Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Reappointed French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has urged rival parties to unite and end what he called the “ridiculous spectacle” of political gridlock, as he races to present a national budget by Monday. Lecornu, reinstated by President Emmanuel Macron after resigning just days earlier, faces a divided parliament and mounting frustration over France’s worsening fiscal deficit.
Macron’s decision to reappoint Lecornu has sparked outrage among opposition leaders, who demand either a new legislative election or Macron’s resignation. Despite criticism, Lecornu emphasized the urgency of passing a state and social security budget by December 31, warning that France’s credibility is at stake. He appealed for cooperation from lawmakers across the political spectrum, saying, “Either the political forces will help me, or they will not.”
The reappointment follows Lecornu’s record-short 27-day tenure as prime minister — the briefest in modern French history. His previous resignation stemmed from the inability to form a government capable of passing the 2025 budget through a deeply fractured National Assembly. Now, even with a second chance, Lecornu faces stiff opposition from leftist, far-left, and far-right parties that have vowed to topple his administration.
Adding to the uncertainty, Lecornu has yet to name his cabinet, though he must appoint key finance and social security ministers by Monday to submit the budget bill. The conservative Les Républicains and centrist UDI parties have declined to join his government but pledged conditional support for essential legislation.
Lecornu aims to reduce France’s fiscal deficit to between 4.7% and 5% of GDP in 2025, slightly higher than his predecessor’s 4.6% target. The deficit currently stands at 5.4%. While he has hinted at flexibility over contentious pension reforms, he remains under pressure from the Socialist Party to consider repealing Macron’s reform and introducing a wealth tax on billionaires.
