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Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda's U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse? Researchers and watchdog groups say the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce detailed and novel online reviews has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory. Phony reviews have long plagued many popular consumer websites, such as Amazon and Yelp. But AI-infused text generation tools enable fraudsters to produce reviews faster and in greater volume, according to tech industry experts. The deceptive practice is illegal in the U.S. and becomes a bigger problem for consumers during the holiday shopping season, when many people rely on reviews to buy gifts. A tech company and watchdog group that uses software to detect fake reviews says AI-generated reviews have multiplied. Romanian lawmakers narrowly approve new pro-European coalition during period of political turmoil BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian lawmakers have voted narrowly in favor of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move on Monday could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in the 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party, the center-right National Liberal Party, the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government on Monday night. Government regulators close investigation into Ford Focus recalls Government safety regulators are closing an investigation into two previous recalls of the Ford Focus after determining that Ford Motor Co. has satisfied its concerns. Ford recalled around 1.5 million Ford Focus sedans from the 2012-2018 model years in 2018 because they could lose power. The issue was a malfunctioning canister purge valve and software that didn’t adequately detect when it was stuck open. Ford fixed the software in two separate recalls, but after cars continued to stall, the government opened an inquiry last year. Earlier this fall, Ford offered to replace the canister purge valve on all of the vehicles, satisfying regulators' concerns. AI will eavesdrop on world's wildest places to track and help protect endangered wildlife PUERTO JIMÉNEZ, Costa Rica (AP) — A biologist hid 350 audio monitors across Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests to spy on endangered spider monkeys in order to help protect them. But she had to go back to collect the data and feed those sounds into artificial intelligence systems that can recognize monkey calls. Now tech giant Microsoft's philanthropic arm is hoping to supercharge AI-assisted wildlife research with new solar-powered devices that can capture sounds, images and other wilderness data for a year or more without human intervention. Researchers say more AI wildlife surveillance is urgently needed to monitor the health of species at risk of extinction.Silvercorp Intercepts 34 grams per tonne gold and 4.45 percent copper over 0.82 metres at the LMW Mine, China
Jimmy Spithill introduces his new Red Bull Italy SailGP Team
British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday in favour of plans to introduce some of the world’s strictest anti-smoking rules, giving the green light for the bill to progress to the next parliamentary stage. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to make vapes less appealing and would ensure anyone aged 15 this year, or younger would be banned from ever buying cigarettes. After a lengthy debate in the parliament’s House of Commons, a total of 415 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill while 47 voted against it. It would ban vape advertising and the sale of vapes in vending machines, as well as restricting vape packaging and flavours that overtly appeal to children and young people, such as bubble gum and cotton candy. “The number of children vaping is growing at an alarming rate and without urgent intervention, we’re going to have a generation of children with long-term addiction,” Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting said. The previous Conservative government announced similar measures to create the first smoke-free generation. However, those plans failed to become law before the general election in the summer. “Whatever our views on this bill are, it is a bold legislation of good intention,” Caroline Johnson, the Conservative shadow minister for health, told parliament ahead of the vote. “It’s not clear whether it will work but we have to all hope ... that it does.” There was some criticism of the bill, including concerns around its impact on civil liberties. Conservative lawmaker Robert Jenrick said on X that he voted against it, adding: “Educate more, ban less. Say no to the nanny state.” The bill will now go to the committee stage ahead of the third reading in the House of Commons. It will then move to the House of Lords before receiving the “Royal Assent” – a formality that does not involve further debate. Subject to consultation, the new bill would give the government powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces, such as children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals. Britain banned smoking in almost all enclosed public spaces, including bars and workplaces, in 2007. The government previously abandoned plans for a ban on smoking outside pubs and cafes after concerns were raised about the impact on the hospitality industry. The bill would introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape and nicotine products, and fines of £200 ($251.04) to retailers found to be selling these products to people underage. Expanding the use of standardised packaging to all tobacco products will also be explored. “Tobacco still causes around 160 cancer cases every day in the UK,” said Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK. “But with strong political will and bold action, these staggering numbers can be turned around.”Advertisement Agility Robotics CEO Peggy Johnson says humanoid robots are filling some labor gaps. The company's Digit robots began "working" inside factories this year. Agility Robotics is hoping to deploy Digit across industries like grocery, automotive, and pharma. Robots are coming for our jobs — at least the repetitive, back-breaking jobs humans increasingly don't want to do. Peggy Johnson, the Silicon Valley veteran who became chief executive of Agility Robotics earlier this year, said to Business Insider that it'll soon be "very normal" for humanoid robots to become coworkers with humans across a range of workplaces. Related Video Many factories in the US are struggling to recruit workers amid a labor shortage that Deloitte predicts could cost the economy as much as $1 trillion by 2030. In January this year, there were 622,000 manufacturing jobs that hadn't been filled, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Enter the robots. "First in the business-enterprise space because that's where the need is highest. And then, as Digit learns new skills, it'll start to be able to go beyond logistics and manufacturing facilities and eventually, somewhere way down the line is consumer robots," Johnson said in an interview at the Web Summit tech event in Lisbon, Portugal, earlier this month. Advertisement Digit is Agility Robotics' mobile manipulation humanoid robot. It stands at 5' 9" and has hands designed to grip and carry objects. Its backward-folding legs allow it to maneuver around a workspace. Digit also has animated LED eyes that act as indicators to its human coworkers to let them know which function it's about to perform next. This year, Digit became the first humanoid robot to be "paid" for performing a job. Agility Robotics signed a multiyear deal with GXO Logistics for Digit to be deployed in its Spanx womenswear factories, moving boxes known as totes and placing them onto conveyor belts. Related stories Agility Robotics charges a monthly fee, similar to a software-as-a-service model, which includes the Digit robot, its work cell, and the robot's operating software. Advertisement While Agility Robotics hasn't disclosed the exact amount its Digit robots are paid, the company has previously said that GXO is estimated to see a return on its investment within two years, based on the equivalent of a human working an hourly rate of $30. Johnson said that any company that requires material handling — be it pharmaceutical or grocery — could make use of a workforce of Digits. "Mobile phones started first in the enterprise space because there was an ROI for a salesperson not to stop and find a phone," Johnson said. "That will happen with robots." Advertisement Ford is testing how Digit could enable robot curbside-to-door delivery. Ford Amazon began testing Digit in its warehouse operations last year. Ford is looking at how it can deploy Digit with its autonomous vehicle technology to create a "last-mile" delivery service. Most recently, Agility Robotics struck a deal with German automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler , which also made a minority investment in the company. Agility Robotics has raised around $178 million in investment to date, a spokesperson said. It competes with the likes of Apptronik , which is working with NASA on humanoid robots, and Boston Dynamics, which has created humanoid robots called Atlas that it says can run and jump over obstacles, as well as perform factory worker tasks . Agility Robotics' humanoid robots are currently only permitted to work inside a specific, cordoned-off space separate from human workers. But Johnson said that by mid-2025, the next-generation version of Digit would be able to safely operate around humans. The company is aiming for the new model to be commercially available within 18 to 24 months. Advertisement A 2023 Gallup poll found that around a fifth of US workers were worried that their jobs would become obsolete because of technology, up from 15% of workers polled in 2021. Johnson said Agility Robotics hadn't had pushback from the likes of workers' unions despite advancements in the number of human-like tasks Digit can perform. Widespread deployment of humanoid robots is still some way off, however. "I think they also recognize that these are jobs that they haven't been able to fill," Johnson said. "We tend to think of it as augmenting humans and not replacing humans — it's just taking some of the tasks off their plate." Hype and misleading marketing videos are 'not great' for the robotics industry While Digit robots are starting to be tested in some workplaces, Johnson said getting them to perform tasks around the home, like folding laundry, will take a while longer. Advertisement "A household is a very chaotic environment: At any given moment a child's ball runs across the room, and dogs run by, there's things that are in the way," Johnson said. "Warehouses are much more disciplined." Johnson previously held senior roles at Microsoft and Qualcomm and was most recently the CEO of augmented reality startup Magic Leap. She joined Agility Robotics in March 2024. Agility Robotics Johnson said the data gathered by robots working in warehouses will eventually be used to train consumer robots. But she added that she wants Agility Robotics to focus on demonstrating what its technology can actually perform today — rather than the concept videos used by some of its competitors. Robotics videos and demos at trade shows and events are often highly choreographed, she said. For instance, Tesla's humanoid Optimus bots at last month's robotaxi event were remotely operated by humans behind the scenes . Advertisement An image of Tesla's Optimus robot serving drinks at the company's "We, Robot" event. The robots were remotely controlled by humans. Tesla "The hype, in general, is not great for the industry because people think it's somehow not here and now," Johnson said. "My job is to say, no, it is here and now. Humanoids are deployed right now and are getting paid to do work." Agility Robotics takes a similarly cautious approach to its application of artificial intelligence, which is deep in the hype stage. Johnson described the company as "AI agnostic," as it uses various models in reinforcement learning to help fine-tune Digit's leg movements and help it recognize and carry out various tasks. "Many companies in the robotics space think, well, now that AI is here, I can just build a complete AI stack. We think that is very dangerous right now," Johnson said. "The problem is, just asking ChatGPT a question — it doesn't always answer exactly right. Can you imagine if what it's telling it to do is move an arm around and these things are human forms, 5' 9", 160 pounds? They have a lot of force."Spotlight on Robinhood Markets: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity
Big Ten slate features Indiana-Ohio State showdown and Penn State-Minnesota matchup Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference: No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP ) at No. 2 Ohio State (9-1, 6-1, No. 2 CFP), Saturday, noon ET (Fox) This marks the 98th matchup between these two teams, but it's only the fourth time both teams have been ranked. Although Indiana is unbeaten, its soft schedule means the Hoosiers aren't assured of making the 12-team field if they lose this game. The only team with a winning record that Indiana has beaten is Washington (6-5). Ohio State needs a win to have a realistic shot at a rematch with top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State has beaten Indiana 28 straight times since the Hoosiers posted back-to-back victories in 1987-88. No. 4 Penn State (9-1, 6-1, No. 4 CFP) at Minnesota (6-4, 4-3), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) This is likely Penn State's biggest obstacle on its way to a potential playoff berth. The Nittany Lions' lone remaining regular-season game is a Nov. 30 home matchup with Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Minnesota has had an extra week to prepare this game since its 26-19 loss at Rutgers on Nov. 9, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Penn State and Minnesota have split their last four meetings, with the home team winning each time. Penn State DE Abdul Carter has multiple tackles for loss in each of his last three games. He ranks second among all Bowl Subdivision players in tackles for loss (17 1⁄2). Southern California RB Woody Marks rushed for a career-high 146 yards in a 28-20 win over Nebraska. Marks has six 100-yard rushing performances this season. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai is the first Scarlet Knight to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Ray Rice did it three straight years from 2005-07. Monangai has run for 1,028 yards this season and rushed for 1,262 yards last year. Oregon OLB Matayo Uiagalelei recorded a sack and had a game-clinching interception as the top-ranked Ducks won 16-13 at Wisconsin last week. He has 8 1⁄2 sacks this season to rank second in the Big Ten. Four of the top seven Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks in passer rating are from the Big Ten. Indiana's Kurtis Rourke is second, Ohio State's Will Howard is third, Penn State's Drew Allar is fifth and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel is seventh. ... Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has thrown 18 touchdown passes with only three interceptions. The only Power Four quarterback with a better touchdown/interception ratio while throwing at least 10 touchdown passes is Clemson's Cade Klubnik, who has 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Rutgers' three Big Ten wins matches its largest total since joining the league in 2014. Rutgers also had three conference wins in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023. A victory Saturday over No. 24 Illinois would give Rutgers three straight Big Ten wins for the first time. ... Washington's 31-19 win over UCLA was its 20th straight home victory, representing its second-longest such streak in school history. The Huskies won 45 straight home games from 1908-17. ... Wisconsin heads to Nebraska this week having won its last 10 matchups with the Cornhuskers. Penn State justifiably is favored on the road against Minnesota, but Bet MGM's 12 1⁄2-point spread seems way too big. Expect this game to have a single-digit margin. Get local news delivered to your inbox!China's getting a big electric car battery swapping boost in 2025. Would that work across the globe?
