"What in the World?" - Week of April 30-May 6, 2017

The candidates in the final week of the final round of presidential elections leveled accusations against each other as police clashed with demonstrators in Paris. Critics of the far-right candidate fear the elevation of the National Front could lead to a “Frexit,” or French exit from the European Union. The candidates for President of France are:

President Trump invited the controversial Philippines President to visit the White House drawing criticism from those who cite Rodrigo Duterte’s position on:

THIS militant Palestinian group that controls Gaza prepared to offer a “more moderate public face” in its violent conflict with Israel and political struggle with the Palestinian Authority through a new document of principles which, according to the New York Times, “calls for closer ties to Egypt, waters down the anti-Semitic language that is prominent in its charter and accepts at least a provisional Palestinian state.

Japan dispatched its largest warship, the 27,000 ton helicopter carrier Izumo, to escort US Navy support vessels operating in a show of force mission against North Korea. The Japanese ship will be operating with US forces who are also working in the area with all of these navies EXCEPT:

Students from this school represented the Tennessee World Affairs Council on April 29th at the national championship match of Academic WorldQuest at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Troops and aircraft from THIS country, which deployed 4,000 soldiers to fight Islamist militants in northern Mali, killed more than 20 militants near the border with Burkina Faso. THIS country retains political and military ties to a number of former colonies in West and Sub-Saharan Africa.

In a joint press conference President Trump told Prime Minister Netanyahu “I’d like to see you hold back on settlements a little bit,” viewing them as an impediment to a solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last Friday Israel’s Housing Ministry said it was planning to build 15,000 new settlement homes in THIS area.

France and Germany are seeking a new working relationship with Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan while other officials are calling for a suspension of THIS Turkish membership consideration, in reaction to Ankara’s growing authoritarianism.

President Trump commented about US relations with Saudi Arabia on Thursday (Apr 27) as the Administration considered a visit to Riyadh in late May. His remarks made reference to:

THIS group, a “Catholic chivalric order and global charity” elected a new leader in an effort to mend fences with the Vatican. According to Reuters, “The previous grand master, Briton Matthew Festing, resigned in January after a month-long, highly public spat with the Vatican over the running of the group, which laid bare tensions between a reformist Pope Francis and his conservative critics.”