online casino game presenter Former US President, Jimmy Carter, Dies at 100Sen. Mitch McConnell said Thursday he will oversee defense spending once he relinquishes his long-running post as Senate Republican leader, a decision ensuring that Maine Sen. Susan Collins will take over as the chamber’s top appropriator. The Kentucky Republican will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The role dovetails with his constant message that America needs a bulked-up military to deter threats from adversaries such as Russia, Iran and China. The transition comes as McConnell is ending his role as the longest-serving Senate leader in history, just as Republicans prepare to take majority control of the chamber after big gains in this month’s election. Republicans elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune, a top deputy to McConnell, as the next Senate majority leader. McConnell’s move clears the way for Collins, a centrist Republican, to take the chair of the full Senate Appropriations Committee. There was speculation in the spring that McConnell could elect to use his seniority to take the top spot on the panel, but Collins has said all along that she anticipated taking the gavel in early 2025 if Republicans won Senate control. The Maine senator will be well positioned to bring federal money to her home state, which was the top recipient in the first round of earmarks after Collins took the leading Republican spot on the panel following the 2022 election. Her ascension on the committee was one of her top selling points during a heated 2020 campaign against Democrat Sara Gideon. Fighting back against isolationism within his own party, McConnell has championed sending weapons and other aid to Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s invasion. That stance could clash with President-elect Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine on foreign affairs. The outgoing top Republican is also a team player who worked with Trump on a tax cuts package and the appointment of conservative judges — including three justices to the nine-member Supreme Court — during Trump’s first term as president. McConnell said Thursday he’s also set to become chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, a more low-key panel at the center of big issues, both at the Capitol and in the country. It puts McConnell in positions to affect business on key topics, namely federal elections and voting rights as well as the procedures of the Senate, including the debate around the filibuster. “Defending the Senate as an institution and protecting the right to political speech in our elections remain among my longest-standing priorities,” he said. Story by Bruce Schreiner. BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.

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OSWEGO, N.Y., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- James A. Dowd, President and CEO of Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc., the bank holding company of Pathfinder Bank (NASDAQ: PBHC) (listing: PathBcp), has announced that the Company has declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share on the Company's voting common and non-voting common stock, and a cash dividend of $0.10 per notional share for the issued warrant relating to the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2024. The fourth quarter 2024 dividend will be payable to all shareholders of record on January 17, 2025 and will be paid on February 7, 2025. About Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. Pathfinder Bank is a New York State chartered commercial bank headquartered in Oswego, whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ SmallCap Market; symbol: PBHC, listing: PathBcp). The Bank has twelve full service offices located in its market areas consisting of Oswego and Onondaga County and one limited purpose office in Oneida County. This release may contain certain forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current expectations regarding economic, legislative, and regulatory issues that may impact the Company's earnings in future periods. Factors that could cause future results to vary materially from current management expectations include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, loan demand, real estate values, and competition; changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; changes in legislation or regulation; and economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting the Company's operations, pricing, products, and services. CONTACT: James A. Dowd, President and CEO, (315) 343-0057With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised the Nato and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a Nato-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war”. His main rival in the election, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.Another American-based big-leaguer is kicking in cash to incoming President-elect Donald Trump 's January inaugural fund. Ford Motor Company , headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., will donate $1 million as well as a fleet of vehicles for the festivities, a spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Monday. Earlier this month, Ford CEO Jim Farley told reporters his leadership team is carefully watching for policy changes in Washington but isn’t panicked about Trump returns to the presidency, The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network reported. It was not immediately known what vehicles Ford plans to donate to the Jan. 20 inauguration at the United States Capitol. But during a press event at Michigan Central Station in Detroit, Farley said Ford expects changes in tariffs, emissions regulations and tax benefits for people who buy electric vehicles . “After 120 years, we’re pretty experienced with policy change,” Farley said, adding nearly 14% of Ford’s November sales in the U.S. were hybrid