French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed François Bayrou, leader of the centrist MoDem party, as the country’s new prime minister in a decisive effort to address ongoing political instability. The announcement comes after weeks of turmoil that saw the swift ousting of Bayrou’s predecessor, Michel Barnier, who served only three months before being voted out by lawmakers.

Bayrou, 73, a longtime ally of Macron and mayor in southwestern France, met with the president for nearly two hours of tense discussions at the Élysée Palace before the final decision was reached. Known for his pragmatic centrist approach, Bayrou faces the daunting task of stabilizing a government mired in gridlock since Macron’s snap parliamentary elections last summer.

The appointment makes Bayrou Macron’s fourth prime minister this year, underscoring the challenges of navigating a deeply divided political landscape. A recent BFMTV poll revealed that 61% of French voters are concerned about the country’s volatile political climate. Critics across the spectrum have voiced discontent, with Socialist regional leader Carole Dega likening the situation to a “bad movie” and far-left leader Manuel Bompard describing it as a “pathetic spectacle.”

Bayrou’s immediate move into the prime minister’s residence at Hôtel Matignon is expected to signal a fresh start, as Macron doubles down on his commitment to govern until the end of his term in 2027. The president, cutting short a diplomatic visit to Poland to finalize the appointment, aims to strengthen his administration’s ability to address pressing national and international challenges.

As he assumes office, Bayrou must navigate delicate alliances within a fractured parliament while implementing policies to address voter concerns.

Mass rallies have erupted in Sweida, a city near Syria’s southern border with Jordan, marking the first Friday since rebel forces seized control, ending President Bashar al-Assad’s 13-year rule. Crowds of jubilant Syrians filled the streets, waving opposition flags and chanting revolutionary songs reminiscent of the 2011 protests that ignited the country’s civil war.

The atmosphere was both festive and reflective, with some participants dressed in costumes, such as one attendee in a Spongebob Squarepants outfit, standing alongside heavily armed fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The Islamist group played a pivotal role in Assad’s downfall and maintains a visible presence at the celebrations.

Today’s rallies follow Friday prayers at the historic Umayyad Mosque, where Syria’s interim prime minister, Mohammad al-Bashir, addressed worshippers. Al-Bashir, who has been thrust into leadership amid the sweeping changes, was warmly received by the crowd as he called for unity and pledged to steer the country toward peace and reconstruction.

Sweida, a city known for its majority Druze population, has long been a hotspot for dissent against Assad’s government. Its streets now reflect a sense of renewal, with demonstrators expressing hope for a brighter future under the newly formed leadership.

The toppling of the Assad regime marks a seismic shift in Syria’s political landscape, bringing an end to years of war and oppression. However, challenges remain, as factions within the opposition must now navigate the complexities of governance and ensure stability in the war-torn nation.

Authorities have reportedly matched fingerprints found at the crime scene of healthcare executive Brian Thompson’s fatal shooting to 26-year-old suspect Luigi Mangione, according to US media. This marks the first forensic link connecting Mangione to the targeted killing that occurred outside a Manhattan hotel last week.

Mangione was arrested Monday in Pennsylvania following a multi-state manhunt. He is currently being held on gun-related charges while resisting extradition to New York to face murder charges. His lawyer maintains Mangione’s innocence, stating, “He’s pleading not guilty to those offences… I haven’t seen any evidence that he is the shooter.”

The arrest followed Mangione’s identification at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania. He was allegedly in possession of a firearm resembling the murder weapon, a silencer, a fake ID, and handwritten notes reportedly expressing grievances with the US healthcare system. Authorities believe these notes may serve as a claim of responsibility for the murder.

Brian Thompson, 50, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was killed by a masked assailant in what officials describe as a calculated attack. New York Police Department officials have not commented on the reported fingerprint match.

The extradition process to transfer Mangione from Pennsylvania to New York may take days or weeks due to differences in state judicial systems. Investigators continue to scrutinize evidence as Mangione faces mounting allegations tying him to the high-profile killing.