Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Debut Will Open Paris Men’s Fashion Week

Associated Press
Magdeburg mourns Christmas market attack victims as fears swirl of deeper social divisions
Mourners laid flowers near the scene of the deadly Christmas market attack on Monday as investigators puzzled over the motive of the suspect and fears swirled that the rampage could deepen divisions in German society. A carpet of flowers now covers the broad sidewalk in front of the church. Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency.
USA TODAY
An immigration hardliner at the State Department: Meet Michael Anton
Michael Anton, Trump’s pick for policy director at the State Department, wrote a 2016 essay criticizing racial diversity, Muslims and immigration.
AFP
Biden commutes sentences for 37 of 40 federal death row inmates
US President Joe Biden on Monday commuted the death sentences of 37 of 40 federal inmates, taking action ahead of the return of Donald Trump who oversaw a sweeping number of lethal injections during his first term."I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole," he said.
Reuters
Biden commutes sentences of 37 of 40 inmates on federal death row
U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday commuted the sentences for 37 out of 40 federal inmates on death row, converting them to life in prison without parole before he hands over power to President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20. Biden's move will frustrate Trump's plan to resume a rapid pace of executions. Unlike executive orders, clemency decisions cannot be reversed by a president's successor, although the death penalty can be sought more aggressively in future cases.
Reuters
Biden launches new US trade probe into legacy Chinese chips
The Biden administration on Monday announced a last-minute trade investigation into Chinese-made "legacy" semiconductors that could heap more U.S. tariffs on chips from China that power everyday goods from autos to washing machines to telecoms gear. The "Section 301" probe, launched just four weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, will be handed over to his administration in January for completion, Biden administration officials said. The effort could offer Trump a ready avenue to begin imposing some of the hefty, 60% tariffs that he has threatened on Chinese imports.
USA TODAY
This is the most wonderful time of year for some; loneliest for others
Loneliness experts offers tip for coping with loneliness during the holidays and year-round.
Politico
Biden to commute sentences of nearly all men on federal death row
The president will block Donald Trump’s chance to quickly resume executions.
Associated Press
Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates so Trump can't have them executed
President Joe Biden announced Monday that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment mere weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. It means just three federal inmates are still facing execution. “I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system,” Biden said in a statement.
Reuters
No French government before Monday evening, presidency says
France's new government will not be announced before Monday evening to take into account a day of mourning for cyclone-hit Mayotte, the presidency said in a statement, prolonging the political uncertainty in a major European power. Incoming centrist prime minister Francois Bayrou has struggled for almost 10 days to put together a government as he looks to stave off a vote of no-confidence in mid-January and ensure parliament agrees on a budget for 2025 in February. "Given the national day of mourning, the (government) announcement will not be before 1800 (1700 GMT)," the presidency said.
Associated Press
British economy flatlines in 3rd quarter in another blow to new Labour government
The British economy flatlined in the third quarter of the year, according to downwardly revised official figures Monday, in another blow to the new Labour government that has made growth its number one mission. In its latest revision of the July to September period, the Office for National Statistics said the British economy showed no growth against the previous estimate of 0.1%. The reduction has prompted critics to say that Labour talked down the economy on taking power on July 5 for the first time in 14 years when it described its economic inheritance from the previous Conservative administration as being the worst in generations.
Associated Press
Romanian president nominates incumbent premier to lead a new pro-European coalition government
Romania’s president on Monday nominated incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to lead a new pro-European coalition government in hopes of ending a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. After deliberations with Romania’s political parties, President Klaus Iohannis nominated Ciolacu of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) to try to form a government.
AFP
Honda and Nissan to launch merger talks
Japanese auto giant Honda and its struggling rival Nissan agreed Monday to launch talks on a merger seen as a bid to catch up with Chinese rivals and Tesla on electric vehicles.Ghosn told reporters in Tokyo on Monday via video link from Lebanon, where he is at large, that turning to its arch-rival Honda showed that Nissan was in "panic mode".
AFP
Clock ticks down on France government nomination
The clock ticked Monday for French President Emmanuel Macron to appoint the fourth government in a year marked by a deepening political crisis.French politics has been deadlocked since Macron gambled on snap elections this year.
AFP
Mozambique on edge as judges rule on disputed election
Tension was mounting in Mozambique Monday with judges about to rule on its disputed election, with the opposition leader vowing "chaos" if the ruling party is confirmed as the winner in a standoff that has already claimed at least 130 lives.Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane claims the vote was rigged in favour of Frelimo and that a separate count shows he won enough votes to take office, which he intends to do.
AFP
Philippines says to acquire US Typhon missile system
The Philippines said Monday it planned to acquire the US Typhon missile system as part of a push to secure its maritime interests, sparking warnings from China of a regional "arms race".And on Monday, China swiftly condemned the decision to acquire the system as a "provocative and dangerous move" and warned it risked triggering an "arms race".
Reuters
Russian delegation arrives in Iran for meeting with president
A Russian delegation arrived in Tehran for a visit that includes a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Monday, as the two countries prepare to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement. Iran and Russia have been working on setting a date to complete an agreement, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, adding that the deal is set to be signed during a bilateral visit in January.
AFP
Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate fears
Asian markets rose Monday after big gains on Wall Street, with traders welcoming below-forecast US inflation data that tempered worries that the Federal Reserve will take a more hawkish tone with interest rates next year.Sharp losses in reaction to the forecasts were pared after data showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation, came in at 2.4 percent on-year in November.
CNN
Louisiana often holds inmates past their release date, DOJ lawsuit claims
Louisiana’s prison system routinely holds people weeks and months after they have completed their sentences, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged in a lawsuit filed Friday. The suit against the state of Louisiana follows a multiyear investigation into what federal officials say is a pattern of “systemic overdetention” that violates inmates’ rights and costs taxpayers millions of dollars a year.
CNN
Dozens of luxury condos and hotels in Florida are sinking, study finds
The effect is like shaking ground coffee around to create more room, one researcher told CNN. But that wasn’t the startling conclusion.
AFP
Jordan foreign minister holds talks with Syria's new leader
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met with Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Monday, Amman said, the latest high-profile visit since Bashar al-Assad's ouster.It was the first visit by a senior Jordanian official since Assad's fall.

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