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French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government Monday evening, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year, to drag the second-largest EU economy out of political crisis. Macron named former prime minister Elisabeth Borne, 63, education minister in a new cabinet under centrist Bayrou. Another former premier, Manuel Valls, 62, returned as overseas territories minister, while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin became justice minister. Both Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot kept their jobs, the presidency said. Lecornu, a 38-year-old loyalist with a keen political nose, has served in every government since Macron's first election as president in 2017. Conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, and right-wing Culture Minister Rachida Dati, also stayed in their posts. The difficult job of delivering a budget plan for next year falls to Eric Lombard, the 66-year-old head of public-sector lender Caisse des Depots (CDC), who was named economy minister. "I'm very proud of the team we're presenting this evening," Bayrou said on X, adding his "experienced" government would aim to "rebuild trust". The inclusion of two former prime ministers indicates Macron's desire for a heavyweight government that will enjoy stability and not share the fate of Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, ousted in a no-confidence vote following a standoff over an austerity budget. Bayrou had hoped to bring in figures from the left, right and centre to protect his government from possible censure, but his 35-member team does not include any representatives of the left-wing coalition New Popular Front, which has won the most seats in snap legislative elections this summer. Left-wing politicians were livid. "It's not a government, it's a provocation. The extreme right in power under the watchful eye of the extreme right," Socialist leader Olivier Faure said on X. Macron will gather Bayrou's team on January 3 for a first cabinet meeting, the presidency said. The priority for Bayrou, 73, is to make sure his government can survive a no-confidence vote and that it passes a cost-cutting budget for 2025. The unexpected comeback of Valls, premier from 2014 to 2016, as the head of the overseas territories ministry indicates the importance of the post after authorities were strongly criticised for their response to the deadly cyclone on the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which killed at least 35 people. Darmanin had long been known to covet the post of foreign minister, but after days of intense discussions will have to content himself with the justice ministry. Just before the official announcement, heavyweight right-wing politician Xavier Bertrand announced he would not be part of the government. He alleged it had been formed with the implicit "backing" of far-right leader Marine Le Pen's National Rally, which will play a key role in ensuring its survival. "The prime minister informed me this morning, contrary to what he had proposed yesterday, that he was no longer in a position to entrust me with responsibility for the justice ministry due to opposition from National Rally," Bertrand said. Bertrand is a major irritant for the far right, which he has long opposed. The prime minister denied the far-right had influenced the composition of his government. "It is not true that any influence whatsoever was exerted on me," he told BFMTV. Le Pen warned that Bayrou's government "will have to change its methods, listen to its opponents and build a budget that takes account of the choices expressed at the ballot box". "Nothing can be done or decided behind the backs of eleven million French people," she said on X, referring to her supporters. The announcement came as France observed a day of mourning for victims in cyclone-hit Mayotte, France's poorest overseas territory. Bayrou was appointed on December 13. He is the sixth prime minister of Macron's mandate. France has been mired in deadlock since Macron gambled on snap elections this summer in the hopes of bolstering his authority. The move backfired, with voters electing a parliament fractured between three rival blocs. Le Pen suggested Macron has been weakened by months of political crisis, telling Le Parisien last week she was "preparing for an early presidential election." In an editorial for Le Figaro, Vincent Tremolet de Villers wrote: "Macron-Bayrou, the government of the last chance." bur-as/phzLKI-ICRC seminar discusses contemporary challenges concerning AI and Autonomous Weapons Systems
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This is Armchair Economics with Hamish McRae, a subscriber-only newsletter from i . If you’d like to get this direct to your inbox, every single week, you can sign up here. So Luton is to stop all vehicle production after the owner of Vauxhall announced the closure of its van factory. Why? It is easy to throw around the blame. The owner of Vauxhall is now Stellantis, which was formed by Chrysler, Fiat and Peugeot-Citroen getting together in 2019. So the company could be accused of wanting to shut plants in Britain rather than in France, Italy or the US. Or you could blame this Government’s drive to stop companies selling petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK in five years’ time. That was “a significant part” of the reason behind the decision, the company said. It has certainly had a reaction. The Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, told the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ dinner on Tuesday that the Government was launching a consultation about reforming the rules about the pace at which manufacturers will be forced to switch to electric vehicles . Wider retreat from manufacturing Or you could simply say this is part of the much wider retreat from manufacturing that the UK has experienced over the past half-century – though it is worth noting that the same pattern is being repeated across the rest of the developed world. But rather than trying apportion to blame, it is surely more helpful – and actually more hopeful – to set what is happening into its longer-term context. So let’s step back a bit, starting with a sad note, for this ends 120 years of tradition. It was in March 1905 that the Vauxhall company moved to Luton, making beautifully-engineered luxury cars that vied with Rolls-Royce, Mercedes and Hispano-Suiza at the top end of the pre-First World War market. The success didn’t last. The cars were too expensive, profits turned to losses and in 1925 Vauxhall was taken over by General Motors, anxious to match Ford’s incursion into the UK market. American flash Purists may disagree – GM’s Vauxhalls were mass-market products, not “real” ones for the wealthy – but American expertise in mass production turned Luton into a manufacturing powerhouse. Bedford lorries and vans were a huge success, with a reputation for reliability around the world. The factory built the Churchill tank in the Second World War, and from the 1950s onwards brought a bit of American flash into the drab British car market. Read Next The election petition is the worst of Brexit all over again Along with most of the rest of the UK’s car manufacturers , GM was plagued by quality and labour problems, and eventually stopped making cars at Luton in 2002, though it carried on building vans in association with Renault. Car production was switched to the newer plant at Ellesmere Port – where apparently Stellantis will now focus all its UK business. The company has promised an extra £50m of investment there. We will see. But looking back at the history, it isn’t fair to blame foreign ownership as such for the demise of Luton. After all, it was GM that rescued Vauxhall, and turned a small specialist car firm into a global business. More broadly, Nissan in Sunderland has been a huge success and it was the foreign ownership of Tata at Jaguar Land-Rover that turned round the fortunes there. Push customers towards China So what about the Government’s policy on pushing the industry towards a faster switch towards electric cars? There are two points here. One is that elected governments will have environmental and social policies that carry economic costs, and the important thing is that those costs should be made clear. But they make mistakes. If it is true, as Stellantis says, that the Government’s electric vehicle mandate was an important reason behind the closure, then this is a cost. Jonathan Reynolds should be commended for his candour in acknowledging that the mandate “isn’t working as intended”. Nissan says that EV rules are undermining the case for making cars in Britain, and given its importance it should certainly be listened to. The other point is that, Tesla apart, electric car production is dominated by China . Last year it made 58 per cent of the world’s pure electric and plug-in electric cars. It will probably be higher still this year. So forcing people in Britain to buy electric is, in effect, to push them towards China. Golden years The question then, aside from whether this is really a wise policy, is how to persuade Chinese manufacturers to develop more of their business here. More design work? An assembly plant for MGs and other Chinese-owned companies? This isn’t just about the loss of jobs in Luton. It is about the wider strategic implications of our policy towards the motor industry. All this is dispiriting. The UK does have an excellent high-tech manufacturing sector, though it is proportionately slightly smaller than that of most developed countries, at around 9 per cent of GDP. But it has a much wider impact on the economy as a whole, and a recent paper by Oxford Analytics argued that if you take into account its UK-based supply chains it accounted for nearly a quarter of GDP. It also invests heavily in new technologies, with nearly half of the country’s research and development. There is lots of anecdotal evidence that craft manufacturing is booming too. So de-industrialisation may be coming to an end, and the challenge is to exploit the UK’s top-end competitive advantage – just as Vauxhall did in its golden years before the First World War. Where is there growth for Luton ? Getting out of motor production has been a long and painful process, because the growth of Vauxhall in effect crowded out other potential businesses. It has also suffered from the decline of the hat business , the problem there being that people don’t seem now to wear hats as they did even half a century ago – or at least not crafted ones. However on one simple measure, Luton is still a success story: population growth. Its physical location near London has proved a huge magnet, and Luton’s population climbed over the decade to 2021, rising by 11 per cent to 225,000; it is currently estimated at 230,000. That is faster growth than that of England as a whole. One of the principal drivers has been the airport, now planning to increase passenger numbers to 19 million a year . There is a plan to push numbers up much further , to 32 million by the 2040s. That would make it UK’s number three airport after Heathrow and Gatwick, passing Stansted and Manchester. The rationale is that it is better located than Stansted, with a much larger catchment area both for workers and passengers. But there is, as always, opposition, so we will see. The really interesting question is whether Luton is already in the early stages of a wider renaissance. Population growth is one measure, because people go to places where there are jobs. But being an affordable commuter town for Londoners seeking a bit more space is probably a bigger driver. The challenge there is to use its commuter town status to benefit the local economy too. Luton is in the southern flank of the Oxford/Cambridge arc that the previous government described in a consultation document. There are various elements to the plan, including at last a direct rail link between the two university cities. But from Luton’s point of view, the exciting prospect is sharing a role in the creative, technical and educational opportunities in this region – to be an integral part of an area of extraordinary prosperity, rather than a former industrial town trying to replace the lost jobs. The point is this. Towns cannot change their location – but they can play to their strengths, and in the case of any town near the M25, location is a positive. Luton has a large and vigorous immigrant population. For them, stitching in to the arc of prosperity between Oxford and Cambridge is a huge opportunity. This is Armchair Economics with Hamish McRae, a subscriber-only newsletter from i . If you’d like to get this direct to your inbox, every single week, you can sign up here.
