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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. 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 is expected to swear in the new government later Monday. Stock market today: Wall Street mixed at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stock indexes are mixed in afternoon trading on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 21 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Japanese automakers Honda Motor and Nissan Motor said they are talking about combining in a deal that might 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. 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. Many Americans have come to rely on Chinese-made drones. Now lawmakers want to ban them WASHINGTON (AP) — The economic and technological rivalry between the U.S. and China has come to the drone market, where Chinese-made flying devices are a dominant player in America. Lawmakers in Washington are seeking to ban new sales of Chinese-made drones, arguing they could be used to spy on Americans and that the low-cost models are hurting the U.S. drone industry. But U.S. users — spanning from police officers to farmers to mappers and filmmakers — have come to rely on Chinese-made drones, especially those by DJI Technology, for their work or lives. Florida has banned Chinese drones in state-funded programs, but also appropriated $25 million to help offset replacement costs.Which AI Chip Stock Is the Better Buy for 2025: Nvidia or Broadcom?

"We got to keep this sucker around for a little while," Trump told supporters on Sunday, just days after meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in Florida. Trump, who credits the wildly popular platform with delivering him a large young user base, opposes banning TikTok partly because he believes it would primarily benefit Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company behind Instagram and Facebook. The situation is complex, according to University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias, given the various potential solutions and Trump's unpredictable nature. Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation, signed by President Joe Biden in April, that would block TikTok from US app stores and web hosting services unless Beijing-based ByteDance sells its stake by January 19. US officials and lawmakers grew wary of the potential for the Chinese government to influence ByteDance or access the data of TikTok's American users. Even with Trump's decisive election victory and incoming Republican-led Congress, acquiescing to the president-elect's desire and preventing the ban faces significant hurdles. The law enjoyed rare bipartisan support in a divided Washington, making its outright repeal through a vote in Congress politically unlikely even with Trump's influence over Republicans. The Supreme Court may offer the clearest path forward. TikTok has appealed to the nation's highest court, arguing the law violates First Amendment rights to free speech. The court, which is dominated by Trump-aligned conservatives, will hear the case on January 10, just nine days before the ban takes effect. This follows a lower appeals court's unanimous decision to uphold the law in December. Another possibility, according to Tobias, is that a Trump-led Department of Justice could determine ByteDance has addressed the law's national security concerns. However, such a move would likely be seen as caving to China by Congress and others. The final option is ByteDance selling to a non-Chinese buyer, though the company has consistently refused this possibility. With 170 million monthly active users, acquiring TikTok's US operations would require substantial resources. As president, Trump could extend the ban deadline by 90 days to facilitate a transaction. Few potential buyers have emerged, with major tech companies likely deterred by antitrust concerns. Former Trump Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, who runs a private equity fund backed by Japan's SoftBank Group and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, has expressed interest. During a recent event with Trump, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son pledged to invest $100 billion in the US economy, though specific investments weren't detailed. Other contenders include US real estate billionaire Frank McCourt, who aims to make social media safer through his Project Liberty organization. Elon Musk, given his proximity to Trump and ownership of X, could also have a role to play, as he has expressed plans to transform the text-focused platform into something more like TikTok. A senior Republican lawmaker recently suggested Trump might orchestrate a "deal of the century" satisfying both US concerns and ByteDance's interests. The chairman of the US House committee on China, John Moolenaar, told Fox News Digital that once ByteDance accepts it must comply with US law, the situation could progress rapidly. Any agreement would need Beijing's approval, with US-China relations expected to remain tense during Trump's upcoming term. This isn't the first attempt to resolve TikTok's US status. In 2020, Trump also threatened a ban unless ByteDance sold its US operations. While Oracle and Walmart reached a preliminary agreement with ByteDance for ownership stakes, legal challenges and the transition to the Biden administration prevented the deal's completion. arp/mlmDespite trying to be