1. France Election
On Sunday, France held its presidential election. International media have compared the contest to recent crucial elections in the U.S. and Britain. Hours after votes were cast, it was announced that candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen would participate in a runoff election, to be held May 7. Speaking to CNN, French journalist Christine Ockrent likened the election results to a “political earthquake,” noting the widespread dissolution of traditional party ties.
2. Trump Reveals Plans for Tax Reform
Speaking to the press over the weekend, President Donald Trump announced plans to release his tax reform plan, “probably on Wednesday” of this week. The president offered little detail regarding the contents of the plan, though he assured it includes a “massive tax cut” for American citizens and businesses.
“It will be bigger, I believe, than any tax cut ever,” Trump told the Associated Press Sunday. “Maybe the biggest tax cut we’ve ever had.”
3. American Airlines Suspends Employee, Launches Investigation Following Viral Video
In the never-ending saga of airlines that can’t seem to get their acts together, American Airlines is currently investigating the actions of a flight attendant depicted in a viral video last week. In the video, the male flight attendant can be heard yelling at a male passenger who appears to be defending a (crying) female passenger. In a statement Friday night, American apologized for the way the female customer had been treated by the crew member. The airline assured that the flight attendant in question has been suspended pending an investigation into the altercation.
4. Big Week Ahead for Congress
Members of Congress will reconvene in Washington this week to discuss the highly contested spending bill in an attempt to avoid a government shutdown. The meeting comes after the GOP-dominated Congress’s failed attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, in March. On the table this time is President Trump’s proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall. Congressional Democrats have suggested that in exchange for funding the wall, the new budget should leave portions of Obamacare in tact. The deadline to avoid shutdown in Saturday, which will also mark Trump’s 100th day in office.
5. North Korea Detains Third American Citizen Amid Heightened Tension with the U.S.
Over the weekend, North Korean authorities arrested an American citizen. Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was detained on Saturday as he was leaving the country, according to officials from the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, where the Korean-American taught accounting. Kim is one of three Americans currently being held in the country.
No details regarding why Kim was detained have been released, but his arrest comes amid increasingly hostile relations between the U.S. and North Korea.
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