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BERLIN German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned on Thursday that the European Union could fall apart if populists in France or the Netherlands win in elections this year.

"The French presidential elections this spring are bitter fateful elections for Europe," Gabriel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament.

He added: "After Brexit last year, if enemies of Europe manage again in the Netherlands or in France to get results then we face the threat that the largest civilization project of the 20th century, namely the European Union, could fall apart."

(Reporting by Michelle Martin and Michael Nienaber; Writing by Joseph Nasr)

PARIS France's Francois Fillon on Thursday said allegations his wife was paid for a fake job were attempts to harm his presidential bid, adding that they only strengthened his resolve to run in the election.

BEIRUT Syrian Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham said on Thursday six other rebel factions had joined its ranks in northwestern Syria in order to fend off a major assault by a powerful jihadist group.

BEIRUT Syrian rebels urged President Donald Trump to fulfil a pledge to create safe zones in their country, but analysts doubted he would proceed with a step that coulddrag Washington deeper into war, hasten Syria's fragmentation and risk conflict with Russia.

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EU could fall apart if populists win Dutch, French elections - Germany's Gabriel - Reuters UK

Professor Ted Mallochsuggested the doomed eurozone could face a real problem in the next 18 months.

In a devastating blow to the EUs single currency, he said he would short the euro taking a market position which bets on the value of a currency falling.

Professor Malloch told the BBC: The one thing I would do in 2017 is short the euro.

I think it is a currency that is not only in demise but has a real problem and could collapse in the coming year, year and a half.

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I think it is a currency that is not only in demise but has a real problem and could collapse

Ted Malloch

I am not the only person or economist of that point of view.

Someone as acclaimed as Joseph Stiglitz the famous World Bank economist has written an entire book on this subject.

Although not yet confirmed in the role, Professor Malloch has been widely reported as being President Trumps desired choice for the Brussels role.

The economist and former deputy executive secretary to the United Nations in Geneva went for an interview with the Presidents team at Trump Tower earlier this month.

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But he also predicted his potential ambassadorial role with the bloc could be at threat, as he predicted wholesale change and reform over the next few years.

Having been asked about the possibility of the EU-US trade deal being signed under President Trumps watch, Professor Malloch replied: I personally am not certain that there will be a European Unionwith to have such negotiations.

Will there potentially be numerous bi-lateral with various European countries? I think the prospect, again in a changed political reality, is greater for that.

The American added: I think people are talking about the redefinition of the European Union, whether it is a core number of countries and a periphery that moves aside, key people that stay in the Union, those that fall away.

These are decisions that are going to be made by European people in democratic elections over the course of the next 18 months, and some of these elections, frankly, are coming as soon as the next few months.

Prime Minister Theresa May, on Friday, will become the first foreign leader to visit the President, exactly a week after his inauguration.

The pair are expected to discuss Nato, immigration and, most importantly, a post-Brexit deal between the two nations, with President Trump previously spoken about striking such a deal as soon as possible.

Professor Malloch said that Britain could agree a mutually beneficial free trade deal with America in as little as 90 days.

He continued by saying that outside the single market and customs union, the UK could bypass the bureaucrats in Brussels, adding that it would be absurd that EU leaders attempt to block negotiations between the two nations.

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Continued cooperation with the EU to tackle terrorism and international crime.

But Professor Malloch did say that Mrs May will leave the White House on Friday without a trade deal, he said: Obviously there are things to iron out, certainly there are differences and compromises to make, but it can be done.

There wont be a deal signed in the White House on Friday, but there could be an agreement for a framework going forward where people are empowered to have that kind of conversations behind closed doors and it could take as little as 90 days.

That is very positive and it sends a signal that the United States is behind Great Britain in its hour of need.

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Eurozone CRISIS: Trump's likely EU ambassador hints euro 'could FAIL' within 18 months - Express.co.uk

In the days leading up to November 8, 2016, it was impossible to find more than one person in Brussels who would publicly represent Republican candidate Donald Trump in political debates. Time after time in media appearances or organized debates, various members of "Democrats Abroad" would be tied up against the same man, tirelessly insisting to enormous skepticism that his candidate would be the next president of the United States.

That lone voice proved prescient and now Michael Kulbickas just smiles about those pre-election days. With most private Americans who live outside the US tending to lean Democrat, he's used to being the chairman of "Republicans Overseas" with few people to chair. Since Trump's win, however, the longtime Belgian resident says more individuals have "come out of the woodwork" saying they'd voted for Trump and are willing to help beef up the organization.

