Betsy DeVos Booed As She Speaks At Bethune-Cookman University Commencement (Full Speech)

Trump Fires Comey: “Clearly Orchestrated Move to Get Rid of Pain to the President”

Kellyanne Conway Says It’s “Inappropriate” To Question Trump’s Decision To Fire James Comey

After news broke that Donald Trump had fired FBI director James Comey, Kellyanne Conway took to the airwaves to explain to CNN that it is completely inappropriate for their network – or any reporter – to question the timing of Comey’s firing, and that the president is essentially free to do whatever he wants.

Anne Will - Sendung vom 7. Mai 2017

What Does Ahok's Conviction for Blasphemy Mean for Indonesia? – Inside Story

Angela Merkel Congratulates Macron on Presidential Win

Angela Merkel congratulates Macron on presidential win. Macron's victory has been welcomed by European leaders who feared that a win by Le Pen could mean the end of the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Macron on what she called a spectacular success. Merkel on Monday held her last meeting with current French President Francois Hollande. Al Jazeera's Dominic Kane reports from Berlin.

Middle East: Turkey Condemns US Support of the YPG

‪FBI Chief James Comey Fired by Trump - BBC News‬

The White House says he was sacked for botching the Clinton email probe, but critics see a cover-up.

‪Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey‬

The End of the Socialist Party

'Trump Fires Comey amid Russia Inquiry'

The 51% - Outrage as Saudi Arabia Given UN Women's Rights Rôle

The UN has elected Saudi Arabia to the UN women's rights commission, but does the move contradict the aims of the commitee itself? Annette Young speaks to Adam Coogle in this edition of The 51%

Glenn Beck: 'I Made More Mistakes Than Most' - BBC Newsnight

US conservative political commentator Glenn Beck spoke to Evan Davis about his views on Donald Trump and his regrets of the past.

Ségolène Royal: I Voted Emmanuel Macron in Both Rounds of French Election - BBC Newsnight

Ségolène Royal, who was the Socialist candidate for French president 10 years ago. She's currently a government minister and one of the biggest figures in French politics. Is she happy about Emmanuel Macron's victory in the French elections? She spoke to Evan Davis.

Macron's Next Steps: French President-elect Is Re-drawing the Political Landscape (Parts 1 & 2)

Top US & World Headlines — May 9, 2017

Jared Kushner Caught Selling Golden Tickets To America

Is there anything “The Kush” can’t (or won’t) do? Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, breaks it down.

Here's What's Next for France After Macron Win

The tumultuous French election has raised as many questions as it has answered. Are we witnessing "peak populism" in Europe, and can the continent now put divisive debates about its break up in the rear-view mirror? Bloomberg's Caroline Connan gives a breakdown of what’s next for France with Macron at the helm.

What Does France's New President-elect Have to Offer? – Inside Story

Islamophobia in the USA - Al Jazeera World

The Kushners and Their Golden Visas

THE NEW YORK TIME – EDITORIAL: The Kushner family has been caught in a shameless act of name-dropping. It has been highlighting its White House connections to entice wealthy Chinese investors and promising them green cards in return under a special government visa program. That’s pretty bad. But it’s also a scandal that Congress allows real estate developers to use the American immigration system to pad their profits.

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and special adviser, is officially no longer managing his family’s businesses, but he still benefits from many of them. His sister Nicole Meyer was in Beijing and Shanghai this past weekend seeking investors for a luxury apartment project her family is developing in Jersey City, a short train ride from downtown Manhattan. Her sales pitch cited her brother and laid out how a $500,000 investment could provide a coveted path to American citizenship. The Kushner Companies later offered a mealy-mouthed apology “if that mention of her brother was in any way interpreted as an attempt to lure investors.” » | The Editorial Board | Monday, May 8, 2017

Change You Can Believe In? Macron Win Signals New Era In French Politics (Parts 1 & 2)

Nach Macron-Erfolg: Kühle Töne aus Moskau

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Russland reagiert enttäuscht auf den Wahlausgang in Frankreich. Der Versuch, Marine Le Pen mit allen Mitteln zur Präsidentin zu machen ist gescheitert. Nun muss sich Wladimir Putin auf eine schwierige Beziehungen einstellen.

Es dauerte bis Montagvormittag, bis Russlands Präsident seinem künftigen französischen Widerpart gratulierte. „Die Bürger Frankreichs haben Ihnen anvertraut, das Land in einer Zeit zu leiten, die für Europa und die ganze Weltgemeinschaft schwierig ist“, schrieb Wladimir Putin an Emmanuel Macron. Gefahren wüchsen, Konflikte eskalierten, Regionen würden destabilisiert. Daher sei es „besonders wichtig, das gegenseitige Misstrauen zu überwinden und die Kräfte zu vereinen“. Man sei zu konstruktivem Dialog bereit. Das klang nicht nach Aufbruchsstimmung im Kreml. Kein Wunder: Aus dessen Sicht ist Macron als Befürworter der EU und der engen Partnerschaft mit Berlin ein Gegner. » | von Friedrich Schmidt, Moskau | Montag, 8. Mai 2017

Brigitte: de profesora a esposa de Emmanuel Macron

Renaud Girard : «Ce que devra dire Macron à Merkel»

LE FIGARO: CHRONIQUE - Pour sa première visite à l'étranger, le nouveau chef de l'État devra convaincre l'Allemagne que la France est enfin prête à assumer ses responsabilités.

