Egypt Daily News – French President Emmanuel Macron said that he asked resigned Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his government to continue acting until a new government is formed, French media reported. Agence France-Presse reported that French Prime Minister Michel Barnier arrived at the Elysee Palace to present the resignation of his government to French President Emmanuel Macron. France is suffering from political turmoil following Parliament’s vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Media reports indicated that France, the second economic power in the euro zone, was subject to more political turmoil in the wake of Parliament’s vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier, as for the first time in 60 years, the National Assembly approved the predecessor chamber of the French Parliament, a memorandum of no confidence in the government. . Reports showed that the no-confidence step comes at a time when the country is struggling to control a huge budget deficit, and the no-confidence step, which was supported by 331 deputies out of 577 members, much more than the required majority, has put President Emmanuel Macron back in front of a political dilemma to choose a new ministry in the country. The political situation has remained turbulent since his call for early legislative elections last June. The President Macron is scheduled to work immediately to find a new prime minister amid an almost impossible political equation between three competing blocs, and any new prime minister will face the same challenges that Barnier faced in approving legislation and a budget in Parliament.Jimmy Carter: a challenged presidency, a life of moral courage
South Koreans remain deeply disturbed by what President Yoon Suk Yeol did to the nation this week. His misguided and perplexing declaration of the short-lived martial law has caused a whirlwind of outrage, confusion and conflict. Why and how he managed to do something so erratic is not yet clear; what’s certain, however, is that he has touched off a sweeping firestorm of embarrassment across Korean society. The most immediate and widely expected consequence of the martial law decree is a political showdown over the opposition party-led impeachment motion against him. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said it would push for a vote Saturday for an impeachment motion against Yoon over his aborted martial law declaration that shocked the entire nation and the world. The Democratic Party and Yoon's detractors are now trying to remove him from the presidency, but the outlook for impeachment remains uncertain as Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party, said Thursday he will work hard with his party to block the motion's passage. Han said his decision was not to defend Yoon’s “unconstitutional martial law” but to prevent a chaotic situation that could hurt the public. Han’s stated position heralds a rocky path for the impeachment motion since it requires a two-thirds majority to pass parliament. Of the 300-member National Assembly, the opposition bloc needs at least eight votes from the ruling party to pass the bill. The contrasting stance of the rival parties over the need for impeachment is expected to further deepen the level of conflict in the country’s political circles. Adding to the political tension, the opposition-controlled National Assembly on Thursday passed impeachment motions against Board of Audit and Inspection Chair Choe Jae-hae and three top prosecutors over their roles in the relocation of the presidential office and issues involving first lady Kim Keon Hee. Yoon’s martial law decree also put Korea’s financial and business sectors on edge. On Wednesday, foreign investors dumped stocks valued at 600 billion won ($423 million) and the Korean currency plunged to a two-year low against the US dollar at one point before regaining some of its value thanks to a pledge by the financial authorities to supply liquidity. Experts noted that markets are now in a better condition than expected, but if political turmoil continues and uncertainty about the government’s economic policy increases, the overall credit rating of the Korean economy could suffer a setback. International credit rating agencies like S&P have given high marks to Korea’s reliable and consistent policies. But Korea’s political risks, globally exposed by Yoon's abrupt martial law declaration, are feared to undermine the country's sovereign ratings among foreign investors. As for relations with the US and other neighboring countries, there is no doubt that Yoon’s martial law declaration has generated negative reactions. For instance, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the US was watching the development with “grave concern.” Diplomatic events involving the US, Japan and other countries are being delayed or canceled, reflecting heightened political and social tensions in Korea. It is deeply regrettable that Yoon has complicated Korea’s political situation and dragged down its international stature overnight. More worrisome is that the negative impact could last longer than expected, spilling into other sectors -- a sorry development that the government must prevent with all resources and measures available.Ottawa police 'Purse Project': Need for feminine hygiene products greater than ever
The UPSC exam is counted among the toughest in India, and millions dream to clear it, but only a select few do. In this select group is IAS officer Pari Bishnoi, a relentlessly determined young lady from Bikaner, Rajasthan, now serving as a civil servant. Her journey, in itself, serves as an inspiration to many aspirants. Her mother, a police officer in the GRP, and her father, an advocate, set high standards for her upbringing. Pari completed her schooling at St. Mary's convent school in Ajmer and moved to Delhi for further studies and graduated from Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi. Moreover, she has completed her postgraduate degree in political science from MDS University, Ajmer. Her journey toward becoming an IAS officer started from the very instant she completed her academics. Pari took a life-changing decision; she decided to go into the preparation without any distractions. This included removing her social media accounts and curtailing phone use. All this and more was driven to succeed, and in 2019, she cleared the UPSC exam on her third attempt, securing an impressive All-India rank of 30. Pari's service in the civil services has been characterized by commitment and excellence since then. She is currently serving as a Subdivisional Officer at Gangtok in Sikkim and, prior to that, was in the capacity of Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas. Apart from her professional triumph, Pari recently grabbed headlines for her marital status. She has now tied a knot with Bhavya Bishnoi, the youngest MLA from Adampur in Haryana. Belonging to a famed political family-Bhavya is the son of BJP leader Kuldeep Bishnoi and grandson of the former chief minister of Haryana, Bhajan Lal-he is a rising star in politics. Pari Bishnoi's story is an inspiration, powerful enough to take one through the great power of will and self-discipline. Pari's journey from being a small-town girl to serving the nation as a member of a politically influential clan has inspired a whole generation of young Indians to strive aspirations for making their mark emphatically felt in the annals of history.
