French President Emmanuel Macron's office has announced a new government after the previous cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over the country's budget. Login or signup to continue reading Newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou put together the government that includes members of the outgoing conservative-dominated team and new figures from centrist or left-leaning backgrounds. Coming up with a 2025 budget will be the most urgent order of business. The new government enters office after months of political deadlock and pressure from financial markets to reduce France's colossal debt. No single party holds a majority in the National Assembly. Bayrou's decades of political experience are seen as key in efforts to restore stability after Marine Le Pen's far-right party helped bring down the previous government. Macron has vowed to remain in office until his term ends in 2027, but has struggled to govern since snap elections in the summer left no single party with a majority in the National Assembly. Since his appointment 10 days ago, Bayrou has held talks with political leaders from various parties in search of the right balance for the new government. Some critics on Monday were angry at Bayrou for consulting with Le Pen's far-right party, and some argue the government looks too much like the old one to win lawmakers' trust. Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned this month following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the National Assembly, leaving France without a functioning government. Le Pen played a key role in Barnier's downfall by joining her National Rally party's forces with the left to pass the no-confidence motion. Bayrou will need support from moderate legislators on the right and left to keep his government alive. Bayrou has said he supports tax hikes championed by his predecessor, but it's not clear how the new government can find the right calculation for a budget that satisfies a majority of lawmakers angry over spending cuts. Banker Eric Lombard will be finance minister, a crucial post when France is working to fulfil its promises to European Union partners to reduce its deficit, estimated to reach six per cent of its gross domestic product this year. Lombard briefly worked as an adviser to a Socialist finance minister in the 1990s. Hard-right Bruno Retailleau stays on as interior minister, with responsibility for France's security and migration policy. Sebastien Lecornu, who has been at the forefront of France's military support for Ukraine, remains defence minister, while Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who has travelled extensively in the Mideast in recent weeks, also retains his post. Among new faces are two former prime ministers. Manuel Valls will be the minister for overseas affairs, and Elisabeth Borne will take the education ministry. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? 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Going toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the NFL is commendable. Mayo also remains confident this group has even more room for growth over its final two games this season. “To be frank, I don’t believe in good losses,” Mayo said. “I think there’s a lot to learn from the game. Look, we’re headed in the right direction, but it’s all about consistency, and we have to do that on a down-after-down, a game-after-game basis to be successful in this league.” What is also clear is that despite their 3-12 record, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye wants people to know that he and his teammates believe in their coach. No matter what conversations might be going on outside the Patriots locker room regarding shortcomings by the coaching staff, or Mayo’s job status. “We’ve got his back, and he’s coached us hard. He wants to win. We all want to win. We’re all frustrated,” Maye said. “We’re just plays away, and it’s basically me turning the ball over. I think it’s just a testament to these guys that keep fighting. We keep fighting. Shoot, we’re not going to make the playoffs; we’re out of the race, and these guys are coming in, frustrated when we don’t score. ... So, I think we’re building something good, building something that feels right here, and I’m proud to be a Patriot.” What’s working The Patriots entered the week scoring only 7.5 points per game in the first half this season, which ranked 29th in the NFL. The offense woke up with 14 points in the first half on Sunday, notching multiple offensive touchdowns in the first half for the first time in 2024. New England Patriots safety Marte Mapu (15) intercepts a pass against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y.. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar What needs help Stopping the run has been an issue for New England’s defense for most of the season and it was on display against the Bills. With Buffalo trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, running back James Cook sliced through the interior of the Patriots defense and broke free for a 46-yard TD run. It was a big chunk of Buffalo’s 172 yards on the ground for the game. Stock up CB Jonathan Jones. He was tasked with being the primary defender on Buffalo’s top receiver Khalil Shakir for most of the game. The veteran held his own, helping limit the Bills’ leader in catches and receiving yards to only two catches for 22 yards on six targets. Jones also forced a fumble by Shakir in the fourth quarter, though Shakir was able to recover it. Stock down Marte Mapu. The linebacker started at safety with Jabrill Peppers sidelined with a hamstring injury. Mapu was strong for most of the game and had a chance to set up the Patriots offense in the second quarter when he snagged his second career interception, picking off Josh Allen’s pass in the end zone. But Mapu decided to run the ball out of the end zone and was tackled on the New England 1-yard line. The poor starting field position eventually led to a punt and the Patriots couldn’t add to their 14-7 lead. Injuries The Patriots didn’t announce any injuries during the game. But along with Peppers, cornerback Marcus Jones also sat out with a hip injury. Key number 2-6 — The Patriots’ record in one-score games this season. Four of those have been by three or fewer points. Next steps The Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
From the opening tip-off, both teams showcased their offensive firepower and defensive tenacity, trading baskets and making crucial stops on the defensive end. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to establish a comfortable lead. Shandong High-Speed relied on the scoring prowess of their star players, who delivered clutch shots and displayed exceptional teamwork throughout the game.Secondly, the dramatic increase in market volatility was another clear signal of the changing landscape. Prices of stocks began fluctuating wildly, with sharp spikes and drops becoming a common occurrence. This heightened volatility not only created uncertainty among investors but also led to increased risks in the market as a whole.
