With a multitude of advancements in global politics and news, it can be difficult to just pause and swallow the information. In order that you stay on top of global news and avoid having to read gobs of text on a busy schedule, I present to you a list of eight important world updates in the past week. Let's dive in!

1. Trump to meet with Kim Jong-un

Recently, President Donald Trump has agreed to meet with North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un in May. Just before this summit proposal, Trump and Kim Jong-Un had engaged in an epic mouth-off, with Trump labeling the dictator as "Little Rocket Man" and Kim Jong-Un blasting Trump for being an "old lunatic". If these meeting does indeed occur, it will be marked down forever in the pages of history. The topic that will be discussed at the table is nuclear disarmament.

2. Can Trump block Twitter users?

President Trump has wracked up a hefty number of enemies on this social media platform after whipping up several Tweetstorms that have left the hopes of Americans in shambles. But does Trump have the ability to block these haters from his account? At a recent hearing in Manhattan federal court, US district judge Naomi Rice Buchwald directed a question to Trump's lawyer Michael Baer asking whether or not allowing Trump to block users from his account would violate the freedom of speech outlined in the first amendment. The trial continues to proceed, and it is only a matter of time before a verdict appears.

3. The crisis in Syria

What started as a peaceful protest against the poor state of affairs in Syria several years ago has now escalated into a bloody, devastating civil war . The government of Syria began killing its own people in droves after its citizens attempted to promote democracy in the Arab Spring . These unsanctioned acts of violence caused Syria's citizens to press for President Bashar Al-Assad's resignation. The peoples' plea was ignored, prompting the rise of rebel groups. The civil war continues to this day, and the intervention of foreign powers, such as the U.S. and Russia, has prolonged the conflict. ISIS has also taken control in various areas in north-eastern Syria.

4. Sergei Skripal attempted murder investigation

A retired Russian military intelligence colonel, Sergei Skripal was sentenced to 13 years of prison in 2006 after being accused of being a British spy. Currently, 66-year-old Skripal is in critical condition after being poisoned mysteriously in the U.K. His daughter is also under hospital care. The investigation continues.

5. Impact of International Women's Day

International Women's Day was celebrated recently on March 8th. The holiday applauds the accomplishments of women in all areas, professions, and backgrounds. This year's theme of International Women's Day was #PressforProgress, which calls for gender inclusivity and advancement. The effects of the campaign will continue throughout the year which hopes to encourage women to rise up and speak out. The #MeToo movement is an example of female empowerment related to International Women's Day.

6. France's Marine Le Pen under pressure to combat party division

Marine Le Pen, leader of Front National, hopes to glue together her right-wing party after her loss to Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential election. Despite opposition, Le Pen wants to rename her party in an effort to increase her chances of winning in the next election cycle. Soon we'll see what's in store for this right-wing part.

7. Brexit updates

The U.K. is set on the calendar to exit the European Union at 11:00pm on Friday, March 29th, 2019. It is unknown what the face of UK–EU relations will resemble in the future; however, negotiations will ensue when the transitional phase has been agreed upon. The transitional period is expected to last two years and commence after the U.K.'s official departure from the EU. During this phase, the U.K. will restructure its system and prepare for future relations with the EU.

8. Burger flipping robot on break

It looks like humans aren't the only ones in need of breaks. Flippy the burger-flipping robot is currently on leave from its cooking job at Cali Burger in Pasadena after being overwhelmed by a mass of hungry customers. Flippy is undergoing an upgrade as we speak.

Congrats! You've read through some pretty important headlines at this point. To continue expanding your knowledge of global news on a tight schedule, I suggest downloading the BBC News App, Business Insider, and Forbes. All three apps keep you up to date with the latest information. Happy reading!