Category: 3. Business

The statement following today’s meeting, at which rates were held, is as succinct as the one after the December meeting, when rates fell by 25 basis points. The section confirming interest rates remain unchanged contains no additional justification, merely a reference to the previously outlined context. The changes in the statement admit that global commodity prices are falling—while a month ago the MPC mentioned ongoing market uncertainty.

At the domestic level, the Council expects economic activity in the fourth quarter of 2025 to be similar to that in the third quarter. In describing the labour market, changes indicate that the slowdown in wage growth occurred over the past year (previously no timeframe was given) and the adjective “further” was removed from the decline in employment, consistently with November data. The Council estimates that core inflation in December will be at a similar level to November.

Among the risk factors for future inflation, energy prices are no longer mentioned, which is understandable following the tariff decisions announced by the Energy Regulatory Office in December. Meanwhile, the macroeconomic situation abroad, including changes in commodity prices mentioned above, was added. However, we assume that with energy no longer a risk factor, the inflation path in the NBP’s March projection will be significantly lower than in November.

• Honda produces its first line of zero-turn radius (ZTR) riding lawn mowers
• Zero-turn radius mower is Honda’s first designed for commercial use
• Honda began lawn mower production in North Carolina in 1984, where it now builds all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in addition to lawn mowers and other power equipment

SWEPSONVILLE, N.C., Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Honda North Carolina Manufacturing (NCM) today announced the start of production of its first battery-powered zero-turn radius (ZTR) mowers at its facility in Swepsonville, N.C.  ProZision ZTR mowers are produced using domestic and globally made parts and will be available at specialty equipment dealers beginning in February 2026. More information on the ZTR mowers can be found here.

The Honda ProZision ZTR series represents the first Honda riding mowers for commercial landscaping, built in the same facility that began producing walk-behind lawn mowers more than 40 years ago.

“Everyone at Honda North Carolina Manufacturing is excited about expanding our power equipment lineup with the introduction of the new Honda ProZision ZTR lawn mower,” said Lynne Hedrick, Site Lead at NCM. “Our legacy of high quality and flexibility began more than 40 years ago with NCM associates building the best lawnmowers, power equipment and ATVs in the world and we are proud to continue that with this new generation Honda mower.”

40 Years of Manufacturing

Honda associates at the nearly 700,000-square-foot NCM facility have demonstrated incredible flexibility since starting with production of lawnmowers in 1984. NCM has now reached cumulative production of over 50 million products, including a variety of power equipment products, such as snow blowers, string trimmers, mini-tillers, water pumps, generators, general-purpose engines and, in 2023, the addition of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).  

The all-new product family of ZTR mowers includes 54-inch and 60-inch models designed for professional-level durability, comfort, and cut quality, powered by five 48-volt brushless electric motors designed to stand up to the rigors of commercial use.

“Technology is transforming products across Honda, and our new battery-powered lawn mowers are no different,” said Mark Kohls, vice president of Honda Power Sports & Products, American Honda. “Our battery-powered Honda ProZision Zero-Turn Radius lawn mowers deliver zero emission, cost-effective turf care solutions for a wide variety of customers, conditions, and commercial applications.”

In the future, production of the ProZision ZTR 54- and 60-inch battery-powered mowers will include parts made in the Swepsonville facility’s new plastics department, which was part of a $9.7 million investment announced last fall.

Honda Manufacturing in North Carolina
Honda North Carolina Manufacturing (NCM) began production in 1984 and today is the exclusive production source for all Honda all-terrain vehicle (ATV) models in North America, including the FourTrax series and TRX sports models. NCM continues to produce outdoor power equipment products for commercial and residential applications, including snow blowers, using domestic and globally made parts.

Located in Swepsonville, the 700,000 square-foot facility employs more than 500 associates and represents a capital investment totaling $400 million. The facility is one of 12 major Honda production facilities in the U.S. Many of the products built at the plant were researched, designed and developed by Honda R&D engineers in nearby Haw River, N.C.

Learn more with the Honda Digital FactBook.

For more information:
Eric Mauk
[email protected]

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

FedDev Ontario invests over $3.5 million for Voltera Inc. and Blake Medical Group Inc. to enhance manufacturing capabilities and reach new markets

January 14, 2026                                                                               

Manufacturing is a key driver of southern Ontario’s economy—creating jobs, producing essential goods, and sparking innovation. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting local manufacturers and businesses as they modernize, adopt advanced technologies, and deliver smarter, more sustainable products and solutions to Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced a combined investment of over $3.5 million for two companies as they expand operations, build new capabilities, and adopt innovative technologies. Minister Solomon was joined by the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Member of Parliament for Waterloo.

