Five Things to Know — Nov. 25: Turkey Pardon, Dismissed Indictments, Ukraine-Russia Strikes, Venezuela Designation, Ethiopian Volcano

President Donald Trump will pardon the national Thanksgiving turkeys today at 12 p.m. ET, continuing a 78-year White House tradition. The two birds, Gobble and Waddle, were reportedly acclimated to loud sounds, crowds and bright lights ahead of the ceremony.

Dismissed prosecutions

A federal judge on Monday dismissed prosecutions brought against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling the cases invalid after finding that the interim U.S. attorney who filed the charges, Lindsey Halligan, had been unlawfully appointed. The decision follows Halligan’s installation after the prior U.S. attorney declined to pursue the matters. The Justice Department said it will pursue “all available legal action,” including an immediate appeal.

Russia–Ukraine exchanges

Russia and Ukraine traded deadly strikes overnight, killing and wounding civilians and damaging infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said attacks on Kyiv caused “extensive damage to residential buildings” and struck the energy sector, disrupting everyday life. Ukrainian forces said they launched a significant drone strike on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk, where local authorities reported damage. U.S. and Russian officials are meeting in Abu Dhabi today to discuss a proposed plan to end the war.

Venezuela designation

The U.S. government formally designated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a member of a foreign terrorist organization, a step officials say expands Washington’s legal tools to target Maduro, his associates and their assets. U.S. officials also indicated the designation could broaden military options in extreme scenarios. The administration framed the action as aimed at curbing illicit migration and drug trafficking, while experts warn it could increase pressure that contributes to political instability or regime change.

White House renovation and holidays

White House tours are scheduled to resume next week after being paused in September when the East Wing was demolished to make way for a proposed new ballroom. Sources say the president holds weekly meetings to finalize interior finishes for the estimated $300 million project. Despite construction, holiday traditions continue: First Lady Melania Trump welcomed the official Christmas tree, a concolor fir from Sidney, Michigan, which arrived after a 650-mile journey in a Clydesdale-drawn carriage.

Ethiopia volcano eruption

The long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted Sunday for the first known time in roughly 10,000 years, blanketing nearby villages in ash and sending plumes visible from space. The Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center reported ash tracked as far as Yemen, Oman, Pakistan and India. While no confirmed casualties have been reported, farmers face severe disruption to crops and livestock. NASA satellite images show thick plumes spreading across the Red Sea.

Other notable items

• The national average price for regular gasoline is nearly unchanged from a year ago, according to AAA.
• More than 100 homes were damaged after a tornado struck Harris County, Texas.
• Cryptocurrency markets have lost roughly $1 trillion in market value over the past six weeks, rattling investors.
• Old Navy is banking on strong holiday pajama sales to boost its seasonal revenue.
• A Galápagos tortoise named Gramma, the San Diego Zoo’s oldest resident, died at an estimated age of about 141 years.

Check your local forecast for weather updates and expect heavy travel volumes as airlines prepare for the Thanksgiving period.