the Context

Supreme Court of Costa Rica

The Supreme Court of Costa Rica rules that a ban on same-sex marriage is illegal, and states that legislators must change the law accordingly within eighteen months.

It has given legislators 18 months to amend the law - but many are opposed to a change.

Terrorism in the United Kingdom

Lewis Ludlow pleads guilty to financing and planning a terrorist van attack in London, England.

Lewis Ludlow, 26, hoped to kill up to 100 people by driving a van into pedestrians on Oxford Street.

United Nations Development Group

The United Nations General Assembly confirms Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, to succeed Zeid Raad Al Hussein as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The decision to appoint her for a four-year term, starting September 1, was made by consensus after her nomination by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

2017–2018 Romanian protests

452 people are injured in clashes between protesters and police during an anti-government meeting in Bucharest, Romania.

2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident

An airport mechanic steals a Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in the United States, eventually crashing the plane on Ketron Island.

The man could be heard on audio recordings telling air traffic controllers that he is "just a broken guy"

Glyphosate § Legal cases

A jury in the U.S. state of California awards $289 million to a man who claims that his terminal cancer was caused by Monsanto's glyphosate-containing weed killer.

A US jury finds the company knew its Roundup weedkillers were dangerous, but Monsanto vows to appeal.

Fredericton shooting

At least four people, including two police officers, are killed in a mass shooting in Fredericton, Canada.

At least four people including two police officers die in a shooting in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Turkey–United States relations

U.S. President Donald Trump authorizes the doubling of Section 232 tariffs on imports of aluminium and steel from Turkey, to 20% and 50% respectively. The Turkish lira further falls to a new record low against the U.S. dollar and Turkish stocks tumble.

The Turkish lira added to its steep losses on Friday, hitting a fresh record low, after President Donald Trump authorized the doubling of metals tariffs on Turkey.

Foreign relations of Colombia

Colombia announces its withdrawal from the Union of South American Nations after having suspended its membership in the organization since April 2018.

War in Afghanistan

A large-scale military offensive is launched by the Taliban in a bid to overrun the southeastern city of Ghazni, a provincial capital on the Kabul–Kandahar Highway. They manage to take control of a part of the city.

The streets are full of bodies and Taliban checkpoints are at every intersection — but government officials insist they are in charge.