prepared and holiday shopping early, the question of what's open and what's closed during Christmas inevitably always comes up. From needing last-minute gifts to home-cooked meals gone awry, it's important to know where you can turn in times of a kitchen mishap or broken present. This year, the holidays fall midweek, and many businesses appear to be staying open on Christmas Eve (Tuesday, December 24) and closing on Christmas Day (Wednesday, December 25) — though check with your local stores before heading out. Here's what's open and closed this Christmas holiday. Shopping Both Target and Walmart are open on Christmas Eve (until 8 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively) and closed on Christmas Day. Macy's and Kohl's are open on Christmas Eve until 7 p.m. and closed on Christmas Day. Nordstrom, meanwhile, will have "limited hours" on Christmas Eve and close on the 25th. Home improvement stores Home Depot and Lowe's are open on Christmas Eve (until 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively) and closed on Christmas Day. Grocery stores Like retail stores, many grocers are open (some with modified hours, some with regular hours) on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day, including Albertsons-owned stores, Kroger-owned stores, Aldi, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's. All Publix stores close at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve and will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, the company said. Wegmans stores will close at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and close on Christmas Day. However, for those in a pinch, select Albertsons, Safeway, ACME, and Vons stores will be open on Christmas Day with adjusted hours, so check with your local location. Post Office and Shipping USPS local locations are open on December 24 and regular mail will be delivered, the agency says . On Christmas Day, post offices are closed and regular mail will not be delivered. However, Priority Express Mail will still be delivered on the 25th. UPS and FedEx stores and deliveries will not be operating on Christmas Day. Banks and stock markets Most banks will be closed on Christmas Day and close early on Christmas Eve, though ATMs should be functional. The midweek holidays affect stock markets as well—both the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ are closed on Christmas Day. Pharmacies Pharmacies are a little different—especially Walgreens , which will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with normal business hours. The company's 24-hour pharmacies will remain open, even on Christmas, but non-24-hour locations (pharmacy only) will close on Christmas Day. CVS will also be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but the company says some stores will have reduced hours, so check with your local shop. Rite Aid, meanwhile, will be open on the 24th and close on the 25th . Chain Restaurants Many McDonald's and IHOPs will be open, while Chick-fil-A and Chipotle are closed . Check your local locations before heading out.Publicité Humans of Rodrigues 23 décembre 2024 22:16 Commentaire(s) Par Vijay Naraidoo Partager cet article Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Humans of Rodrigues Michel Samoisy, a learned teacher, a cultured man, an educated young man of 77, a leader among his equals, I vouch these are not exaggerated superlatives on top of being a guardian of his country’s culture: ancient games, accordion playing and attachment to the ancestral culture. Michel’s is a living museum. His household premises, house, stores, farm, pens and poultry, crops, are in themselves a living museum of the authentic Rodrigues lifestyle and set up. Michel has grown into a man in Rivière-Coco and even his soul will not leave this place, a kingdom for a simple human whom he serves well, and which serves him and his family abundantly. A man of wisdom, he is never in the rush although in his football team Starshine, he rushed as a shooting star in his position as centre forward. One of his TTC (Teachers Training College) mates of the 68/69 cohort, Jay Augun, said Michel made them all laugh uncontrollably with his tricks on ball control. Michel expresses his pride and gratitude to the teaching staff of his primary schools, école Ste-Thérèse de L’Enfant Jésus and La Ferme St-Esprit Roman Catholic School. He’s been a ‘komi laboutik’ for some time before he joined the SaintLouis College founded by Regis Claude Obeegadoo in Port-Mathurin. The colonial administration offered a kind of positive discrimination for young Rodriguans to follow a special pupil-teacher training course after Form 3, which Michel completed. This opened the doors of the TTC for a three-year long course from1967 to 1969. They would go back home to fill an ever-increasing vacancy in the primary teaching profession. Living with host families like all Rodriguan students was an enriching experience, what with living in a new cultural set-up, what with making friends with members of other communities, travelling long distances by bus and... going on errands for the landlady. He saved the money the landlady gave him for the bus fare. Responsibility and reality facing the facts of life has always been Michel’s motto. Cut your coat according to your cloth. Oh! How absence of contact with the family outweighed all the material pleasures of travelling, sightseeing and meeting with fellow Rodriguans on weekends. A mobile