Selon une coutume initiée par Nicolas Sarkozy, la première rencontre internationale du nouveau président de la République française sera pour la chancelière d'Allemagne. Emmanuel Macron trouvera une Angela Merkel de bonne humeur, en raison de la belle victoire, dimanche 7 mai, de la CDU dans l'élection régionale du Land de Schleswig-Holstein, qui augure bien du scrutin national du 24 septembre 2017, propre à donner un quatrième mandat à la chancelière. Suggérons que ce premier sommet franco-allemand du nouveau quinquennat se fasse à Strasbourg, afin de souligner la volonté des deux pays de redonner un second souffle à la construction européenne, après la catastrophe du Brexit. » | Par Vincent Tremolet de Villers | lundi 8 mai 2017

Kellyanne Conway Defends Obamacare Repeal By Attacking Poor People

Appearing on Fox & Friends this weekend, Kellyanne Conway said that the criticism of the AHCA that passed the House is ridiculous, and that “it’s easier to jeer from the cheap seats,” implying that poor people shouldn’t have a say in what happens in this country. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Macron président : le nouveau chef de l'Etat doit composer sa future majorité présidentielle

Ivanka Trump’s New Book: Offensively Frivolous | AM Joy | MSNBC

Reading the first daughter’s new book has been described as like ‘eating scented cotton balls’ – but Joy Reid and her panel discuss the bigger problem: Ivanka Trump peddling ironic hypocrisies in ‘Women Who Work.’

Papers React to Macron's Victory: 'Well Played'

France Presidential Election: The World Reacts to President-elect Macron's Victory

France Presidential Election: Clashes Break Out between Protesters and Police

Trump Aide Gorka Pushes Back Against Accusations Of Antisemitism

THE JERUSALEM POST: Sebastian Gorka has been the subject of a series of reports which document his alleged associations with Vitézi Rend, a neo-Nazi group.

NEW YORK – A senior foreign policy adviser to US President Donald Trump pushed back Sunday against reports suggesting he has ties to proto- fascist groups in Hungary dating back to his young adulthood.

Sebastian Gorka, a deputy assistant to the president, told The Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York that claims he and his fellow White House colleagues Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller harbor antisemitic views are politically motivated, driven by those on the political Left aligned with movements hostile to Israel.

Gorka received a warm welcome at the conference, receiving applause at the beginning and a partial standing ovation at the end of his session with the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Yaakov Katz.

He characterized himself and the Trump administration as staunchly “pro-Israel” and personally condemned antisemitism. (+ video) » | Michael Wilner | Sunday, May 7, 2017

Can US President Donald Trump Bring Peace to the Middle East? – Inside Story

The US President is keen to secure Middle East peace, but doesn't say how he plans to do it. Previous administrations in Washington have tried in the past, but failed. The last talks between Israel and Palestine collapsed three years ago. So, is there reason to be hopeful this time? | Presenter: Darren Jordan

Le général de Gaulle sur l'intégration européenne

Extrait de la conférence de presse donnée par le Général de Gaulle le 15 mai 1962.

Je voudrais parler plus spécialement de l'objection de l'intégration. On nous l'oppose en nous disant : "Fondons ensemble les 6 Etats dans une entité supranationale : ainsi ce sera très simple et très pratique". Mais cette entité-là est impossible à découvrir faute d'un fédérateur qui ait aujourd'hui en Europe la force, le crédit et l'adresse suffisants. Alors on se rabat sur une espèce d'hybride dans lequel les 6 Etats acceptent de s'engager à se soumettre à ce qui sera décidé par une certaine majorité. En même temps, bien qu'il y ait déjà 6 Parlements nationaux plus l'Assemblée parlementaire européenne, plus l'Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l'Europe qui est, il est vrai, antérieure à la conception des 6 et qui, me dit - on, se meurt au bord où elle fut laissée, il faudrait de surcroît élire un Parlement de plus, qualifié d'européen, qui ferait la loi aux 6 Etats. Ce sont des idées qui peuvent peut-être charmer quelques esprits, mais je ne vois pas du tout comment on pourrait les réaliser pratiquement, quand bien même on aurait 6 signatures au bas d'un papier. Y a-t-il une France, une Allemagne, une Italie, une Hollande, une Belgique, un Luxembourg, qui soient prêts à faire, sur une question importante pour eux au point de vue national et au point de vue international, ce qui leur paraîtrait mauvais parce que cela leur serait commandé par d'autres ? Est - ce que le peuple français, le peuple allemand, le peuple italien, le peuple hollandais, le peuple belge, le peuple luxembourgeois songeraient à se soumettre à des lois que voteraient des députés étrangers, dès lors que ces lois iraient à l'encontre de leur volonté profonde ? Ce n'est pas vrai : il n'y a pas moyen, à l'heure qu'il est, de faire en sorte qu'une majorité étrangère puisse contraindre des nations récalcitrantes. Il est vrai que, dans cette Europe "intégrée" comme on dit, il n'y aurait peut-être pas de politique du tout. Cela simplifierait beaucoup les choses. En effet, dès lors qu'il n'y aurait pas de France, pas d'Europe, qu'il n'y aurait pas une politique faute qu'on puisse en imposer une à chacun des 6 Etats, on s'abstiendrait d'en faire. Mais alors peut-être ce monde se mettrait - il à la suite de quelqu'un du dehors qui, lui, en aurait une. Il y aurait peut-être un fédérateur, mais il ne serait pas Européen. Et ce ne serait pas l'Europe intégrée, ce serait tout autre chose de beaucoup plus large et de beaucoup plus étendu avec, je le répète, un fédérateur. Peut-être est - ce cela qui, dans quelque mesure et quelquefois, inspire certains propos de tel ou tel partisan de l'intégration de l'Europe. Alors, il vaudrait mieux le dire.

