Stories this week. All that and more on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. The ford foundation. Working with visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide. And with the ongoing support of these institutions and friends of the newshour. This program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Sreenivasan the u. S. Economy is showing signs of rebounding, after a lackluster first quarter. The Labor Department reports that employers added a net of 211,000 jobs in april, up sharply from the month of march. The Unemployment Rate for april fell to 4. 4 , a nearly 10year low. The strong showing could increase odds that the Federal Reserve will raise Interest Rates again next month. In somalia a u. S. Navy seal has been killed in a raid on the islamist militant group, al shabaab. Its the First American combat death there since 1993, when two helicopters were shot down in mogadishu. U. S. Officials say the seal died on a mission supporting Somali Forces yesterday. Two other americans were wounded. Thousands of afghans turned out today to hail the return of a former warlord to kabul. Gulbuddin hekmaytar responded with a demand that u. S. And other outside forces leave afghanistan. He rallied the crowd with a call for peace with the taliban, and he criticized the Afghan Government for its cooperation with the u. S. translated lets all end this war together in our country first, and tell the Foreign Forces that afghans are able to sort out their issues themselves, and that we want them to leave afghanistan. No one has any justification for the presence of foreign troops. Sreenivasan the u. S. Now has about 8,000 troops in afghanistan. Next week, the pentagon is widely expected to recommend sending more troops. Russias Defense Ministry announced today that four newly declared safe zones in syria will be closed to u. S. Coalition aircraft. Its part of a deal that russia, turkey and iran signed yesterday. It took effect tonight. Syrian military planes will also be banned from the restricted areas. The u. N. Human Rights Office is condemning china for an ongoing crackdown of activists and their defense lawyers. The agency said today theres been a continued pattern or harassment. Within recent days a prominent defense lawyer and his family were seized by police. Back in this country President Trump signed the omnibus bill to fund the government through september. It totals some 1. 2 trillion. Now, the focus shifts to the fate of the Republican Health care bill that passed the house yesterday. At the white house, deputy spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee sanders said the president understands there are calls to revise the measure. Hes committed to reforming our Health Care System, youre gonna see that process take place. Were not gonna get ahead of the legislative process, we expect there to be some changes, but we expect principles and pillars of the Health Care Bill as it exists to remain the same. Sreenivasan several key republican senators said today they probably cannot support the house bill. President trump has lost his second nominee for army secretary. Mark green withdrew today, saying false and misleading attacks made his nomination a distraction. He drew fire for saying that being transgender is a disease, and deploring the indoctrination of islam in public schools. The president s initial nominee Vincent Viola withdrew because of financial entanglements. And wall street closed out the week on the higher side the Dow Jones Industrial average gained 55 points to close near 21,007, the nasdaq rose 25 points, and the s p 500 added nine. For the week all three indexes gained less than 1 . Still to come on the newshour puerto rico in bankruptcy, we talk to the territorys governor, candidates make their last appeals ahead of a French Election with global consequences, can south sudan find a way out of its brutal civil war . And much more. Sreenivasan puerto rico went over the financial cliff this week. The u. S. Territory home to more than three Million People essentially filed for bankruptcy so it can restructure more than 120 billion in debt and pension obligations. It would be the largest municipal bankruptcy in u. S. History. It owes 72 billion to creditors, many of whom are angry they will have to eat big losses in bankruptcy court. Thousands of protesters took to the streets this week as the pain spreads throughout the island. The government is reducing Public Services, pensions are likely to be cut. And today, it announced it will close 184 schools, forcing 27,000 students to find another school. Its economy remains mired in a slump while more than 45 live people there below the poverty line. Its governor, ricardo rosello, joins me now from san juan. Governor, thank for being with us. What is the argument that youre going to be making in court on why you should be allowed to restructure your financial obligation. Well, what we asked, hari, was essentially to have the courts protection so we wouldnt be attacked by some, what we feel are frivolous lawsuits. But we have ensued a conversation with different creditors, and our hope is that we can find a consensual renegotiation route based on is fiscal plan weve implemented and thats been certified for puerto rico. Sreenivasan youre talking about cutting back on schools. What other Public Services are you going to have to