( ), ( ) and Mitsubishi on Monday confirmed they are in talks regarding a possible merger at a time of auto industry upheaval. Honda stock tried to regain a key level on Tuesday after jumping on the merger news. The possible three-way merger would see Japan's second and third biggest carmakers join forces, along with smaller Mitsubishi. That combination would create the world's third largest automaker by annual sales, behind only Japanese peer Toyota Motor ( ) and German giant Volkswagen ( ). Embattled car giants Honda and Nissan hope to stave off falling sales and intensifying competition. Their joint statement on Monday alluded to "dramatic changes in the environment surrounding both companies and the automotive industry," a likely reference to these powerful forces gaining strength: : Legacy auto giants are in the middle of a massive shift from gas and diesel cars to electric and hybrid vehicles in a bid to lower polluting emissions. Newer vehicles are also increasingly software defined. All this adds up to steep development costs. By merging, Honda and Nissan could jointly develop such vehicles and use common platforms to share and optimize costs. Cost saving is especially important for the co right now. Both Honda and Nissan's sales are in a sharp two-year slump. Honda posted a steep quarterly profit drop in November, mainly due to a challenging Chinese market. : Chinese EV makers continue to rise in the domestic and overseas markets. China dominates global EV supply chains and subsidizes its EV industry, with its automakers churning out affordable electric cars. Affordable doesn't necessarily mean cheap. Chinese EV giant ( ) and its startup peers, including ( ) and ( ), make technology-driven electric cars. Korean EV makers like Hyundai and Kia are also on the rise. By comparison, Japan's auto giants are trying to catch up in fully battery electric vehicles, though they are leaders in hybrid cars. A merger could improve efficiencies in their EV investments. : Analysts at Morgan Stanley identified a third force forcing Honda and Nissan to consider a merger: the rise of semi autonomous or fully autonomous vehicles. Tesla and some of its Chinese rivals are the clear leaders in vehicle autonomy, with . Maturing autonomous technologies have placed Nissan and Honda under new pressure to fund AI and software development, the Morgan Stanley analysts said. They noted Tesla's doubling to $1.5 trillion market capitalization in the span of six weeks, adding: "If the age of autonomy has truly arrived, then things will move very fast from here." Honda Stock, Nissan Stock And EV Stocks Shares of Honda Motor popped nearly 1% in Tuesday's . Honda stock tested the falling 50-day moving average after jumping nearly 13% on Monday after the possible merger confirmation. The stock has dropped 28% from a March high, and carries a very weak IBD Composite Rating of 38. Nissan stock popped more than 7% on Friday, extending its rally above the 50-day line and giving it a 27% gain for December. Tesla stock climbed 5%, extending Monday's rally on solid EV delivery news. China EV stocks, including Tesla archrival BYD, traded broadly higher.Conman who targeted Central Illinois investors gets 15 years
A try, a scrap with a star and a trophy from grandma: Sione’s incredible day
Inflation is predicted to average 2.5% this year and 2.6% next year, according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The British Medical Association said the Government showed a “poor grasp” of unresolved issues from two years of industrial action, and the Royal College of Nursing called the pay recommendation “deeply offensive”. The National Education Union’s chief said teachers were “putting the Government on notice” that the proposed increase “won’t do”. The pay recommendations came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves called for every Government department to cut costs by 5%, as she started work on a sweeping multi-year spending review to be published in 2025. Independent pay review bodies will consider the proposals for pay rises for teachers, NHS workers and senior civil servants. The Department of Health said it viewed 2.8% as a “reasonable amount” to set aside, in its recommendations to the NHS Pay Review Body and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration Board remit groups. A 2.8% pay rise for teachers in 2025/26 would “maintain the competitiveness of teachers’ pay despite the challenging financial backdrop the Government is facing”, the Department for Education said. The Cabinet Office also suggested pay increases for senior civil servants should be kept to no more than 2.8%. Paul Johnson, director