President on Probation

HANDELSBLATT GLOBAL: Emmanuel Macron’s election offers a new chance for France and Europe. But Berlin will also shape whether or not he succeeds, writes Handelsblatt’s France correspondent.

Emmanuel Macron has gone from being an outsider to the most powerful man in France in an unprecedented tour de force. His success tells anyone who’s willing to take a risk that determination matters more than what the establishment says.

Mr. Macron was certainly lucky – as Napoleon put it, “you always owe something to chance.” Scandal ejected conservative candidate François Fillon from the race. And scandal has much to do with the disintegration of the party system and the elites’ narcissism. While socialists and conservatives believed that they had a firm grip on the country, young Mr. Macron saw they were dancing on a volcano sooner than everyone else. » | Thomas Hanke | Monday, May 8, 2017 ,

French Election: How Macron Defeated Le Pen to Become President - BBC News

The pro-European centrist, Emmanuel Macron, will be France's next president. Within a few hours of being declared the winner - Mr Macron promised to heal divisions and restore confidence in the European Union.

Who Is Emmanuel Macron? – BBC News

By any measure, the political rise of Emmanuel Macron has been remarkable. He's a former investment banker and served as an adviser then, later a minister in the Socialist government of the outgoing president, Francois Hollande. He resigned, just last year to form his own political movement. Our Paris correspondent Lucy Williamson profiles the man chosen to be the country's new head of state.

Macron Decisively Defeats Le Pen in French Presidential Race

THE NEW YORK TIMES: PARIS — Emmanuel Macron, a youthful former investment banker, handily won France’s presidential election on Sunday, defeating the staunch nationalist Marine Le Pen after voters firmly rejected her far-right message and backed his call for centrist change.

Mr. Macron, 39, who has never held elected office, will be the youngest president in the 59-year history of France’s Fifth Republic after leading an improbable campaign that swept aside France’s establishment political parties.

The election was watched around the world for magnifying many of the broader tensions rippling through Western democracies, including the United States: populist anger at the political mainstream, economic insecurity among middle-class voters and rising resentment toward immigrants. » | Alissa J. Rubin | Sunday, May 7, 2017

Front National Calls for a 'New Political Movement' Says Jean Messiha - BBC News

Jean Messiha, a senior adviser to the leader of Fron National, Marine Le Pen, has said now there's a basis for a creating of a new political movement/alliance.

Emmanuel Macron: 'It's a Great Honour and a Great Responsibility' – BBC News

The president-elect Emmanuel Macron acknowledges the anger of many voters and vows to protect the weakest members of society.

'France Has Chosen Continuity' - Le Pen - BBC News

Defeated National Front leader Marine Le Pen told supporters that the country had chosen the "continuity candidate" in centrist Emmanuel Macron and wished her rival well.

James O'Brien vs Theresa May's Factless Brexit U-turn

L'Union européenne plébiscite Macron

LE FIGARO: De façon inhabituelle, les grandes capitales ont pris position pour le candidat d'En marche !.

L'Europe vote Emmanuel Macron. De Berlin à Madrid, d'Athènes à Rome, en passant par Bruxelles, les Européens ont pris position pour le candidat d'En marche!. «Je me réjouirai si Emmanuel Macron l'emporte, avoue franchement la chancelière Angela Merkel dans une interview au quotidien Berliner Zeitung. Sa campagne très pro-européenne est un signal en faveur d'une bonne relation entre la France et l'Allemagne.» Plus indirectement, le premier ministre espagnol Mariano Rajoy appelle les Français à voter pour soutenir le projet européen. L'Italien Paolo Gentiloni parle lui d'un espoir et choix «décisif» pour l'Union. Quant au président de la Commission européenne, Jean-Claude Juncker, il avait félicité le candidat d'En marche! dès le soir du premier tour. «Ce n'est pas une élection classique, explique son porte-parole Margaritis Schinas. Il y a d'un côté un candidat pour l'Europe, de l'autre l'option nucléaire. Dans ces cas-là, nous prenons position.» (+ vidéo) » | Par Isabelle Ory | vendredi 5 mai 2017

Will People Power Force Change in Venezuela? - Inside Story

Neonationaler Zeitgeist: Europa braucht eine Leitkultur

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Quer durch Europa beschwören Politiker die nationale Selbstbesinnung. Statt Unterschiede zu betonen, sollte lieber herausgestellt werden, was die Europäer bereits verbindet. Denn in vielem sind wir uns schon lange nah.

