May 5: Six days after a six-story residential building collapsed in Nairobi, Kenya, four people were found alive in the rubble. The buckled building killed at least 36 people and dozens are still missing. The building was marked for demolition due to its fragile state, yet people continued to pay rent and live in the complex. According to NPR reporter Gregory Warner the owners of the building are being released on bail, yet will be charged with manslaughter.
May 7: The London Labour Party’s candidate Sadiq Khan beat out Conservative Party candidate Zac Goldsmith to become the first Muslim mayor of London. In a landslide win with 57 percent of the votes, Khan was elected after first and second preferences were counted. Khan’s victory will end eight years of conservative control of City Hall.
May 8: Three Spanish journalists have been freed after 10 months of captivity in Syria. Last July, Antonio Pampliega, José Manuel López and Ángel Sastre crossed into Syria from its northern border with Turkey to report on the fighting in and around Aleppo, where they subsequently went missing.
May 8: In a head-on collision on Sunday, a fuel tanker collided with two buses in Afghanistan setting three vehicles on fire and killing at least 50 people–although there is much speculation as to the actual death count.
May 9: Nearly a week ago a massive wildfire broke out in Alberta, Canada that has extended to more than 600 square miles. According to the Alberta government, 25,000 residents have successfully been removed from Fort McMurray. Currently 500 firefighters, 15 helicopters, and 14 air tankers are battling the blaze.
May 9: After being led by a dictatorship, the Philippines front runner for president is seven-term mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Although Duterte has made outlandish comments about loving Viagra and has made jokes about rape, he’s brought down the crime rate in Davao City using fear to scare off drug pushers. Supporters of Duterte see him as an alternative to politics as-usual.