Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced a new government on Monday, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over the country’s budget. The government, put together by newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, 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 crisis and pressure from financial markets to reduce France’s colossal debt. 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 Marine 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. Banker Eric Lombard will be finance minister, a crucial post when France is working to fulfill its promises to European Union partners to reduce its deficit, estimated to reach 6% of its gross domestic product this year. Lombard briefly worked as an adviser to a Socialist finance minister in the 1990s. 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. 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 minister for overseas affairs, and Elisabeth Borne takes the education ministry.

By Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” To learn more about the device, visit vivistim.com. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Southampton have more quality than most Eredivisie sides, says Arne SlotNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Stock markets abroad mostly fell after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Kohl’s tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

PBM Legislation Sparks Healthcare Selloff - Barron'sPercentages: FG 35.714, FT .606. 3-Point Goals: 8-20, .400 (Ayrault 2-6, Hallock 2-4, Hampton 2-2, Tate 1-2, Shumate 1-4, Kimball 0-1, Simmons 0-1) Blocked Shots: 6 (Ayrault 4, Hallock 1, Simmons 1) Turnovers: 11 (Tate 4, Hallock 1, Hampton 1, Kimball 1, Simmons 1, Sotelo 1, VanSlooten 1, Team 1) Steals: 10 (Hallock 2, Hampton 2, Simmons 2, Ayrault 1, Blair 1, Kimball 1, Tate 1) Technical Fouls: 2 (Tate 1, Team 1) Percentages: FG 40.678, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 8-22, .364 (Suarez 3-7, Twidale 3-8, Krimili 2-7) Blocked Shots: 8 (Abigor 3, Onyiah 2, Suarez 2, Williams 1) Turnovers: 20 (Suarez 6, Williams 4, Krimili 3, Twidale 3, Abigor 1, Donez 1, Maul 1, Onyiah 1) Steals: 4 (Williams 2, Ackerman 1, Onyiah 1) Technical Fouls: 1 (Krimili 1) A_325 Officials_Juchell Wardlow, Scott Osborne, Benny LunaVKSU convocation: Guv bats for timely exams

The Trump and Biden teams insist they're working hand in glove on foreign crises

Although dollar stores have changed a lot over the years (the biggest change being that everything inside is no longer a dollar), shopping and retail experts say there are still hidden deals that can help ease the financial burden of your holiday shopping essentials and non-essentials. At the same time, just because the word "dollar" is in the name of a store doesn't mean that other big-box retailers like Walmart won't be able to rival (and even beat!) their prices. That's why if you're looking for ways to save this holiday season, it's best to plan out a detailed list of what you're in the market for and do a little research based on which stores have the cheapest items. That way, you won't be caught off-guard with any extra expenses and can make just one trip to a dollar store and another trip to a big-box store like Walmart to pick up all of your essentials. In any case, here are a few things that dollar stores are currently in the lead for for most affordable options. 1. Seasonal decor According to Joanna Clark-Simpson, head of consumer research and consumer expert at PissedConsumer , seasonal decor is one of the things dollar stores continue to excel at. And, as the leader of a review-based website where customers can air their wins and grievances, she sees this as an ongoing win for dollar stores across the board. However, she says, "Shoppers should [still] check price tags carefully, inspect items and plan their purchases." Cheap decor can be dented, broken or flawed, so give it a good once over before putting it in your cart. Things like tabletop Christmas trees are $1.25 at Dollar Tree, where a similar item retails for nearly $3 at Walmart. Fun room add-on items like Christmas-themed soap dispensers are a win from Dollar Tree at $1.25 and an easy way to add a fun pop of color to an often forgotten room like the bathroom. You will, however, have to fill up the dispensers with your own hand soap (which, honestly, sounds like a good idea, because there could be additional fillers added to dollar store soaps). Garland is another find you should head to the dollar store for. But Clark-Simpson recommends staying away from twinkle lights, as electronics and anything power or battery-operated tends to fall short at dollar stores. 2. Stocking stuffers Clark-Simpson says stocking stuffers like socks — even fun, printed socks — can always be found at the dollar store and make great, affordable gift add-ons. You can pick up golf and motorcycle-printed socks for just $1.25 per pair at Dollar Tree and a five-pack of socks for $5 , meaning you've hacked the system and can pay $1 per unit again instead of $1.25. However, if you're in the market for a larger pack of socks to break apart and gift separately, Walmart will be your best bet. You can find a 20-pack of girls socks there on sale for $5 . 3. Baking essentials According to Clark-Simpson, perishable food items should be avoided at dollar stores since customers find expiration dates to be tricky, but shelf-stable items like sugar or cookie mixes will always be a score at dollar stores — even if it's just by a little. A one-pound box of sugar at Dollar Tree is $1.25, and the same box will run you just under $2 at Walmart. If you want to save both time and money, pick up cookie mixes at the Dollar Tree, which will save you about $2 per pack vs big-box stores. 4. Kids' entertainment The kids are home from school during the holidays, which means it's time to find cheap, creative ways to entertain them. Dollar stores offer easy and affordable holiday craft painting kits and DIY ornaments that you can paint from home. 5. Disposable glassware Just like it's a good idea to keep a storage container full of Christmas decor that you can easily stow away when you're not using it, it's a great idea to have a case of cheap glassware that you don't care about your guests breaking. Dollar Tree is a great place to pick up reusable glassware that's just $1.25 per unit , so you don't have to purchase and re-purchase plastic cups each year. These glasses will last through the years and won't cause strife if one of your guests has too much eggnog and accidentally knocks it off the table. Don't forget your coupons Did you know even dollar stores offer coupons and discounts? According to writer, author, and nationally recognized consumer finance and budgeting expert Andrea Woroch, most dollar store shoppers have no idea that they can save even more at the stores. "Dollar stores like Dollar General have their own apps to help you navigate sales, save more through coupons and in-store deals and earn rewards," says Woroch. "For example, the My Dg app offers cash-back opportunities on a variety of products that you may need to buy anyway and you can apply rewards towards future purchases." And, she says, shoppers can take advantage of websites like Coupon Cabin that have deals to Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and more. Even your receipts can hold some money-saving power, as you can actually scan photos of your dollar store receipts to earn rewards. "Take pictures of your receipts using a free rewards apps like www.Fetch.com to earn points for free gift cards to a variety off stores like Amazon, Target and Walmart to offset future purchase needs," says Woroch. RELATED CONTENT ​17 Deal Sites and Tools for Finding Online Shopping Bargains Family Holiday Meal Deals from Walmart, Target, Kroger 25 Best After-Christmas Sales