Evening Roundup: Immune-Boosting Holiday Tips, Thanksgiving Travel Disruptions, Vaccine Web Controversy & UK Child Poverty

Welcome to the evening roundup. As holiday gatherings begin, seasonal colds and flu can travel with family and friends — here are practical tips to support your immune system, followed by the day's most important headlines.

Holiday health: practical immune-boosting tips

Simple measures can reduce your risk of catching or spreading seasonal illnesses: prioritize sleep, stay hydrated, wash hands frequently, consider a flu vaccine if you qualify, and maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and protein. If you’re visiting vulnerable relatives, bring a mask and keep interactions short and well-ventilated.

Travel: Thanksgiving delays and a high-speed rail thought experiment

Air travel may face some of the worst Thanksgiving delays in years. Although the recent government shutdown has ended, airline operations and staffing won’t rebound instantly. Separately, a new analysis reimagined three of the country’s busiest corridors as high-speed rail routes — and in some cases, rail could significantly cut travel times compared with flying.

Public health controversy over vaccine content

A major public health agency revised content on its vaccine web pages in a way that some experts say appears to contradict the scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism. Prominent vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his position, saying he follows the "gold standard" of science; health experts caution that the broad scientific evidence does not support a causal link between vaccines and autism.

UK child poverty rising

Britain’s cost-of-living crisis has pushed millions of families toward financial distress. Nearly a third of children — roughly 4.5 million — are now growing up in poverty, a trend that could have long-term consequences for education, health and social mobility.

Community action and crime reduction in Baltimore

In Baltimore, community activist Rochelle Johnson walks her neighborhood greeting residents. After the 2023 killing of her 19-year-old son, she joined a nonviolent community movement that advocates de-escalation and support services — efforts credited by some with helping reduce violent crime in parts of the city.

Culture: Met Gala sponsors and a spiritual trend

The Met Gala — fashion’s largest annual fundraiser — is already facing criticism over its lead sponsors for next year’s event, drawing public comments from its organizers. On a very different cultural front, an increasing number of Americans are exploring contemporary witchcraft and spiritual cleansing practices as tools for personal reflection and stress relief.

Legal and political headlines

• A judge dismissed cases involving former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly thanked multiple world leaders after criticism from former US President Donald Trump.
• The Pentagon said it may consider recalling Senator Mark Kelly to military service related to a video about alleged "illegal orders."

Environment and economy

Air pollution remains a severe health threat in many cities. During smog season the air becomes darker and harsher — in one of the world’s most polluted capitals, about 34 million people are exposed to dangerous conditions and residents are calling for change. On the economic side, more US homebuyers are choosing adjustable-rate mortgages, and questions persist about political figures' ties to technology firms and past agency decisions.

Culture: World Cheese Awards

The World Cheese Awards named an aged Swiss Gruyère its 2025 champion after an international panel of 256 experts tasted 5,244 cheeses from around the globe.

Other widely read items included reporting on a surprisingly common liver disease affecting millions in the United States. We’ll be back tomorrow with more updates.