Honda-Nissan merger; Ukraine-Russia war; Nigeria : NPR

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At the moment’s high tales

Honda and Nissan are starting talks a few merger because the auto sector experiences two seismic modifications: an increase in electrification and a surge of Chinese language automakers. A deal between these two firms might create the world’s third-biggest automaker.

• 🎧 The 2 firms have had issue producing the type of buzzy electrical automobiles that Tesla, Hyundai and Kia have, NPR’s Rafael Nam tells Up First. A merger would permit them to pool their experience and manufacturing collectively within the hopes of changing into stronger. Chinese language firms have pivoted to producing EVs, that are seen as the way forward for the trade, and so they’re promoting them for cheaper with improved high quality. To have the ability to compete, analysts imagine firm dimension issues, which is why more merger deals could happen over the following few years.

Ukrainian crews are cleansing up this morning after a lethal Christmas Day assault by Russia. Moscow launched round 70 missiles and over 100 drones full of explosives concentrating on Ukraine’s power grid.

• 🎧 Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says they shot down 50 of the missiles and blocked a lot of the drones utilizing digital jammers that may trigger them to crash. Zelensky referred to as the timing of the attack “inhumane” and “evil” in a public assertion. The strike, which killed at the very least one individual, was the thirteenth large-scale assault on the power grid this yr alone, NPR’s Brian Mann says. If Russia’s aim is to make Ukrainians so depressing they lose the desire to defend their nation — there is not proof that is taking place, Mann says, noting that the response he is heard is considered one of anger and never concern after the assault.
• ➡️ In a distant area of western Ukraine, removed from the violent battle, Ukrainians are dealing with one other battle: preserving their tradition. Here’s an intimate look at how they’re doing that.

Nigeria is at present dealing with considered one of its worst financial crises in a long time. The federal government imposed a set of controversial financial reforms that critics say have made poverty worse. Inflation has soared by 34%, in keeping with the Central Financial institution, even with current quarters of financial progress.

• 🎧 Rising prices of meals, power and different requirements have made the yr brutal for a lot of, NPR’s Emmanuel Akinwotu says. Surprising occasions have crystallized the troubles of the people who live there. About 60 folks died in three stampedes at completely different charity occasions round Nigeria. The string of latest reforms launched devalued the forex, lower an electrical energy subsidy and ended a gas subsidy, which had been among the few advantages Nigerians acquired. The federal government has referred to as for endurance and says the financial ache is short-term.

Life recommendation

It may be tough to supply condolences to somebody who’s grieving. You wish to present your pal you’re keen on them, however you additionally know there is not a lot you possibly can say to heal their ache.

Jorm Sangsorn/Getty Photographs

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Jorm Sangsorn/Getty Photographs

It is arduous to know what to say to a pal whose liked one has died. Life Package‘s viewers shared what phrases of consolation they’ve shared with others — or want they’d heard themselves. Here are some ideas about what to say to a grieving pal.

• 💛 A easy technique to break the ice is by letting your pal know it’s good to see them as an alternative of asking how they’re doing.
• 💛 Let your pal know they’re fantastic – in individual or on a card.
• 💛 As an alternative of “Sorry on your loss,” strive making a extra unique, private message. As your self: What would you need somebody to say to you in the event you had been in an analogous scenario?
• 💛 Mark the demise anniversaries in your calendar. It may be comforting to that individual to obtain a message from somebody who remembers that day as properly.

Learn the complete checklist of concepts here.

Image present

Portraits of Paul Ninson, founder and govt director of Dikan Middle, Accra.

Nana Kofi Acquah for NPR

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Nana Kofi Acquah for NPR

Paul Ninson arrived in New York from Ghana to check images 5 years in the past and located heaps of pictures of life in Africa. The photographs, from the previous and the current, had been within the archives of the town’s libraries, galleries and museums. 1000’s of miles away from his homeland, he was surrounded by extra visible historical past of Africa than he’d ever seen again residence. Ninson had an concept: to create a library of photobooks in Ghana, permitting folks to find out about their historical past.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

An enlarged cartoon of Tintin pictured on show at Paris’ Pompidou Cultural Middle in 2006. The Belgian cub reporter is among the many characters and works coming into the general public area in 2025.

Jacques Brinon/AP

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Jacques Brinon/AP

1. Popeye and Tintin are among the many hundreds of copyrighted characters, Twentieth-century movies, books, compositions and sound recordings that can enter the general public area on Jan. 1. Here are some of the other works that can quickly be out there for anybody to adapt.
2. Years in the past, Karleen was bodily attacked by her then-boyfriend and overlooked within the chilly alone. A couple of minutes later, a driver and her unsung hero, Mark Shub, stopped to ask her if she was OK. He invited her to his residence for warmth and his family’s Hanukkah dinner.
3. NASA’s Parker Photo voltaic Probe got here inside 3.8 million miles of the solar’s floor this week. This distance marks the closest humanity has ever been to the star that makes life doable on Earth.

This text was edited by Obed Manuel.