spinph5 ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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Global stock markets mostly retreated Tuesday as traders eyed looming US inflation data and a key European interest rate call amid global political upheaval. After winning numerous records in the weeks since the November 5 US presidential election, US stocks fell for the second straight day as analysts pointed to profit-taking. But Alphabet jumped more than five percent after Google showed off a new quantum computing chip that it described as a significant breakthrough in the field, arguing it could lead to advances in drug discovery, fusion energy and other areas. The Paris stock market retreated as French party leaders gathered at President Emmanuel Macron's Elysee Palace office to chart a route towards a new government. The euro also fell ahead of the European Central Bank's monetary policy meeting on Thursday. The ECB is expected to lower interest rates by 25 basis points amid weak eurozone growth. Independent analyst Andreas Lipkow said traders were taking a cautious approach ahead of the ECB meeting. The main US indexes struggled as traders eyed US consumer price inflation (CPI) data due Wednesday, which could play a role in whether the US Federal Reserve decides to cut interest rates next week. On Wall Street, "tomorrow's CPI report is in full focus with a looming rate-decision from the Fed coming," analyst Bret Kenwell of trading platform eToro said in a note. Following recent spending and jobs data "traders have felt even more emboldened to bet on a December rate cut, while the Fed has done little... to quiet that expectation," he added. Earlier, stock markets weighed "concerns that China's economic stimulus measures might not have a long-lasting effect", noted Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell. The growth plan comes as Beijing contemplates Donald Trump's second term in the White House. The US president-elect has indicated he will reignite his hardball trade policies, fueling fears of another standoff between the economic superpowers. The Shanghai stock market ended higher but Hong Kong fell. Seoul's Kospi index rallied more than two percent after tumbling since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared short-lived martial law on December 3. On the corporate front, shares in Stellantis rose around one percent on the Paris stock exchange after the car giant and Chinese manufacturer CATL announced plans for a $4.3-billion factory making electric-vehicle batteries in Spain. Walgreens Boots Alliance soared 17.7 percent following reports that it could be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Boeing jumped 4.5 percent as it announced it was resuming production at two Seattle-area plants that had been shuttered for nearly three months due to a labor strike. More from this section New York - Dow: DOWN 0.4 percent at 44,247.83 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.3 percent at 6,034.91 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 19,687.24 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.1 percent at 7,394.78 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,329.16 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.9 percent at 8,280.36 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 20,311.28 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.6 percent at 3,422.66 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.5 percent at 39,367.58 (close) Seoul - Kospi: UP 2.4 percent at 2,417.84 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0529 from $1.0554 on Monday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2773 from $1.2757 Dollar/yen: UP at 151.92 yen from 151.21 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.42 from 82.73 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $68.59 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $72.19 per barrel burs-jmb/nro

President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he will impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods, effective from his first day in the White House. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he wrote on Truth Social . “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” He went on to say his punitive tariffs on China were also linked to his concerns with fentanyl, accusing the country of not following through on instituting severe penalties — including the death penalty — on drug importers. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. “They never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote. “Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter.” This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Related From Our PartnerHormel Foods Corp. stock falls Tuesday, underperforms market