Wer sind wir? Was sind wir? Wer gehört dazu, wer nicht? Wie muss man sein, um dazuzugehören? Fragen, die derzeit viele Nationen beschäftigen.

Im französischen Wahlkampf (ab Sonntagabend werden die Resultate die halbe Welt beschäftigen) ging es nicht nur um Wirtschaftsreformen und die Mitgliedschaft in EU und Euro, sondern letztlich auch um sehr unterschiedliche Interpretationen des Französischseins. In Großbritannien rücken die bevorstehenden Brexit-Verhandlungen und die beginnenden Kampagnen für die Unterhauswahlen die englische Identität in den Mittelpunkt. In Polen ist eine nationalkonservative Regierung am Werk, in Ungarn beschwört Premier Viktor Orbán die angeblich uralten Traditionen des Magyarentums. Selbst in Deutschland ist erneut ein Streit darüber entbrannt, ob wir eine "Leitkultur" brauchen und was das eigentlich ist. » | Eine Kolumne von Henrik Müller | Sonntag, 7. Mai 2017

In Beijing Ballroom, Kushner Family Flogs $500,000 'Investor Visa' to Wealthy Chinese

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: BEIJING - The Kushner family came to the United States as refugees, worked hard and made it big - and if you invest in Kushner properties, so can you.

That was the message delivered Saturday by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner's sister to a ballroom full of wealthy Chinese investors, renewing questions about the Kushner family's business ties to China. Jared Kushner is married to Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka.

Over several hours of slide shows and presentations, representatives from the Kushner family business urged Chinese citizens gathered at the Ritz-Carlton hotel to consider investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a New Jersey real estate project to secure what's known as an investor visa.

But President Donald Trump's vow to crack down on immigration, as well as criticism from members of Congress, has led to questions about the future of a program known here as the "golden visa". » | Emily Rauhala | Sunday, May 7, 2017

What Is At Stake in the French Election?

May. 06, 2017 - 3:42 - James Kirchick provides insight

Will Marine Le Pen Overcome Macron to Triumph in the French Elections?

As France's two oldest parties crash out of the first round of elections, SBS Dateline examines the working class town of Denain, whose residents could signal the nation's choice between the centre and far-right.

France Presidential Election: What are Macron's and Le Pen's CVs?

Iran Presidential Hopefuls Face-off in Second Election Debate

French Presidential Candidates Make Last Push for Votes

French presidential candidates make last push for votes. It's the final day of campaigning for French presidential candidates Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron. Voters are set to head to the polls on Sunday. Macron is still the favourite in the polls, but his rival remains confident that victory is within her reach. Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull reports from Paris.

Islamophobia in the USA - Al Jazeera World

"Islamophobia in USA" is an investigation by Aljazeera Arabic correspondent Abdullah Elshamy into who and what's behind the rise of anti-Islamic feeling in the US – what they think, how they operate and where their funding comes from. The 11th September attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 was a watershed moment in America's relationship with the Arab world. Amid the grief and US military response that followed, American fear of the threat of international terrorism grew.

George W Bush's so-called 'crusade' against what he labelled the 'axis of evil' fueled suspicion of the Middle East as a whole and as US military action increased and led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, this fear turned into one of Arabs generally and Muslims in particular.

With the rise of ISIL and the way the mainstream American media reports on it, fear of Islam further increased, tending to demonise Muslims and portray them and their faith as dangerous and violent.

Donald Trump is a textbook fascist and we will see whether or not that translates into fascist policies.

Hank Johnson, Democratic Congressman of Georgia.

Elshamy's investigation uncovers a network of Islamophobic writers, campaigners, funders and politicians who combined to bring about the conditions in which Donald Trump would be elected President in November 2016.

As the Campaign Comes to a Close, Le Pen and Macron Keep an Eye on Abstention

The Bitter End: Presidential Campaign Closes in France

The Dark Side of France - People & Power

Last month more than seven and a half million French voters propelled the National Front's Marine Le Pen through to the final, second round of this year's presidential election on May 7.

Though recent opinion polls have consistently been against her getting past the centrist Emmanuel Macron to the Élysée Palace, the very fact that an openly xenophobic, anti-immigrant and anti-European Union politician is on the final ballot speaks to a great and troubling fracture in French society.

So how and why have so many people been persuaded to back her?

Though she has now, temporarily, stepped down as leader of her party, her affiliations are in no doubt.

The conundrum remains: how has someone who for years has been so identified with far-right chauvinism and exclusion managed to give her party an acceptable face and get within touching distance of the presidency?

