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RIYADH: President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a strategic partnership on Monday aimed at deepening bilateral ties and de-escalating conflict in the Middle East, including Lebanon, where the two leaders called for presidential elections. The French leader arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for a three-day state visit just as a political crisis threatens to topple the French government. After a meeting with Prince Mohammed, the de facto ruler of the oil-rich Gulf kingdom, Macron’s office announced the signing of a new partnership aimed at improving cooperation in “defence, energy transition, culture, mobility between the two countries”. The two leaders also “agreed to make every effort to contribute to de-escalation in the region”, including helping to consolidate the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. MBS heads to France, Macron seeks shift on Ukraine “Together, they called for the holding of presidential elections in Lebanon with the aim of bringing the Lebanese people together and carrying out the reforms necessary for the stability and security of the country,” the statement from Macron’s office said. Macron touched down in the Saudi capital Riyadh in the afternoon, where he was greeted by an honour guard of sword-holding servicemen and celebratory cannon fire as he disembarked from his plane. He did not comment on the political situation in France as he arrived. Macron’s visit began as France’s less than three-month-old minority government faced the prospect of being forced out by a vote of no confidence in the coming days. The far-right National Rally party said it would vote to oust Michel Barnier’s government after the prime minister used an executive tool to push through a social security budget bill without parliamentary approval. The left wing is also expected to back the motion, which could be held as early as Wednesday. If successful, it would oust the government that was appointed in September after snap polls. Macron’s three-day stay also coincides with a flare-up of violence in Syria, where anti-government rebels have seized Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city. The fighting in Syria follows France’s brokering of a ceasefire in neighbouring Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting Iran proxy Hezbollah. Macron’s state visit is the first by a French president to Saudi Arabia since Jacques Chirac in 2006, cementing what the presidency calls a “very close relationship”. In 2021, Macron became one of the first Western leaders to meet Prince Mohammed in Saudi Arabia after the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh’s consulate in Istanbul. The French president and Prince Mohammed will see how they “work together” on the conflicts shaking the region, with Lebanon at the “heart of the discussions”, the French presidency said in an earlier statement. Macron is hoping for Saudi support for the Lebanese army, which is being deployed towards the border with Israel under the ceasefire but is poorly armed and trained. He will also try to win Saudi help to reverse the political disintegration that has plunged Lebanon’s government and economy into catastrophe. Paris and Riyadh are also calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and a “political outcome” based on the two-state solution of separate Israeli and Palestinian states. Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, has paused discussions with Washington on potentially recognising Israel in return for deeper security and bilateral ties with the United States. In September, the crown prince hardened his position, insisting that Saudi Arabia would not establish ties with Israel before the creation of a Palestinian state. Macron is accompanied by about 50 senior officials from major French companies including TotalEnergies, EDF and Veolia, as well as start-ups in artificial intelligence and quantum physics. France and Saudi Arabia aim to “significantly strengthen” their economic ties to “the height of our shared ambition”, the presidency said. Discussions are also under way for Saudi Arabia to acquire French-made Rafale fighter jets, although no announcement is expected during the visit, according to a source close to the matter.

NFL coaches could be in for a Black Monday bloodbath with ‘7 to 10’ openings: insiderMarshall's 17 lead Albany over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 93-50Los Angeles Times senior affairs correspondent Harry Litman on Wednesday expressed disgust at lawyers representing President-elect Donald Trump for their efforts to end New York Attorney General Letitia James ' civil lawsuit against him. Writing on X , Litman posted a link to the full filing, which calls on James to end her suit against Trump on the grounds that he has called for "our Nation's partisan strife to end, and for the contending factions to join forces for the greater good of the country." They add that "this call for unity extends to the legal onslaught against him and his family that permeated the most recent election cycle." Commenting on this, Litman did not hold back his contempt for the Trump lawyers' argument. "The competition is extremely stiff, but Team Trump might just have filed the single most brazen and nauseating motion in its whole existence," he wrote. ALSO READ: 'How much should we invade Mexico?' Trump reportedly seeks to take unprecedented step Later in his thread, he elaborated on the reasons for his disgust at the argument. "The presentation is larded with quotes from Washington and especially Lincoln and pitched as a gracious winner's call for national unity as in the Second Inaugural and respecting the voters' verdict," he argued. "It's nauseating." Trump has repeatedly pushed for criminal prosecutions of his political opponents, going so far in one case to promote calls for former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) be dragged in front of a military tribunal. During the campaign, Trump also referred to his political opponents at various times as "vermin" and "the enemy from within."

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Former NJ senator Menendez seeks new trial, says error tainted convictionANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan gave athletic director Warde Manuel a five-year contract extension Thursday on the heels of the Wolverines' upset over rival Ohio State and a strong start to the basketball season. Manuel, who has held the position since 2016, signed through June 30, 2030, the school announced. Manuel is also chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee. “During Warde’s tenure as director, Athletics has put a structure in place where our student-athletes compete for Big Ten and national championships, excel in the classroom, and proudly graduate with their University of Michigan degrees,” university President Santa J. Ono said in the announcement. Michigan had a disappointing football season, finishing 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten), but a 13-10 win over then-No. 2 Ohio State took some pressure off of the program. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for the rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Wolverines won the national championship last year in their final season led by coach Jim Harbaugh, whose tenure at the school involved multiple NCAA investigations for recruiting and sign-stealing allegations. Manuel supported Harbaugh through those processes. In basketball, the women's team made its season debut (No. 23) in the AP Top 25 this week. The men are 7-1 a season after firing coach Juwan Howard, who lost a school-record 24 games in 2023-24 as Michigan plummeted to a last-place finish in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967. Michigan has won 52 Big Ten championships since 2020. “Every day, I am thankful to work at this great institution and to represent Michigan Athletics," Manuel said in a statement. "I especially want to thank the student-athletes, coaches and staff who compete for each of our teams and who have helped us achieve unparalleled success athletically and academically. I am excited to continue giving back to a university that has provided me with so much over my career.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football