529 college plan benefits are 'the eighth wonder of the world'

Associated Press
Proposals to repeal no-fault divorce cause concern even as efforts stall
Married couples across the U.S. have had access to no-fault divorce for more than 50 years, an option many call crucial to supporting domestic abuse victims and key to preventing already crowded family courts from drowning in complicated divorce proceedings. Trump — who is twice-divorced — hasn’t championed overhauling the country’s divorce laws, but in 2021 Vance lamented that divorce is too easily accessible, as have conservative podcasters and others.
Associated Press
Voters will choose judges for Mississippi's top courts in runoff elections
Mississippi voters will decide winners for one seat on the state Supreme Court and one on the state Court of Appeals. Runoff elections are Tuesday between candidates who advanced from the Nov. 5 general election. Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens is seeking a third term and is challenged by state Sen. Jenifer Branning.
Reuters
Myanmar rebel army ready for dialogue with junta, with China's help
An ethnic minority army that is part of formidable rebel alliance fighting Myanmar's ruling military has announced its willingness to hold talks with the junta after a year-long battle along the Myanmar-China border. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army's (TNLA) decision, announced late on Monday, comes as powerful neighbour China puts pressure on rebels amid the rapid degeneration of the military, which Beijing has long seen as a guarantor of stability. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted an elected government led by democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, sparking a resistance movement that began as peaceful protests and later evolved into an armed rebellion on multiple fronts.
AFP
Hong Kong same-sex couples win housing, inheritance rights
Hong Kong's LGBTQ community won a major victory Tuesday as the city's top court affirmed the housing and inheritance rights of same-sex couples, ruling against the government. - Housing and inheritance - Infinger and Li had previously won in lower courts, but the government in February took the cases to Hong Kong's highest appeals court.
AFP
Indonesia digs out as flooding, landslide death toll hits 20
Rescue workers in western Indonesia used heavy equipment on Tuesday to dig out from weekend flooding and landslides that have killed at least 20 people, the national disaster agency said."All victims have been found dead," he said Tuesday, adding that 10 people in all had been killed in a Karo district landslide.
Associated Press
Imran Khan supporters breach lockdown in Pakistani capital as government threatens to open fire
Supporters seeking the release of imprisoned Pakistani former premier Imran Khan on Tuesday broke through a ring of shipping containers locking down the capital Islamabad, battled police, and ignored a government threat to respond with gunfire. Scores more have been injured, including journalists who were attacked by Khan supporters. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and broke his camera.
USA TODAY
Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor announces resignation ahead of Trump presidency
US Attorney Damian Williams has led the Southern District of New York in high-profile prosecutions involving public corruption since 2021.
AFP
As AI gets real, slow and steady wins the race
In the wake of ChatGPT's dramatic arrival two years ago, companies are excited about generative AI's possibilities but heading into 2025 with careful deliberation rather than rushing to transform their operations.- 'Verify everything' - While AI excels at basic tasks like searching legal databases and generating simple summaries, more complex work requires careful human oversight.
CNN
Pakistani police fire tear gas as thousands supporting Imran Khan arrive near capital
Pakistani police Monday fired tear gas canisters at supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to stop them from entering the capital, where they hoped to stage a sit-in to demand his release, officials said.
CNN
Trump ups the ante on tariffs, vowing massive taxes on goods from Mexico, Canada and China on Day 1
President-elect Donald Trump on Monday promised massive hikes in tariffs on goods coming from Mexico, Canada and China starting on the first day of his administration, a policy that could sharply increase costs for American businesses and consumers.
USA TODAY
Ryan Borgwardt likely wouldn’t face significant jail time after staging death, experts say
Experts say a Wisconsin man accused of faking his own death and fleeing the country might face a misdemeanor charge if he returns home.
AFP
China's Huawei to launch 'milestone' smartphone with homegrown OS
Chinese tech giant Huawei will on Tuesday launch its first smartphone equipped with a fully homegrown operating system, a key test in the firm's fight to challenge the dominance of Western juggernauts."HarmonyOS Next is the first home-grown operating system, a milestone for China to move away from reliance on Western technologies for software with performance improvement," Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis, told AFP. But, "while Chinese firms may be willing to allocate resources to contribu
Associated Press
South Korean man convicted for deliberately gaining weight to evade military service
A South Korean man has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for deliberately gaining more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) to evade a tougher role in the country’s military conscription system, a Seoul court said Tuesday. In South Korea, all able-bodied men must serve in the military for 18-21 months, but individuals with health issues can instead carry out their duties at non-military facilities such as welfare centers and community service centers. If their problems are serious, they are exempted from their military duties.
Reuters
Russia advances in Ukraine at fast pace, moving into Kurakhove, analysts say
Russian forces have been advancing in Ukraine at the fastest pace since the early months of the war, are moving into the strategic town of Kurakhove and have been exploiting vulnerabilities of Kyiv troops, analysts said on Monday. "Russian forces recently have been advancing at a significantly quicker rate than they did in the entirety of 2023," analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a report. The report noted recent confirmed battlefield gains near Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka, which are in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.
Reuters
Factbox-Companies that might be affected by Trump's promised tariffs
Here are companies with a manufacturing presence in Mexico. Honda Motor sends 80% of its production in Mexico to the U.S. market and its chief operating officer Shinji Aoyama warned earlier this month if the U.S. were to impose permanent tariffs on vehicles imported from Mexico, it would have to think about shifting production. Nissan Motor has two plants in Mexico where it makes the Sentra, Versa and Kicks models for the U.S. market.
NBC News
Pilot known for animal rescue flights dies, along with one dog, in Catskills plane crash
A pilot known for transporting rescued dogs to shelter and care facilities died alongside a canine in a plane crash in New York state's Catskill Mountains on Sunday, authorities said.
AFP
Trump vows big tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China
US President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he intends to impose sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, prompting a swift warning from Beijing that "no one will win a trade war."While in the White House, Trump launched an all-out trade war with China, imposing significant tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods.
Associated Press
Small Japanese rocket engine explodes during a test but no injuries are reported
The fire, which was followed by an explosion and plumes of white smoke, followed an explosion last year by the same Epsilon S engine during a test, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported. There were no injuries, Kyodo reported, citing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which is investigating. Last year's explosion happened after a piece of metal melted and damaged part of the engine, Kyodo said.
Associated Press
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly fall on worries about Trump's tariffs
Asian shares mostly declined on Tuesday as worries spread over President-elect Donald Trump's comment that he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4% to 19,223.94, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.4% to 3,277.82. On Monday, stocks rose on Wall Street, with companies likely to benefit the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way.
NBC News
Trump says he plans to enact new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico on his first day in his office
President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said his incoming administration would slap new tariffs on imported goods from Mexico, Canada and China, solidifying a key campaign promise that could have a major impact on trade.

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