or electric vehicles. “I think Ford is very well-positioned." During past visits to Michigan, Trump has met with the company's executive chair Bill Ford Jr . Ford CEO Farley: Automaker is well-positioned for whatever policy changes Trump brings How many Ford vehicles are hybrid or electric? Almost one out of five vehicles in Ford's lineup globally is now a hybrid or electric vehicle, Farley said earlier this month. "What I’m excited about is working with the administration to make sure that we’re rewarded for our commitment to America and Michigan," he said. “Ford’s employment profile and importance in the U.S. economy and manufacturing, you can imagine the administration will be very interested in Ford’s point of view." Who else has donated money to Trump's inauguration festivities? Other companies including Jeff Bezos’ Amazon and social media giant Meta, the owner or Facebook and Instagram , have donated millions to Trump’s inauguration. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated $1 million, USA TODAY reported earlier this month. Zuckerburg has sought to repair his relationship with the incoming president and other Republican leaders over the last few months after he received backfire nearly four years ago for banning the former president on Meta’s platforms following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Billionaire Bezos said he would also give $1 million, according to multiple reports . It was not immediately known how much Trump has raised for his upcoming inauguration, but Reuters reported he raised a record $106.7 million for his 2017 launch while President Joe Biden raised more than $61 billion for his 2021 inauguration fund. Contributing: Reuters, USA TODAY reporter Karissa Waddick and Phoebe Wall Howard, special to the Detroit Free Press Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

The integration of artificial intelligence into international development is beginning to move from speculative discussion to practical application. At the 2024 Australasian AID Conference, one session explored how AI tools are being developed and tested to enhance development policy and programming, with potentially interesting implications for how aid organisations analyse problems and make decisions. Two organisations with an interest in this field – Dragonfly Thinking and the Development Intelligence Lab — demonstrated how structured AI applications could augment “analog” (that is, human) analysis while avoiding some of the pitfalls commonly associated with AI adoption. Miranda Forsyth, co-founder of Dragonfly Thinking and a professor at ANU’s School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), described her journey from AI sceptic to innovator. Despite being “one of the most non-technological people around,” Forsyth’s collaboration with Professor Anthea Roberts led to the development of an AI platform that helps users think through complex development challenges. At the heart of their approach is the “Triple R Framework” – based on an examination of risks, rewards, and resilience. Unlike binary or pro-versus-con approaches such as SWOT or cost-benefit analysis, this framework adds a third dimension, resilience, that takes into account how systems change over time. Risks arise at the intersection of threats, vulnerabilities and exposure, while rewards arise at the intersection of opportunities, capabilities and access. The resilience element involves three distinct capacities: absorptive (for immediate responses), adaptive (for real-time strategy adjustments), and transformative (for system-level changes). What distinguishes Dragonfly Thinking from conventional AI tools is its cognitive architecture, which is layered over large language models like ChatGPT. Rather than simply generating responses, the system guides users through a process of structured analysis and incorporates multiple perspectives – much like its namesake insect’s compound eyes, which provide 360-degree vision. Forsyth demonstrated the platform’s application to a consideration of sorcery accusation-related violence in Papua New Guinea, showing how it could help analyse social media’s role in either driving or preventing violence. The system helps users think through immediate threats (like viral videos of violence), exposure factors and vulnerabilities, as well as opportunities for human rights defenders to counter harmful narratives. The Canberra-based Development Intelligence Lab has been experimenting with this technology over the past year, testing whether combining “analog analysts” (again, those are people) with AI can produce better policy analysis. CEO Bridi Rice shared results from an experiment where analysts with no particular expertise in development economics, under time pressure, were tasked with analysing middle-income traps in Southeast Asia. Within just two hours, using the Dragonfly platform, the team produced an analysis that development economists validated as providing solid insights. Notably, the AI-assisted analysis offered a more comprehensive view than some human analysts might have, given their self-recognised tendency to focus predominantly on either risks or opportunities, depending on their disciplinary background. Rice emphasised that the tool’s primary value lies not so much in the efficiency gains it offers but in its ability to help people “think better” and, perhaps, make better decisions. While acknowledging serious concerns about AI bias – particularly in relation to Western knowledge dominance and the limited incorporation of local perspectives – she argued that the technology shows promise in overcoming some of the disciplinary and institutional biases that can plague policy discussions. The organisations’ experience offered some lessons for development organisations considering AI adoption. First, while AI can enhance efficiency in routine tasks such as document synthesis, its greatest potential might lie in improving the