they're considering soon going to work under a mou. nissan has a controlling stake in them. honda and nissan have told the bbc they've been exploring various possibilities for collaboration since march. if true, the deal could create the third—largest auto manufacturer in the world. nissan and mitsubishi shares are surging over 14% in tokyo. honda's stock is down around 2%. for more, let's bring injess from wisdom tree investment. thank you forjoining me. as we mentioned it, does seem shares in nissan up, honda down. does this suggest there's a winner and a loserfrom this suggest there's a winner and a loser from this potential deal? ., ., ~ 3 and a loser from this potential deal? ., ., 4' �*, , deal? look, it's interesting. definitely — deal? look, it's interesting. definitely nissan _ deal? look, it's interesting. definitely nissan has - deal? look, it's interesting. definitely nissan has been l definitely nissan has been completely balmed out because the company doesn't have a

future strategy, ever since carlos ghosn was ousted. so you're having a huge discount that, now, ifa you're having a huge discount that, now, if a white knight were to come in ask save nissan, that would be —— and save nissan, that would be a good thing. however, is this really rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic in the sense that neither honda nor nissan really have any product or technology that consumers want? in that sense, it's a nice rescue but it's not creating a new national champion. creating a new national champion-— creating a new national champion. creating a new national chamion. �* champion. right. and if we seak champion. right. and if we speak of — champion. right. and if we speak of national _ champion. right. and if we l speak of national champions, champion. right. and if we - speak of national champions, we can't not mention toyota. how do you think they're feeling about this potential deal? i think toyota just keeps on doing what it's doing. as you know, it is the world's largest car—maker. very importantly, they've got such a strong portfolio of technology. yes, on evs, toyota has been lagging behind. but the hybrid technology is extremely strong and, on the design front and on

the global marketing and after—sales servicing, toyota remains best in class, while nissan and honda getting together — that would cause a lot of pain in the sense of, at least two years of actually reorganising the companies, laying off people, reorientating their supply chain, as well as their customer service network. so, honda and nissan — yes, it's a merger that should happen, but it's going to be a long way away from actually creating a true global new competitor. of course, a lot of this is about electric vehicles. we've seen china overtake japan as the world's biggest vehicle exporter last year. china, of course, leading the way when it comes to electric vehicles. how much will this help them become competitive in that space? you're making the important point, katie. the answer is — absolutely nothing. you know, there is no particularly strong

cache, no special differentiator that neither honda nor nissan bring to the market when it comes to electric vehicles in the modern world. so, byd is not going to have to fear this merger. right. and you mentioned that this is a long time, potentially, that we're going to see any kind of fruition in this. how would you see the timeline panning out? look, first of all. _ timeline panning out? look, first of all, we _ timeline panning out? look, first of all, we need - timeline panning out? look, first of all, we need to - timeline panning out? look, first of all, we need to see l first of all, we need to see whether they'll actually do this. typically, these things take a long time injapan. if this would take 3—6 months in the united states or europe, here, it would probably take at least a year. and you've got to remember that the french government is going to say something about this as well, because nissan — still about 36% of nissan's shares are owned by renault, which effectively is part of the french establishment and government.— french establishment and government. thank you for “oininu government. thank you for joining me- _ government. thank you for joining me. for— government. thank you for joining me. for more - government. thank you for joining me. for more on i government. thank you for. joining me. for more on this developing story, do log onto

bbc.com. more than 10,000 starbucks baristas are threatening to go on strike if they can't get better wages and schedules at work. the union representing them authorised the industrial action ahead of talks with the coffee giant, which began on tuesday. exactly when the strike would begin is unclear, but starbucks says the decision is disappointing, and that the company is committed to reaching an agreement. turning now to the crypto currency sector that has had a strong week so far. on tuesday, bitcoin — the world's biggest cryptocurrency — touched $108,000 — a new all—time high. it's also part of a wider uptick since november — driven in large part by donald trump's presidential victory. the incoming president has been pro—crypto during the campaign trail and is expected to change regulations in the sector after he assumes office. turning to one of the big—risk events — the last policy decision for the year from the reserve. most analysts are pricing in a 0.33% rate cut. the federal reserve is set to announce its decision on

