Portal:Current events/2017 July 21
July 21, 2017 (Friday)
Armed attacks and conflicts
- Syrian Civil War
- Violent clashes break out between the Syrian rebels and Syrian Democratic Forces on the outskirts of al-Muhsenli Village, in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo, but no casualties are reported. (Iraqi News)
- Syrian Army forces shell, using heavy artillery, the residential neighborhoods in Zaitan Village, in the countryside of Aleppo, destroying civilian property. (Iraqi News)
- Israeli–Palestinian conflict, 2017 Temple Mount crisis
- Several thousand Palestinians protest Israel's installation of metal detectors and a ban on Muslim men under the age of 50 in response to the killing of two Israeli policemen last Friday at a contested Jerusalem holy place, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount.
- Protest marches are also held in Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Turkey
- Three Palestinians are killed, 390 people injured with dozens hospitalized in clashes in Jerusalem and the West Bank, according to the Red Crescent. Israeli police report five officers are wounded.
- 2017 Halamish stabbing attack: Three Israelis are stabbed to death by a Palestinian in their home while eating dinner, according to Israeli officials.
- United Nations deputy spokesman Farhan Haq calls for a de-escalation of violence and tensions at this site.
- Egypt calls for an immediate halt to the violence underway around this site, urging Israel to show respect for Muslim sacred sites while accusing it of fomenting these tensions.
- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım says his country is in dialogue with Israel to end the crisis.
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says the Palestinian leadership will “freeze contacts” with Israel “on all levels.” (AP via The Washington Post) (NBC News) (BBC) (CNN) (The New York Times) (Reuters)
- CPP–NPA–NDF rebellion
- President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte indefinitely freezes the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines after numerous attacks by the communist rebels on government forces. The President also vowed to re-orient anew the offensive against the Party's armed wing the New People's Army. (Al Jazeera)
Arts and culture
- Salvador Dalí
- The remains of surrealist painter Salvador Dalí are exhumed following a Madrid court order on settling the paternity claim of a woman who is allegedly the painter's natural daughter. Various experts contest the claim, noting Dalí's sexual eccentrism (including a public boast about his "impotency") and that the action being against the state (Dalí bequeathed his estate to Spain). If proven, this woman could assume part of Dalí's estate. (BBC News)
Disasters and accidents
- 2017 Aegean Sea earthquake
- A 6.7 magnitude earthquake in the Aegean Sea near Greece and Turkey kills two people and injures more than 520 others. (Reuters via ABC)
International relations
- North Korea–United States relations
- The U.S. State Department announces that it will ban travel to North Korea, following the death of Otto Warmbier. (Los Angeles Times)
Law and crime
- Murder of Justine Damond
- Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau, upon reflection and at Mayor Betsy Hodges's request, resigns in the wake of last Saturday’s tragedy as well as some other recent incidents. (ABC News) (The New York Times)
Politics and election
- Political appointments by Donald Trump
- White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announces his intention to resign as White House Press Secretary due to Donald Trump's appointment of Anthony Scaramucci as the White House Communications Director, and will formally step down from the role in August 2017. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will take over as the White House Press Secretary in August 2017. (The New York Times) (CNN)