quality of analytical and decision-making processes. Second, while bias remains a significant concern, structured analytical frameworks can also help reveal and potentially overcome certain types of institutional and disciplinary biases. It was noted that one of the more promising aspects of the technology could be its potential to enhance local voice and perspective in development decision-making – not least as a result of AI’s rapidly advancing translation capability. The Development Intelligence Lab’s “Southeast Asia Pulse Check” project, which aggregates expert insights from up to 50 people in each Southeast Asian country, demonstrates how AI tools might help bridge the gap between local knowledge and policy formulation. This could be particularly valuable for smaller nations that lack extensive research and policy analysis capability. The platform’s ability to analyse issues from multiple perspectives could also help address a common criticism of development programming – that it often reflects donor preconceptions rather than local realities. By systematically incorporating different viewpoints and knowledge systems, AI-assisted analysis could help development practitioners better understand and respond to local contexts. Both organisations announced initiatives for 2025, including an “AI in development” discussion group open to practitioners and researchers, and opportunities for other organisations to partner with them on using the technology for specific policy challenges. They’re also working to incorporate more diverse knowledge sources and perspectives into the system, including exploring ways to better capture and integrate oral knowledge and indigenous perspectives. However, some difficult questions remain about AI’s role in development. These include managing its intensive energy requirements – with AI searches consuming approximately ten times the energy of standard internet searches – and ensuring appropriate incorporation of indigenous and local knowledge. Both presenters were at pains to emphasise that AI should complement rather than replace deep consultation and local engagement in development program design and implementation. A further consideration is how to maintain appropriate human oversight as these tools become more sophisticated. As Rice noted, while some senior policy makers are already impressed with the quality of AI-assisted analysis, the goal is to enhance rather than replace human judgment in decision-making. AI is an assistive technology, not a replacement for human experience and judgement. The development community — like pretty much all other non-corporate users — will also need to grapple with questions of access and equity in AI adoption. As tools become more sophisticated and valuable for policy analysis and program design, ensuring equitable access across different development organisations and contexts will be crucial. This includes considering how smaller organisations and those in developing countries can benefit from these technologies without being disadvantaged by resource constraints. So far, the collaboration between Dragonfly Thinking and the Development Intelligence Lab suggests that thoughtful AI adoption, focused on augmenting rather than replacing human capabilities, has the potential to help development practitioners navigate increasingly complex challenges more effectively. This article appeared first on Devpolicy Blog (devpolicy.org), from the Development Policy Centre at The Australian National University. n Robin Davies is a Professor of the Australian National University and Editor of the Devpolicy Blog. The views expressed are his and are not necessarily shared by this newspaper.West Michigan native to finish college football career in Big Ten

Turkish and Russian envoys discuss latest developments in Syria

Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada -- leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not. By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington's closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disruptor-in-chief. His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China. But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the "art of the deal" -- and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad. "It's hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest soundbite that will be heard around the world," said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent. "He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not," he told AFP. The idea of buying Greenland is not a new one for Trump. He also raised the prospect of purchasing the vast strategic island, a Danish territory, during his first term in office. He revived his push over the weekend when naming his ambassador to Copenhagen, saying the "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for US national security. But he received the same answer this time as he did then, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede saying on Monday that the resource-rich island was "not for sale." Yet his most headline-grabbing remarks have been on Panama, as he slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through and threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal be returned to Washington. Trump said on Sunday that if Panama did not agree "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America -- in full, quickly and without question." He also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, which was built by the United States in 1914 to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was returned to Panama under a 1977 deal. Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's threats, saying that "every square meter" of the canal would remain in Panamanian hands. Trump responded on TruthSocial: "We'll see about that!" Trump also teased neighboring Canada last week that it would be a "great idea" to become the 51st US state -- but against a dark backdrop of threatened tariffs. Sesno said it was hard for other countries to know how to deal with Trump's comments. "Well, it's clearly a joke. Or is it? said Sesno. "Imagine if you're the President of Panama, how do you react to something like that? You can't ignore it and your country will not let you. So the ripple effect of these comments is extraordinary." Trump's harsh treatment of US allies also stands in stark contrast to his repeated praise for the leaders of US foes -- including Russia's Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 in a bid for a land-grab. But there is still likely to be method behind Trump's rhetoric. "Maybe the message is for China" when Trump talks about buying Greenland, said Stephanie Pezard, senior political scientist with the Rand Corporation. Just as Trump expressed concern about Beijing's influence in Panama, China's growing presence in the Arctic and its ties with Russia were "something that the US is really worried about," Pezard told AFP. But there could also be a signal to Denmark that 'If you're too friendly with China, you'll find us in your way" -- even though Denmark and Greenland had been "very good NATO allies." And perhaps Trump knows the reality. Any US plan to "buy" Greenland would be unfeasible "not just in international law but more broadly in the global order that the US has been trying to uphold," she said. dk/bgsUN General Assembly calls for 'unconditional' ceasefire in Gaza

German GDP downgraded in new blow for struggling economyAlgonquin Power & Utilities Corp. ( TSE:AQN – Get Free Report ) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, November 7th, Zacks Dividends reports. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.088 per share on Wednesday, January 15th. This represents a $0.35 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. Algonquin Power & Utilities Trading Up 0.2 % AQN opened at C$6.43 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$4.93 billion, a PE ratio of 29.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 108.48, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.37. Algonquin Power & Utilities has a fifty-two week low of C$6.12 and a fifty-two week high of C$9.28. The company’s 50-day moving average is C$6.67 and its 200 day moving average is C$7.43. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Janney Montgomery Scott raised Algonquin Power & Utilities to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$5.50. Insider Transactions at Algonquin Power & Utilities In other Algonquin Power & Utilities news, Director Christopher Huskilson bought 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$6.65 per share, for a total transaction of C$166,252.50. Also, Director David Levenson purchased 62,000 shares of Algonquin Power & Utilities stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of C$6.45 per share, with a total value of C$399,900.00. Company insiders own 0.06% of the company’s stock. Algonquin Power & Utilities Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. operates in the power and utility industries in the United States, Canada, and other regions. The company operates in two segments, Regulated Services Group and Renewable Energy Group. The company primarily owns and operates a regulated electric, water distribution and wastewater collection, and natural gas utility systems and transmission operations. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Algonquin Power & Utilities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Algonquin Power & Utilities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Brittany Mahomes made sure to support her husband Patrick as the Kansas City Chiefs played against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 29. She was joined by her two kids, daughter Sterling Skye, 3, and son Patrick "Bronze," who turned 2 on Thanksgiving. As she shared a number of moments from the match on social media, Brittany looked over the moon as the Chiefs won 19—17 at the Arrowhead Stadium. The mom-of-two wore Chiefs colors of red, white and black, with a particularly striking pair of patent leather red boots with a stiletto heel. Her kids kept close to her amid the busy environment, no doubt excited to see their father play, although they looked overstimulated as they stood by the pitch. Sterling could be seen putting her hands over her ears in one photo, although her mom held her close to reassure her that everything was okay. Like their mom, Sterling and Bronze wore Chiefs colors to support their dad, with black hooded jackets and red accents; the eldest opted for a bright red bow in her long blonde curly hair. Fans took to the comments to comment on the pitchside photos, with one person commenting that they were "The most adorable Mommy and babes!" Another fan added: "Look how Bronze keeps watching the field!! Love it!!" One person observed: "Beautiful pics of Brittany, as always. I sure worry about the kids' ears. Sterling is covering them and looks a bit miserable in so many pics." Their sentiment was echoed by others who suggested the family invest in some headphones for the kids. But one person set the discussion to rest: "WOW! So many negative comments!" "Pictures capture a moment, not the whole story," they continued. "Judging someone based on a single snapshot is like reading one sentence of a book and thinking you understand the entire plot. Don’t be judgmental if you don’t know the whole story." One person reshared the photos of Brittany and pointed out she was wrangling two toddlers while pregnant and wearing heels, and "looking STUNNING while doing it." Patrick and Brittany announced that they were expecting their third child in a joint Instagram Reel on July 12. The couple revealed the sex of their unborn child on July 20, sharing a video on social media. Patrick, Brittany, and their two kids all gathered to play "tic tac tell", revealing the baby would be a girl.

