INSIGHTS
- Four miners in South Africa died after the gold mine where they were working at had caved-in.
- Singapore has been chosen as the host of the summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
- Germany, France, and Britain have declared their intentions to take steps to safeguard their commercial and political interests in Iran.
OVERVIEW
Ten global news for the month of May that are gaining traction or are having the greatest impact have been provided below. News related to politics in the United States and several Asian countries have dominated global headlines in May. News on disasters, entertainment, economy, mergers and acquisitions, assisted dying, and terrorism have also been provided. News from South Africa, Argentina, Australia, United States, along with Asia and Europe have been covered in this research.
GOLDMINE DISASTER AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH AFRICA
On May 4, 2018, it was reported that four miners in South Africa have died after an earthquake caused the gold mine where they were working at caved-in. The miners were working at the Sibanye-Stillwater's Masakhane mine located in West Johannesburg. The mining industry in South Africa has a poor safety record. In February 2018, 955 miners were trapped in another Sibanye-Stillwater owned mine for over 24 hours after power was knocked out.
“AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR” REACHED $1 BILLION AT THE BOX OFFICE 11 DAYS AFTER ITS RELEASE
On May 6, 2018, it was reported that 11 days after it was released, “Avengers: Infinity War” had generated $1 billion at the global box office. This meant that the film had reached the $1 billion mark faster than any other films in history. It had beaten the previous record by one day, which was set by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” “Avengers: Infinity War” also posted the best-ever opening in the United States in the previous weekend.
ARGENTINA HAD REQUESTED FINANCING FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
On May 9, 2018, it was reported that Argentina is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to receive a $30 billion flexible credit line. The financing would be used to help end a “five-month-rout in the peso that is sparking a surge in interest rates and threatening to derail the country’s economic recovery.” The central bank had raised the benchmark interest rate to 40 percent, and the peso had dropped by more than 18 percent this year. The IMF had previously censured Argentina in 2013 for failing to reveal its economic data, but the censure was removed in 2016 when the government “improved its transparency.”
NORTH KOREA RELEASED THREE AMERICAN DETAINEES
On May 10, 2018, it was reported that three American detainees had been released by North Korea. Kim Dong Chul was arrested in North Korea in 2015. Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk were arrested last year for “carrying out hostile acts” against the North Korean regime. According to a White House statement, their release has been viewed as “a gesture of goodwill,” and they appeared to be in “good condition.”
SUMMIT BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND KIM JONG UN TO BE HELD IN SINGAPORE
On May 10, 2018, it was reported that Singapore would be hosting the summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12, 2018. It would be the first meeting between a sitting United States president and a North Korean leader. Singapore was chosen because of its ability to “ensure the security of both leaders and provide neutrality.” According to security experts, one of the possible locations for the meeting includes the Shangri-La Hotel, which had previously hosted the Shangri-La security dialogue.
WALMART ACQUIRED 77% STAKE INDIA-BASED ONLINE RETAILER FLIPKART FOR $16 BILLION
On May 10, 2018, it was reported that Walmart had acquired a 77% stake in Flipkart, the largest online retailer in India, for $16 billion. This deal is both the largest acquisition in India and the biggest acquisition of an e-commerce company in the world. The acquisition had placed it ahead of the deals that involved Bharti and Indus Towers ($14.6 billion), and Essar Oil and Rosneft ($12.9 billion). The Flipkart brand would remain separate from that of Walmart.
AUSTRALIA'S OLDEST SCIENTIST DAVID GOODALL ENDED HIS OWN LIFE IN SWITZERLAND
On May 10, 2018, it was reported that Australian scientist David Goodall had ended his own life at the age of 104 years old at a clinic in Switzerland. As assisted dying is prohibited in Australia, he had traveled to Switzerland as the country’s liberal assisted dying laws let him legally end his life. The state of Victoria in Australia is planning to legalize assisted dying for only the terminally ill from 2019 onwards. Goodall made global headlines in 2016 when Edith Cowan University had previously declared that he was unfit to be on the campus.
TUN DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD SWORN IN AS MALAYSIA'S SEVENTH PRIME MINISTER
On May 11, 2018, it was reported that Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had been sworn in as Malaysia's seventh Prime Minister. At 92 years old, Dr. Mahathir became the world's oldest head of government. At the May 9 general election, his Pakatan Harapan coalition had secured 121 seats out of the 222-seat federal Parliament. Pakatan Harapan’s victory ended the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional’s over six decades in power.
EUROPE’S HEAVYWEIGHT ECONOMIES TAKING STEPS TO SAFEGUARD THEIR COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL INTERESTS IN IRAN
On May 11, 2018, it was reported that after the United States’ declaration to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, some of Europe biggest economies such as Germany, France, and Britain would be taking steps to safeguard their commercial and political interests in Iran. There is a fear that the collapse of the nuclear deal would lead to more conflicts in the Middle East. Germany, France, and Britain have significant trade links with Iran. These countries have planned to hold talks to discuss “Iran's ballistic missile program and its regional military activities, including in Syria and Yemen.”
FOUR MEN WHO ATTACKED THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN RIAU, INDONESIA HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THE POLICE
On May 17, 2018, it was reported that the Indonesian police had shot dead four men who had attacked officers at the Riau provincial police headquarters with samurai swords. This incident followed a series of deadly suicide bombings on churches and a police station in other parts of the country this week. The attackers had slammed a minivan into the station’s gate before getting out to carry out the attack. They are believed to come from the Jemaah Ansharut Daulah militant group, an organization that contains ISIS sympathizers.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, ten global news related to politics, disasters, entertainment, economy, mergers and acquisitions, assisted dying, and terrorism have also been provided above. News from Africa (South Africa) South America (Argentina), Oceania (Australia), North America (United States), Asia (North Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia), and Europe (Germany, France, and Britain) have been covered in this research.