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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1976, Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone as the underdog prizefighter Rocky Balboa, debuted in New York City. The film was a massive box-office hit.

Did you know that Sylvester Stallone was inspired to write the screenplay for Rocky after witnessing unknown boxer Chuck Wepner knock Muhammad Ali down in the ninth round of their 1975 fight?

Today, we're sponsored by Augusta Precious Metals, offering financial advice to protect your retirement savings.

U.S. Shuts Ukraine Embassy on War's 1,001st Day

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv closed Wednesday after warnings of potential Russian air attacks on the Ukrainian capital.

The precautionary closure followed Tuesday's events, when Ukraine fired eight U.S.-supplied long-range missiles into Russian territory, a move that prompted Putin to lower his threshold for nuclear weapon use.

The United States also announced it will provide Ukraine with antipersonnel land mines as part of a new $275 million military aid package, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin saying the mines will counter Russia's infantry-led advances.

Russia has bolstered its forces with 11,000 North Korean soldiers, according to U.S., Ukrainian, and South Korean officials. Officials say both sides are maneuvering for position ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office.

Gaetz Report to Remain Sealed

The controversial report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz will remain sealed after the House Ethics Committee failed to reach an agreement on its release during Wednesday's meeting.

The 10-member panel, evenly split between parties, considered the issue in a lengthy closed-door meeting, but no details were released on how members voted. The committee agreed to reconsider the decision on Dec. 5.

Democratic Rep. Sean Casten responded to the committee's decision by announcing plans to introduce a motion to force a full House vote on releasing the report.

Calls Grow for Biden to Resign

Calls for President Joe Biden to resign have grown amid increasing concerns about his age, mental fitness, and competency in the final two months of his administration.

Well-known pollster Nate Silver called for Biden's resignation in a Wednesday social media post, questioning whether Vice President Kamala Harris would be better suited to handle the high-stakes war in Ukraine.

Jamal Simmons, a former Harris communications director, suggested Biden could salvage his legacy by resigning and allowing Harris to serve as the nation's first female president.

The White House pushed back against the idea that Biden might resign and questioned whether Americans would accept Harris taking over for the final 10 weeks of his term.

➤ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered $5 million to any Gaza resident who returns a hostage, while the U.S. vetoed a U.N. resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, citing its lack of connection to hostages' release. (More)

➤ Speaker Mike Johnson announced a new U.S. Capitol bathroom policy Wednesday, reserving single-sex bathrooms for people of that biological sex. The move comes amid controversy over Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, a biological male who identifies as a woman. Johnson noted private restrooms are available for members, and unisex facilities exist. (More)

➤ President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Linda McMahon, formerly a WWE executive, Small Business Administration head, and Connecticut Board of Education member, to lead the Department of Education in his second term. (More)

➤ Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, co-chairs of a proposed government efficiency panel, announced plans to implement regulatory and personnel reforms, proposing changes through executive action allowed under existing laws. (More)

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Digital Currency Could Change Your Retirement. Here's How to Prepare.

If you've saved $100,000 or more for retirement, pay close attention: talk of a "digital dollar" is gaining traction, and with it comes a shift in how your money might be managed. Imagine a future where digital currency could impact your financial freedom—no matter what's in your accounts today. That's why thousands of Americans are looking to physical gold as a reliable asset to hedge against a potential digital dollar.

➤ Denver Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook became the first player in NBA history to record 200 triple-doubles, a single-game basketball feat where a player reaches a double-digit number in three different statistical categories. (More)

➤ Stephen Vogt and Pat Murphy were named American and National League Managers of the Year on Tuesday. It was both managers' first full season on the job. (More)

➤ The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed the 25 players that have reached the 2025 Hall of Fame ballot, including Eli Manning, Luke Kuechly, and Terrell Suggs, who all made the cut in their first year of eligibility. (More)

➤ The Cleveland Cavaliers' undefeated season came to an end on Tuesday night after 15 consecutive wins in a close 120-117 loss to the Boston Celtics. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NCAAF | CFP | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

Today's Holiday section is brought to you by:

The U.S. Postal Service's longtime Operation Santa partnered with Toys R Us, allowing participants who adopt children's letters to Santa to directly shop online for the child's gift. (See Details)

These 55 ideas for Thanksgiving decor feature pumpkin vases, gratitude trees, and festive wreaths to grace your holiday table and spaces. (See Ideas)

Your birth order could influence Thanksgiving dynamics. From the responsible eldest to the charming youngest, family roles often resurface at holiday reunions. (See Interactions)

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Daily Market Report 11/20/2024

▼	NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	18,966.14	-0.11%
▲	SPX S&P 500	5,917.11	0.00%
▲	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	43,408.47	0.32%
▲	BTC Bitcoin	$94,315.80	2.14%
▲	GOLD Per Ounce	$2,652.60	0.97%
▼	TGT Target Corporation	$121.72	-21.41%

*Gold and Bitcoin are traded 24 hours a day, five days a week.

➤ Big Stock Move: Target shares plummeted 21% on Wednesday after missing Q3 earnings estimates and cutting its profit forecast. (More)

➤ Jaguar's new ad, focused on high-fashion aesthetics, faced backlash online for omitting cars entirely, sparking criticism of "woke" marketing. (See Details)

➤ Delta Air Lines will serve burgers from Shake Shack on flights starting Dec. 1. First-class passengers on 900-mile routes can pre-select meals featuring Angus beef ShackBurgers, Caesar salad, chips, and a chocolate brownie. (See Details)

➤ Campbell's shareholders approved renaming the company to Campbell's Co., eliminating the word "soup" from its name to reflect its broader portfolio, including Goldfish crackers and Rao's sauces. (More)

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^{This is a paid advertisement for Timeplast's Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.timeplast.com.}

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The Future of Retirement: Navigating the Impact of Digital Currency

If you've saved $100,000 or more for retirement, pay close attention: talk of a "digital dollar" is gaining traction, and with it comes a shift in how your money might be managed. Imagine a future where digital currency could impact your financial freedom—no matter what's in your accounts today. That's why thousands of Americans are looking to physical gold as a reliable asset to hedge against a potential digital dollar.

➤ Security and privacy experts caution against sharing private medical data with AI chatbots, warning that sensitive information may be used to train AI models, increasing the risk of data exposure. (More)

➤ A North Carolina grad student discovered the youngest known transiting planet near Earth, estimated to be 3 million years old and 10.7 times larger than Earth. (See Details)

➤ The European Space Agency released the clearest images yet of the sun's photosphere Wednesday, revealing dynamic surface details captured by Solar Orbiter spacecraft last year. (See Photos)

➤ Some relics from the 20th century can still be found in use today, such as a 1930s cash register, a 1928 toaster, and a hot pink 1959 oven. (See Collection)

➤ Do you remember any of these vintage Thanksgiving meals? Vinegar pie, deviled turkey, and oyster stuffing offer a flavorful glimpse into the holiday's history. (See Meals)

➤ What was the most popular song the year you were born? Here's a list that goes year by year, starting in the 1920s. (See Songs)

➤ Thousands lost power in Washington state as a bomb cyclone brought fierce winds, rain, and snow. One person died as atmospheric river storms swept the region. (Follow Updates)

➤ Dozens of pledges were found blindfolded in a University of Iowa fraternity basement, with food thrown on them, during a hazing probe. Alpha Delta Phi's chapter is now suspended. (See Details)

➤ A family in Tustin thought their dog had chased a cat up a tree—only to discover it was a mountain lion. Authorities safely relocated it to the Cleveland National Forest. (See Photos)

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