French producers Charles Emptaz and Claire Billet, who usually spend their professional lives covering foreign stories far from home, were as puzzled by these questions as we were, so several weeks ago we sent them behind-the-scenes on the campaign trail to investigate.

Brad Pitt Mocks His Parents Speaking in Tongues; Talks Frustration With Christianity's 'Don'ts'

CHRISTIAN POST: Actor Brad Pitt, who has identified as an atheist despite his Baptist upbringing, opened up in a recent interview about how his parents moved toward the charismatic tradition, and about some of his frustrations with Christianity.

"We grew up First Baptist, which is the cleaner, stricter, by-the-book Christianity. Then, when I was in high school, my folks jumped to a more charismatic movement, which got into speaking in tongues and raising your hands and some goofy-a** [expletive]," Pitt told GQ magazine in an interview released on Wednesday.

When asked whether he witnessed the speaking of tongues himself, the actor replied:

"Yeah, come on. I'm not even an actor yet, but I know ... I mean the people, I know they believe it. I know they're releasing something. God, we're complicated. We're complicated creatures."

Pitt has left Christianity and is now an atheist, The Telegraph reported in 2015 in a separate interview with Pitt, where the actor said that since an early age, he was instilled "with all the Christian guilt about what you can and cannot, should and shouldn't do.” » | Stoyan Zeimov, Christian Post Reporter | Saturday, May 5, 2017

Radikale Koranverteilaktion «Lies!» : Gefährlich und unerwünscht

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG – KOMMENTAR: Der Zürcher Sicherheitsdirektor und Regierungsrat Mario Fehr will die umstrittene Koranverteilaktion «Lies!» verbieten. Das ist konsequent.

Das radikal-salafistische «Lies!»-Projekt lässt sich nicht mit Scientology oder evangelikalen Bibelaktionen vergleichen. Zwar treten auch sie regelmässig mit Standaktionen in grösseren Schweizer Städten in Erscheinung. Sie mögen mit problematischen Haltungen für Verärgerung sorgen, sie weisen im Gegensatz zu «Lies!» jedoch keinen kriminellen Hintergrund auf und machen keine Propaganda für terroristische Organisationen. » | von Fabian Baumgartner | Samstag, 5. Mai 2017

Hofer: Le Pen "ne peut pas gagner"

LE FIGARO: La cheffe de l'extrême droite française Marine Le Pen "ne peut pas gagner" dimanche la présidentielle, estime l'ancien candidat d'extrême droite à la présidentielle autrichienne Norbert Hofer, instruit par sa propre défaite au second tour en décembre.

Bien que considérant Emmanuel Macron comme une "personnalité peu fiable, qui ne donne pas beaucoup confiance", "je crois que Le Pen ne peut pas gagner", a déclaré M. Hofer à la chaîne privée autrichienne Servus TV.

"Si je devais parier aujourd'hui, je dirais que l'élection se soldera par 41 à 59 (%)", a ajouté ce représentant du Parti de la liberté d'Autriche (FPÖ), une formation alliée au parti Front national de Marine Le Pen.

Loin d'être une défaite, ce serait "le meilleur résultat de l'histoire" du FN à ce jour, a-t-il toutefois insisté, relevant: "Ceux qui ont perdu, ce sont les socialistes". » | Par Le Figaro.fr avec AFP | samedi 5 mai 2017

Jean-Claude Juncker Says English Is 'Losing Importance' after Brexit as UK 'Abandons' Europe

THE TELEGRAPH: Jean-Claude Juncker has accused Britain of "abandoning" the EU and joked that the English language is "losing its importance in Europe" because of Brexit.

Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, on Thursday warned Theresa May and Mr Juncker that Brexit negotiations could become "impossible" if they become "emotional".

However despite the call for calm Mr Juncker, the President of the European Commission, told a conference in the Italian city of Florence that Brexit is a "tragedy". (+ video) » | Steven Swinford, Deputy Political Editor | Friday, , May 5, 2017

The Trumpcare Disaster

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The House speaker, Paul Ryan, and other Republicans falsely accused Democrats of rushing the Affordable Care Act through Congress. On Thursday, in a display of breathtaking hypocrisy, House Republicans — without holding any hearings or giving the Congressional Budget Office time to do an analysis — passed a bill that would strip at least 24 million Americans of health insurance. » | The Editorial Board | Thursday, May 4, 2017

REPLAY - Watch the Full French Presidential Debate between Macron and Le Pen

Tale of Two Frances: The Presidential Race Seen from a Small Village

The France 24 Debate heads to Bonnelles, a village 45 km from Paris that sits astride the two sides of France which seem to be going head to head in the 2017 presidential election. On one side, the France of the cities and urban areas which are fully integrated into the globalised economy. On the other, the rural France that feels left behind and isolated. Sunday’s election between Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron will determine which of these two Frances makes their voice heard. | Produced by Charles WENTE, François WIBAUX, Laure ABONNAT.