interest rates on wednesday with a 0.25% cut all but baked in by the market, which would lower the range to a.25% to 4.5% and mark a full reduction in september. what's more uncertain is the path of future policy and whether this consult will be the last. investors will be the last. investors will be the last. investors will be looking at the new economic projections released alongside the decision for more clues, and they're expecting it to be more hawkish, with the fed somewhat closer to a pause on future rate cuts, or at least reluctant to commit more reductions than it was just a few months ago. some of the factors they'll be considering include inflation — still well above the 2% target — signs of strong consumer demand, and a robust labour market. back in september, the fed was more focused on the employment picture than progress on inflation. perhaps that dynamic could start to flip. there's also the case of incoming president donald trump's policy proposals, including a fresh round of tariffs and renewed tax cuts and how that will

ultimately renew the economy. many economists anticipate fewer rate cuts in 2025 as a result of those policies. apple says it strongly disputes allegations that it used so—called conflict minerals in its products. the tech giant was responding to a criminal complaint filed by the democratic republic of congo directed at its subsidiaries in europe. democratic republic of congo is saying its minerals are laundered through apple's supply chains. authorities are yet to decide if the charges are warranted. donald trump has been hosting company executives at his mar—a—lago estate in florida. these meetings are not unusual in us politics, regularly mixing campaign donors with closed—door access to senior politicians. but the tech—heavy guest lish of apple, netflix, tiktok and others are raising some eyebrows. now, we're

joined by penn state law academic who focuses on public policy and technology. can we start by talking about the meeting we saw yesterday with the boss of tiktok and donald trump? do you expect anything to come out of that meeting? katie, it's good to join you. well, i think both sides will try, and we'lljust have to see what comes out of it. the stakes are certainly high, but donald trump is known for one thing, and that's deal—making: he certainly has a lot of sway with congress, where these decisions matter and tick —— tiktok is taking its action up to the supreme court where it's republican—heavy as well. i think the cards align, but anything could happen in the weeks or months ahead. halal anything could happen in the weeks or months ahead. how do ou see weeks or months ahead. how do you see the _ weeks or months ahead. how do you see the president-elect - you see the president—elect changing us policy when it comes to artificial intelligence? i guess if we were to speak a year from now, what do you see as being the

us�*s stance in this vital technology? us's stance in this vital technology?— us's stance in this vital technology? us's stance in this vital technolo: ? ~ ~ ., technology? well, i think what he'll do in _ technology? well, i think what he'll do in the _ technology? well, i think what he'll do in the artificial- he'll do in the artificial intelligence space is going to be consistent with his america first goal. that's not going to be that different from what you have seen under the biden administration. they are still going to push for america to be ahead of china, whether it's in the ai software space or in the chips space. i think that rivalry is going to continue. what you're going to see, perhaps, again — more so with the trump administration — is a willingness to cut deals. and with that, i think you will see less litigation with big tech and more consent decrease, as we call them in antitrust law, and a sense that al is where the future is and, therefore, we need to put our eggs with the american big tech companies rather than hobble them.- rather than hobble them. mmm. in asia, of _ rather than hobble them. mmm. in asia, of course, _ rather than hobble them. mmm. in asia, of course, much - rather than hobble them. mmm. in asia, of course, much of - rather than hobble them. mmm. in asia, of course, much of the l in asia, of course, much of the focus is going to be about the relationship between the us and