This includes a $1.7-million investment for Voltera Inc., a Waterloo-based manufacturer that specializes in electronics printing machines to help engineers and researchers create and test circuit boards and apply advanced materials for new designs. These tools make it easier to develop innovative electronics without waiting for long lead times associated with traditional manufacturing processes. With this investment, Voltera will scale up and commercialize their Alta PCB assembly solution, designed to accelerate electronics prototyping and keep manufacturing capabilities in-house. This investment will also help Voltera increase their production capabilities to position the company to meet growing global demand and strengthen their competitiveness within the electronics manufacturing supply chain.

Blake Medical Group Inc. (Blake Medical) is receiving an investment of nearly $1.9 million as they expand their operations to Brantford and adopt new advanced equipment for their new, smart medical mattress line and existing medical mattresses and therapeutic products. These upgrades will allow the company to bring key material sourcing in-house and deliver patient-focused solutions to hospitals and long-term care facilities across Canada while opening up new opportunities in international markets.

The Government of Canada is committed to helping local manufacturers grow, innovate, and keep Canada competitive on the world stage.

Today, the United Arab Emirates signed the Pax Silica Declaration, marking a historic milestone in the region’s economic integration.  The UAE’s leadership in energy, investment, and technological innovation make it an indispensable partner in this coalition.  Its commitment to building a world class, secure AI ecosystem demonstrates a clear vision for harnessing technology to drive economic diversification and opportunity. 

The UAE’s accession to Pax Silica Declaration was signed by Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and Minister of State Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri.  The United States and the United Arab Emirates affirmed their commitment to jointly pursue multilayered partnerships that strengthen supply chain security, address coercive dependencies and single points of failure, and advance the adoption of trusted technology ecosystems.  They will explore opportunities to partner on flagship projects across the global technology stack, including connectivity and edge infrastructure such as 6G; compute and data centers; advanced manufacturing; logistics; mineral refining and processing; and energy. 

Pax Silica is an economic security coalition built for the AI age. This is the first time countries are organizing around compute, silicon, minerals, and energy as shared strategic assets. 

The United States welcomed the United Arab Emirates as the ninth Pax Silica signatory. They joined partners from Australia, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Qatar, Singapore, and the United Kingdom as fellow signatories. India will join as a signatory next month.   

Pax Silica is a positive-sum partnership of nations that want to remain competitive and prosperous. 

For media inquiries, please submit questions here, and stay updated by following @UnderSecE on X. 

For more information, visit Pax Silica. 

As an outward looking city, Doncaster is poised to embrace change and make bold decisions. This refresh provides opportunity to review progress and ensure Team Doncaster’s actions are relevant and responsive to community needs.

Feedback from recent consultations has contributed to the priorities and actions that are highlighted in the strategy with thousands of respondents telling us what they like about their community and what they would like to see improved as well as their views on specific matters such as the city centre, Doncaster Markets, community safety, Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) ,access to healthcare and youth provision.

Mayor Ros Jones said: “Delivering real change for Doncaster means working together across organisations, services, communities and sectors. The refreshed strategy continues to be a living plan evolving with the city and its people. It brings together Team Doncaster’s shared commitment to purposeful action and measurable impact over the next five years.

“Extensive consultation has been undertaken to help determine the main themes and priorities that matter most to residents, organisations and businesses, both now and for the future. We’ve had thousands of responses to our consultations and I want to extend my thanks to everyone who has contributed and been unapologetically bold in their responses. There is so much enthusiasm across the City of Doncaster and a strong desire to work together to seize opportunities and tackle our challenges.”

Priorities and actions highlighted in the refreshed strategy will bring Doncaster’s vision to life.  New actions will be delivered, alongside continuing actions and some of these are grouped together to tackle complex issues and grasp opportunities within four ‘Big Collaborations’

Revitalising Doncaster’s city centre – the ambition is to deliver a destination where people feel proud to live, work, and visit, supported by investment in infrastructure, public spaces, and cultural assets including Doncaster Markets. This transformation will tackle long-standing challenges, strengthen economic resilience, and ensure the city centre becomes a thriving hub for business, leisure, and community life.

