This week, last year: 29th May – 4th June

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Our news highlights from 12 months past, for your weekly dose of Slow Journalism perspective…

Sun 29th May
Iran issues a statement saying that its pilgrims will not attend the annual hajj in Mecca. Iran has blamed Saudi Arabia for the deaths of 464 Iranians in a crush at the September 2015 hajj.

The UN refugee agency confirms that over 700 migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean in a single week, the deadliest seven-day period since April 2015.

Mon 30th May 2016
A memo leaked to the Guardian from the Remain campaign in the UK’s EU referendum reveals that only half of Labour voters realise that their party supports staying. The memo says that focus groups showed that many Labour voters are uncertain whether leader Jeremy Corbyn supports staying in the EU.

Tue 31st May 2016
Four internet giants join with the EU to launch an online code of conduct tackling hate speech. The non-legally binding agreement means that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft will endeavour to review anything flagged as hate speech within 24 hours.

Wed 1st June 2016
Forty dead tiger cubs are found in a freezer at a temple during a police raid in Thailand. The operators of the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple in Kanchanaburi province are accused of animal abuse and trafficking.

Thu 2nd June 2016
Stanford University student Brock Turner is sentenced to six months in county jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman in 2015. The judge’s discretionary sentence is significantly lighter than the recommended minimum punishment of two years in state prison.

Fri 3rd June 2016
A Japanese boy left in a forest as a punishment by his parents is found after surviving for six days. Takayuki Tanooka, father of seven-year-old Yamato, admits he went “too far”.

Boxer and activist Muhammad Ali dies at the age of 74. Barack Obama leads tributes, describing him as “The Greatest. Period.”

SEE OUR INFOGRAPHIC CELEBRATING ALI’S LIFE 

Paris experiences its worst flooding in more than 30 years. The Louvre and Orsay museums close to the public and move artworks to secure locations.

Sat 4th June 2016
Tennis player Garbiñe Muguruza wins the 2016 French Open, beating favourite Serena Williams two sets to love in the final.

Posted on Thursday, June 1st, 2017 - Categories: Extras, The week that was.