apple Meets EU DMA Thresholds: Confirms compliance but faces ongoing antitrust scrutiny.
- Moss Spores Survive ISS Exposure: Endure vacuum/UV; implications for space biology.
- Germanium Achieves Superconductivity: First time via gallium doping; boosts quantum computing.
- Quantum Network Probes Dark Matter: Optimized qubit links enhance sensitivity.
- AI Glasses Funding: NcodiN Raises €16M: Nanoscale lasers for efficient AI chips.
- Amazon's Leo Ultra Satellite Terminal: 1 Gbps speeds for enterprise; Project Kuiper expansion.
- IQM Industrializes Quantum Chips in Europe: €100M for scalable manufacturing push.
- Hidden Antibiotic vs. Superbugs: 100x stronger than existing; overlooked in common bacteria.
- Sox9 Protein Clears Alzheimer's Plaques: Boosts astrocytes to reduce toxic buildup.
- Hydralazine Halts Glioblastoma Growth: High blood pressure drug shows brain cancer potential.
- PRIMA Retinal Implant Restores Reading: Light-powered chip aids dry AMD blindness.
- CDC Vaccine Guidance Sparks Autism Fears: Rewrite renews misinformation; experts urge calm.
- Schlossberg Reveals Leukemia Diagnosis: New Yorker essay critiques family ties to RFK Jr.
- Music Therapy Aids Colorectal Recovery: Reduces complications post-anesthesia.
- Protein Powders Contain High Lead: Consumer Reports flags 2/3 of tested shakes.
- Ultra-Processed Foods Worsen Global Health: Call for policy action on dietary staples.
- Whooping Cough Cases Surge Past 2024 Peak: Schools grapple with outbreaks.
- Rams Crush Buccaneers 34-7: First-half explosion secures NFC lead.
- Rockets Rout Suns 114-92: Amen Thompson's 28 points shine without Durant.
- Pelicans Snap 9-Game Skid vs. Bulls: Zion Williamson's 29 powers 143-130 win.
- Raptors Edge Pacers 97-95: 9th straight win on Ingram's late jumper.
- Heat Top Bucks in NBA Cup: Spoelstra's 800th win; Herro scores 29.
- Duke Beats Arkansas 85-74: No. 4 Blue Devils advance; Boozer dominates.
- Texas Wins Maui Invitational 5th Place: 102-97 over No. 23 N.C. State.
- Wisconsin Crushes SIU Edwardsville 94-69: Blackwell's 24 leads No. 23 Badgers.
- Pittsburgh Blows Out Bucknell 84-50: Dunning Jr.'s seven 3s fuel 23 points.
- N.C. State Tops Northern Iowa 76-66: Holloman's late FTs clinch first Top-25 November win in 13 years.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 23, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/morning-news-update-november-23-2025.html
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 24, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/morning-news-update-november-24-2025.html
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 25, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/morning-news-update-november-25-2025.html
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 26, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/morning-news-update-november-25-2025_26.html
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 27, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/morning-news-update-november-27-2025.html
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 28, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/morning-news-update-november-28-2025.html
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2025
