Saturday, May 02
President-elect Donald Trump meets with Republican senators on Capitol Hill as the GOP strategises for his upcoming term. The party faces internal debates over whether to pass Trump’s priorities in one or two bills. The stakes are high with issues like tax cuts, border security, and energy production at the forefront of the legislative battle.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen paid tribute to her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, the controversial founder of the National Front who passed away at 96. Known for antisemitism and racial violence, he was both revered and criticized. Marine aims to mainstream the party despite their public disputes and her own legal troubles.
Elon Musk intensified criticism against George Soros, accusing him of anti-Israel sentiment after reports linked Soros to funding pro-Hamas groups. Musk condemned Soros's influence on politics and media, claiming the financier aims to destroy Western civilization. This follows Musk's harsh reaction to President Biden awarding Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Pope Francis greeted ambassadors at the Holy See but asked an aide to deliver his annual foreign policy speech because he was battling a cold. The 88-year-old pope, who often suffers winter bronchitis, had sounded congested but continued his busy schedule after a demanding Christmas period.
Lebanon's parliament aims to elect a new president after over two years of vacancy. Army commander Joseph Aoun is the leading candidate, backed by major foreign powers. The election has been fraught with political deadlock, and Aoun’s candidacy faces constitutional hurdles. Success could pave the way for necessary governmental appointments and vital economic reforms.