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Lastly, the sudden shift in investor sentiment was perhaps the most significant signal of all. The prevailing optimism that had driven the market for months was replaced almost overnight by fear and uncertainty. Investors who had once been bullish on the market suddenly found themselves questioning their positions and reevaluating their strategies.Two sides separated by one spot will go head-to-head in the Turkish Super Lig when Besiktas welcome Goztepe SK to Tupras Stadyumu on Sunday. The Black Eagles are coming into this clash on the back of a goalless draw with Istanbul Basaksehir just before the international break. © Imago Besiktas have endured a torrid couple of weeks in the Super Lig, losing two and drawing one of their last three matches. A 2-1 defeat away at Galatasaray was followed by a 3-1 defeat at home to Kasimpasa, before the goalless draw with Basaksehir in a game that both teams registered only one shot on target. Giovanni van Bronckhorst 's side dropped to fifth place with 21 points, four points behind third-placed Fenerbahce and one point ahead of fourth-placed Eyupspor who have both played one extra game. Besiktas have won their last three meetings against Sunday's opposition, which will give them some confidence heading into their next game, though they lost their most recent home game after winning the opening four. © Imago Goztepe continued to alternate between wins and losses in their last six Super Lig matches, the most recent of which was a 2-0 home win against Konyaspor. In what was a thrilling encounter, Goztepe left it late with both goals scored in stoppage time via a spot kick from Romulo Cardoso in the 98th minute and Kuryu Matsuki two minutes later. Stanimir Stoilov 's side currently sit sixth in the table having earned 18 points from their first 11 outings, winning five of those while only suffering three defeats. The visitors have scored 19 goals, making them the joint-fourth highest scoring side in the league alongside hosts Besiktas, with only the top three sides in the table scoring more. However, just five of those goals have come on the road, as Goztepe have failed to win any of their five away matches in this campaign, drawing two and losing the most recent three. © Imago Besiktas's top scorer, Ciro Immobile , is sidelined with a thigh injury, as is Ernest Muci , with the former expected back on the pitch in early December and the latter in mid-December. Necip Uysal is also out with a ligament issue, with the midfielder predicted to remain sidelined until the middle of next month. Goztepe might be missing one player for this clash, with Kubilay Kanatsizkus nursing an ankle injury that makes him doubtful. Cardoso, who leads the team's scoring charts with five goals in 10 league appearances this term, returned to the starting XI last time out and is expected to be in a front two alongside Chelsea loanee David Datro Fofana . Besiktas possible starting lineup: Gunok; Svensson, Uduokhai, Gabriel, Masuaku; Elmusrati, Fernandes; Mario, Silva, Rashica; Kilicsoy Goztepe SK possible starting lineup: Lis; Bokele, Heliton, Altikardes; Bayrak, Ildiz, Solet, Silva; Tijanic; Fofana, Romulo Besiktas have been solid at home and we believe that their recent home defeat was just a blip, which is why we are predicting a win for the hosts against Goztepe, who have been poor away from home this season. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .
But now, all of that was behind him. The wide open road stretched out before him, beckoning him to run faster, to run towards a future filled with endless possibilities. And as he ran, he couldn't help but wonder – what had changed in the world during his time in confinement?
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Teamsters president reveals how ‘arrogant’ VP Harris lost the party, and the vote National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Ford to give $1 million for Trump inauguration National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Addressing the specific rumors of a breakup that have been circulating in the media, Kelly Chen categorically denied the claims and stated that she and Kevin Cheng are still very much together. She clarified that the recent reports were nothing more than baseless gossip and urged fans and the media to respect their privacy during this challenging time. Chen emphasized that while their marriage may not be perfect, they are actively working on strengthening their bond and building a solid foundation for their future together.