Leaders and senior memebrs of the UKs politcal parties went head to head on 31 May, as they clashed over policies for the 2017 General election. Jun 1, 2017
Zimbabwean pastor and activist, Evan Mawarire created the #ThisFlag movement in April 2016 with a simple video that spread across social media and created a movement that inspired thousands of Zimbabweans. At the 2017 Oslo Freedom Forum, he told his story and shared his views with Newsweek on the future of his home nation, Zimbabwe. Jun 1, 2017
Critics argued that the new questions would be overly burdensome, lead to long delays in processing and discourage international students and scientists from coming to the United States.Jun 1, 2017
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the standard gauge railways (SGR) first cargo train following its transferal from China. The train transported goods loaded from Mombasa port.The construction of the SGR was initiated in Dec 2014 by CRBC. It has a length of 480km and is the first overseas SGR entirely meeting Chinese standards. The final completion of the SGR is believed to be a win-win achievement for China-Africa cooperation under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative.Jun 1, 2017
Axios news outlet, which first reported that Donald Trump would withdraw the US out of the Paris climate agreement, said details of the pullout are being worked out by a team including EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. The choice is between a formal withdrawal that could take three years or leaving the U.N. treaty that the accord is based on, which would be quicker but more extreme.Jun 1, 2017
Its well-documented at this point that President Donald Trump plays an odd game of dominance when he shakes hands—he contorts, jostles and pulls the person hes greeting to make sure hes in charge of the shake. But newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron seems to have studied the American president and was prepared for Trumps odd handshake tactics Thursday when the two met in Brussels.May 30, 2017
White House communications director Mike Dubke will leave his position but no date has been set for his departure, it was reported Tuesday. The veteran Republican strategist reportedly handed in his resignation over a week ago on 18 May, just before President Donald Trumps first official trip abroad. However, he offered to stay on through it, which Trump accepted, Axios reported.May 31, 2017
Pentagon on Tuesday (30 May) said it successfully staged its first-ever missile defence test, intercepting and destroying an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The $244m test comes amid the increasing threats from North Korea. A ground-based interceptor, launched from a California airbase, shot down a mock ICBM warhead over the Pacific Ocean, said the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The mock threat was launched from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in the Marshall Islands. The Ground-based Midcourse Defense program (GMD) has so far cost about $40bn in the past 15 years and often been criticised for its expensive nature. Interestingly, of the nine intercept attempts, only four have been successful in the past since the GMD was declared combat-ready in 2004.May 31, 2017
A scuffle broke out on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives on May 29. The confrontation was sparked by protests against legislation that could impose restrictions on undocumented immigrants in the state.May 31, 2017
Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday (May 29) she was ready to walk away from Brexit negotiations without a deal with the European Union if the agreement wasnt good enough. By contrast, the leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn said he would ensure there was a Brexit deal with the European Union were he to win power.May 30, 2017
U.S. Senator John McCain said on 29 May that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a bigger threat to global security than ISIS. McCain warned that the Senate would push for sanctions against Moscow for its alleged interference in the U.S. election.May 30, 2017
New French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Palace of Versailles outside Paris on Monday (May 29), turning a new page in bilateral relations between the two countries.May 29, 2017
Former US President Barack Obama said on Thursday (May 25) he was concerned about how technology advances had made it easier for people to retreat into our own bubbles. In his first speech in Europe since leaving the White House, he also warned against taking peace and prosperity for granted.May 26, 2017
In a speech during the campaign trail for the upcoming German elections, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that she believes Europe should look after itself and not rely on others, for example the US or UK. I can only say that we Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands, Merkel said one day after the end of the G7 summit in Sicily.May 29, 2017