’Tis the season to be jolly. And yes, that means even you crazy, miserable leftists who are dyeing your hair purple and declaring a “sex strike” over the outcome of the last election. In all fairness, however, your “sex strike” just may be the greatest present you ever gave. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And we mean thank you not only on a personal level on behalf of all those good people spared such unpleasant conjugations, but also on a societal level. By that one act alone, you are doing your part to make America great again. So, thank you. And truly, even on a larger level. On behalf of humanity everywhere, thank you. Every now and then, it is not bad to run a little filter through the human gene pool — so long as it is entirely voluntary. “Voluntary” is one of those things crazy, miserable leftists reserve only for themselves. Anyway, your self-discipline does not go unnoticed, and it is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking one for the team. Team human. Team America. And team your unfortunate boyfriend. Or whatever. Since this is that time of year when receiving gifts is even better than giving them, please consider this our gift to you as well. At long last, you finally deserve to feel a little smug about yourselves. Indeed, one of the most baffling things about crazy miserable leftists is their general tendency toward smugness in politics, especially when they are not on a “sex strike.” Always with the lectures and high-handed moralizing about everything. We are the “fascists,” according to them, even though they are the most intolerant people to have ever lived. And their unbridled arrogance is outweighed only by their unlimited ignorance. Yet somehow, we are the stupid fascists. They often call us “fascists” even as they cheer the back-of-the-head slaying of a health care executive and swoon over the swarthy good looks of the man charged with murder in the killing. Best-looking murder suspect since the Boston Marathon bombers and Che Guevara, their favorite communist mass murderer, who was also a seething racist. Apparently, the smelly inbred unibrow look is back! If anything, this last election should have been clarifying and instructive, even for the dumbest leftists among us. The incumbent party intentionally unleashed one of the greatest human tragedies in modern times. Out of pure political pique, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris opened America’s borders. They handed control over to the most evil, destructive and rapacious drug gangs and warlords in the Western Hemisphere. They turned America’s highways into corridors of slavery, human trafficking and child sex-peddling. Tens of thousands — if not hundreds of thousands — of migrant children went missing into the clutches of unspeakable misery and abuse. All of this is under the intentional policies and careful watch of Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris. Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris openly and proudly handed control of the borders to criminal drug gangs who made billions of dollars by importing drugs that killed hundreds of thousands of American citizens. They turned America into an open-air prison where rapists and killers roamed free, often fed, transported and housed entirely at taxpayers’ expense. That is who these crazy purple-haired, sex-striking leftists voted for. These are the policies they voted to continue. And they walk around wagging their fingers at the rest of us as if we are the dumb ones, the fascists, the “threats to democracy.” So in this season of joy and gratitude, we celebrate your failure and subsequent celibacy. May all your failures be manifold and may your celibacy reign forever. Merry , you filthy animals. Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. .Two of Japan’s largest automakers – Nissan and Honda – announced on Monday that they plan to work toward a merger, which would make the combined entity the third-largest vehicle manufacturer in the world. The announcement comes at a time when the global automotive industry is undergoing a major shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. Experts say this proposed merger could change the landscape for consumers everywhere, including here in Canada. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors Corp. also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Dimitry Anastakis, a professor at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, said, “It shows you that there is a lot of consolidation that’s happening in the auto sector.” Anastakis likened this to the creation of Stellantis in 2021, formed after the merger of Peugeot and Chrysler. While Honda has had a diverse range of offerings, they have been lagging behind in the race to dominate the EV market. “They do motorcycles, they do lawnmowers, they do ATVs, they do robots. They do all kinds of stuff, like a lot of Japanese companies. But they didn’t move that quickly into the EV sector,” Anastakis said. Automakers in Japan have lagged behind their big rivals in electric vehicles and are trying to cut costs and make up for lost time as newcomers like China’s BYD and EV market leader Tesla grow. Anastakis said, “The Chinese are further along in the segment. They’re able to offer less expensive cars.” One exception among Japanese EV manufacturers is Nissan, which had some success in the sector with the Nissan Leaf. “When they launched the Leaf, it became the most successful EV pretty much up until 2018, which is not that long ago, you know, it was only recently surpassed by Tesla,” he said. If Honda gets Nissan’s EV capacity, what does Nissan get in return? Anastakis said, “They get financial stability, which is what they need because since COVID, Nissan has really fallen a little bit behind.” Honda’s president, Toshihiro Mibe, said Honda and Nissan will attempt to unify their operations under a joint holding company. The Associated Press reported that Honda will lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. They aim to have a formal merger agreement by June and to complete the deal and list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026, he said. No dollar value was given and the formal talks are just starting, Mibe said. There are “points that need to be studied and discussed,” he said in the Associated Press report. “Frankly speaking, the possibility of this not being implemented is not zero.” A merger could result in a behemoth worth more than $50 billion based on the market capitalization of all three automakers. Together, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi would gain scale to compete with Toyota Motor Corp. and with