phone was out of the imagination. His parents had to be at the Telegraph Department at Mt-Venus at a fixed time to secure a call with Michel. From Port- Mathurin to Port-Louis the sea route was, to say the least, long. I was invited to attend a special meeting of the Federation of Associations of Older Persons during my visit early December. Here was Michel, the person in chair, the depository of a vast knowledge of human rights, a leader with principles tinged with democratic rules, every member speaks relevantly, information is shared and consensus is developed. This openness to ideas coming from ‘others’ comes from his social engagement at 14 in Les Cœurs Vaillants, a scout-like organization, his involvement in the Rodrigues Council of Social Service, in the Comité village where he resides, in the Elderly Watch and in his day-to-day activities. Michel is ever ready to champion Rodriguan ancient games (jeux letan lontan), play his accordion and talk to you without fatigue and without pretending to be a man above the lot. He is humility personified. When he speaks and when his eyes brighten, you can expect a cool river of knowledge unfurling. Publicité Les plus récents Publicité 24 décembre 2024 06:00 Les grands titres de l'express de ce mardi 24 décembre 2024 23 décembre 2024 22:16 Michel Samoisy, a man of his time 23 décembre 2024 22:02 Haakaa, une marque écoresponsable, qui séduit les parents mauriciens 23 décembre 2024 21:19 Toujours sans salaire, le dossier déposé en cour industrielle 23 décembre 2024 20:34 «Nous viendrons avec des règlements», annonce le Premier ministre 23 décembre 2024 19:45 Quand Anthony Blinken tente de faire fléchir Navin Ramgoolam 23 décembre 2024 18:00 Port -Louis, quel bazar ! 23 décembre 2024 17:00 Le Maulana Khodadin souhaite rencontrer le Dr Navin Ramgoolam 23 décembre 2024 16:00 Il est acquitté 11 ans après 23 décembre 2024 15:45 «I consider myself lucky to be able to express my opinions freely!» PublicitéWASHINGTON (AP) — The chair of the Democratic National Committee informed party leaders on Monday that the DNC will choose his successor in February, an election that will speak volumes about how the party wants to present itself during four more years of Donald Trump in the White House. Jaime Harrison, in a letter to members of the party’s powerful Rules & Bylaws Committee, outlined the process of how the party will elect its new chair. Harrison said in the letter that the committee will host four candidate forums — some in person and some virtually — in January, with the final election on Feb. 1 during the party’s winter meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. The race to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, while an insular party affair, will come days after Trump is inaugurated for a second term. Democrats' selection of a leader after Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 loss will be a key starting point as the party starts to move forward, including addressing any structural problems and determining how to oppose Trump. Members of the Rules & Bylaws Committee will meet on Dec. 12 to establish the rules for these elections, which beyond the chair position will include top party roles like vice chairs, treasurer, secretary and national finance chair. The committee will also use that meeting to decide the requirements for gaining access to the ballot for those top party roles. In 2021, candidates were required to submit a nominating statement that included signatures from 40 DNC members and that will likely be the same standard for the 2025 campaigns. “The DNC is committed to running a transparent, equitable, and impartial election for the next generation of leadership to guide the party forward,” Harrison said in a statement. “Electing the Chair and DNC officers is one of the most important responsibilities of the DNC Membership, and our staff will run an inclusive and transparent process that gives members the opportunity to get to know the candidates as they prepare to cast their votes.” Two Democrats have announced campaigns for chair: Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and a vice chair of the national party, and Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and current commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Other top Democrats are either considering a run to succeed Harrison or are being pushed by party insiders, including former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke; Michael Blake, a former vice chair of the party; Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin; Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan and a former Chicago mayor; Sen. Mallory McMorrow, majority whip of the Michigan Senate, and Chuck Rocha, a longtime Democratic strategist. The next chair of the committee will be tasked with rebuilding a party demoralized by a second Trump victory. They will also oversee the party’s 2028 nominating process, a complex and contentious exercise that will make the chair central to the next presidential election. Harrison, of South Carolina, made clear in his letter to the rules committee that the four forums hosted by the party would be live streamed and the party would give grassroots Democrats across the country the ability to engage with the process through those events. He also said he intends to remain neutral during the chair election. This story has been corrected to show that McMorrow is a senator, not a representative.