Emmanuel Macron Confronted by Union Activists in Albi While Le Pen Dodges Eggs in Brittany

Barack Obama soutient Emmanuel Macron

LE DÉBAT - Emmanuel Macron – Marine Le Pen – Élection Présidentielle 2017

Trumpcare Would Be ‘Tragedy for America’ – Congressman

The House GOP purportedly still lacks the votes to repeal and replace Obamacare. Republican leaders are weighing amendments they think will win over moderates who oppose the demands of the Freedom Caucus. Former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Florida) joins “News with Ed” to describe the disastrous outcome he foresees should the US repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with so-called Trumpcare.

Face to Face: Le Pen, Macron Square Off In Final Debate

UK - PM Theresa May Says Brexit Warnings ‘Deliberately Timed To Affect’ UK Elections

Top US & World Headlines — May 3, 2017

Yanis Varoufakis On Brexit: 'How Can These Smart People Be So Deluded' - BBC Newsnight

Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek finance minister, resigned back in 2015 at the height of the crisis there. He has now written a book about the whole experience, Adults in the Room - and he spoke to Evan Davis about Brexit and the UK's general election.

Merkel Presses Putin On Gay Rights - BBC News

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to help protect gay rights. Activists say police in the republic of Chechnya have arrested and tortured dozens of gay people in a crackdown. Mrs Merkel raised the issue during her first visit to Russia since 2015, which saw her hold talks with Mr Putin at his summer residence in Sochi. Relations between the two nations have been strained over Syria and Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Brexit Talks Will Not Be Quick Or Painless, Says EU's Chief Negotiator

Michel Barnier says he hopes to reach an entente cordiale with UK and refuses to confirm reports of possible €100bn exit bill

Read the Guardian article here

French Presidential Elections: The Final Countdown

Sparking an Outrage: Saudi Arabia Elected to UN Commission on Women's Rights

Bahrain: Government Is Not Working for a Reconciliation

L’heure du choix : Emmanuel Macron face à Jean-Jacques Bourdin

Présidentielle: Macron dévoile ses trois premiers chantiers en cas de victoire »

Terror Attacks in France: A Gift to Marine Le Pen?

WIKIPEDIA: Gilles Kepel »

'The Chips Are Down': Theresa May Vows to Stand Firm against EU

The Fate of Europe? Continent Waits On French Presidential Election (Parts 1 & 2)

Paris vor der Wahl: Verschiedene Welten | DW Deutsch

Die Bewohner der ärmeren Vierten und Vorstädte von Paris stimmen oft ganz anders ab als die in den vornehmen Quartiers. Doch der anstehende zweite Wahlgang könnte die beiden Welten näher zusammenrücken.

Le Pen and Macron Trade Barbs amid May Day Clashes

Juncker bei May: Das desaströse Brexit-Dinner

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Als EU-Kommissionspräsident Juncker mit der britischen Premierministerin May dinierte, hatten sie Wichtiges zu besprechen. Aber sie redeten aneinander vorbei. Am Ende sagte Juncker, er sei „zehnmal skeptischer als zuvor“. Es sollte ein Weckruf sein.

Jean-Claude Juncker hat schon viele schwierige Verhandlungen erlebt. Mit Alexis Tsipras rang der Präsident der Europäischen Kommission monatelang darum, dass Griechenland seine Pflichten erfüllt. Und mit Viktor Orbán streitet er seit der Flüchtlingskrise über europäische Solidarität. Juncker ist der Typ, der auch nach solchen Gesprächen, wenn allen die Köpfe qualmen, seinen Gesprächspartnern kumpelhaft auf die Schultern haut und sagt, man werde schon eine Lösung finden. Als der Kommissionspräsident am Mittwochabend den Amtssitz der britischen Premierministerin verließ, lag ein weiteres denkwürdiges Treffen hinter ihm. Er war freundlich empfangen worden, es war nie laut geworden, aber nach beschwichtigenden Worten war ihm nicht zumute. Juncker war tief schockiert, und er machte keinen Hehl daraus. „I’m leaving Downing Street ten times more skeptical than I was before“, sagte er seiner Gastgeberin zum Abschied. » | Von Thomas Gutschker | Montag, 1. Mai 2017

Tony Blair Announces His Return to Politics - and Hints at Starting a New Anti-Brexit Movement

THE TELEGRAPH: The Brexit vote has brought many unintended side effects - one of which is Tony Blair's return to politics, 20 years after he won a landslide general election.

As we head towards another of those - but this time with a Conservative government poised to take the victory - the former Prime Minister spoke of his ambitions to soften Brexit and "shape policy debate".

He told The Mirror: "This Brexit thing has given me a direct motivation to get more involved in the politics.

You need to get your hands dirty and I will." Read on and comment » | Helena Horton | Monday, May 1, 2017

France's May Day: Unions, Citizens Split Over Presidential Vote

Rodrigo Duterte Says He May Be Too Busy for White House Visit

THE NEW YORK TIMES: MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines said on Monday that he might not accept President Trump’s invitation to visit the White House, because he was “tied up” with a busy schedule.

“I cannot make any definite promise,” Mr. Duterte said, adding, “I’m supposed to go to Russia, I’m also supposed to go to Israel.”