VIDEO: Ojudu praises Igbo man’s selfless school renovation in Ogun StateThe Baltimore Ravens will travel to Houston on Wednesday for a Christmas Day game against the Texans. You would imagine Lamar Jackson is most excited to face another AFC contender, beginning to prepare for the playoffs. As things stand, Baltimore and Houston would face each other in the Wildcard round. But you would be wrong, as the former MVP is really looking forward to the Beyonce halftime show at NRG Stadium. “I’m going to go out there and watch,” Jackson said . “I’m going to go out there and watch, man. It’s my first time watching Beyonce perform and it’s at our game? That’s dope. I’m going to go out there and watch. Sorry, (head coach John) Harbaugh . Sorry, fellas.” In Jackson’s defense, Baltimore has already locked up their spot in the playoffs. At this point, all there is to play for is a potential AFC North title and potentially seeding. Surely some time can be carved out for Jackson to watch Beyonce perform. Kickoff from Houston is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with Netflix broadcasting the game. Although, people in Baltimore and Houston will be able to watch on broadcast TV. The NFL is playing on Christmas Day for the fifth consecutive season. Plenty of people will be tuning in for the matchups, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers also facing off. But a halftime show from Beyonce in the later window will attract plenty of viewers, just ask Jackson. Hopefully, things are going well for the Ravens and Harbaugh does not mind going through halftime without his quarterback. Some other players might become a member of the audience as well, getting a front row seat to the concert. Houston picks up former Baltimore wide receiver ahead of Christmas matchup The Houston Texans have picked up WR Diontae Johnson on waivers on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move comes after the Texans lost WR Tank Dell for the season with a significant knee injury. Houston is the third team Johnson will play on this season having spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens, the latter of which waived him last week. Houston takes on Baltimore on Christmas day, but it’s unclear if Johnson will be able to suit up for the Texans for the matchup. On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.
MoJ’s CLJS holds training courses toenhance skills of legal professionalsTony Munguia and his daughter Bivianne were heading to a job fair at Cypress College when they saw smoke curling from a nearby roof. They stopped. Flames were dancing inside the home on Via Jacara in Stanton. Bivianne dialed 911 as her father rushed inside. “Is anyone here?” he bellowed into smoke so thick it stung his eyes. “Yes,” a weak voice answered – a senior who had recent surgery and couldn’t walk. Munguia couldn’t see. He told her to keep talking and followed her voice to a far bedroom. He scooped her up and headed back toward the door as best he could. A landscaper saw the commotion and rushed inside to help, and together they brought her out to safety. That’s when folks noticed Munguia’s pants legs were smoldering. Tony and Bivianne Munguia’s April adventure earned them the Fourth District Kindness Award for Stanton. The uplifting fall ritual from Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Doug Chaffee helps restore one’s faith in humanity, recognizing one person from each city in his district for doing something nice without any expectation of payback. Reading through the nomination papers has become a soothing launch to the holiday season for this grizzled scribe. “It is especially important for us to acknowledge kindness wherever we can find it and inspire others to perform their own acts of kindness in the community,” Chaffee said in a statement. “Our Kindness Award honorees have risen to the challenge and have gone beyond that to ensure the needs of our communities are met.” The winners are impressive, but many of the nominees are just as inspiring. There’s Janet Proctor and Bill Lawrence, who’ve helped families from Afghanistan and Ukraine settle into a strange new world. Erica Norgaard, a special education teacher for Access high schools, who has become a rock for her students. There’s Fullerton school nurse Susan Cravello, who transformed the garden at Woodcrest Elementary into a blooming oasis, and Paulette Holm, who didn’t crack under the stress of shepherding more than a thousand volunteers during the Orange County Point in Time Count of people experiencing homelessness, and Sunbie Harrell, who walks dogs at the Orange County Animal Care shelter. Then there’s Aaron and Allys Malais. On Aug. 3, a ’99 Toyota Camry heading north on Highland in Fullerton conked out in traffic. The driver was stuck, unable to find the emergency flashers. The young couple hopped out to direct traffic. Two more young couples saw the trouble and came to help as well. They all pushed the car across Chapman and into a parking lot, restarted it with jumper cables, and Aarona and Allys followed the owners home to ensure there was no further trouble. “They stayed with us the whole time offering full support both technically and emotionally,” the nomination said. “This was truly an exceptional act of kindness, and for all three couples that voluntarily pitched in, an affirmation of the goodness, caring, and high values, of our younger generation in our currently challenging society.” Wang is a senior at Troy High School who had a simple goal: to help his grandmother navigate the internet. Technology, he knew, was a powerful tool to help keep people connected, even if they couldn’t leave home. So he started volunteering at Happy Adult Daycare in Whittier, getting to know the seniors and understanding their needs. He developed an award-winning iPad application that uses