Germany’s Volkswagen AG. Toyota has technology partnerships with Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. Despite its toehold in the EV market, Nissan’s presence in North America has been limited. Erik Johnson, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said, “Almost all of that presence is focused in the United States and Mexico. They produce about a million vehicles (a year) between those countries. But they’re certainly not a player in the Canadian production space.” According to Driving.ca, the Nissan Leaf sold 1,469 units in Canada in 2022. Meanwhile, Tesla maintained its lead on the market with 24,400 units sold in 2022 and 36,900 in 2023. But Canadian demand for EVs is rising fast. According to analysis by S&P Global , Canada saw a 57 per cent rise in Battery Electric Vehicle registrations and 75 per cent rise in registrations of plug-in hybrids. This growth of the segment in Canada is significantly faster than in the United States. While Canadians are getting more interested in EVs, they remain too costly for many. The two best selling EVs in Canada – the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y – cost around $55,000 and $63,000 respectively. The Nissan Leaf can cost over $41,000 in Canada. Anastakis said, “EVs are expensive because this is a new technology. You have to spend billions and billions and billions of dollars just before you sell the first vehicle.” But as more and more companies pool resources and combine expertise, EVs could get cheaper to build over the next few years. “Japanese automakers have really found their footing in making mass market reliable, relatively more affordable vehicles,” Johnson said. With Canada having imposed tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, Canadian consumers could see more choices in cheap, mass-produced Japanese EVs as an alternative to their Chinese counterparts in the coming years if the merger goes ahead. Johnson said this merger could also spur Honda and Nissan’s biggest competitor – Toyota – into action. “(This may even) spur a little bit of competition from Toyota by bringing new kinds of battery electric vehicles to market faster. In the North American auto space, that could meaningfully change the competition landscape and lead to more affordable vehicles,” he said. Honda’s internal combustion engine sales in Canada remain robust. The company sold 112,535 cars in Canada in 2023, according to Driving.ca. Though its market share is still not back to pre-pandemic levels, the company saw an increase in sales of 22 per cent. Now, Honda wants to put its resources towards getting a bigger share of the EV pie. In April, Honda announced a $15 billion investment in an EV plant in Ontario , which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described as “historic.” With the two auto giants combining strengths, Johnson said Canadians should watch out for whether Nissan plans to increase its manufacturing bases in North America. “Is there going to be some potential here for some of Nissan’s production to be relocated either to the United States or Canada? So either increasing Nissan’s presence in the U.S. or maybe even adding a little bit more production capacity in Canada,” he said. On the other hand, he said observers shouldn’t discount the possibility that some production facilities might be restructured or consolidated as a result of the merger. According to Anastakis, however, Canada’s advantage as an EV manufacturing hub may come from an unlikely silver lining — the decline of the loonie. “The lower our dollar gets, the cheaper it is to make cars in Canada and the easier it is to sell cheap cars made in Canada outside of the country, which is one of the few silver linings of the declining dollar,” he said. –with files from Associated Press

Serie A table after Week 17: Atalanta on top, but Inter keep up pace

France's Macron announces fourth government of the yearHail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in MiamiCerity Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Robert Half Inc. ( NYSE:RHI – Free Report ) by 106.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 53,990 shares of the business services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 27,891 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC’s holdings in Robert Half were worth $3,639,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in RHI. Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in Robert Half by 489.4% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 389 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 323 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Robert Half in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Reston Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Robert Half during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new stake in Robert Half during the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Family Firm Inc. bought a new stake in Robert Half in the second quarter worth $45,000. 92.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Robert Half Price Performance RHI opened at $74.61 on Friday. Robert Half Inc. has a 1 year low of $57.05 and a 1 year high of $88.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.70 billion, a PE ratio of 27.23 and a beta of 1.23. The business’s 50-day moving average is $70.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.02. Robert Half Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 13th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 25th. Robert Half’s dividend payout ratio is currently 77.37%. Insider Buying and Selling at Robert Half In other Robert Half news, Director Dirk A. Kempthorne sold 1,032 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.35, for a total transaction of $76,729.20. Following the transaction, the director now owns 12,310 shares in the company, valued at approximately $915,248.50. This represents a 7.73 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . 3.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Robert Half from $70.00 to $69.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Robert Half presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $69.00. Check Out Our Latest Report on Robert Half Robert Half Company Profile ( Free Report ) Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti segments. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RHI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Robert Half Inc. ( NYSE:RHI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Robert Half Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Robert Half and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .