The EFL have begun the initial approval process over a potential new investor for , the club's owner and chairman Simon Hallett has revealed. Hallett told a Plymouth Argyle Cornish Supporters' Association fans' forum in St Dennis last night that he was 'on the verge of being able to come public with something'. The United States-based businessman has been searching for someone to put additional funds into the Championship club since the summer of 2023. The process has not been an easy one, but Hallett seems optimistic the hunt could be drawing to a conclusion and he declared it would take the club's playing budget from the bottom two or three in the Championship to just below halfway. Hallett told the fans' forum at the St Dennis Working Men's Club: "Our ambitions are essentially to compete in the top half of the Championship and at the moment we are competing in the bottom half of the Championship. "We have been very open about this, that we are looking for new investment, which we think will help us both continue to develop the infrastructure and continue to grow the revenue base, in order to invest or spend more on the first team squad, so that's part of the strategy. "But I have always been clear since I first became chairman of Argyle that I thought my resources could get us to the Championship and if we wanted to push on beyond that we would need someone with different resources. "We have been disappointed in how long it has taken to find a new investor. I have been thinking this for about eight months, but I think we are on the verge of being able to come public with something. "We have actually got the EFL already beginning the initial approval process. The progress has been slow and every time I think we are close, you get a little bit closer but you don't quite get there. "I'm still hopeful we are going to be able to land a new investor who is going to be able to help us push on, but this year we are competing in the bottom half of the Championship because we have failed to get the resources that we had hoped." Hallett continued: "My view is that the club should be self sustaining and, again, we have been absolutely clear about this. Even under my predecessor, James (Brent) always said this club has to be self sustaining. "There are several models of running a football club, particularly in the Championship where the average club, I think, loses £25 million a year. So the average club is losing money that is financed effectively by their shareholders, either in the form of equity or in the form of debt until the sugar daddy decides they don't want to do it anymore,. "We have rejected that model and, again, we have been absolutely clear our goal is sustainability so that if I get hit by a bus or the source of finance dries up for any reason the club will be safe. "We do need new investors. If we can't find them then we will turn to the shareholders again. There will be money made available in the (January) transfer window and the only source of money is the shareholders." A new investor would play a very important part in Argyle being able to increase the current capacity of Home Park, where they have been sold-out crowds of 16,000-plus pretty much every game since the start of last season. Hallett said: "We think that by spending quite a lot of money we can increase capacity to about 22,000. When we get more clarity about safe standing, when we get more clarity about likely attendances, part of our investment opportunity is not just to spend money on the first team, it's to continue to build the infrastructure in a way that generates not just higher quality facilities for the first team but also generates revenue. "Clearly, we are losing a competitive edge by having a stadium in the Championship that only seats 17,000. It's very much at the lower end of Championship capacities." Hallett added: "We have got the initial stages of developing a masterplan for what we can do around Home Park. They will generate revenues but we are still waiting on the new investors. "The people we are talking to now are very excited by this kind of opportunity but it will include filling in the corners, it will include safe standing when we can and so on. Everything has been on hold, and we are obviously not happy about that, but I'm afraid that's the way it has been over the last 15-16 months." Asked whether the potential investor was a consortium or an individual, Hallett replied: "As soon as we are able to tell anything we will. I hate having secrets and I'm not very good at keeping them! I'm hoping we will be able to tell you everything, I'm not going to put a date on it but as soon as possible." and we want you to join us. Once you sign up for our updates, we'll send all the latest straight to your phone. To join our community, you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select 'Join Community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the PlymouthLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our . .Apart from programs bringing the Executive and Legislature closer to the people, IBC-13 will join the foray into infotainment programming with its roster of new shows set to launch first quarter of ‘25: Cooltura, Legally Speaking, Sayanista, Kalye Sining, and Barangay Trese. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced the official start of the airing of the PCSO Lottery Draw over IBC-13 and D8TV starting Dec. 31, 2024. This exciting development is a joint effort of the PCSO, the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, and Digital 8 TV to expand the reach of the Sweepstakes’ public services while allowing more Filipinos to follow their favorite lotto games anytime, anywhere. The PCSO Lottery Draw will feature popular lotto games such as Ultra Lotto 6/58, Grand Lotto 6/55, Super Lotto 6/49, Mega Lotto 6/45, and Lotto 6/42. It will carry the 6D, 4D, 3D, and 2D Lotto, which will be broadcast live every day, from Monday to Sunday, in three time slots: 2 PM, 5 PM, and 9 PM. For the first time since the lotto draws started airing on TV decades ago, viewers and bettors can now watch the program by tuning in to analog and digital IBC-13, D8TV, and IBC DWAN 1206AM channels. Additionally, livestreams will be available on the official online platforms, including the websites, Facebook pages, and YouTube channels of PCSO, IBC-13, and DWAN 1206. IBC-13 brings to this partnership a fast-growing digital Network, evidenced by the launch this December of its new digital terrestrial TV (DTT) transmitters in Baguio, covering Northern Luzon, and in Davao, serving Southeastern Mindanao. They join the DTT stations in Iloilo and Cebu, which broadcast to the Visayas and will be followed by the digitalization of Laoag and Cagayan de Oro, and the rise of new original (OG) digital stations in Leyte; Samar; Surigao; Naga; Masbate; Legaspi; Catanduanes; GenSan; Agusan; Puerto Princesa; Coron; Pagadian; Tuguegarao; Cauayan; Batangas; Bulacan; and Zamboanga. Apart from programs bringing the Executive and Legislature closer to the people, IBC-13 will join the foray into infotainment programming with its roster of new shows set to launch first quarter of ‘25: Cooltura, Legally Speaking, Sayanista, Kalye Sining, and Barangay Trese. And the always in, ever-relevant Congress TV has found a new home in IBC Digital. Meanwhile, D8TV’s state-of-the-art field record and broadcast facilities represent advanced media production capability, combining cutting-edge technology, flexibility, and reliability to deliver clearer, more colorful, more energetic action on time. Utilizing modern mobile control rooms, D8TV can create high-quality content, employing IP-based fiber optic and satellite transmission modes. In addition, IBC and D8Tv participated in a public bidding posted on PhilGeps to win the contract for the broadcast of the PCSO lottery. All said, this historic collaboration between PCSO and IBC-13 is a vital step in deepening the meaning of public service, as it not only provides entertainment to Filipino viewers but also drives the campaign to raise funds for health programs, medical assistance, and other charitable efforts to aid Filipinos in need, the mandate which PCSO continues to prioritize. For more information about the new broadcast schedule and lotto updates, visit the official websites of PCSO and IBC-13 or follow their official social media pages.
Kalen DeBoer met with the media this week ahead of Alabama’s game with Oklahoma. The Sooners need to win one of their final two games to remain bowl eligible. The Alabama Head Coach spoke about the matchup in Norman. “Just the chance for us to go on the road and have to prove it again that we got what it takes...[they are] a physical football team all around. I think they are an extremely tough defense in all ways. What they do with their scheme and their personnel, they way they fly around. Just some skilled players...Each and every game takes on its own life. For us, all we’re focused on is the next play and the next game. And everything that goes into being our best. And that’s what the recipe for success has been here over the last month.” On ignoring outside noise and keeping the focus on Oklahoma Kalen: We don’t really talk about the outside because we know that if we don’t take care of our business, the rest doesn’t matter. It seems simple, I hope it’s simple.
Middle East latest: Israel and Hezbollah trade fire, threatening Lebanon ceasefireAdele became emotional as she told her fans she will miss them “terribly” during her final Las Vegas residency show. The British singer-songwriter, 36, launched Weekends With Adele at Caesars Palace in November 2022 and performed her 100th show on Saturday. Her run of sell-out shows at the venue, which seats around 4,000 people, has been a success but has also taken its toll. In July, she announced she would be taking a “big break” from music after her current run of shows. Videos posted online from her concert on Saturday show the singer getting tearful as she bid farewell to Vegas. “It’s been wonderful and I will miss it terribly and I will miss you terribly”, she said. “I don’t know when I next want to perform again.” She also said she got “closure” when Canadian singer Celine Dion came to watch her perform, admitting that she cried for a “whole week” afterwards. “It was just such a full circle moment for me because that’s the only reason I ever even wanted to be in here”, she added. Adele shared an emotional embrace with Dion after she spotted the singer in the audience during her Las Vegas show last month. In footage shared online, the British star can be seen breaking down in tears as they hug in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which was built for Dion’s residency. The Rolling In The Deep singer has been vocal about her love for Dion over the years, hailing her as “Queen Celine” after attending one of her performances in an Instagram post in 2018. Dion reciprocated the love at the time, sharing a photo to social media of her posing alongside Adele, who was wearing the singer’s merchandise. She wrote: “Wasn’t able to do all my shows, but was thrilled that @Adele came to one of them.... I love her so much!! – Celine xx”. After their encounter at the venue, Adele said in an Instagram post: “Words will never sum up what you mean to me, or what you coming to my show means, let alone how it felt seeing you back in your palace with your beautiful family.”Brown's 17 lead Rhode Island over Charleston (SC) 91-53
Qatar tribune The first round of presidential elections has begun in Romania, with voters choosing a replacement for the outgoing President Klaus Iohannis. Romanians were choosing between 13 candidates on Sunday, with the top two moving on to a second round of voting on December 8 if no single candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round. That second presidential vote may be between current Social Democratic Party (PSD) Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the far-right leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion. By 12:00 GMT, Romania’s central election bureau said the voter turnout was 27 percent. Romanians had until 19:00 GMT to cast their votes. Ciolacu has been leading in the polls with 25 percent compared with Simion, who according to opinion polls holds the support of 15 to 19 percent of the country. Romanian political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu said that the AUR party could get a boost in the parliamentary election slated for December 1 if Simion performs well in the presidential vote, and other right-leaning voters could coalesce around Simion if he reaches the run-off. Copy 25/11/2024 10One of the government’s most senior female staffers is suing Defence Minister Richard Marles and the prime minister’s chief of staff, Tim Gartrell, for allegedly ousting her after she complained of bullying by other colleagues. The legal team for Jo Tarnawsky, who is still technically Marles’ chief of staff, confirmed she had launched legal proceedings against Marles, Gartrell and the Commonwealth on Monday. Jo Tarnawsky and Richard Marles. Credit: AAP, Alex Ellinghausen Tarnawsky’s lawyers – solicitor Michael Bradley and barrister Rebecca Davern – claim under the Fair Work Act that the government engaged in adverse action against the staffer by effectively pushing her out of her role after she raised concerns about bullying in Marles’ office. Last month, the chief of staff alleged she was effectively ousted from her job after seeking help for alleged bullying by her colleagues that left her with suicidal thoughts. Marles himself is not accused of bullying Tarnawsky – who is a former diplomat and one of the most senior women in government – but she claims he shunted her aside in April to work in a lesser government role despite never previously taking issue with her performance. “My workplace situation remains unresolved,” Tarnawsky said at a press conference in Parliament House on Monday. “Today, after untenable delays and inaction from the government, I’m lodging legal proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia.” “Taking legal action has come at the end of a very long and traumatic road,” she said. “The government has been afforded multiple opportunities to rectify the wrongs done to me, but it has done nothing except duck and cover, collude and delay.” The legal action represents a major test for Labor’s commitment to creating a more respectful workplace culture in parliament as well as a major distraction from the government’s agenda to pass up to 20 pieces of legislation in the last sitting week of the year. Tarnawsky previously said the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service was briefing lawyers to deal with her after she engaged her own lawyers to access more counselling services. Marles has previously praised Tarnawsky and said he had worked to support her wellbeing and that of his other staff as he managed the situation. “She has given me great service, and I remain deeply grateful for that,” Marles said. His spokeswoman has also disputed unspecified parts of Tarnawsky’s “assertions and recollections” in a statement. Earlier this month, this masthead revealed the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service handled 339 cases in its first nine months, including some categorised as relating to serious issues such as sexual assault, with 10 formal complaints. The support services’ annual report prompted former staffer Brittany Higgins to ask if perpetrators working in politics are being held to account. Bradley said the workplace support service had been “set up to fail”. “[It] ends up being a support service for the member of parliament, including providing the member of parliament with free legal support, and the staffer is left on their own,” he said. More to come. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .Andrew Luck returns to Stanford as the GM of the football program
Top Democrat slams Pete Hegseth's military record as Trump's Defense Secretary nominee comes under fire
Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election earlier this month, securing another four-year term as the leader of the world’s most powerful country, has sent shockwaves across the globe and through various sectors on a magnitude and scope not seen in many years. Not only experts and scholars but also the general public, including small retail investors and office workers, have actively debated the changes Trump is likely to bring about when he takes office in two months and the effects of those changes on how we live, think and make decisions. While the full details and significance of these changes will only emerge after the Trump administration announces its policies, people have already begun to talk about the direction of such policy shifts on several subjects, based on remarks by him and by officials and organizations linked to him. Along with the likely imposition of high import tariffs on products made in China, Trump is also widely expected to make a drastic shift in the US administration’s policy approach to artificial intelligence innovation -- a shift whose implications are increasingly concerning to South Korea. Many in South Korea are worried because the Trump administration’s AI policy is expected to shift toward supporting US companies as part of his aim to counter China’s growth, potentially leading to a rapid widening of the already significant gap in competitiveness between US and South Korean industries. Trump vowed on the campaign trail to repeal President Joe Biden's Executive Order on AI, which established safety testing and transparency requirements for federal agencies and AI designers under the Defense Production Act. This means US companies will likely have more freedom to focus on technology development rather than on preparing measures against unrealized risks. While details of the US AI policy under a second Trump term, starting in late January 2025, remain unconfirmed, the Center for AI Policy recently predicted that he would likely “radically scale back” regulation and prioritize “promoting American competitiveness, particularly regarding China.” The Trump administration is also expected to pursue increased federal support for autonomous vehicle adoption. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, the parent of Google, now provides 150,000 driverless taxi rides per week, up sharply from about 50,000 in May. This trend will likely continue, driving further AI technology development among the US industry. Experts in Seoul emphasize that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government must expedite support measures to help local companies compete in a global race increasingly dominated by US and Chinese giants. They predict the Trump administration will take a more hands-off approach to AI regulation, tighten export restrictions not only on manufacturers in the US but those in other countries to limit China’s access to advanced AI chips, solidify the US lead in AI development, and allow more AI company acquisitions. Based on these projections, experts in Seoul believe international debates on AI governance, which have largely centered on the European Union AI Act’s principles until now, will shift toward compelling other nations to adjust their strategies toward alignment with the US administration’s approach. Of course, South Korea’s government has consistently distanced itself from the EU’s prescriptive restrictions based on pre-classified risk levels on the surface, opting instead for an approach that balances fostering innovation and devising regulatory measures against emerging risks. However, industry representatives and private-sector experts have called for implementation of a more comprehensive set of binding rules to accompany effective government support measures. Without these, both AI developers and users may struggle to promote the development and utilization of new AI systems. Although regulatory agencies like the Personal Information Protection Commission have issued guidelines on AI-related issues, South Korea has yet to enact a framework law on AI. For instance, while the AI Safety Institute is being established under the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, it remains constrained by the lack of binding legislation. In this context, the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee’s upcoming vote on a unified law draft is a welcome step. South Korea was an early adopter in the global AI wave, building on its successful recovery from near sovereign bankruptcy in the late 1990s through massive investment in Internet-related industries. However, the government now faces challenges in expanding its role, as public opinion grows increasingly resistant to direct support for large corporations, and the nation’s dwindling tax revenue limits fiscal options. When presiding over the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Committee on AI in late September, President Yoon vowed to mobilize all available national resources to make South Korea a global AI leader after the US and China. Yet, he has resisted calls for increased fiscal support, adhering to the conflicting goal of curbing budget growth. Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Science and ICT, recently admitted during a parliamentary session that South Korea risks falling behind in the global AI race, as competing nations such as France have significantly outpaced its cautious approach with robust investment. But time waits for no one. Under Trump’s presidency, the competition is likely to evolve into a nation-to-nation dynamic rather than one between companies, highlighting the urgency for South Korea’s government to reassess its strategy of pledging support while avoiding substantial financial backing. Yoo Choon-sik Yoo Choon-sik worked for nearly 30 years at Reuters, including as the chief Korea economics correspondent, and briefly worked as a business strategy consultant. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.Hulbert's gift to Korea
Kylian Mbappé scored and Real Madrid moved within four points of Spanish league leader Barcelona with a 3-0 win at Leganes on Sunday ahead of its eagerly awaited Champions League match against Liverpool. Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham also scored to close the gap on Barcelona, which conceded two late goals in a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo on Saturday. Madrid has played one game less than Barcelona after its match at Valencia was postponed because of the deadly floods in October. Madrid will make the trip to England to face Premier League leader Liverpool on Wednesday in the Champions League, and is hoping to recover from a demoralizing 3-1 home loss against AC Milan in the previous round of matches. Madrid's attack worked well against Leganes with Vinícius Júnior playing inside and Mbappé more on the flank. The France striker scored after going four straight games without finding the net for the Spanish powerhouse. “We switched their positions and the team was able to stay in control during the whole match,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. Mbappé said he is fine playing wherever Ancelotti puts him. “I've said it on the first day that I can play in several different positions,” Mbappé said. “All I want is to keep playing well and scoring goals.” Oihan Sancet scored a 26th-minute winner as Athletic Bilbao defeated Real Sociedad 1-0 in the Basque Country derby. Story continues below video It was Athletic's fourth straight home win against Sociedad in the derby. The victory moved Athletic to fifth place and left Sociedad in 10th position. Fourth-place Villarreal scored an equalizer in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw at sixth-place Osasuna. Ante Budimir scored twice in the first 20 minutes for Osasuna. Villarreal, which was coming off three straight victories in all competitions, scored through Álex Baena in the 67th and a penalty kick converted by Gerard Moreno three minutes into injury time. Osasuna, sitting three points behind Villarreal, was coming off a 4-0 loss at Madrid. Also Sunday, Sevilla ended a two-game losing streak in the league with a 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano, which played the entire second half with 10 men after Unai López was sent off for a hard foul. Djibril Sow scored Sevilla's goal in the 27th. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in heaviest barrage in weeks BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding seven people in one of the militant group’s heaviest barrages in months. Sunday's attacks in northern and central Israel came in response to deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut on Saturday. Israel struck southern Beirut on Sunday. Meanwhile, negotiators press on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. And Lebanon's military says an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center in the southwest killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. Israel's military has expressed regret and said its operations are directed solely against the militants. Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Somalia says 24 people have died after 2 boats capsized in the Indian Ocean MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's government says 24 people died after two boats capsized off the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean. Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said 46 people were rescued. Most of the passengers were young Somalis, and their intended destination remains unclear. Many young Somalis embark every year on dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities abroad. A delegation led by the Somali ambassador to Ethiopia is scheduled to travel to Madagascar on Monday to investigate the incident and coordinate efforts to help survivors. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Sunday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast last week, killing two people. Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised' FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Republican lawmakers are pushing back against criticism from some Democrats that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and a meeting with an ally of that country. The accusation came from Sen. Tammy Duckworth. The Illinois Democrat says she has concerns about the pro-Russian views expressed by Tulsi Gabbard, who was tapped for the post of director of national intelligence. Duckworth’s comments on Sunday drew immediate backlash from Republicans. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. Moscow offers debt forgiveness to new recruits and AP sees wreckage of a new Russian missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine. The measure, whose final version appeared on a government website Saturday, underscores Russia’s needs for military personnel in the nearly 3-year-old war, even as it fired last week a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. Russia has ramped up military recruitment by offering increasing financial incentives to those willing to fight in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Security Service on Sunday showed The Associated Press wreckage of the new intermediate-range ballistic missile that struck a factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump's victory has dismayed many politically engaged Black women, and they're reassessing their enthusiasm for politics and organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote, and they had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Kamala Harris. AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. Heavy rains in Bolivia send mud crashing into the capital, leaving 1 missing and destroying homes LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Authorities say that a landslide caused by heavy rains has flooded dozens of homes in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. It swept away a young girl, spurred evacuations and left parts of the city without electricity. Torrential rain on Saturday caused a river to spill its banks Sunday, dislodging mud from a southwestern La Paz neighborhood where low-slung, shoddily built dwellings dot the hillside. The torrent of debris and soil surged down a narrow ravine early Sunday, wrecking some two dozen homes and flooding another 40. Hours after the rain subsided, rescuers were still searching for the missing 5-year-old girl. Emergency workers saved six residents suffering from hypothermia. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday.Nigeria-Brazil agribusiness deal to attract $4.3bn private sector investmentEmmanuel Macron has rejected calls to stand down and says he will name a new prime minister – the fourth of his seven years as president – in the coming days. If France was in his biggest political crisis in a generation, Macron wasn’t feeling it. In the wake of his government’s collapse, he says it’s still in the national interest that he sees out his five-year presidential mandate, which ends in 2027. A bar shows the telecast of French President Emmanuel Macron’s address to the nation. Credit: AP The collapse of France’s centre-right coalition government has thrust Macron back into the spotlight and a growing chorus is questioning whether the divisive and at times impetuous leader is suited to resolve the country’s political crisis. The turmoil comes amid a rough patch in the French economy , as various factors take a toll on growth, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, high interest rates and economic slowdowns in Germany and China, two of France’s trading partners. In a televised address, Macron said France could not constitutionally have new parliamentary elections for 10 months, following his decision to call a snap poll back in July. The result, he promised at the time, would offer the country some “clarification”. It led to the current chaos. Loading But for the first time, he conceded he was partly to blame for the situation the nation now faced. “Many have blamed me for it and I know, many continue to blame me. It’s a fact and it’s my responsibility,” he said. “The dissolution was not understood, that’s my responsibility, [but] I will never accept the irresponsibility of others.” He then went on to attack his political opponents on the “extreme right” and “extreme left”, accusing them of collaborating in an “anti-republican front”. “Some political groups have chosen chaos,” he said, referring to the no-confidence vote which led to Michel Barnier standing down just three months after he was appointed by Macron. “They don’t want to build, they want to dismantle.” Barnier’s government the shortest-tenured in modern French history, following the first successful no-confidence vote in France in more than 60 years. Sparking his downfall was his proposed financing bill, which included €60 billion ($98.4 billion) worth of tax hikes and spending cuts aimed at bringing the country’s budget deficit down to 5 per cent next year. Michel Barnier has resigned as France’s prime minister following a no-confidence vote. Credit: Bloomberg Macron must now appoint a new prime minister and task them with either passing a law that extends this year’s budget into the early months of 2025 or pushing a complete budget through parliament by the end of the year to avoid a government shutdown. Macron said the next prime minister would be charged with forming a “government of general interest” with a priority of passing a budget. Addressing voters directly, he said some of his political opponents were not thinking “about you, the voters”, suggesting that their interest was in the next presidential election. “My responsibility requires me to ensure the continuity of the state, the proper functioning of our institutions, the independence of our country, and the protection of all of you.” “Let’s be honest, they think about one thing: the presidential election,” Macron said of the party of his long-term, hard-right National Rally rival Marine Le Pen. He said the rival party’s “cynical” approach had brought “a sense of chaos” to the country. After Macron’s address, Le Pen wrote a “Gentle reminder to President Macron” in a post on X that no-confidence votes are “not anti-Republican, but provided for in our constitution”. National Rally leader Marine Le Pen says Macron will continue to feel the pressure. Credit: AP Le Pen, whose party holds the most seats in the French parliament, stopped short of calling for Macron’s resignation but warned that “the pressure on the president of the republic will get stronger and stronger”. The one thing to never forget is that Macron is hated in France with a vicious passion . The people of France see him as arrogant, elitist and unrelatable. Alain Minc, a political essayist and long-term informal adviser to French presidents, said on Thursday: “Macron is a victim of his own narcissism ... He was in denial of reality.” Barnier will stay on in a caretaker role for now, but Macron is under pressure to quickly name a new prime minister who might offer the country some stability. Candidates include Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and centrist former presidential candidate François Bayrou. Whoever is chosen, few believe a new government will manage to navigate the minefield of a bitterly divided parliament. France could be back in this position again soon enough. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article World elections Analysis France Emmanuel Macron Rob Harris is Europe correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Connect via email . Most Viewed in World Loading
Snow continued to fall Monday around parts of the Great Lakes region, where storm-weary residents who have plowed and shoveled for days faced the prospect of even greater accumulations. Lake-effect snow fell on parts of western New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio that were already blanketed with a foot (0.3 meters) or more over the past four days. By Monday morning, the village of Cassadaga, New York, east of Lake Erie, recorded 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) of snow. Snow was forecast through Tuesday in that largely rural area south of Buffalo. “It was so much, so quick, that we got buried," said Rebecca Chamberlin, who lives in Cassadaga with her husband and two sons. She has been struggling to keep up with the bands of sometimes wet and heavy snow. “If it had been, you know, over a period of a week or more, it wouldn’t have been so bad.” In Ohio, the quaint village of Geneva-on-the-Lake had more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) of snow, and more is in the forecast through the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service. “At this point, it's just annoying,” said Ryan Colby, who lives a snowball's toss from Lake Erie in the Ohio village. “We’ve just been getting hit left and right with it. I’ve been getting up every couple hours and shoveling out the driveway and the porch just so we don’t get too, too buried again.” Lake-effect snow warnings were in effect through Tuesday night in parts of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. Winter storm warnings or advisories also were posted through Tuesday in Michigan, up and down the Lake Michigan coast, where as much as a foot (0.3 meters) of snow was predicted. Farther inland, some communities canceled school, including Gaylord, where more than 3 feet (0.9 meters) of snow has fallen since Thanksgiving. “Last year at this time we still had green grass,” said Mike Williams, who has a snow removal business in Gaylord. “To get it all at once overwhelmed everyone.” In southwest Michigan, a crash involving about 14 passenger vehicles and three semi-trucks critically injured a driver and shut down Interstate 94 near Hartford in both directions during whiteout conditions on Monday, the Michigan State Police posted on the social platform X. More than a dozen “vehicle slide offs” had also been reported in the area, with police warning drivers to slow down. Skies were clear east of Lake Ontario in northern New York, where some residents were still digging out from mountains of snow. “We’ve got snow banks that are higher than me,” said Mary Shambo, owner of the Cottage Inn in Copenhagen, New York. The small village received more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow in four days. Shambo and her husband, Ben, managed to stay open through the thick of the storm. Some locals arrived by snowmobile, but they mostly served truckers who pulled off the road when bands of snow became particularly fierce. “It goes from whiteout conditions to clear,” she said, “so they would take off when it was clear and hope to God they got to where they needed to go.” In Ohio, the mayor of Geneva-on-the-Lake has been using a backhoe almost nonstop since Thursday to clear the snow. “Every business down here has been shut down the last four days," Mayor Dwayne Bennett said. “You can’t even get in the front doors." “The problem is we’re not equipped to handle this much snow in this amount of time,” he added. Officials faced similar problems in snow-bound Erie, Pennsylvania, where 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) of snow fell since Thursday, and accumulations on the ground were particularly wet and heavy. “Every shovel is like 30 pounds, and there’s not a lot of space to put that snow once it’s been piling up for days and days,” said Sarah Morrison with the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority. Up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of snow fell in Alaska’s capital city of Juneau over the weekend as part of a system that was “definitely stronger” than what the region typically experiences this time of year, National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Spann said. Snow had transitioned to freezing rain early Monday, he said, with roads icy in some areas. Wet, heavy snow was piled on sidewalks along typically busy streets near downtown Juneau, and slushy pools were forming at some intersections. School went to remote learning in the city on Monday, and state offices were closed due to freezing rain. Ice encased the thin branches on some trees. The rest of Juneau's week is expected to be very different, with forecasts calling for rain and unusually warm temperatures in the 40s (between 4.4 and 10 degrees Celsius). This story has been updated to correct the snow total in Cassadaga, New York, to 4.5 feet, not 5.5 feet. Contributing to this report were Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Ed White in Detroit; Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska.