Israel-Hamas conflict: Israel says it will maintain the current cease-fire if Hamas continues to release hostages. An estimated 160 hostages still were being held by Hamas as of this morning. International negotiators have been working to extend the pause in the conflict. Israel has repeatedly said that it is committed to wiping out Hamas. China is reported to be involved in applying pressure to both sides in the conflict to turn the current pause and hostage swaps into a permanent cease-fire.
Cheney book: CNN has obtained an advance copy of the new book written by former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney in which she blasts Republicans for supporting Donald Trump. She calls Trump “the most dangerous man ever to inhabit the Oval Office.” Cheney quotes former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as telling her there is no doubt that Trump knew he lost the 2020 election. Cheney says that if Trump is returned to the White House it will be the end of the U.S. Constitution.
Gross Domestic Product: The Commerce Department reported this morning that the U.S. economy grew more than expected in the third quarter of the year, with the Gross Domestic Product increasing 5.2%. Business spending grew 1.3%, reversing its previous quarter decline of 0.1%. Some economists expect a cooling down in the fourth quarter of the year due to interest rates remaining high and there being signs of a softening in consumer spending despite solid Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales figures.
Green jet fuel: A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 flew from London to New York yesterday burning environmentally friendly jet fuel made from waste fats rather than petroleum. Virgin’s founder Richard Branson was among those on board the airplane. The White House has set a goal of producing three billion gallons of green jet fuel a year by 2030 with all jet fuel being made using green material by 2050. An Air France-KLM jet flew from Paris to Montreal two years ago on a mixture of regular jet fuel and green jet fuel and a business jet flew from London to New York last month burning only green jet fuel.
Life expectancy: U.S. life expectancy rose to an average of 77.5 years last year according to statistics released this morning by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The life expectancy for males was 74.8 years while for females it was 80.2 years. Men who have reached age 80 are expected to live another 8.9 years while females at age 80 are expected to live another 8.1 years on average.
Munger dies: Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s partner in the company Berkshire Hathaway and vice chairman of the company, has died at age 99. Munger was largely responsible for identifying companies for Berkshire Hathaway to invest in before their values skyrocketed. Berkshire Hathaway’s announcement of Munger’s death did not identify the California hospital in which he died nor did it disclose the cause of death.
Cover photo of Charlie Munger by Nick Webb / Wikimedia Commons
