Paying More for Less, Holiday Deportation Nightmare, Missing Coach: Five Must-Read Stories

Here are the key stories to know today, covering consumer trends, immigration, environmental crises and an unfolding criminal trial.

Black Friday: Spending More, Getting Less

Retail sales looked strong over Black Friday, but analysts warn of a worrying trend: many shoppers are spending more while receiving less value. Rising prices, smaller product sizes and fewer included accessories are all contributing to a sense that bargains are not what they used to be.

Top Retirement Destination Named for 2026

For people planning retirement, the world’s top-rated destination for 2026 is a sun-soaked European country known for thousands of picturesque islands and strong appeal to retirees. The nation’s climate, coastal lifestyle and retirement infrastructure were among the factors cited.

Holiday Deportation Turns Family Trip into Crisis

A 19-year-old college freshman who planned to fly home to Texas for Thanksgiving was stopped by federal immigration officials moments before boarding her flight and deported. The arrest has left her family scrambling and raised questions about the timing and handling of immigration enforcement ahead of the holiday travel season.

Iran’s Water Crisis Seen from Space

Iran is grappling with an extreme water shortage so severe that the country’s president warned residents of the capital they may need to evacuate. Satellite imagery shows the crisis at scale, illustrating shrinking reservoirs and parched landscapes.

Missing Virginia Coach — Team Keeps Winning

A high school football coach in Virginia left his home carrying a firearm and disappeared into nearby woods. He has not been seen since, but his team continues to win games in his absence. Authorities remain engaged in the search while the community processes the shock and uncertainty.

Ancient DNA Rewrites the Story of Domestic Cats

New research using ancient DNA is filling long-standing gaps in the origins of domestic cats. The findings challenge traditional timelines and migration routes, offering a more complex picture of how and where cats first became companions to people.

Floods, Storms and a Giant Snake in Southern Thailand

A powerful storm swept southern Thailand, producing floodwaters more than eight feet deep in places. The extreme conditions produced dramatic wildlife footage, including images of a very large snake navigating the floodwaters.

Other Notable Headlines

• The White House defended a naval commander who ordered a follow-up strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel.
• Forecasters warn a winter storm will intensify into a bomb cyclone as it moves into the U.S. Northeast.
• The White House released details of a former president’s medical imaging, describing the results as "perfectly normal."
• A man says a stranger contacted him on social media in a scam that cost him roughly $280,000.
• An actor who once portrayed a police officer on television is now training to become a real-life police officer.

Courtroom: Murder Trial Begins in Massachusetts

Brian Walshe, who pleaded guilty to disposing of his wife’s body but maintains he did not kill her, is now facing a murder trial. In opening statements the defense said Walshe found his wife dead in bed and panicked, later researching how to dispose of a body; prosecutors countered that he presented a public image of a happy marriage while privately researching divorce.

The prosecution called its first witness, a local police sergeant who testified about interviews with the suspect. The judge said she is monitoring weather conditions and may allow the jury to leave early if the storm worsens. The trial is expected to last several weeks.

We’ll continue to bring updates on these stories and more in tomorrow’s briefing.