NEW YORK — Gap plans to close 175 of its namesake stores and 250 jobs at its headquarters as the company tries to strengthen the struggling brand.

Gap Inc., which owns Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, said Monday it will close about 140 Gap stores in North America in the fiscal year that ends Jan. 31 — and 35 more afterward — based on factors that include location and performance. The San Francisco company also is closing an undisclosed number of stores in Europe. And it's cutting jobs at its headquarters in an attempt to make it faster and more decisive.

The moves are the latest attempt by the once high-flying company to improve the shaky performance at its namesake brand. The brand that used to be a go-to for generations of khaki pants wearers has suffered in more recent years as it's failed to keep up with the right design trends.

TOKYO — General Motors is expanding its partnership with Japanese truckmaker Isuzu Motors by collaborating in the U.S. and marking GM's return to the medium-duty truck business.Under the deal announced today, Isuzu will produce models for GM based on the Isuzu N-Series truck. They will be distributed by GM's Chevrolet dealers in the U.S., starting next year.GM and Isuzu will also explore the use of GM commercial vehicle components for Isuzu trucks. GM will continue to produce and supply 6-liter V-8 gasoline engines and six-speed transmissions for Isuzu.GM quit the medium-duty truck business in 2009 when it was going through financial turmoil. That was part of the effort that allowed the automaker to leave bankruptcy protection.