'Europeans misunderstand Trump'

Still, Kulbickas acknowledges, "there is a huge reluctance of people who are traditional Republicans to be associated with someone who has such high negatives among European elites." He insists that European antipathy to Trump is unwarranted, caused primarily by misreading or misunderstanding him.

"There's an extraordinarily distorted view of Mr. Trump in Europe in general and in Belgium in particular," he said from his office inBrussels, where he works as a management consultant. "Whenever the subject of American elections comes up, I am confronted with extraordinary opinions about Mr. Trump that are caricatures -clownish distortions of his character and what he says."

For example, while Kulbickas tells DW he doesn't agree with the attitude expressed by Trump in the videotape where he brags about grabbing women, he does supportthe often-mentioned defense that this is just how many men talk amongst themselves and should be dismissed. Trump's repeated disparagement of NATO is another hot-button issue in Brussels. Kulbickas believes this was a smart pre-emptive move that could finally prompt the alliance into addressing some of its problems, such as a disproportionate US share of funding.

Kulbickas wrote a letter of advice to Trump

As for the remarks that caused the most outrage among European politicians -that Britain's drop-out was a good decision and other EU countries may soon follow it -Kulbickas supported Brexit but doesn't unequivocally believe it would be good for the US if Europe truly fractured further. He does, however, appreciate the rhetoric.In his opinion, signalling to the Europeans that the US doesn't need them or even believe in their EU project is the sign of an expert negotiator who can get what he wants out of partners. "You have to be ready to get up and walk away," he explained.

Kulbickas, who confesses he was a Democrat until 9/11, says he decided early on to back Trump instead of one of the more than a dozen Republican primary contenders because he seemed more decisive than the other candidates. Kulbickas wrote candidate Trump a letter of advice, outlining strategy for his office run. He never heard back and doesn't know if Trump himself even knows there is a Republicans Overseas chapter in Brussels.

Trump team taps Brussels outpost for insights

But other members of the new administration are definitely aware of the organization, asking the group for tips on navigating the institutions and local cultures of the EU and its member states. Though the departing US ambassadors to NATO and the EU said they had received no requests for handover conversations before their Trump-mandated departures, Kulbickas mentions he and others have been providing, by request, insights into their countries of residence and the political environment, including the Europe-wide trend toward populism. Kulbickas says Trump should make common cause with leaders such as the Netherlands' Geert Wilders, a point the president's closest advisors are also pushing, according to Washington Post writer Josh Rogin.

But if the Republican group is getting stronger, it's not alone. Democrats Abroad chair Pauline Manos says requests to get involved have been pouring in since the election. More than in most other years, Manos told DW, her organization is going to push for expatriates to vote in the mid-term elections for Congress two years from now. "The reality is that most Americans who are abroad tend to show up for the presidential elections, but then things kind of quiet down for four years," Manos explained. "And I think the message that everybody has gotten is that we can't let it quiet down."

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Meet Trumps man for the European Union | Europe | DW.COM ... - Deutsche Welle

Edward Snowdens attorneys asked the European Parliament on Monday to consider granting asylum to the former NSA contractor in lieu of letting him risk a potential life sentence in the United States should he be ordered out of Russia.

U.S. and German legal representatives for the American fugitive made the case for asylum before members of the European Union during a hearing in Brussels this week, notwithstanding the Russian government agreeing days earlier to extend his residency permit through 2020.

While the Kremlins decision should allow Mr. Snowden to avoid returning to the U.S. for now and with it standing trial for espionage, his attorneys urged the E.U. at Mondays hearing to assure the NSA leaker has a safe haven once he bids farewell to Moscow following his current stint in the Russian capital.

Mr. Snowdens Berlin-based attorney, Wolfgang Kaleck, said his client risks being sentenced to 1,000 years in prison if convicted for leaking NSA secrets, including documents that detailed the U.S. governments domestic and international surveillance operations, and subsequently resulted in law changes at home and abroad.

Its against all European standards, what hes expecting in the U.S., Mr. Kaleck told Parliament, according to EurActiv.

We think the European Union member states have the obligation to support him, he continued, adding the E.U. should pay back Mr. Snowden for revealing spy programs that affected European civilians.

Mr. Snowden, 33, has resided in Russia since June 2013 when his passport was revoked by the U.S. State Department en route from Hong Kong to Havana in connection with his disclosure of documents detailing the operations of the U.S. national security apparatus. He was granted asylum by Russian President Vladimir Putin the following month, and was told last week he can stay another 3 1/2 years.