VITAL SPAN Biliran Bridge, a key span transporting goods and people between the islands of Biliran and Leyte, is found to have “structural defects” that need immediate repair, prompting authorities to limit load to only up to 5 tons while corrective work is ongoing. —Photo courtesy of Biliran Island/Facebook TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — Biliran has declared a state of calamity to prevent any sudden rise in prices while the bridge that connects the island province to Leyte was being repaired. The declaration was passed by the Provincial Board during a special session on Dec. 27 after a technical team from the Department of Public Works and Highways in Eastern Visayas (DPWH-8) found “structural defects” on the Biliran Bridge. Only light vehicles, or those that weigh 5 tons or less, can be allowed to pass following the bridge’s center lane. READ: DPWH: ‘Swaying’ Biliran bridge safe for motorists Since cargo and dump trucks carrying goods to the island were not allowed to cross the bridge, Biliran Gov. Gerard Roger Espina convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), which he chairs, and recommended to the provincial board that a state of calamity be declared to minimize the impact on the local economy. “The declaration of the state of calamity will help in controlling prices and access to the calamity fund for bridge utilization,” Espina said. The 120-meter Biliran Bridge, constructed in 1975 to serve as the primary channel to transport goods, services and people between Biliran and Leyte, was caught “swaying” on Dec. 23 in a video posted on social media that immediately went viral. The next day, Irwin Antonio, acting head of the DPWH-Biliran District Office, told reporters they initially did not find any defect but asked his regional office based in Leyte to conduct a thorough inspection and limited the bridge’s load to 20 tons. The DPWH-8 later found the bridge suffered structural defects including damage on some components under the deck slab particularly on bridge stringers, steel cross bracing and built-up sections on span No. 4. Loose nuts and bolts were also discovered on the same span during the inspection. The structural defects were linked to a phenomenon known as aerodynamic flutter, caused by the resonance between gusty wind frequencies and the combined forces acting on the bridge, such as moving loads, wind pressure, and the bridge’s own weight, according to the statement released by DPWH-Biliran District Office. Antonio explained the deterioration of the bridge’s stiffness was largely attributed to its age and corrosion of steel components due to prolonged exposure to sea breeze. “Our office has recommended urgent major repairs to address these defects and ensure the safety and functionality of this critical infrastructure,” he stated. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The DPWH recommended that a barge be used to transport cargo trucks carrying essential goods, perishable items, and fuel.

Viking Introduces Viking Vela, Its Latest Ship, in Prestigious Delivery Ceremony in Italy

Crossing the Uncanny Valley: Breakthrough in technology for lifelike facial expressions in androidsSTATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Penn State players have watched Ashton Jeanty make opponents look silly all season. They don't want to be the next defenders Boise State’s star posterizes with jukes, spin moves, stiff arms and heavy shoulders. But they also know that slowing down Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting , will be their toughest task yet when the two teams meet in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Recommended Videos “In any other year, I think the guy wins the Heisman,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “You could make the argument that he should have won it this year. He is hard to tackle. He is compact, 5-(foot)-10, he has the ability to run away from you. He has the ability to make you miss.” Jeanty led the nation with 2,497 rushing yards on 344 carries this season. He scored more touchdowns (30) than any player since Najee Harris scored 30 times with Alabama in 2020. Additionally, Jeanty’s yards after contact (1,889) exceed every FBS running backs’ rushing total since Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard led the NCAA with 2,094 total rushing yards in 2019. Jeanty also forced an NCAA-record 143 missed tackles this season. The junior did it all behind an offensive line that has been forced to shuffle its parts in the wake of numerous injuries. Only left tackle Kage Casey and left guard Ben Dooley have started every game up front for the Broncos this season. “He’s a beast in terms of his production on the field, but then also his durability,” Franklin said. “There’s not too many people that are able to get clean shots on him. All of it is super impressive. But I think the stat that I mentioned earlier, the most impressive stat is the yards after contact.” This could be Jeanty’s biggest challenge to date, too. Although he’s helped Boise State churn out 250 rushing yards per game, good for fifth among FBS programs, the Nittany Lions are well stocked to defend the run. Their defense is seventh nationally allowing just 100 rushing yards per game and has tightened up down the stretch. In its last six games, Penn State is allowing just 2.7 yards per rush and has only given up three rushing touchdowns, two coming in the Big Ten championship game against No. 1 Oregon. “They’ve had our backs throughout the whole year,” Penn State quarterback Drew Allar said. “They have made me a lot better throughout the year, just going against the best defense in America and just glad I got to go against them every day in practice and not against them out on the field in a game setting.” In the opening round of the CFP, Penn State held SMU to just 58 rushing yards on 36 carries. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions notched 11 of their 50 tackles for loss over the last six games against the Mustangs. Most of those came from a defensive line that regularly rotates run-stuffing tackles Zane Durant, Dvon J-Thomas and Coziah Izzard between dynamic ends Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton. Carter alone has 21 1/2 of his team’s 102 stops behind the line of scrimmage this year. He's hoping to add a few against Jeanty and stay off the star back's own long-running highlight reel. “I’m living in my dreams,” Carter said. “I’m having the most fun I ever had playing football and I’ve been playing since I was 8 years old. I’m very blessed. I’m just very humbled to have this opportunity. I just want to keep taking advantage of all the opportunities that I have.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Championing Aviation Safety: Riadel Manzano Advocates for Better Support for Aircraft MechanicsThe opinions expressed below are Jon Keller's, not those of WBZ, CBS News or Paramount Global. BOSTON - Oxford University Press has officially dubbed "brain rot" its 2024 word of the year. It's described as that feeling you get after spending hours scrolling through social media. You could say this news has been 170 years in the making. That's how long it's been since Henry David Thoreau sat by Walden Pond and reflected on the spread of brain rot. And now an unholy union of clever tech and cultural dreck have turned that illness into a global plague. Brain rot and social media Experts define brain rot as mental lethargy and cognitive decline caused by too much doomscrolling, zombie scrolling, video gaming and other forms of social media addiction. "In many ways we have abdicated our responsibility as parents because we feel we aren't competent in the digital space," said Dr. Michael Rich of the Digital Wellness Lab at Children's Hospital, author of "The Mediatrician's Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World." He says the issue isn't so much the lure of the web and its seductive algorithms, but kids being left alone, unchallenged, and easily seducible. "First of all, a parent should model the kind of behavior they want to see in their kids," said Rich. "We have to be the change we want to see in our kids. The smartphone, the laptop is a power tool that can do incredible things, we can be all around the world with all kinds of people, and yet we often choose the path of least resistance which is well-paved for us by very sophisticated psychological design in these online programs." Fighting brain rot in kids But for parents willing to fight brain rot, here's the good news. "Kids actually do want our attention, that's one of the most frequent answers I get from kids when I ask them what could your parents do better - pay more attention to me," said Rich. The deck might seem stacked when it comes to the rotting of our kids' brains by social media - unsavvy mom and dad vs. billion-dollar corporations peddling garbage dressed up with slick graphics and addictive technology. But you parents have a secret weapon - you're right there, while Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are not. And as Dr. Rich puts it: "the kids are going to be alright, if we are there with them." Jon Keller is the political analyst for WBZ-TV News. His "Keller @ Large" reports on a wide range of topics are regularly featured during WBZ News at 5 and 6 p.m.Aldi slashes price of Christmas items in store on Christmas Eve - full list

Why Trump Media and Technology Stock Slipped 11% in NovemberJimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100

Major stock indexes rose on Wall Street in afternoon trading Monday, after a choppy start to a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered from an early slide to gain 29 points, or 0.1% as of 3:40 p.m. Eastern time. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 0.8%. Gains in technology and communications stocks helped outweigh losses in consumer goods companies and elsewhere in the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 3.3%. Broadcom climbed 5.5% to also help support the broader market. Walmart fell 2% and PepsiCo slid 1.2%. Japanese automakers Honda Motor and Nissan said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. U.S.-listed shares in Honda jumped 13.4%, while Nissan slipped 0.2%. Eli Lilly rose 3.5% after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Department store Nordstrom fell 1.6% after it agreed to be taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. The Conference Board said that consumer confidence slipped in December. Its consumer confidence index fell back to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Wall Street was expecting a reading of 113.8. The unexpectedly weak consumer confidence update follows several generally strong economic reports last week. One report showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The latest report on unemployment benefit applications showed that the job market remains solid. A report on Friday said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than economists expected. Worries about inflation edging higher again had been weighing on Wall Street and the Fed. The central bank just delivered its third cut to interest rates this year, but inflation has been hovering stubbornly above its target of 2%. It has signaled that it could deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier anticipated because of concerns over inflation. Expectations for more interest rate cuts have helped drive a roughly 25% gain for the S&P 500 in 2024. That drive included 57 all-time highs this year. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market's path ahead and shifting economic policies under an incoming President Donald Trump. "Put simply, much of the strong market performance prior to last week was driven by expectations that a best-case scenario was the base case for 2025," said Brent Schutte, chief investment officer at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.59% from 4.53% late Friday. European markets were mostly lower, while markets in Asia gained ground. Wall Street has several other economic reports to look forward to this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. will release its November report for sales of newly constructed homes. A weekly update on unemployment benefits is expected on Thursday. Markets in the U.S. will close at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday for Christmas Eve and will remain closed on Wednesday for Christmas.