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Heading into week six of the season riding a six-game winning streak, No. 14 women's basketball welcomes in-state UNCG to Carmichael Arena on Wednesday night. The Tar Heels face off against the Spartans for the second straight season at 7 p.m. ET, streaming on ACCNX. NO. 14/14 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (9-1, 0-0 ACC) Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000) Record at North Carolina: 105-57 (6th season) Career Record: 359-160 (18th season) UNCG SPARTANS (7-2, 0-0 SoCon) Head Coach: Trina Patterson (Virginia, 1987) Record at UNCG: 128-124 (9th season) Career Record: 311-424 (26th season) TIPPING OFF • The Tar Heels hope to make it seven wins in-a-row, hosting UNCG from Carmichael Arena on Wednesday night. • Carolina is letting the ball fly, draining a season-high 12 three-pointers against UNCG. UNC ranks fifth in the ACC averaging 8.6 triples per game. • The defensive efforts from UNC have proven to be one of the best nationally, with Carolina ranking third nationally in only allowing 48.8 points per game. • Balance is key, and the Tar Heels are proving it with eight different players leading the team in scoring this season. Alyssa Ustby paces UNC, leading the team in scoring in three games. SCOUTING THE SPARTANS UNCG enters Wednesday's matchup at 7-2 overall with wins in five of its last six games. Most recently, the Spartans split in the 2024 Puerto Rico Clasico falling to UTSA and grabbing a win over Le Moyne. The Spartans are also touted as one of the country's top defensive teams, ranking ninth nationally in holding its opponents to an average of 50.7 points per game. UNCG also leads the SoCon in scoring margin, outscoring its opponents in its seven wins by an average of 17.1 points per game. SERIES HISTORY VS. UNCG Dating back to the first series meeting in 1975, UNC has clamed all 13 previous meetings. The Tar Heels and Spartans meet for the second straight season, after UNC defeated UNC 81-66 in Chapel Hill last December. Lexi Donarski led Carolina with 22 points while shooting six-of-eight from three. LAST TIME OUT Lighting it up from beyond the arc, UNC shot a season-best 12 three's in a 72-46 victory over Coppin State from Carmichael Arena on Sunday. 12 Tar Heels found their way to the basket, with Maria Gakdeng leading the team with 10 points. For the fifth time this season, Carolina held its opponent to under 50 points in a single-game and held its opponent to its lowest point total of the year. SHINING BRIGHT UNDER THE LIGHTS The Tar Heels proved that they can handle the spotlight in its win over No. 14 Kentucky and sure made a statement of it. The 19-point win over the Wildcats was the largest win against any AP Top-25 opponent since 2020 and its largest win over a top-15 ranked opponent since 2011. In Carmichael Arena, the Tar Heels are 11-5 against ranked opponents under Banghart. RUNNING DEEP The 2024-25 Tar Heel roster is full of talent, as Banghart can go deep in the roster in any game situation. This season, UNC's bench has outscored all nine of its opponents and averages 28.3 points per game from its reserves. SHARING IS CARING The Tar Heels share the ball at an efficient rate, averaging 16.1 assists per game. In its past four outings, the Tar Heels have dished out 15 plus assists in each game. This streaks marks the longest with 15 or more assists for four games in a row since March of 2022. BROUGHT THE FIREWORKS The Tar Heels put on a memorable offensive performance against N.C. Central, recording a Banghart era high 119 points for the third most in program history. Six Tar Heels scored in double-figures, with Alyssa Ustby leading the way with a season-high 24 points. Carolina dished out a Banghart era best 28 assists, the most in a single-game in the past 20 seasons. The field goal percentage of 58.6% was the highest in a single game for the Tar Heels since against Jackson State in 2022. 119 points tied Florida State in the most scored by an ACC team in a single-game this season. MAKE IT RAIN Something about Imperial Arena had the Tar Heels feeling hot from three, draining a total of 23 throughout the Battle4Atlantis. Trayanna Crisp led Carolina with seven makes from beyond the arc, followed by Lexi Donarski with four. Overall, the Tar Heels shot a 37.7% clip from deep on the tournament. Carolina followed this performance up by tying its then season high with a total of 11 made three's as a team against N.C. Central. It marked the first back-to-back games with 10 or more made three's since the 2021-22 season against James Madison and UNC Ashville. In the Banghart era, the Tar Heels boast 31 games with 10 or more three's made. DEFENSE IN OUR DNA Carolina's defense has been one of the strongest in the country this season, ranking in the top-10 in multiple statistical categories. The Tar Heels currently rank first in the ACC and seventh nationally in holding its opponents to a 32.2% clip from the field. In holding four of of its opponents this season under 40 points, UNC ranks third in Division I basketball in scoring defense and once again leads the ACC. The 2024-25 Tar Heels have already bested last season's squad who held only four opponents under 50-points the entire year and have held seven of its 10 opponents to its lowest scoring game of their season. RE-WRITING HISTORY Taking no vacation in the Bahamas, Alyssa Ustby put her foot on the gas and notched three straight games with double-figure rebounds. This marked