Mr. Trump’s invitation on Saturday to Mr. Duterte, an authoritarian leader who has been accused of ordering extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, drew criticism from human rights advocates, who said such a visit would amount to a White House endorsement of Mr. Duterte’s policies. Thousands of people have been gunned down in the Philippines since Mr. Duterte took office in June, promising a harsh crackdown on narcotics. » | Felipe Villamor | Monday, May 1, 2017

Sebastian Gorka to Leave White House amid Accusations of Links to Far-right

THE GUARDIAN: Briton, who previously worked for Fox News and Breitbart, had been hired to sit on an advisory panel created by Steve Bannon

Sebastian Gorka, an adviser to Donald Trump who has been under pressure over his links to Hungarian far-right groups, is leaving the White House.

A senior official said Gorka, a former counterterrorism analyst for Fox News who joined the administration as an adviser, will be leaving the White House in the coming days.

The official said that Gorka had initially been hired to sit on the strategic initiatives group, an advisory panel created by Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon to run parallel to the national security council.

But that group fizzled out in the early months of the administration. Gorka was unable to get clearance for the national security council after he was charged last year with carrying a weapon at Ronald Reagan Washington national airport. » | Guardian staff and agencies | Monday, May 1, 2017

Jean-Claude Juncker Says Theresa May Is 'Deluded' in Scathing Call with Angela Merkel after Brexit Talks

THE TELEGRAPH: The European Union has warned that it is "more likely than not" that Brexit talks will fail after Jean Claude Juncker accused Theresa May of being "deluded" in the wake of a tense Downing Street dinner.

The President of the European Commission launched a scathing attack on Mrs May after the meeting on Wednesday last week, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported.

He reportedly claimed during the meeting that Brexit "cannot be a success" and threatened to end talks without a trade deal if Britain refuses to pay a "divorce" bill.

The Prime Minister said that the UK is not legally obliged to pay the EU anything as it leaves the EU. Mr Juncker and his colleagues responded by saying that Britain cannot simply cancel its membership of the EU as if it was a "golf club". Read on and comment » | Helena Horton and Steven Swinford, Deputy Political Editor | Monday, May 1, 2017

Macron vs. Le Pen: France's Bitter Presidential Run-off Race

France's Wartime Past Takes Centre Stage in Presidential Campaign

What’s Making the French Youth Vote for Extremist Parties?

Angela Merkel Arrives without Headscarf in Saudi Arabia for Talks with King Salman

THE INDEPENDENT: Theresa May also eschewed the strict dress code for women when she arrived in Riyadh

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Saudi Arabia without a headscarf for talks with the oil-rich kingdom's monarch. Ms Merkel was greeted by King Salman and other top officials upon her arrival at the western city of Jiddah. Like other recent female Western visitors, the German Chancellor did not cover her hair upon arrival in the conservative Islamic kingdom. Read on and comment » | Samuel Osborne | Sunday, April 30, 2017

Le Pens Euro-Kehrtwende: Au revoir, "Frexit"!

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Marine Le Pen verabschiedet sich von ihrem wichtigsten Wahlversprechen - der Abkehr vom Euro. Die Front-National-Chefin hofft wohl, so EU-Freund und Konkurrent Emmanuel Macron in der Stichwahl abzufangen.

"Frankreich seine Souveränität zurückgeben - bei Geldpolitik, Gesetzgebung, territorialer und wirtschaftlicher Verantwortung": Der Rückzug auf die Nation gehört zum Credo von Marine Le Pen und ziert als Punkt Nummer eins ihre 144 Wahlversprechen für ein "freies Frankreich."

Die Abkehr von der Gemeinschaft, der Bruch mit dem Euro - es waren bislang zentrale Kernaussagen im Programm der rechtspopulistischen Präsidentschaftskandidatin des Front National (FN). Brüssel und die "Herrschaft der Technokraten" waren die Urheber aller Übel der Nation; der Euro ein Symbol der ökonomischen "Unterwerfung" unter den Dirigismus von Angela Merkel. » | Von Stefan Simons, Paris | Sonntag, 30. April 2017

Trump Trolls White House Correspondents' Dinner

Donald Trump mocks members of the media attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington DC during a rally in Pennsylvania. ‘A large group of Hollywood actors and Washington media are consoling each other in a hotel ballroom in our nation’s capital right now,’ Trump says, to cheers. The US president Trump says he ‘could not possibly be more thrilled to be more than 100 miles away from Washington swamp, spending my evening with all of you and a much, much larger crowd and much better people’

Read the Guardian article here

Iranian TV Executive Shot Dead in Istanbul, Turkish Media Report

THE GUARDIAN: Saeed Karimian, founder of Farsi-language network GEM TV, reportedly shot dead along with his Kuwaiti business partner

The Iranian founder of a popular Farsi-language satellite television network has been shot dead in Istanbul alongside a Kuwaiti business partner, according to Turkish media, months after reportedly being convicted of spreading “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic.