Renewing Doncaster’s neighbourhoods  – the focus is on creating cleaner, safer, and more inclusive communities, supported by stronger local connections and better facilities. Through a collaborative approach with residents and partners, we aim to tackle key challenges, enhance public spaces, and deliver services that promote wellbeing and fairness for all.

Equipping people with the skills they need for life and work – the goal is to create inclusive pathways that connect education, training, and employment, while celebrating culture and creativity.

Economic and Housing Growth – the aim is to bring more jobs and investment into the city and accelerate the delivery of affordable homes, with projects such as DSA, regeneration of our town and city centres and delivering new council housing for Doncaster residents.

Mayor Jones added: “We have made significant progress over the past five years. Team Doncaster, including City of Doncaster Council, have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those who live and work here. But there is still more to do.

“The council and our partners are working at speed to fully reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) and deliver a number of other projects that will reap benefits for generations to come For example, the new Gateway One development, a major £32million digital and tech hub will act as a catalyst for new jobs and the Gresley Institute will safeguard railway jobs of the future.

“As we work together to strengthen partnerships between schools, colleges, and employers to improve pathways into work, recent confirmation that Doncaster will get a second University Technical College (UTC) that will focus on healthcare and green technologies is a huge vote of confidence in the potential of the City of Doncaster. Pride in place is important to so many and through our big collaborations residents can also expect to see upgraded housing stock, enhanced local spaces and investment in community facilities.

Together we can build on an even brighter future for Doncaster. Everyone has a part to play in making Doncaster have thriving people and places and this strategy is the catalyst for that.”

The council’s corporate plan and budget that will be considered by Cabinet and Full Council in February will set out the detailed contribution that City of Doncaster Council will make to the refreshed strategy in 26/27.

The cabinet report, consultation results and refreshed strategy can be viewed via .

UK Export Finance can announce the appointment of three new members to the Export Guarantees Advisory Council. Tracey McDermott, Alex O’Cinneide, and Jon Samuel took up their appointments in Autumn 2025 and will serve an initial term of three years. They bring expertise across financial services and sustainable finance, financial regulation and compliance, and responsible business standards.  

Tracey McDermott brings over three decades of experience in financial services, regulation, and sustainability. Most recently, Tracey served as Group Head of Conduct, Financial Crime and Compliance at Standard Chartered Bank, where she led a global transformation of the compliance function and championed net-zero and socio-economic mobility initiatives. Her prior tenure at the Financial Conduct Authority included Acting Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Enforcement and Financial Crime. 

On joining the board, Tracey McDermott said:

The government has an ambitious trade agenda, and the Export Guarantees Advisory Council plays a vital role providing policy advice to ministers as they look to realise this agenda. I look forward to playing a part in ensuring best practice in trade finance support for the UK’s exporters.

Dr Alex O’Cinneide is CEO and Founder of Gore Street Capital, a leading private equity firm specialising in renewable energy investments. With over two decades of global finance experience, Alex has held senior leadership roles at Paladin Capital, Masdar Capital, and Quorum European Partners. He has served on the boards of major clean energy companies and advised financial institutions on investment strategy and infrastructure finance. Alex is a committed advocate for sustainable development and climate resilience, advising UNICEF and serving on the supervisory board of the UK Energy Research Centre. 

On joining the board, Dr Alex O’Cinneide said:

I’m delighted to be joining the Export Guarantees Advisory Council at such an important time. With the government’s ambitious plans for trade, the Council’s work advising ministers has never been more valuable. I’m eager to contribute to strengthening trade finance support for UK exporters.

Jon Samuel is a highly respected sustainability leader with over 30 years of international experience across mining, infrastructure, and environmental sectors. He has held senior executive roles at Anglo American Plc and De Beers, leading pioneering work in social performance, economic development, and sustainability strategy. Jon has played a central role in shaping global sustainability standards, including as Co-Chair of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance and as a representative to the International Council on Mining and Metals. 

On joining the board, Jon Samuel said:

Joining the Export Guarantees Advisory Council is a real privilege. As the government pursues its bold trade agenda, the Council has a crucial role in shaping policy that delivers for British businesses. I’m looking forward to helping ensure our exporters have the trade finance support they need to thrive globally.

Vanessa Havard-Williams OBE, Chair of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council said:

Tracey, Alex and Jon are accomplished leaders in their respective fields, and each brings invaluable expertise to the Export Guarantees Advisory Council. I’m delighted to welcome them and look forward to working together as we strengthen our support for the UK’s exporting community.