9 things that happened around the world this week you should know about
Each week, we bring you a roundup of some of the biggest stories making headlines around the world.
Here are nine things that happened outside of Vancouver last week that you should know about (in no particular order):
1. Donald Trump becomes presumptive Republican nominee
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Donald Trump is the Republican party’s presumptive nominee for president, after his rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropped out of the race. Trump won 51 of 57 possible delegates in the Indiana primary, prompting Cruz and Kasich end their campaigns. “We’re going to win in November, and we’re going to win big, and it’s going to be America first,” Trump announced to his supporters in New York.
- Read more on CNN and The New York Times
2. Thousands of residents evacuate as Fort McMurray fire engulfs entire city
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Nearly 80,000 people living in Fort McMurray, Alberta, have been forced to evacuate as a wildfire continues to engulf the entire city. The fire began on the weekend but rapidly grew between Monday and Tuesday covering over 2,600 hectares. “To those people who have been displaced from their homes, I want you to know that we have your back. You will be supported,” Alberta’s Premier Rachel Notley said. Nearly 350 firefighters continue to battle the blaze around the clock.
- Read more on Calgary Buzz
3. Scientists discover new jellyfish in deepest area of the ocean
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Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have discovered a mesmerizing jellyfish during a deep dive in the Marianianas Trench. The jellyfish, nicknamed “Enigmatic Seamount,” has never been seen in the wild. It was found at depths of 3,700 meters.
“Scientists believe this animal belongs to the genus Crossota, a group of jellies that does not have a sessile polyp stage; all phases of their lives are ocean drifters. They also believe this animal is an ambush predator – note the posture it had assumed in the first half of the video: its bell motionless with its tentacles outstretched like the struts of a spider’s web, waiting for something to bumble into them,” reports Scientific American.
- Read more on Scientific Amercian and Science Alert
4. Pregnant woman rescued days after Kenyan building collapse
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Four people, including a pregnant woman, have been rescued after being trapped in a collapsed apartment building for six days in Nairobi, Kenya. The seven-story building fell on Sunday after heavy rains caused it to become unstable. Prior to the collapse, the Kenyan government declared the building unsafe for habitation but it was not torn down despite the warning. At least 37 people have died, 134 have been injured, and 70 remain missing as rescue workers continue to dig through the rubble.
5. 100 people missing after two shipwrecks in the Mediterranean
Scores of refugees missing after boat sinks off Libya https://t.co/kAIEof7F3u
— Guardian news (@guardiannews) May 1, 2016
At least 100 drowned after two ships carrying refugees sank last Friday and Saturday in the Mediterranean sea. The ships sank within hours of each other as they were departing from Libya. The first rubber boat was carrying about 110 passengers but sank two hours into its journey because of poor sea conditions. The second ship was carrying 120 people.
- Read more on ABC and The Guardian
6. Kenya burns over 100 tonnes of ivory
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Over 7,000 elephant tusks were burned in Kenya to serve as a warning to ivory poachers. During the burning at Nairobi National Park on Saturday, Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta warned poachers that they were going to be put out of business. The 7,000 tusks weighed over 100 tonnes and account for 5% of the world’s ivory stocks.
“This will send an absolutely clear message that the trade in ivory must come to an end and our elephants must be protected,” Kenyatta said.
- Read more on The New York Times and Scientific American
7. Woman stands up against neo-Nazi march
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A moving photo of a woman raising her fist against hundreds of members of a neo-Nazi group in the town of Borlange, Sweden, has gone viral. The event was held by the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) that was protesting against non-Caucasian people immigrating to Sweden. Maria-Teresa Asplund was photographed standing up to the neo-Nazis and the picture has been shared thousands of times on Twitter. The picture also caught the attention of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling who tweeted, “Look what this woman did. Tess Asplund, you are magnificent.”
- Read more on The Independent and CNN
8. Deadly air strike hits refugee camp in Syria
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At least 28 people are dead after an air strike hit a refugee camp located four kilometres away from the Turkish border. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the victims include women and children and over 50 people were wounded. Officials have not confirmed if Syrian or Russian warplanes are responsible for the attack.
- Read more on BBC and The Guardian
9. Turkish Prime Minister resigns amid alleged disagreements with President
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Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced that he will resign on May 22. It is believed that tensions between Davutoğlu and Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdoğan were at an all time high, prompting Davutoğlu to leave his position.
- Read more on Buzzfeed World and Vox