Written by Sabrina Collier and Mathilde Frot
Keeping up with all the news these days is impossible, there's just too much going on. Fortunately, we're here to sift through the headlines and let you know which key stories you need to remember.
This week in Trump
Spare a thought for Donald Trump who’s had a pretty rough week... Here are some of the worst things that have happened to him this week.
Muslim ban 2.0 Hours before it was set to take effect, a kick-ass Federal Judge issued a temporary restraining order to block Trump’s ‘revised’ Muslim Ban 2.0 across the US to show who was boss.
Tax returns A 2005 tax return of Donald Trump's was leaked to the press and revealed by MSNBC. Trump paid US$38m in tax on an income of over US$150m. The two-page document, which fails to list Trump’s sources of income, provides no evidence of tax evasion being committed, save for a legal loophole which Trump has pledged to close. Reporter Rachel Maddow has said she believes the US president may have leaked his own tax return, to deflect from other bad news.
Panic in the GOP Trump’s American Health Care Bill as well as his proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, National Endowment to the Arts and Meals On Wheels both attracted cross-party vitriol this week, with top Republicans railing against him. Yet:
Great progress on healthcare. Improvements being made - Republicans coming together!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 16 March 2017
In the European Union…
Fees for Norway It’s currently free for everyone, but Norway's Conservative Party is planning to propose moderate (hmm) tuition fees for non-EU students. This seems to be following a trend – Finland will introduce non-EU fees in autumn this year, as will the German south-west state of Baden-Württemberg. On the bright side, if the fees are approved, it probably won’t be for some time - so get in while you can.
Populism not so popular Over in the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Rutte is celebrating a third term as PM as his center-right party VVD defeated the anti-immigration Freedom Party, led by Geert Wilders. With both France and Germany also heading to the polls this year, European leaders are also breathing a sigh of relief, with Francois Hollande of France saying the vote is a "clear victory against extremism".
The far right populist tears are extra salty tonight #Brexit #netherlandselection #Dutchvote pic.twitter.com/YjEB7QQ6ej
— Bertie (@KaiYami1) 16 March 2017
Headscarf ban The European Court of Justice has ruled employers can ban "any visible political, philosophical or religious sign" which means they can ban Muslim staff from wearing headscarves at work, as long as the ban is based on existing company policy that requires all employees to "dress neutrally". The rule can’t be based on a customer’s wishes and can’t be applied only to Muslims.
"A hallmark of European democracy is respect for liberty"
— ChristianChristensen (@ChrChristensen) March 14, 2017
"Like wearing a piece of cloth on your head?"
"Except that"#headscarves
Meanwhile in Britannia…
2017 Budget The cabinet’s cash dollar man Phillip Hammond scraped the National Insurance hike for the self-employed, after scathing backlash from Conservative backbenchers, including David Cameron who was caught on camera saying the words: “breaking a manifesto promise… How stupid can you get”? All in all, this is good banter from the former Prime Minister who happens to know a thing or two about fire manifesto pledges…
Brexit Despite a protracted chit-chat in Parliament, the Brexit Bill turned out to be a damp squib, with the House of Commons rejecting two amendments from the House of Lords to protect the rights of EU citizens and have a chance to veto the final Brexit deal.
Indyref2 Beyond the Wall, Wildling-in-Chief Nicola Sturgeon has been throwing shade at Theresa May on Twitter this week, by declaring that Downing Street‘s haughty dismissal of indyref2 had “sealed the fate of the union”, providing conclusive evidence that she is in fact the human incarnation of the fire emoji and the Queen of Sass.
In addition, I was elected as FM on a clear manifesto commitment re #scotref. The PM is not yet elected by anyone.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) March 14, 2017
Sexual harassment We can’t believe this is still an issue in 2017. A report in the Guardian this week found sexual harassment by university staff is at “epidemic levels in the UK”, with 169 allegations against staff made in 2011-12 and 2016-17.
Meanwhile, in the rest of the world...
Auckland on strike Trouble is brewing at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, with around 1,200 university staff rallying for higher and more equal pay for those at the bottom of the pay scale. Hopefully there aren't too many students left waiting for their essays to be marked...
Lectures cancelled as Auckland University staff strike for pay equity for professional staff @NewstalkZB pic.twitter.com/OWVJpGpWa6
— Rosie Gordon (@rosiejanegordon) March 16, 2017
Women officially more stressed than men Stressed about that essay deadline even though it’s weeks away? You’re not alone, ladies. According to The Physiological Society, women get more stressed about adverse events in life than men, from bereavement to losing your phone. Get the full story here.
Sorry doggies South Korea’s unpopular ousted president Park Geun-hye moved out of her presidential palace…and forgot her dogs. The dogs were a gift from her neighbors and recently gave birth to seven adorable puppies. The Korea Alliance for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is unsurprisingly not happy, but it’s unclear whether she’s actually broken the law. Read more at The Guardian.
It's not all bad news, though
The internet delighted in a viral BBC News clip of a Skype interview interrupted by two young children. Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long for the parodies to emerge...
(Lead image: Gage Skidmore (Flickr))
