This week, last year: 3rd – 9th July

Photo: iraqinquiry.org.uk

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

Sun 3rd July 2016
A suicide bombing in Baghdad kills at least 324 people. The attack, claimed by Isis militants, is the deadliest bombing in Iraq since Saddam Hussein was toppled by US forces in 2003.

Mon 4th July 2016
Juno successfully enters Jupiter’s orbit. The Nasa spacecraft will make 33 circuits of the gas giant, taking the most detailed images yet of its atmosphere and poles.

“I want 
my life back” — Nigel Farage steps down as Ukip leader, saying the UK’s vote to leave the EU meant his “ambition has been achieved”.

Tue 5th July 2016
The FBI recommends that no criminal 
charges be brought against Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified information while she 
was US secretary of state. However, bureau director James B Comey says the Democratic presidential candidate was “extremely careless” in her use of a private email server.

“A bloody difficult woman” — Veteran Conservative MP Ken Clarke is recorded by Sky News criticising Theresa May and other Tory leadership candidates. Clarke was apparently unaware his microphone was on.

Wed 6th July 2016
Oscar Pistorius is sentenced to six years in prison for the murder 
of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. The South African athlete was originally given a five-year term for manslaughter 
but was found guilty of murder by an appeals court in December 2015.

The Iraq Inquiry, also known as the Chilcot Report, is published. The investigation was commissioned in 
2009 and examines the UK’s role in the Iraq War. The 2.6 million-word report on the 2003 invasion, which resulted in the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime, stated that not enough had been done to avoid the conflict. The report criticises then-prime minister Tony Blair for overstating the case for going to war; finds that UK troops were ill-prepared for deployment; and describes plans for the conflict’s aftermath as “wholly inadequate”.

Read ‘Last bus to Baghdad’ – the story of the British peace-campaigners who travelled to Iraq to act as human shields against Allied bombs

The augmented-reality game Pokémon Go is released for mobile phones. The app will go on to reach 100 million downloads by 1st August.

Thu 7th July 2016
Five police officers are shot dead and seven are wounded during protests against police violence in Dallas, Texas. Suspected gunman Micah Johnson, who is killed by a bomb attached to a police 
robot, is believed to have acted alone.

Fri 8th July 2016
UK police report a 
42 percent rise in hate crimes and incidents during the tail end of the EU referendum campaign. More than 3,000 such incidents were reported 
to police from 16th to 30th June.

Sat 9th July 2016
“A very real stake in the future” — Conservative leadership candidate Andrea Leadsom implies that having children makes her care about the future of the UK more than her childless opponent Theresa May.

Serena Williams beats Angelique Kerber to win Wimbledon. The win gives her a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title.

Posted on Monday, July 3rd, 2017 - Categories: Extras, The week that was.