NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-25-2024 7AM EST

Episode Date: November 25, 2024

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Support for this podcast and the following message come from Autograph Collection Hotels, with over 300 independent hotels around the world, each exactly like nothing else. Autograph Collection is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotel brands. Find the unforgettable at autographcollection.com. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. Over the past few days, President-elect Donald Trump has finished picking members of his cabinet that includes Brooke Rollins for Agriculture Secretary. She's the CEO of a think tank that promotes Trump's policy agenda.

Trump tapped former Texas state lawmaker Scott Turner for housing and urban development. And he chose Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-Duriemer for labor. There's still a lot of focus on other picks, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services. And Pierce Lou Garrett says he has drawn attention for his opposition to vaccines. Piers Lou Garrett, P.J. Kennedy has received bipartisan criticism for these anti-vaccine stances. He hasn't yet visited Capitol Hill or met with senators, but since his nomination, he

has found some support or just openness among bipartisan members of Congress. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker posted a video on social media criticizing U.S. food systems, saying, quote, food in America is making us sick, end quote. While Booker did not mention R.F.K. Jr. by name, this message does echo portions of Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again agenda. NPR's Luke Garrett reporting. Business forecasters are projecting slightly stronger economic growth next year than they were a few months ago. NPR's Scott Horsley reports on the latest survey from the National Association for Business Economics.

On average, the forecasters surveyed expect the U.S. economy to grow about 2 percent next year, slightly faster than they were projecting back in September. Forecasters expect employers to keep adding jobs every month, albeit at a slower pace, while the unemployment rate is projected to inch up, from 4.1 to 4.3 percent. Most of those surveyed think the economy will avoid a recession next year. They expect Congress to extend the 2017 tax cuts and perhaps cut taxes even further. About a third of the forecasters cited widening geopolitical conflicts, as the biggest risk to the economy, about half, pointed to stronger productivity

as offering the best chance for a positive surprise. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. China really wants tourists, so much so that the country just extended visa-free entry for up to one month to tourists from nine more countries, including Japan. And Piers Emily Fang has more. China does not have a lot of love for Japan. Imperial Japan invaded China before World War II and occupied parts of China for years, brutalizing civilians. But China does need Japan's tourism dollars right now, as China's economy fails to revive and consumer spending at home plateaus.

In total, China has granted visa-free access to tourists from 38 countries now, though that offer does not extend to American citizens. China is eager to open borders up to visitors again after nearly three years of COVID lockdowns, and it's also trying to soften its image globally as tensions with the US continue, and make the case that China is still a country worth investing in, even as domestically political controls tighten. Emily Fang, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Officials in Lithuania say a DHL cargo plane crashed as it was approaching the capital Vilnius today and then skidded into a house. One of the crew was killed and the other three were hurt.

Lithuanian officials say they're investigating. Delegates from scores of nations are meeting in South Korea to discuss how to handle growing plastic pollution. The delegates are reviewing ways that plastic is designed, used, and where it ends up. The UN says plastic is choking the planet. Holiday season is here and with it comes the feasts. NPR's Regina Barber reports on how some people may be counteracting big meals in unhealthy ways. A hospital group in Florida, Orlando Health, recently surveyed over a thousand Americans

nationally and found that during the holidays, the tactics to stay healthy might be counterproductive. One in four people surveyed thought it was a good idea to skip meals in preparation of a large holiday feast. Dietitians actually advised people to eat regularly to help people not overeat during one meal. The survey also found that a third of participants felt they needed to detox themselves after overeating. Dietitians stress that that is not needed and could even be harmful,

because the body's kidneys and livers are experts at doing that detox. Lastly, health professionals say enjoy the holidays. Only eating one healthy meal or one high in calories isn't going to change your health dramatically. Regina Barber, NPR News. The motoring club AAA projects that nearly 80 million people will travel for Thanksgiving this year. The group expects to see records set for airline and automobile trips. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.