the sixth stretch of her career with three games in-a-row with double-digit boards. This trend continued against N.C. State with yet another double-double off of 24 points and 10 rebounds. Ustby is one of nine in program history to achieve the 1k rebound milestone and one of nine active in Division I basketball with at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Not only did Ustby crack the 1,000 career rebound mark, she eclipsed 1,500 career points and earned her way on to the top-25 list at UNC with 13 points against Kentucky Against N.C. Central, Ustby's three rejections allowed her to crack the top-10 list at Carolina with 116 career blocks. LOCK IT DOWN The Tar Heels shut down Villanova, limiting the Tar Heels to a mere 36 points and 23.5% from the field in the Battle4Atlantis semifinals. 36 points are the fewest allowed against a power conference team since 2007. The shooting percentage was the lowest since 2022 against South Carolina State. Following up its performance against the Wildcats, the Tar Heels held yet another opponent under the 40-point mark in keeping the Hoosiers to 39 points. The feat marked the first time in program history that Carolina has held back-to-back power conference opponents to under 40 points. DOUBLE-TROUBLE As two of Carolina's fifth-year players, the duo of Lexi Donarski and Alyssa Ustby feed off one another's successes on the court. When the pair both score in double-figures, the Tar Heels are 13-3 overall. SHARE THE ROCK Rolling deep, the Tar Heels pose multiple scoring threats with nine different players recording double-figure games this season. Nine games in, seven different Tar Heels have led the team in scoring this season. LET IT FLY LEX! As one of the nation's best active three-point shooters, Lexi Donarski is a reliable scoring option for a three as she currently rides a 17-game streak with a made triple. This stretch dating back to last season is the longest of the fifth-year's career. WE'LL SWIPE THAT The Tar Heels have been aggressive on the defensive end to start the season, powered by Reniya Kelly and Indya Nivar . At N.C. A&T, Kelly snagged a career-best five steals against the Lady Aggies as UNC reached double-digit steals for the third consecutive game. The Tar Heels have swiped 10 or more steals in five out of 10 games this season. Against Villanova, Nivar tallied a career-best six steals for a Tar Heel season best. TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK Early on, UNC has proven itself as one of the top ball handling teams in the country, ranking No. 12 nationally and No. 3 in the ACC in keeping turnovers to a minimum at 11.8 per game. The Tar Heels surrendered a season-low seven against N.C. Central. NEED A DIME? GRACE'S GOT YOU Already statistically proven as one of the best facilitators in college basketball, Grace Townsend continues to rack up assists in her first season in Chapel Hill. The Richmond transfer currently sits at No. 5 nationally in active career assists with a total of 584. Against UNCW, Townsend tallied eight assists against the Seahawks for a season-best. Throughout her career, Townsend has dished out five or more assists in 60 games. YOU GET A BUCKET! YOU GET A BUCKET! The sharing of the ball between the Tar Heels against N.C. Central led to 12 different Tar Heels reaching the basket against the Eagles. The feat marked the most scoring in a game for UNC during the Banghart era. The Tar Heels matched this effort again versus Coppin State with 12 scoring against the Eagles. HOME SWEET HOME The confines of Carmichael Arena are sweet to the Tar Heels, especially during non-conference action. Under Banghart, UNC is 33-2 in non-conference home games. THE BEST OF THE BEST A mixture of youth and experience can be found throughout the Tar Heel roster, yet some of the vets on the team have proven their skills on a national level. The duo of Donarksi and Ustby make them one of the most experienced pairs in the country, ranking in the top-10 in multiple categories among active players in Division I Basketball. As a sharpshooter, Donarski currently sits at No. 6 in made three's with a total of 291. With 138 career appearances, she also ranks No. 6 in active games played. A walking double-double, Ustby's 1050 career rebounds have her sixth nationally. Her 41 double-doubles have her seventh nationally among active players. Newcomer Grace Townsend has proven herself as one of the best dime droppers in the nation, with her total of 584 ranking fifth overall and leads the ACC. WHAT'S BACK? Nine from last year's NCAA Tournament team return to Chapel Hill, including three key starters in Lexi Donarksi, Maria Gakdeng and Alyssa Ustby . The trio accounted for 47.4% of UNC's scoring in 2023-24, and prepare to make even more of an impact as Donarski and Gakdeng enter their second season in a Carolina uniform. Indya Nivar returns after appearing in all 33 games last season with starting experience and Reniya Kelly boasts 11 starts and 21 appearances prior to missing the remainder of last season due to injury. STAT BREAKDOWN Points returning: 63.1% Three's returning: 63.9% Rebounds returning: 62.1% Assists returning: 