Two Maryland politicians are being considered to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, vying to lead a political party that is rebuilding after November losses in the White House and both chambers of Congress. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and nonprofit executive-turned Senate hopeful Robert Houton are on the increasingly long list of candidates vying to lead the DNC following its Feb. 1 election to replace outgoing Chair Jaime Harrison. Author and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson was the latest competitor to launch her bid Thursday . O’Malley, Houton and Williamson represent wildly different political figures and are reflective of the growing list of DNC chair candidates. The field also includes Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin and Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler. O’Malley, who served as mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007 before becoming governor and launching a failed presidential bid in 2016, has chalked up the party’s 2024 defeat to its leaders growing out of touch with everyday Americans on “kitchen table” issues such as the economy. He has touted his record as chair of the Democratic Governors Association — which he did while in Annapolis from 2011 to 2012 — and repeatedly called for rejecting “the politics of fear.” “It’s time to get back to the party of FDR. The party that says there is nothing to fear but fear itself,” O’Malley wrote on X/Twitter Dec. 5 upon announcing his bid. O’Malley has received endorsements from both of Maryland’s incumbent senators, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Senate-elect Angela Alsobrooks. Houton has a more colorful recent political history. A relative unknown from Bethesda, he campaigned on tackling opioid abuse in Maryland’s 2024 Democratic Senate primary but garnered less than 2,000 votes — just 0.29% — of the vote in Maryland’s 2024 Democratic Senate primary, a race dominated by eventual Senate-elect Alsobrooks and Rep. David Trone. Despite hoping to become the party’s nominee against former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan, Houton ultimately endorsed Hogan in October while calling out Alsobrooks for what he called a campaign based on “lying, fear-mongering, name-calling and blame-gaming.” Thus far, Houton has not received the endorsement of any Maryland big wigs, but still has time to campaign before the party selects its new chair during its annual winter meeting in National Harbor, Prince George’s County. The ultimate choice for DNC chair will be tasked with rebuilding a party in the political wilderness — Republicans will hold a trifecta in the 119th Congress — amidst criticisms it has lost sight of pivotal working-class voters. ©2024 The Baltimore Sun. Visit at baltimoresun.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Former D.C. police officer found guilty of tipping off Proud Boys leader ahead of Jan 6
AZAMGARH: Phoolmati, 57, and her brother Laldhar, two years her elder, hugged for the first time in 49 years on Thursday. It was a poignant moment that had improbability written all over it since the day an eight-year-old girl in pigtails who still couldn't pronounce her father's name became a memory frozen in time - as much in her own mind as her family's. All that Phoolmati could recollect since her life took a fateful turn in 1975 were two names and a landmark - Chiutidand, her native village in UP; Ramchandar, her maternal uncle; and a well in the courtyard of her grandparents' house. A man dressed as a sadhu had convinced her to accompany him to a village fair, but took her to Moradabad instead, where she was "sold" to a much older groom. She became a mother to a son some years after the underage marriage, lost her husband not much later, and slipped into a life of struggle and drudgery that would have remained so but for an extraordinary twist that every lost-and-found story needs. Woman credits headmistress for reunion As Phoolmati's journey climaxed in a family reunion in Vedpur village of UP's Azamgarh, she poured her gratitude on the school headmistress who kickstarted the search for her antecedents and the police team that made it possible. Phoolmati, who cooks midday meals in a primary school at Pajawa in Rampur's Bilaspur, confided in Dr Pooja Rani about her early life. When the teacher searched "Chiutidand" on the web, she learnt that the village in Mau was earlier part of Azamgarh. She contacted Azamgarh Police and passed on the other details. Police ferried Phoolmati and her son Sompal to Vedpur to reunite her with her youngest brother Ramhit, 85. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .Katie Miller will join the Trump administration ’s much-watched non-governmental Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, the president-elect announced on Sunday, where she will join Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in attempting to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal budget. “She has been a loyal supporter of mine for many years, and will bring her professional experience to Government Efficiency,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Katie is a deeply experienced communications professional respected by all. Congratulations to Stephen and Katie!” Miller is married to immigration hardliner Stephen Miller , one of the architects of the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” family separation policies, who will serve as Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy. She previously served as press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence. Musk and Trump have variously described DOGE’s plans as seeking between $500 million and $2 trillion in annual cuts to the federal budget. The DOGE is not an actual department of the federal government, and its spending recommendations would need congressional approval to take effect. The president-elect has compared the effort to the Manhattan Project to build the atomic bomb, claiming it will “dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies — Essential to the ‘Save America; Movement.” The DOGE team, which duplicates existing government anti-waste and fraud efforts within the Government Accountability Office and Office of Management and Budget, has singled out the Internal Revenue Service , Planned Parenthood, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and federal employees who work from home as targets for its planned cuts . The effort puts Musk in particular in a complicated and unprecedented position , as both the richest man in the world, a central presidential adviser, and a businessman with an estimated $15.4 billion in federal government contracts over the last decade across companies like Tesla and SpaceX. Musk has clashed with a variety of federal agencies he might now slash, ranging from highway regulators investigating Tesla after crashes, to accusing the Federal Communications Commission of “contemptible political lawfare,” after it determined SpaceX wasn’t eligible for $900 million in government subsidies for its Starlink internet program. Despite talks of a corresponding DOGE caucus and House subcommittee forming in caucus, observers have raised alarms over the Trump-Musk coalition’s ineffectual governance, after Congress twice rejected Trump- or Musk-backed spending proposals before reaching a last-minute deal to avert a government shutdown before Congress. The conservative stalwarts at the Wall Street Journal editorial board claimed the recent “budget fiasco” sent “bad omens” for the year ahead.
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo believes narrow loss to Bills shows potential of his young team
A wild first season of the expanded Big 12 is down to what should be a chaotic final weekend. Through all the upsets, unexpected rises and falls, there are nine teams still in the mix to play in the conference championship game. No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State have the best odds, yet a multitude of scenarios could play out — 256 to be exact. There's even the possibility of an eight-team tie. It may take a mathematician to figure out which teams are in the Dec. 7 game in Arlington, Texas — even for the ones who win. Travis Hunter, Colorado. The Buffaloes' two-way star has excelled on both sides of the field, making him one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State. The senior running back can do a little of everything, but excels at punishing would-be tacklers. He's one of the nation's leaders in yards after contact and the focal point of the Sun Devils' offense. Shadeur Sanders, Colorado. If it weren't for Hunter, Sanders might be the Heisman favorite. The son of coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur is fifth nationally with 3,488 yards passing and has been a big part of the Buffaloes' turnaround. DJ Giddens, Kansas State. The Wildcats' running back is one of the nation's most versatile players. He is ninth nationally with 1,271 rushing yards and has added 21 receptions for 258 yards. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona. The Wildcats have struggled this season, but McMillan has not. He is third nationally with 1,251 receiving yards with seven touchdowns on 78 catches. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' junior linebacker leads the Big 12 with 68 tackles, averaging 10.2 per game. He also has four sacks. Brendan Mott, Kansas State. He's a menace to opposing quarterbacks, leading the Big 12 with 8 1/2 sacks. The Big 12 has nine teams already bowl eligible and two more a win away. The winner of the Big 12 championship game will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot. Arizona State, Iowa State, No. 19 BYU, Colorado, Kansas State, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia have already clinched bowl berths. Kansas and Cincinnati can get into the postseason with wins this weekend. Gus Malzahn, UCF. Despite successes in recruiting, the Knights are 10-14 in two seasons since moving to the Big 12. Maybe not enough to get shown the door this year, but another mediocre season could lead UCF to make a change. Kyle Whittingham, Utah. Whittingham was one of the Pac-12's best coaches, leading the Utes to consecutive conference titles. Utah was expected to contend for the Big 12 title its first year in the league, but enters the final weekend 1-7 in conference play, which could push Whittingham toward retirement since it's doubtful he'd be fired. Neal Brown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers' coach was in a precarious spot at the end of last season and West Virginia hasn't lived up to expectations this season. The Mountaineers are eligible to go to a bowl game for the second straight season, but Brown could be on the hot seat even after signing a contract extension before the season. Josiah Trotter, West Virginia. The redshirt freshman is the latest Trotter to have success at the linebacker position, following the footsteps of his father, former Philadelphia Eagles player Jeremiah Trotter, and brother Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a current Eagles linebacker. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State. The Michigan State transfer has been just what the Sun Devils' needed: an agile quarterback who extends plays with his legs and rarely makes bad decisions. Bryson Washington, Baylor. The Bears' running back has rushed for 812 yards — 196 against TCU — and 10 TDs. TCU has the Big 12's highest rated 2025 recruiting class with six four-star players among 26 commitments, according to the 247 Sports composite. Receiver Terry Shelton of Carrollton, Texas, is the highest-rated recruit at 71st nationally. Baylor is next with five five-star players among its 20 commitments, including running back Michael Turner, rated 13th at his position out of North Richland Hills, Texas. Texas Tech is ranked seventh in the Big 12, but has four four-star recruits. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Mastercard has launched a digital payments-focused partnership with Türkiye-based FinTech company Dgpays . The collaboration is aimed at promoting the adoption of digital payment solutions for consumers and businesses in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EEMEA), per a Wednesday (Dec. 18) news release . As part of the partnership, Mastercard and Dgpays will develop payment technologies and loyalty solutions designed for needs of markets across the region. Mastercard will also make a minority investment in Dgpays, the release added. The focus of the effort will be on streamlining access to digital payments, ensuring secure and practical solutions to improve convenience and build trust among consumers and businesses. “By combining Mastercard’s global network with Dgpays’ local expertise, we are creating a platform for innovation that will transform how payments are made and experienced across the EEMEA region,” said Dimitrios Dosis , Mastercard’s president for the region. “We extend our sincere thanks to the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye for their valuable support in making this collaboration possible.” The partnership follows a recent collaboration between Mastercard and Equifax designed to provide fraud management tools to businesses in Latin America (excluding Brazil). The companies will offer these tools to financial institutions, payment service providers, acquiring banks and merchants in the region via Equifax’s Kount Payment Fraud solution, providing identity verification, fraud risk assessment, order validation and alerting services. In other digital payments news, PYMNTS wrote Wednesday about a challenge facing the industry : enhancing user experience while fighting sophisticated fraud. “There’s a lot of emphasis on doing things as frictionless as possible,” Sunny Thakkar , head of global fraud, disputes and authentication products at Worldpay , told PYMNTS during an interview for the “ What’s Next in Payments: The Payments Circle of Trust and Risk ” series. “People have become used to really instant payments ,” Thakkar said, adding that risk management historically required deliberate processes to secure accuracy. “The challenge is maintaining a fast user experience while managing the inherent risks of eCommerce.” Technological advancements are key to this effort, that report said. By tapping passive signals like device information, geolocation and behavioral biometrics, companies can develop risk models without saddling users with excessive verification steps. These innovations not only bolster security but also meet consumers’ expectations for frictionless transactions, Thakkar told PYMNTS.
The US president-elect has already announced plans to hit China, Canada and Mexico with tariffs as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. But he has indicated he is prepared to use tariffs far more widely as part of his plan to protect American industry. Mr Trump has suggested he wants to increase tariffs on goods imported from around the world by 10% or 20%, rising to 60% on items from China. The UK could retaliate in the form of tariffs targeted at symbolically important US products such as whiskey, blue jeans and motorbikes – hitting brands like Jack Daniel’s, Levi’s and Harley-Davidson – as Britain and the European Union did during trade wars in Mr Trump’s first term in the White House. Mr Reynolds would not be drawn on what actions he would take but insisted the UK was prepared. He told the Commons Business and Trade Committee: “This is the big question facing global trading relationships.” The UK should be an advocate for “open, transparent, free trading relationships around the world”, he said. “Yes, it’s true to say, if any country imposed tariffs on UK companies exporting, it would hurt our companies. “But let’s also remember that it also hurts the consumers in whatever country are being asked to pay those tariffs. And there’s an inflationary pressure, there’s an impact on the cost of living.” The Cabinet minister acknowledged that a 20% tariffs on goods exported to the US would result in a “not insignificant” impact on UK economic growth. Asked if the Government had options ready to respond to tariffs from Mr Trump, the minister said: “I wouldn’t want to speculate, but the committee should assume that all eventualities have been prepared for.” The options in any dispute would be to do nothing, retaliate or negotiate. Asked if retaliatory tariffs on goods such as Harley-Davidson