of the influential economics think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said it was “not a bad ballpark figure” and feels “just about affordable” given the Government’s public spending plans. The downside, he said, is that public sector workers have lost out since 2010 and unions will be upset that this is not making up the gap, he told Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge. “But given the constraints facing the Chancellor I think it’s pretty hard to argue for more for public sector pay when public sector services ... are under real strain,” he said. Unions expressed their disappointment in the recommendations, with some hinting they could be willing to launch industrial action. The Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive called for “open direct talks now” to avoid “further escalation to disputes and ballots”. Professor Nicola Ranger said: “The Government has today told nursing staff they are worth as little as £2 extra a day, less than the price of a coffee. “Nursing is in crisis – there are fewer joining and too many experienced professionals leaving. This is deeply offensive to nursing staff, detrimental to their patients and contradictory to hopes of rebuilding the NHS. “The public understands the value of nursing and they know that meaningful reform of the NHS requires addressing the crisis in nursing. “We pulled out of the Pay Review Body process, alongside other unions, because it is not the route to address the current crisis. “That has been demonstrated today. “Fair pay must be matched by structural reform. Let’s open direct talks now and avoid further escalation to disputes and ballots – I have said that directly to government today.” Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association’s council, urged the sector’s pay review body to “show it is now truly independent”. “For this Government to give evidence to the doctors’ and dentists’ pay review body (DDRB) believing a 2.8% pay rise is enough, indicates a poor grasp of the unresolved issues from two years of industrial action,” he said. He said the proposal is far below the current rate of inflation and that the Government was “under no illusion” when doctors accepted pay offers in the summer that there was a “very real risk of further industrial action” if “pay erosion” was not addressed in future pay rounds. “This sub-inflationary suggestion from the current Government serves as a test to the DDRB. “The BMA expects it to take this opportunity to show it is now truly independent, to take an objective view of the evidence it receives from all parties, not just the Government, and to make an offer that reflects the value of doctors’ skills and expertise in a global market, and that moves them visibly further along the path to full pay restoration.” The NEU’s general secretary, Daniel Kebede, said teachers’ pay had been cut by more than one-fifth in real terms since 2010. “Along with sky-high workload, the pay cuts have resulted in a devastating recruitment and retention crisis. Teacher shortages across the school system hit pupils and parents too. “A 2.8% increase is likely to be below inflation and behind wage increases in the wider economy. This will only deepen the crisis in education.” In a hint that there could be a return to industrial action he added: “NEU members fought to win the pay increases of 2023 and 2024. “We are putting the Government on notice. Our members care deeply about education and feel the depth of the crisis. This won’t do.” The offer for teachers is the “exact opposite of fixing the foundations” and will result in bigger class sizes and more cuts to the curriculum, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The inadequacy of the proposed pay award is compounded by the Government’s intention that schools should foot the bill out of their existing allocations. “Given that per-pupil funding will increase on average by less than 1% next year, and the Government’s proposal is for an unfunded 2.8% pay award, it is obvious that this is in fact an announcement of further school cuts.” Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: This recommendation falls far short of what is needed to restore the competitiveness of the teaching profession, to enable it to retain experienced professionals and attract new talent. Unison head of health Helga Pile said: “The Government has inherited a financial mess from its predecessors, but this is not what NHS workers wanted to hear. “Staff are crucial in turning around the fortunes of the NHS. Improving performance is a key Government pledge, but the pay rise proposed is barely above the cost of living.”
Man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare chief appears in court in Pennsylvania
Stock market today: Stocks climb to record highs as Fed members point to December rate cutda-kuk Rigetti Computing ( NASDAQ: RGTI ) represents what I believe is a high-risk, high-reward opportunity in the quantum computing space. In the past six weeks, the share price has increased over 100%, followed by a sharp increase in volume, especially in the last few Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of RGTI either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Center-Left Victory: Yamandu Orsi Claims Leadership in Uruguay's Elections
Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 10.12.2024
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Naidu in Delhi for AB Vajpayee’s centenary birth anniversary celebration
Georgia Bureau of Investigation charges man in 1985 church killings after original suspect exoneratedI’m a Celeb: Dean McCullough faces fish gut fear as he and Coleen Rooney tackle latest Bushtucker TrialSoccer star Cristiano Ronaldo takes family to Lapland for Christmas vacation Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo said it was “just a little cold” as he posed bare-chested in the snow before taking an icy dip in a pool during a Christmas vacation in Finland’s Lapland region. Canadian Press Dec 24, 2024 2:34 PM Dec 24, 2024 2:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE - Morocco's Bilal El Khannous, right, fights for the ball with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Morocco and Portugal, at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File) Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo said it was “just a little cold” as he posed bare-chested in the snow before taking an icy dip in a pool during a Christmas vacation in Finland’s Lapland region. The 39-year-old Portuguese international traveled with partner Georgina Rodriguez and their children, who met Santa Claus in a 10-minute video posted online by Ronaldo on Tuesday. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United great appeared to decline to ski with his family. He wished his followers — including 645 million on Instagram — a “Merry Christmas” in Spanish. The Al-Nassr striker is on a winter break from the Saudi Pro League until Jan. 9. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Soccer Iran restores access to WhatsApp and Google Play after they were banned amid protests Dec 24, 2024 11:24 AM Iran restores access to WhatsApp and Google Play after they were banned amid protests Dec 24, 2024 10:14 AM Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game Dec 24, 2024 9:56 AM
Percentages: FG .431, FT .654. 3-Point Goals: 10-27, .370 (Vaughns 4-6, Holt 4-10, Neal 2-5, Nunn 0-1, Skytta 0-4). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 1 (Beatty). Turnovers: 11 (Skytta 5, Beatty 2, Holt, Nunn, Vaughns, Williams). Steals: 5 (Brewer 2, Holt, Neal, Vaughns). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .472, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 7-26, .269 (Ola-Joseph 2-7, Mahoney 1-3, Petraitis 1-3, Tucker 1-3, Stojakovic 1-4, Wilkinson 1-6). Team Rebounds: 8. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 5 (Dort, Petraitis, Sissoko, Stojakovic, Wilkinson). Turnovers: 12 (Stojakovic 3, Wilkinson 3, Sissoko 2, Tucker 2, Ola-Joseph, Petraitis). Steals: 6 (Petraitis 3, Dort 2, Stojakovic). Technical Fouls: Sissoko, 00:26 second. .Luigi Nicholas Mangione, 26, emerged from a patrol car, spun toward reporters and shouted something partly unintelligible, yelling “insult to the intelligence of the American people” while officers pushed him inside. Mangione is contesting his extradition back to New York. He was denied bail at the brief hearing. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead during the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was told to be quiet by his lawyer Thomas Dickey. Mr Dickey questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Mangione will continue to be housed at a state prison in Huntingdon. Mangione is being held in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said on Tuesday it will seek a Governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition to Manhattan. Under state law, New York Governor Kathy Hochul can issue a warrant of arrest demanding Mangione’s return to the state. Such a warrant must recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance and be sealed with the state seal. It would then be presented to law enforcement in Pennsylvania to expedite Mangione’s return to New York. Peter Weeks, the Blair County district attorney, said he will work with New York officials to try to return Mangione there to face charges. Mr Weeks said the New York charges are “more serious” than those in Blair County. “We believe their charges take precedence,” Mr Weeks said, promising to do what is needed to accommodate New York’s prosecution first. As prosecutors on Tuesday were beginning to take steps to take Mangione back to New York to face the murder charge, new details emerged about his life and how he was captured. The Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family was charged with murder hours after he was arrested over the killing of Brian Thompson, 50, who led the United States’ largest medical insurance company. Mr Dickey had declined to comment before the hearing at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg. Mangione was likely motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said. He wrote that the US has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of his hand-written notes and social media posts. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, according to the police bulletin. Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania — about 230 miles (370km) west of New York City — after a McDonald’s customer recognised him and notified an employee, authorities said. Officers found him sitting at a back table, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint. He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he had been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake”, the complaint says. When he pulled his mask down at officers’ request, “we knew that was our guy,” Officer Tyler Frye said. Images of Mangione released on Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Mr Thompson and the same fake ID the gunman had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America”. A law enforcement official who was not authorised to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also had a line that said: “I do apologise for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Pennsylvania prosecutor Peter Weeks said in court that Mangione was found with a passport and 10,000 dollars (£7,839) in cash, 2,000 dollars of it in foreign currency. Mangione disputed the amount. Mr Thompson was killed on Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to see the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Mr Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9mm pistol. Investigators have said “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on ammunition found near Mr Thompson’s body. The words mimic “delay, deny, defend,” a phrase used to criticise the insurance industry. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the gunman quickly fled fled the city, likely by bus. A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. After his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder RJ Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Mr Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Mr Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. “He went surfing with RJ once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Mr Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Mr Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Mr Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Mr Martin stopped hearing from Mangione more than six months ago. New York governor Ms Hochul issued a statement on the shooting on Tuesday. “I’m deeply grateful to the men and women of law enforcement whose efforts to solve the horrific murder of Brian Thompson led to the arrest of a suspect in Pennsylvania,” she said. “I am co-ordinating with the District Attorney’s office and will sign a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable. “Public safety is my top priority and I’ll do everything in my power to keep the streets of New York safe.”
Faster, Smarter, and More Affordable – The U.S.-Made GEN3 Model Delivers Endless Hot Water, Exceptional Efficiency, and Adaptable Design for Every Home SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TrutanklessTM (OTC: TKLS), the premier name in residential electric tankless water heaters, proudly announces the launch of its highly anticipated GEN3 model. Known for its innovation and engineering excellence, Trutankless is back with a cutting-edge solution that promises unmatched reliability, efficiency, and performance for every household. The Trutankless GEN3, shipping now from a U.S.-based manufacturing partner, is built to meet the needs of today's homeowners, combining professional-grade durability with advanced technology for a superior user experience. With faster time-to-temperature – reaching the set point in just 15 seconds, twice as fast as previous models – the GEN3 delivers endless hot water with exceptional energy efficiency. Its sleek, compact, wall-mounted design saves up to 9 square feet of space compared to traditional tanks, making it ideal for modern homes. "Our goal with the GEN3 is to redefine what homeowners can expect from a water heater," said Guy Newman , CEO of Trutankless. "We've taken everything our customers love about Trutankless and made it even better, more reliable, more efficient, and more adaptable to modern living, while keeping affordability in focus." The Trutankless GEN3 is packed with features that set it apart: Every Trutankless GEN3 unit is engineered, tested, and built in the U.S. to meet the highest standards of quality. Backed by an industry-leading protection plan for sellers with a 5-year parts warranty and a 2-year full system warranty, GEN3 ensures long-term peace of mind for homeowners. Trutankless has a legacy of innovation, previously recognized as the Best Home Technology Product by the National Association of Home Builders. With GEN3, the brand continues to lead the electric tankless water heater industry, setting new benchmarks in performance and sustainability. The Trutankless GEN3 is available for purchase through authorized dealers and installers. For more information or to find a local installer, visit https://www.trutankless.com/ . About TrutanklessTM TrutanklessTM is a leading innovator in electric tankless water heating technology. Dedicated to providing efficient, reliable, and eco-friendly solutions, Trutankless continues to set the standard for performance and innovation in the residential water heating industry. https://www.instagram.com/trutankless/ https://www.facebook.com/trutankless https://www.linkedin.com/company/trutankless / View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trutankless-shipping-gen3-redefining-electric-tankless-water-heating-302320061.html SOURCE Trutankless, Inc.Analysis: Week 12 full of sloppy play, especially on special teams