Spain, Iceland and Germany are all nations that should consider opening their doors to Mr. Snowden, Mr. Kaleck said, as reported by International Business Times.

People are looking with a lot of optimism towards Iceland right now, added Ben Wizner, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who also spoke at Mondays hearing.

Were not desperate, Mr. Kaleck added, making note of Moscows decision this month to extend Mr. Snowdens residency permit through 2020.

Nonetheless, Mr. Snowden himself has acknowledged recently the uncertainties surrounding his future, particularly in light of U.S. President Donald Trump having previously called for his execution.

While I cant predict what the future looks like, I dont know whats going to happen tomorrow, I can be comfortable with the way Ive lived today, Mr. Snowden told attendees at an event in November 2016 shortly after Mr. Trump was elected.

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Edward Snowden's attorneys appeal to European Union's ... - Washington Times

The UK has voted for Brexit - and ever since it looked like we would vote Leave, commentators have been talking about Article 50.

Today, Britain's most senior judges ruled Theresa May does not have the power to trigger the formal process for the UK's exit from the European Union without giving MPs a say.

The decision follows a legal challenge by the Government after a landmark High Court ruling in November.

But what exactly is it and what does Article 50 mean for Brexit?

Over half of voters in the EU referendum (51.9%) chose to leave the union, but it is not as simple as just waving goodbye to Europe.

Supreme Court Brexit ruling live: Updates as judges decide MPs WILL get a vote on Article 50

No state has left the European Union before, although Greenland did vote to quit the EEC.

How the UK goes about its conscious uncoupling after its 43 year relationship is governed by Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

In October, Theresa May told the Conservative Party conference that she planned to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017.

But today the High Court put a spanner in the works by ruling the PM does not have the power to start Brexit proceedings without first allowing MPs to vote.

The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in December 2007, is the European Union's most recent constitution - and Article 50 makes provision for countries that want to leave.

It sets out the exit process but is deliberately vague meaning member states could be forced to enter into long negotiations to thrash out the terms of any deal.

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Immediately after Article 50 is invoked, a two-year window begins during which Britain will be expected to enter talks on plans for its relationship with the rest of the Union post- Brexit .

Topics on the table could include the UK's access to the single market, travel arrangements and what will happen to people from EU countries who are working or living in Britain.

But it's not all smooth sailing all 28 member states have to unanimously agree to the terms of a deal meaning the negotiations could take years.

In the meantime Britain is still bound by the obligations and responsibilities of EU membership.

A senior EU official said: "The Article 50 process is a divorce: who gets the house, who gets the kids, who gets the bank accounts.

"It is spouses, instead of working through lawyers, throwing dishes at each other."

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In a joint statement issued in July, EU leaders Martin Schulz, Donald Tusk, Mark Rutte and Jean-Claude Juncker said: We now expect the United Kingdom government to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be.

We have rules to deal with this in an orderly way.

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union sets out the procedure to be followed if a Member State decides to leave the European Union.

We stand ready to launch negotiations swiftly with the United Kingdom regarding the terms and conditions of its withdrawal from the European Union.

Until this process of negotiations is over, the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, with all the rights and obligations that derive from this.

On November 3, campaigners led by hedge fund manager Gina Miller, won a High Court fight to give MPs a vote on Brexit and derailed Theresa May's plans to invoke Article 50 before March 2017.

The Government announced it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. That appeal decision will be revealed today at 9.30am.

At the original decision, three of Englands top judges gave the historic ruling after a costly three-day hearing.

The High Court ruled the Prime Minister did not have the power to trigger two-year exit process Article 50 before a vote in Parliament.

Introducing his judgement, Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas said: This is a pure question of law. The court is not concerned with and does not express any view about the merits of leaving the European Union. That is a political issue.

He added: The court expressly accepts the principle arguments of the claimants. The government does not have the power of prerogative

Mrs May was relying on the royal prerogative - which a team led by investment fund manager Gina Miller said was not enough to ignore elected MPs.

Anti-Brexiters celebrated the news on Twitter - and even some Leave voters are happy about it.

One man admitted he voted Brexit but hoped the decision could 'correct his stupidity'.

Many thanked God for the ruling, claiming that there was finally some "sense" in the chaotic mess which has hung over our country since June.

Others claimed there is at last some "hope".

But not everyone was happy about it.

Nigel Farage, the former UKIP leader who led the Brexit campaign, took to Twitter to say: ""I worry that a betrayal may be near at hand."

Others also claimed that the ruling was a betrayal for the majority who voted.

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What is Article 50 and why is it key to Brexit? - Mirror.co.uk