augmented reality technology to help translate English into people’s native languages, and also designed a night-time medical monitoring device that allows families to keep a digital eye on loved ones and get timely alerts. “Dylan’s belief that technology should be an empowering tool for seniors, rather than something that alienates them, has driven his efforts,” the nomination said. “His work not only enhances the lives of the elderly but also exemplifies the spirit of kindness and service that this award seeks to honor.” Adults with disabilities can be quite capable and eager to work – but it’s often hard for them to find a job. So in 2021, Yoon stepped in. He started a nonprofit called Seesaw Communities to provide vocational training in areas like baking and coffeemaking and employs graduates as baristas at Seesaw Beans and Coffee. The work helps them grow in confidence and independence, together, just as people rise and fall together on a seesaw. “By focusing on their strengths and interests, he ensures that every participant can develop valuable skills and gain a sense of accomplishment,” the nomination said. “Under his guidance, Seesaw Communities has become a leader in providing integrated employment opportunities, fostering inclusive workplaces where individuals with developmental disabilities can thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.” When she was 7, Preston decided that she had enough stuff. For her birthday, she asked her friends to donate toys to needy kids instead of buying her gifts. The next year, she asked them to donate books. The next year, shoes. The year after that, school supplies, then board games, children’s clothing, food. Her most recent birthday resulted in 291 pounds of food for the Hub of Hope food pantry, the nomination said. A freshman at Fullerton Union High School, she volunteers at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fullerton, sings with the Southern California Children’s Chorus and was a soloist with the Pacific Symphony. “Her ongoing efforts exemplify how one young person, driven by empathy, can make a lasting difference in the community,” the nomination said. Wyckoff loves kids. During her career as a teacher’s aide with the La Habra City School District she was a guardian angel to those who needed help, buying them school clothes and Christmas gifts, and tutoring kids who struggled during school breaks, the nomination said. After she retired in 1985, she started volunteering at the Children’s Museum at La Habra . “Over the years she has literally volunteered at every capacity,” the nomination said, from manning the breakfast with Santa event to running the gift shop to creating a wishing well in memory of her late grandson. Those funds are used to help pay for school visits to the museum. Shiozawa has been a Rotary Club of Placentia member since 2015, including two terms as president. She has helped launch everything from neighborhood clean-ups to “stuffing” and distributing school backpacks to preparing hygiene kits and holiday gift packs. “It may be cliché, but Alice firmly believes that often it is the little things that count, that are meaningful to those in need or in pain,” the nomination said. Azaran , an independent living skills and outreach instructor at the Braille Institute, goes above and beyond by organizing free workshops for visually impaired individuals and their families and providing individualized attention to each student. “Her empathetic approach helps foster a supportive and nurturing environment,” the nomination said. Oates , former Fullerton Rotary president, got the Honorary Kindness Award. He has been a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club and at Crittenton Services for Children and Families. He’s been a coach at Golden Hill Little League and active in Fullerton’s Sister City Association. The honorees were nominated by community members and applications were independently scored by Tom Tait, former Anaheim mayor; Charles Barfield, general manager of the Orange County Employees Association; Rosalina Davis, owner of Tlaquepaque Restaurant; Christian Esteban, Project Manager of Store One; and Lorena Moreno, principal at Western High School. “There’s a lot going on in the world today,” said Oates’ wife, Elizabeth, “but if we can all just do a little bit where we are, we can make this such a better place.” Virginia Wyckoff, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of La Habra. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Sam Yoon, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Buena Park. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Mike Oates, former Fullerton Rotary President, awarded the Honorary Kindness Award the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Awards. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Dylan Wang, right, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Fullerton. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Tony and Bivianne Munguia, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Stanton. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Zelda Makanaaloha Preston, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Brea. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Alice Shiozawa (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Nicou Azaran, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Anaheim. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Virginia Wyckoff, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of La Habra. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District)FG Plans Massive Export Of Cocoa, Sesame, Ginger, Others In 2025
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AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:46 p.m. ESTDecember events at Manross include magician and an autism empowerment speaker