bikes were already prepared, the Trade Secretary said: “You would expect this department to prepare for every eventuality. But I think we should just be a little bit sensitive at this stage about speculating about how we would respond to something which hasn’t happened.” Mr Reynolds said the trade deficits with the US in relation to other European countries did not apply to the UK so Mr Trump might not feel the need to act in the same way as he would with other nations. He said: “There are a whole range of areas where we, as a country, I think could and should – if we could do it – welcome closer trading relationships with the US. “The US is a fundamental ally of ours. We have an incredibly strong trading relationship as it stands, and when I look to areas like services, technology, critical minerals, if there was the opportunity to work more closely together, I don’t think anyone should turn around immediately and say ‘not interested in that’.” He acknowledged there were “challenges” in seeking a closer trading relationship, or even a free-trade deal, which would have knock-on impacts with other important markets for the UK in the EU and China. “I don’t see the need at this stage to rule anything out or in, but to be realistic about where our national interest lies and being frank with the committee about the fact that any negotiation in any major principal market that we might do has to be considered not in isolation, but its relationship to other key markets, and what the consequences of that negotiation would mean for business and trade in those areas.” But he insisted he did not see the coming years as a “binary choice” between trading more closely with the US or EU.SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — After snapping a two-game losing streak, Iowa State still has a chance to play for a Big 12 title. But the No. 22 Cyclones cannot afford to lose against Utah on Saturday. Beating a Utes team mired in a six-game losing streak will be harder than it appears at first glance. Utah (4-6, 1-6 Big 12) has not scored more than 24 points against any Big 12 opponent this season. But the Utes are also one of the toughest defensive teams in the league. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
Detroit (AP) — China will soon see a massive expansion of electric vehicle battery swapping, as global battery maker CATL said Wednesday it is investing heavily in stations there next year. Battery swapping is not new — but it's had a challenging journey. Adoption of electric vehicles has varied in regions across the globe over the past several years, and that doesn't always bode well for building new infrastructure. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.PARAMUS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2024-- As President of MC 2, Kevin Nalepka will oversee its daily business operations throughout North America and internationally including the development and execution of all corporate decisions through the guidance of its senior management team. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219173319/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) In this new role, Kevin will drive all corporate affairs as the leading voice for the company embodying its corporate vision through critical decision making and ensuring positive financial health while meeting all expectations set forth by CEO, Don Lee and MCH Group stakeholders. Furthermore, as President of MC 2, Kevin Nalepka will work diligently to maintain the brand’s commitment to customer excellence providing a premier level of attention to its brand portfolio and partners alike. CEO, Don Lee states, “It was quick for me to understand Kevin’s impact with our clients, partners, and most importantly, our employees.” Don continues, “I am both excited and enthusiastically prepared to see Kevin step into the role of President further continuing our company’s journey within the United States and overseas.” Having held numerous leadership roles in sales, operations, and account management, Kevin has continuously delivered through various goal-oriented results throughout the most welcoming and challenging of market conditions. Regarding his recent appointment as President, Kevin states, “Over the last decade, it has been an honor to witness some of the most talented and dedicated professionals within our industry produce incredible results day in and day out.” He continues, “In a year where our company is celebrating its 25th anniversary, I am excited to see what this group can achieve in the years to come – together.” About MC 2 /Em-Cee-Squared/ We were born in the sawdust. We are builders and producers creating connections through branded spaces. Our passion for pushing boundaries and creating new opportunities has only grown; today, through our imagination, new technology, and an expanded global footprint, so have our clients. Now, MC2 is an award-winning brand experience solutions agency. Through strategic insight, inspiring design, and seamless execution, we help clients thrive in a constantly changing world. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219173319/en/ CONTACT: For Media Inquiries: Bruno M. Silva Vice President, Marketing bsilva@mc-2.com (201) 321-6929 KEYWORD: NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MARKETING ADVERTISING COMMUNICATIONS SOURCE: MC2 Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/19/2024 06:56 PM/DISC: 12/19/2024 06:55 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219173319/en