tighten your belt on . Well the Schools Initiative was one that was established for a can couple months. Weve Just Announced today which schoolers the ones that were going to be closed now. This initiative of course has some fiscal relief, but the objective is for our children to actually consolidate and that we can get more Human Resource to give a Better Service to the kids, to the children of puerto rico. Sreenivasan what about the 49 billion in pension payments. Thats the people that have been paying into this. What are they likely to see. Well, were working on a budget right now and part of the strategy that weve ensued on the fiscal plan, is a paygo successystem. Were going to make sure those pension recipients get the funding. Now theres still a discussion with the fiscal oversight plan on how those can you tell us are going to ensue. Our proposal is its supposed to be on a progressive scale so that those that are most vulnerable, those that receive les than 2,000 in pensions will actually not get a cut. And those that receive higher will start getting a progressive cut on their pension. Sreenivasan governor, i know puerto rico is home to you and to the people who live there. I have to ask, how can you keep your people leaving the island. You have unemployment at 12 you loss 10 of your population, you lost 20 of the jobs on the island. If i was a resident of puerto rico why wouldnt i just pick up and move to florida or texas or anywhere on the mainland. Thats been happening so far. Because we havent made the proper changes. We havent made the changes to government. Expenditures have gone rampant in puerto rico. Lack of accountability, total lack of accountability. What were proposing right now is a complete change in that direction now. I know there are going to be some challenges during this cuts and the government. The truth of the matter is that we are being very aggressive so that we can lay the foundations for investors to come to puerto rico for jobs to be created, and for opportunities to ensue. And our objective again is for puerto rico, for the people of puerto rico who want to stay there for them to have the opportunity to stay here. Theres one last thing we need to point out. It is a fact that puerto rico is a colonial territory of the United States. This puts us in a very significant disadvantage to all of the other states and to all of the other american citizens. As a matter of comparative, the u. S. Citizens, the Puerto Ricans that live in the United States have much better incomes, more than twice as much, participate in the labor force of greater scales, have better results in the Education System and so forth. And the one key difference is that puerto rico is a colonial territory. We dont have representation. We have a difficult time getting funding from the federal government. So this is another critical component that we need to change. Sreenivasan so in the meantime, as your population continues to move to the mainland, your tax base shrinks which only compounds this problem. Right. I agree. But were trying our best to develop strategies. Weve already turned into law a labor reformula that will allow for more opportunities to ensue. We also established a permits law that will facilitate permits in puerto rico. They are about to roll out a comprehensive tax reform that will enhance the base and will rules the rates in puerto rico. And energy has been a big challenge in puerto rico. Weve pushing aggressively with a comprehensive agenda so we can collaborate with the private sector and reduce a lot of the costs. Your debt has been tax free which made it very very sought after for Municipal Bond funds, 401 k funds. What do you say to u. S. Taxpayers, they kind of put their faith in your future. What happens if their Retirement Funds suffer because of this. Listen, i just arrived to this position a little over a hundred days ago. I am 38 years old and i want to live in puerto rico and i want to create a path forward for growth. I real eyes ive come at the most challenging times to become governor but i want push things forward. I know that with clear leadership, with a clear path forward, understanding that the times are tough and there are great challenges. If we put a step in the right direction, i think we can push forward for a Better Puerto Rico and of course renegotiation efforts with different creditors so that it is something that is reasonable for them and something that is reasonable for us. Sreenivasan whats been your most recent conversation with the trouble administration . Just recently the president tweeted out, it didnt ven seemy supportive on a bailout. I know you talked with the secretary in february. What did you agree on. We met with the secretary of health and human services. We met with the administrator of cms, and we actually got a letter supporting what our claim was for puerto rico. Secretary stated that puerto rico needed 900 million to have a path forward, to have some runway. Its not a bailout. Its actually the moneys that were assigned to puerto rico and that we need to have a system that actually works. Were already cutting mind you over 300 million in healthcare expenditures over the coming years. So were putting our part. The Health Care System over here collapses because we have a lack of funding. The cost to the u. S. Taxpayer base is much higher. For every dollar that is spent here in puerto rico for a patient, all of the states and the federal government would have to pay 4 for that. So this is not a bailout by any means. Its reasonable ask. Its whats fair for puerto rico, and were doing so in a context where were already making changes. Were already cutting costs and we would prevent much more costs on the state level and the federal level if we do this. Sreenivasan governor of puerto rico, ricardo rosello. Thank you for joining us. Thank you so much. Sreenivasan in the most closelywatched president ial election in france in decades, voters head to the polls this sunday. Its the second round runoff between centrist Emmanuel Macron and farright leader Marine Le Pen. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant is there. Reporter the candidates spent their final day of campaigning in vastly different places. Centrist and heavy favorite Emmanuel Macron strolled around the small town of rodez, in the southwest of france. But, he told a local Radio Station hes not relaxing. translated i know the french men and women you dont dictate their choices. So until the last minute they can decide, react, change so one must remain concentrated. Reporter to the north, far right candidate Marine Le Pen got a hostile reception outside the famed reims cathedral. Later, she tweeted monsieur macrons supporters act with violence everywhere, even in a symbolic and sacred place. No dignity. And in an interview in paris, she took aim at her rival translated mr. Macron is the candidate of the elites, he is the candidate of the oligarchy, he is the candidate of the big private interests. Reporter macron has been buoyed this week, by an endorsement from former president obama. And a solid performance in wednesdays bruising debate. But le pens antiimmigrant National Front has kept pressing its case today, in places like the yonne valley. Here, the front is preaching to the converted. Former soldier pascal roi supports le pens pledge to crack down on islamist militants. translated regarding terrorism, shes promised to expel people flagged as threats to National Security and dual nationals as well. This is going to remove a burden so we can keep a better eye on the rest of the population. Reporter most of those attending this final Campaign Gathering were either seniors or middle aged. There were no people of color. The youngest voter was student nurse marie buzetti, who favors le pens plan to follow britain out of the European Union. translated today we need to regain our independence. Today we are the puppets of the European Union and it needs to change. Reporter the National Front has been accused of preying on fears and whipping up hatred. Parliamentary candidate Ludovic Vigreux didnt hold back, warning that sharia law might one day rule france forcing his daughters to buy burkhas. We need marine, he said. France needs marine. And marine needs you. [ chanting ] as you can hear, theyre chanting marine for president. And here in the countryside she may do very well. But nationally its not looking good for her at all. All the opinion polls suggest that Emmanuel Macron is going to win by a majority of 60 to 40 . The yonne valley is one of the poorest districts of rural france. The lack of job prospects have forced many residents to move away. Le pens frexit plans worry Marketing Executive david de silva and so hell vote for the pro european candidate Emmanuel Macron. translated we have access to everything, a great market place, and it would be a shame to lose that. Today we obviously cant live without europe. Reporter one of the most important factors in this election is the large number of undecided voters. If millions abstain, it could benefit Marine Le Pen. Restaurant worker Joanna Thurloy voted for left winger Jean Luc Melenchon in the first round and now faces a major dilemma. translated i dont feel understood by either side. Because with Emmanuel Macron, its all about capitalism, and speculation. And Marine Le Pen, its her Family History of being on the extreme right. Weve already been through this. Reporter theres an undertone of defiance and maybe even desperation amongst the front supporters as they chant we will win. In order for le pen to enter the president ial palace, there will have to be a political surprise of brexit or donald trump proportions. And thats the mantra to which parliamentary candidate julien odoul is clinging. translated because shes the only one who speaks to the french, the only one who speaks to the forgotten ones, all those french whove been abandoned for decades. Reporter Frances National anthem, written in the 18th century is all about conflict if Marine Le Pen upsets the odds and wins on sunday, france and the European Union will face a major upheaval. But the pollsters believe french voters want stability and will follow the dutch in rejecting right wing nationalism. For the pbs newshour, im Malcolm Brabant in the yonne valley. Sreenivasan late today he said theyve been hacked and the internal documents have been posted online just hours before voters head to the polls. It issued a statement saying it wont tolerate the unde undermig dact sees vita vital interests. Stay with us. Coming up on the newshour empowering diabetes patients to control their own health, mark shields and Michael Gerson weigh in on the g. O. P. Health care plan, and a College President s p