china and, indeed, beijing's response to these tariffs that have been flagged. how do you see beijing choosing to navigate that in the next year? well, you already see early signs with its antitrust interest in nvidia in response to perceived hostilities from the united states. i think china also understands the power of deal—making and the power of deal—making and the power of deal—making and the power of leverage. so you will see more tit—for—tat actions. but i think president—elect trump sent the right signal in inviting the presidency to his inauguration. by allaccounts, inauguration. by all accounts, it's inauguration. by allaccounts, it's not like ugly lea that he will come. but nonetheless, i think both sides show a renewed willingness for dialogue, and i think that's important in navigating the stormy waters ahead. , ., ., ahead. great to get your insights- _ ahead. great to get your insights. penn _ ahead. great to get your insights. penn state - ahead. great to get your insights. penn state law| insights. penn state law academic daryl lim. before we 90, academic daryl lim. before we go, the asx 200 up about 0.25%

— australia's index. japan's nikkei down about 0.2% after this news of a potential merger between honda and nissan. we're still waiting on confirmation on that. something we'll continue to follow throughout the morning. do keep watching bbc news. that's all we have time for for now.

hey. it's lucy with the catch—up. tonight, a young syrian woman's story, an update from wisconsin, and a dog rescue. we're starting tonight with barra's story. she's 20 and lives in homs, a city in syria. she spokitute too the bbc about 10 years ago when syria was first at war. she was a little girl, and said at the time, they were so starving some of them had to cete cananimals like cats and rats. last week, she celebrated the end of president assad's rule. translation: president assad's rule. tuna/mom- president assad's rule. translation: ., translation: even now, when i think back, _ translation: even now, when i think back, i _ translation: even now, when i think back, i wonder— translation: even now, when i think back, i wonder - _ translation: even now, when i think back, i wonder - how- translation: even now, when i think back, i wonder - how did i think back, i wonder — how did we survive?" it was a nighter when, and it ended, thank god. i always thought that i'd go to europe to work. but now, there's a chance to live here with dignity. if

there's a chance to live here with dignity-— with dignity. if you want to read that _ with dignity. if you want to read that full _ with dignity. if you want to read that full story, - with dignity. if you want to read that full story, it's - with dignity. if you want to read that full story, it's on | read that full story, it's on the bbc news some other stories now: the father and stepmother of ten—year—old sara sharif have been jailed for her murder. she was abused for years before her body was found at home in surrey. if you've been affected ljy surrey. if you've been affected by anything in that story, there's support at bbc action line. an update on the school shooting we told you about in wisconsin yesterday. a 15—year—old female student has been identified as the person who opened fire, killing a teacher and a teenager, and injuring six others. the attacker was found dead when police arrived. we know the news can be a lot, so we want to leave you with ten seconds of something a bit lighter. jordan north was out running when hejumped into the river thames to save a dog. members of the public held up their phone lights to help the rn ally rescue the dj — and the dog. and that's us for tonight. have a good one.

hello, and welcome to sportsday. i'm gavin ramjaun. ending the year with defeat: england's cricketers are humbled by new zealand — who ease to a huge victory in the third and final test. number one: fifa name viniciusjunior and aitana bonmati as the best men's and women's footballers in the world. and — the perfect record — chelsea women make it six wins from six in the group stages of the champions league — and extend their unbeaten run to 16 matches. hello there, and welcome along to the programme.

while they'd already clinched the series against new zealand, england's men will perhaps feel glad the year is almost over sfter capping off their busiest year of yest cricket with a humiliating and humbling defeat in hamilton. needing a very unlikely 658 runs to win, the tourists resumed day four on 18—2 but lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually bowled out for 234, giving the home side a huge 423 run win. a disappointing test — but a 2—1 victory for england in the three—match series. we know we didn't play anywhere near our capability. it's a disappointing way to end the tour and end disappointing way to end the tourand end ouryear disappointing way to end the tour and end our year with a loss. but, look, what we came here to achieve, we've managed to achieve. it's no mean feat coming to new zealand and defeating them, because they're a very, very strong home team in their conditions. the victory for new zealand also meant that tim southee finished his career with a win before retiring. he'll finish as new zealand's second—highest test

wicket—taker, and he was good with the bat too.