63.7% Steals returning: 70.1% Blocks returning: 72.5% Ustby is back as the Tar Heels' leader in rebounds, assists and steals from last season. Around the rim, Gakdeng looks to expand her defensive range as the team's leading shot blocker with 51 rejections last year. With 283 made career-three's, Donarski drained 74 triples last season for 33.9% from beyond the arc to lead the Tar Heels. KEEPING IT 100 With the win over Ball State, head coach Courtney Banghart reached the 100 win plateau at UNC. Banghart recently reached the 350 career-win mark in UNC's NCAA Tournament win against Michigan State last season. LETTING LYSS SHINE A consistent presence for the Tar Heels the past four seasons, Alyssa Ustby's dedication to the game and the program can be seen in her performance on the court as she averaged a double-double in ACC action last season with 12.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Heading into her final season, Ustby's skills are well known throughout women's basketball as she has added to her list of honors this preseason. After being named Second-team All-ACC last year, Ustby earned Preseason All-ACC honors to kick off the 2024-25 campaign. For the fourth consecutive season, Ustby was tabbed to the Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watchlist as one of the country's top small forwards. She was also named to the Naismith Award Preseason Watchlist as one of the top players in women's basketball. OH MY MARIA! Posting a stellar first season as a Tar Heel, Maria Gakdeng averaged 6.4 points per game while shooting 62.6% from the field in 2023-24. The senior's efforts were once again recognized as one of the best centers in the nation, as Gakdeng was named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List for the second season in-a-row. Gakdeng also proves to be a fearless rim protector, on the verge of reaching the 200 career block mark at 191. PRESSURE IS A PRIVILEGE At Carolina, winning is a tradition and the pressure to be one of the best remains high. The Tar Heels open the season selected to finish sixth overall in the Atlantic Coast Conference after finishing in the top half of the conference the past four seasons. MILESTONE TRACKER LEXI DONARSKI • 9 made three's away from 300 career. MARIA GAKDENG • 9 blocks away from 200 career. • 9 assists away from 100 career. INDYA NIVAR • 4 assists from 100 career. GRACE TOWNSEND • 223 points away from 1,500 career. • 16 assists away from 600 career. ALYSSA USTBY • 16 rebounds from top-five in school history. WHAT'S NEXT? Carolina closes out its homestand with its ACC opener, hosting Georgia Tech from Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon. The ranked tilt between UNC and an undefeated Georgia Tech team is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, airing nationally on ACC Network.Yankees held meeting with veteran free agent bullpen arm

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Lawmakers want to yank federal financial aid from colleges that divest from IsraelProposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons is halted by federal, state judges The proposed $24.6 billion merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons floundered on Tuesday after judges overseeing two separate cases both halted the merger. A federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked the proposed merger until an in-house administrative judge at the Federal Trade Commission considers it. Shortly afterward, a judge in Washington state issued a permanent injunction barring the merger in that state, saying it lessens competition. Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. But the Federal Trade Commission and the state of Washington sued earlier this year. Kroger and Albertsons said Tuesday they are disappointed in the decisions and are reviewing their options. Biden says he was 'stupid' not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he was “stupid” not to put his own name on pandemic relief checks in 2021, like Donald Trump had done in 2020. He noted Tuesday in a speech at the Brookings Institution that Trump likely got credit for helping people out through this simple, effective act of branding. Biden did the second-guessing as he defended his economic record and challenged Trump to preserve Democratic policy ideas when he returns to the White House next month. Trump’s decision to add his name to the checks sent by the U.S. Treasury to millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus marked the first time a president’s name appeared on any IRS payments. Former chairman of state-owned bank China Everbright Group jailed for 12 years for corruption BEIJING (AP) — Chinese official broadcaster CCTV says a former chairman of the state-owned bank China Everbright Group has been jailed 12 years for embezzlement and bribery. Tang Shuangning, who had also held senior posts at the People’s Bank of China and the China Banking Regulatory Commission, was arrested in January, part of a wider wave of prosecutions of senior officials accused of financial crimes. A court in the city of Tangshan, about 100 miles east of Beijing, found him guilty of taking advantage of his position at the state-owned bank in “seeking convenience for others” in jobs and loans, in exchange for illegal payments. The court said he had accepted illegal property with a total value of more than $1.5 million. Trustee over Infowars auction asks court to approve The Onion's winning bid A trustee who oversaw the bankruptcy auction of Alex Jones’ Infowars is asking a judge to approve The Onion’s winning bid for the conspiracy-filled platform. Trustee Christopher Murray took the stand Tuesday in the second day of testimony at a hearing where a judge is scrutinizing the satirical news outlet’s winning offer. He told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston that he was there asking a court to approve the sale of Infowars’ parent company to The Onion’s parent company. It is not clear how quickly Lopez will rule. The Onion wants to turn Infowars’ website and social media accounts into parodies. GM to retreat from robotaxis and stop funding its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit DETROIT (AP) — General Motors says it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. Instead the Detroit automaker will focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. In a statement Tuesday, GM said it would get out of robotaxis due to what it described as the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market. What did you Google in 2024? From the elections to Copa América, here's what search trends show NEW YORK (AP) — Remember what you searched for in 2024? Google does. Google has released its annual “Year in Search," rounding up 2024's top trending searches. It shows terms that saw the highest spike in traffic compared to last year. Sports — particularly soccer and cricket — dominated overall search trends, led by queries for Copa América, the UEFA European Championship and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the U.S. election led news-specific searches worldwide. Queries about excessive heat and this year’s Olympic Games followed. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump topped searches in Google’s people category this year — followed by Catherine, Princess of Wales, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. US defense secretary in Japan to support alliance as Osprey aircraft safety causes concern TOKYO (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has met with officials in Japan to reaffirm the importance of their alliance and Washington's commitment to regional security as threats rise from China and North Korea. Austin’s visit on Tuesday also came amid growing concerns over the safety of Ospreys. The military aircraft have been grounded in the United States following a near crash at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico last month. The incident was caused by weakened metal components. It was similar to a fatal crash off southwestern Japan last year. The U.S. measure prompted the suspension of Ospreys operated by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force. Small businesses plan events, start marketing earlier to deal with shorter holiday shopping season The holiday shopping season is underway, and this year small businesses have less time to capitalize on the busy shopping period. Only 27 days separate Thanksgiving and Christmas — five fewer than last year. But there are still ways to make the most of a shorter season. One key strategy is for owners to promote deals to customers wherever they can, from social media to physical ads. The National Retail Federation predicts that retail sales will rise between 2.5% and 3.5% compared with same period a year ago. Online shopping is expected to grow too. Adobe Digital Insights predicts an 8.4% increase online for the full season. 10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania Trump NEW YORK (AP) — Even through a year of nonstop news about elections, climate change, protests and the price of eggs, Americans still found time to read. Sales held steady according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market. Many chose the release of romance, fantasy and romantasy. Some picked up the tie-in book to Taylor Swift’s blockbuster tour, which had the best opening week of 2024. Others sought out literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, political exposes and a close and painful look at a generation hooked on smartphones. Boeing is building new 737 Max planes for the first time since workers went on strike Boeing is resuming production of its bestselling plane, the 737 Max. It's the first time that Max jets have moved down the assembly line since September, when about 33,000 workers went on strike for higher pay. Boeing said Tuesday that work on the Max has resumed at its factory in Renton, Washington, near Seattle. Both the Max and another Boeing plane, the 787 Dreamliner, have been plagued by manufacturing problems in recent years. The Federal Aviation Administration is limiting Boeing’s production of Max jets until the agency is convinced that Boeing has corrected quality and safety issues during manufacturing.

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