Former Red Sox exec weighs in on controversial Aroldis Chapman signing: ‘I guess enough time has passed’
The Chicago Blackhawks did something few expected on Thursday, firing head coach Luke Richardson after an 8-16-2 start to the 2024-25 NHL Season. After finishing in second to last place last season with a 23-53-6 record, the Chicago Blackhawks went out and boosted their roster . General manager Kyle Davidson added players like Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Pat Maroon, TJ Brodie, Alex Martinez and Ily Mikheyev to the organization looking to make the team better. Yet, this season has seen the Blackhawks be nothing near better. Connor Bedard has struggled with just five goals in 26 games; Bertuzzi and Teravainen have rarely been used at five on five with Bedard; and it seems like most night the Hawks are finding different ways to lose close games. The Hawks latest four game losing streak was enough for general manager Kyle Davidson to fire his first head coach he hired in Richardson. The Blackhawks announced the coaching change in a news release at 4 p.m. “Today I made the difficult decision to move on from Luke as our head coach. We thank him for his efforts and contributions to the organization and our community,” Davidson said in a statement. “As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary. We wish Luke and his family all the best moving forward.” The Blackhawks making the coaching change right now sends a clear message that management expects more out of the rebuilding squad. The Blackhawks also announced Anders Sorensen, head coach of the Rockford IceHogs, as the new interim head coach. Blackhawks assistant G.M. Mark Eaton will assume coaching responsibilities in Rockford. The Blackhawks will play their next game on Saturday at home against the Winnipeg Jets. This is the second major coaching change in the Windy City within the past week after the Chicago Bears fired Matt Eberflus last Friday. This article first appeared on Chicago Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.
ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!Jaguar's Type 00 concept car: Redefining EV landscapeTrump's 25% tariff would be devastating for Canada — but it would be devastating for the U.S. too, economists say
The Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre is reporting that site servicing is nearing completion for future interim housing sites. Michal Fark, municipal director of recovery, told council on Tuesday (Dec. 3) that they have done as much servicing at the in-town sites as possible in absence of knowing what will actually be placed on the land. “Once we actually further clarify with the Government of Alberta on what will be procured and what will be placed where, then we will have to do some additional servicing and connection work with those structures,” Fark said. In October, the Alberta government committed $112 million toward interim housing for Jasper residents who lost their homes in the wildfire. The funding will go toward building 250 modular homes. Jason Nixon, minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, confirmed in the legislature on Nov. 28 that they were on track to create 250 new homes just after Christmas. Coun. Scott Wilson asked Fark if the province would be able to make good on this promise. “There’s quite a bit of vagueness to the interim housing,” Wilson said. “We should be transparent with our community that we don’t really know what’s coming, and if our residents have any opportunity in finding accommodation elsewhere, I think they should be doing that.” Fark replied they were still in discussions with the province about what the built form would look like and the timeline of deployment, although 80 to 100 units were previously anticipated for January, with the rest coming later. “At this moment in time, I still see a pathway to 80 to 100 units being delivered sometime relatively early in the New Year, but it is a challenging pathway for sure, and the longer we go without certainty, the narrower that pathway becomes,” he said. Fark added they were meeting with federal and provincial partners later this week to further discuss the timeline for interim housing. Interim housing will be located at the northeast end of town and on the southern end of town along Connaught Drive. A site called 2B just south of Highway 16 was also slated for interim housing, but an impact assessment has determined this site was unviable. Fark said they were working with Parks Canada to identify other sites. Coun. Rico Damota noted there was some frustration in the community about the slow progress with interim housing and asked how many hectares were still available following the removal of site 2B. According to Fark, this resulted in a loss of 3.5 hectares of land, leaving just more than four hectares on the available sites within town. If the province opted for higher density, there could be up to 80 units per hectare. “We have strongly communicated with the Government of Alberta the need to achieve higher entities, and they are working with us, and we are having those ongoing conversations,” he said. Coun. Wendy Hall asked how residents could apply to get on the waitlist for interim housing. Fark replied they were still working with the province on a prioritization matrix that has not been finalized, and a housing application form was still on the municipality’s website. “We know that the demand will exceed what we’re going to be able to supply with the interim housing program,” he added. “Essentially, once we know how many units we are getting and how soon we can anticipate them, then we will go through the prioritization matrix, and that is what will be used to determine who has the first opportunity for the interim housing.”
The end of Eras. Taylor Swift fans are convinced the singer has something extra special up her sparkling sleeve for the final three shows of her record-busting tour , thanks to a hint circulating Friday on social media. And “SwiftCouver,” the Canadian city where the globe-trotting superstar will play Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, is appropriately “bejeweled.” Follow Page Six’s live updates on Taylor Swift’s final Eras Tour concerts:Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National Championship