In Summary
In France, pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron,
39, wins a resounding victory over far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
Saudi Arabia and its allies sever diplomatic
ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it supporting "terrorists" and of
being too close to Iran.
Zimbabwe's veteran President Robert Mugabe,
93, resigns on November 21st following 37 years of rule.
From the inauguration of U.S. President
Donald Trump to the exodus of Rohingyas from Myanmar, here are 12 events that
marked 2017.
A Year
Of Trump
On January 20th Republican billionaire Donald
Trump, 70, is inaugurated as U.S. president, vowing to "Make America Great
Again". Dubbed "the liar in chief", ever since then, his presidency
has been a disaster. Suspicions of collusion between his election campaign and
Russia dog the start of his term. Trump progressively unpicks the achievements
of his Democrat predecessor, Barack Obama. He pulls out of international
agreements on climate, free trade, immigration and UNESCO. On December 6th, in
another break with the previous administration, Trump creates shockwaves when
he recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a move largely rejected in a U.N.
vote. On December 20th he sealed his first major reform, signing long-awaited and
unpopular tax cuts which favors the wealthy into law.
Brexit
Under Way
On March 29th, London launches the process to
quit the European Union, as voted in a referendum nine months earlier. In a
snap general election on June 8th Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives
suffer a major setback and lose their majority. Brussels and London agree on
divorce terms on December 8th.
France: Emmanuel Macron
Pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron, 39, wins a
resounding victory over far-right rival Marine Le Pen in France's presidential
election on May 7th. His new En Marche (One the Move) movement drives the two
biggest parties - the Socialists and Republicans from the Elysee Palace for the
first time.
Middle
East: Boiling Point
Saudi Arabia and its allies sever diplomatic
ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it supporting "terrorists" and of
being too close to Iran. Then on November 4th, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad
Hariri announces from the Saudi capital that he is resigning, citing Iran's
"grip" on his country. He later backtracks. Saudi Arabia also accuses
rebels in Yemen of receiving support from Iran, which denies the accusation. The
U.N. describes Yemen's humanitarian situation as the worst in the world in
2017.
Venezuela:
Economic Disaster
On July 30th, Venezuela's Constituent Assembly,
whose legitimacy is disputed by the opposition and abroad, is elected after
four months of deadly protests against socialist President Nicolas Maduro. With
wide-ranging powers, it dismisses in early August Attorney General Luisa
Ortega, one of Maduro's top critics. It then takes over the
opposition-dominated Congress. Crippled by plummeting oil prices, the country
is considered to be in "selective default" by ratings agencies.
North
Korea: Escalation
The reclusive regime conducts its sixth and
largest nuclear test on September 3rd. On November 29th, leader Kim Jong-Un says a "state nuclear
force" has been completed with the test of a long-range missile able to
deliver a nuclear warhead anywhere in the United States. Donald Trump threatens
to "utterly destroy" the regime "if war comes". On December
22nd the U.N. Security Council imposes new sanctions against North Korea that
restrict vital oil supplies.
Myanmar's
Rohingyas: 'Genocide'
On August 25th, the military in Buddhist-majority
Myanmar launches a crackdown on Rohingyas after militants from the stateless
Muslim minority ambush security forces. Nearly 655,000 Rohingyas find refuge in
Bangladesh. The United States denounces "ethnic cleansing" while the
U.N. speaks of "elements of genocide".
Catalonia:
Autonomy Suspended
Spain's wealthy north-eastern Catalonia
region holds a referendum for independence on October 1st that is deemed
illegal by the central government. Madrid moves to assert control but Catalan
lawmakers vote on October 27 to declare independence. Madrid dismisses
Catalonia's government and suspends its autonomy, also calling regional
elections. Deposed regional president Carles Puigdemont, charged with sedition
and rebellion, takes refuge in Belgium. On December 21st, three
pro-independence parties defeat the central government in the elections.
However, the centrist, anti-independence Ciudadanos party gets the best
individual result.
The
Weinstein Scandal
On October 5th, the New York Times publishes
a bombshell investigative report accusing Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, 65,
of sexual harassment over decades. Similar allegations have since been leveled
at a long list of personalities in film, television, journalism and politics
around the world.
Zimbabwe:
Mugabe Falls
Zimbabwe's veteran President Robert Mugabe,
93, resigns on November 21st following
37 years of rule and after being abandoned by the military and his own party.
The
Islamic State Is Defeated But Not Wiped
Out
Iraq on December 9th declares victory in its
war to expel the Islamic State group but experts warn that jihadists remain a
threat. They have also lost most of their territory in Syria. Numerous deadly
attacks around the world over the year, including in Afghanistan, Britain,
Egypt and Somalia, are claimed by or blamed on the group or others linked to
Al-Qaeda.
Climate:
Record Disasters
It was the year in which President Trump
decides (on June 1th) to leave the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord is marked
by a series of natural disasters, including record-breaking hurricanes,
earthquakes and devastating fires that affect several countries. It is set to
be one of the three warmest years ever recorded.