GEM TV founder Saeed Karimian was travelling through Istanbul’s Maslak neighbourhood after 8pm (1700 GMT) on Saturday when the car was blocked by a Jeep and shots were fired, Turkey’s Doğan news agency said on Sunday.

Karimian was found dead by emergency services. His associate was taken to hospital but could not be revived. » | Reuters | Sunday, April 30, 2017

EU Threatens Theresa May on Trade Talks and Its Citizens' Rights

THE GUARDIAN: European leaders take hard line on Brexit at special summit, agreeing unanimously on rigid stance in just four minutes

The European Union has called on Theresa May to provide immediate “serious and real” guarantees to its citizens living in Britain. The EU leaders took just four minutes at a special summit to agree unanimously an uncompromising opening stance in the Brexit negotiations.

Leaders said they would not discuss a future trade deal with the British government until “sufficient progress” is made on the issues of Britain’s estimated €60bn divorce bill, the rights of EU nationals in the UK, and the border in Ireland.

The European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, told reporters at the special summit in Brussels that EU citizens in Britain were the number one priority, and that he had discussed the need for Britain to now live up to its warm words regarding EU citizens during a dinner with the prime minister in Downing Street last week. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Saturday, April 29, 2017

What Change Has Trump Brought to Washington? - Inside Story

Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States with fewer votes than his opponent. And his approval ratings after 100 days are lower than any previous president. Critics say it's been a chaotic and controversial start...but consistent with his electioneering. He's failed to fulfil some campaign promises and had to change his mind on others. And he's surprised the world with direct U.S. intervention in the Syrian conflict and his warnings to North Korea. He did say he wanted to shake up Washington, and by all accounts he has. But where is he going to take the United States, and the rest of the world, over the next four years? | Presenter: Jane Dutton | Guests: John Hudak, Deputy Director at the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution; Raisa Sheynberg, Former Director for International Economic Affairs at the National Security Council at The White House, under the Obama administration; Brad Thomas, Author of "The Trump Factor"

Brexit: EU-Kommission befürchtet Scheitern der Verhandlungen

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: In Brüssel hält man ein Scheitern der Gespräche für wahrscheinlicher als einen Erfolg. Die britische Regierungschefin May stellte bei einem Treffen mit Kommissionschef Juncker aus EU-Sicht vollkommen überzogene Forderungen.

In der EU-Kommission herrscht große Skepsis über einen erfolgreichen Abschluss der Brexit-Verhandlungen mit dem Vereinigten Königreich. Grund dafür ist der Verlauf des Treffens zwischen Kommissionspräsident Jean-Claude Juncker und der britischen Premierministerin Theresa May am vergangenen Mittwoch in London. » | von Thomas Gutschker | Sonntag, 30. April 2017

Bundesinnenminister: „Wir sind nicht Burka“

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Innenminister Thomas de Maizière stellt zehn Thesen zu einer deutschen Leitkultur auf. Dazu zählt er den Leistungsgedanken, das Erbe der deutschen Geschichte – und dass Frauen ihr Gesicht zeigen.

Bundesinnenminister Thomas de Maizière (CDU) hat einen Zehn-Punktekatalog für eine deutsche Leitkultur vorgelegt. „Ich will mit einigen Thesen zu einer Diskussion einladen über eine Leitkultur für Deutschland“, schreibt de Maizière in einem Gastbeitrag für die „Bild am Sonntag“. Wer sich seiner eigenen Kultur sicher sei, sei stark. De Maizière führt zehn Eigenschaften auf … » | Quelle: dpa/KNA/spo. | Sonntag, 30. April 2017

Les images fortes du séjour du pape François en Égypte

LE FIGARO: EN IMAGES - Au second jour de sa visite en Égypte, le pape François célébrait une messe alors que les chrétiens d'Orient sont visés par l'État islamique. La veille, il plaidait pour la tolérance et le dialogue entre musulmans et chrétiens.

Le pontife, âgé de 80 ans, s'est rendu ce samedi au stade de l'armée de l'air égyptienne, d'une capacité de 30.000 places, pour prononcer une homélie et prier avec les fidèles. Un rassemblement religieux qui réunissait tous les rites catholiques du pays, notamment les églises copte, arménienne, maronite et melkite, et dont la liturgie était en arabe et en latin. » | Par Le figaro.fr et AFP agence | samedi 29 avril 2017

Marine Le Pen Takes Her Fight to the Right as Macron Dips in Polls

THE TELEGRAPH: Marine Le Pen took her fight for the French presidency to the Right-wing Riviera bastion of Nice last night slamming Emmanuel Macron as a puppet of "oligarchs" whose aim is to destroy and "dilute" France.

Her claim came as one poll suggested that Mr Macron's lead had slightly shrunk ahead of the May 7 runoff.

"We can win," Ms Le Pen told 4,000 tricolour flag-waving supporters at the Nice rally. "Throw them out! We are David against Goliath."

The far-Right contender spent the first first three days after Sunday's first round vote wooing French workers - many of whom had voted for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the Communist-backed firebrand. » | Henry Samuel, Nice | Thursday, April 27, 2017