World News Headlines: DC Ambush, Hong Kong Fire, Thanksgiving Costs, and Papal Trip

DC Ambush and National Guard Shooting

• 🎯 Two National Guard members were critically injured in what authorities are calling a targeted ambush near the White House.
• 🚨 The suspect, identified as Rahmanala Lakanwal, an Afghan national, was wounded in an exchange of gunfire before his arrest.
• 🏛️ The Pentagon plans to increase National Guard presence in Washington D.C. following the incident.

Hong Kong High-Rise Fire

• 🔥 A massive fire engulfed an apartment tower block in Hong Kong, spreading rapidly to adjacent buildings.
• 💔 Over 40 people are confirmed dead, with hundreds still missing, as firefighters struggled to reach upper floors.
• 🏗️ Investigations suggest the fire may have spread due to unsafe materials like bamboo scaffolding, leading to the arrest of three individuals from a construction company.
• 🏠 The incident is expected to exacerbate existing concerns about housing affordability and quality in Hong Kong.

Thanksgiving Costs and Economic Trends

• 🦃 The average cost of Thanksgiving staples per person has decreased by 5% compared to last year, costing around $5.50.
• 📈 Despite the overall price drop, some shoppers face sticker shock due to higher prices for side dishes, with wholesale turkey prices being higher but retailers offering discounts.
• 💰 Prices for Thanksgiving staples are still approximately 13% higher than in 2019, before the pandemic.

International and Political Developments

• 🇷🇺 Russia condemned the leak of a call between Trump and Putin advisors as an attempt to undermine peace negotiations and an act of hybrid warfare.
• ⚖️ A Georgia prosecutor dropped all criminal charges against former President Trump related to the 2020 election results.
• 🇬🇧 The UK announced a tax-raising budget aimed at deficit reduction, including higher taxes on various goods and property, alongside measures to cut energy bills and increase benefits for larger families.
• 🇻🇦 Pope Francis embarked on his first papal trip abroad to Turkey and Lebanon, with plans to speak English during his addresses in Turkey.