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Worldwide current events
Sports events

Topics in the news

Damien Chazelle

A suicide bombing at a shrine in Sehwan, Pakistan, kills at least 83 people and injures more than 250 others.
The Indian Space Research Organisation's PSLV-C37 mission launches a record 104 satellites at once.
Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, is killed in Malaysia.
La La Land wins in five categories, including Best Film and Best Director (Damien Chazelle, pictured), at the British Academy Film Awards.
A suicide bombing at a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan, kills at least 15 people and injures more than 80 others.

February 18, 2017 (Saturday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

- The Islamic State group is hemorrhaging money with every piece of territory it loses, according to a new analysis that found that the group's "business model" is on the path to failure. (Manila Bulletin)

February 17, 2017 (Friday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Boko Haram insurgency
- Up to seven suicide bombers blow themselves up after failing in an attempt to attack a camp for displaced people near Maiduguri, Nigeria. (Al Jazeera)
War in North-West Pakistan
- In response to yesterday's bombing at the Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar that killed 88 people, the Pakistan Army claims to have killed more than 100 "terrorists" and arrested many others. (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

Mark Zuckerberg publishes a globalist manifesto. (Forbes) (The Guardian)

Business and economics

British-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever rejects a US$143 billion takeover from Kraft Heinz, saying the deal had no financial or strategic merit. Nevertheless, Kraft is still interested in finding agreement; it has until March 17 to make a final bid under UK takeover rules. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Storm Dineo kills seven and destroys twenty-thousand homes in Mozambique. (Newsweek)
Severe storms in southern California prompt flash flood warnings over most of southern and central California, toppling trees and power lines, and delaying over 300 flights from Los Angeles International Airport. (ABC)

Health

Authorities in the state of Pennsylvania discover the Seoul virus, a member of the Hantavirus family, in a contained scientific breeding-facility for rats. (CBS)

International relations

European migrant crisis
- Nearly five hundred African migrants swarm the border of Spain from Morocco. (CNN)

Law and crime

Princess Cristina of Spain is acquitted of fraud but her husband is convicted. (The New York Times)

Politics and elections

Leila de Lima, senator and critic of the Philippine Drug War, is charged by Philippines justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II of alleged drug-related crimes. (BBC)
Political appointments of Donald Trump
- With a 52–46 vote, the U.S. Senate confirms Attorney General of Oklahoma Scott Pruitt as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Breaking with party lines, Republican Susan Collins opposed the nomination, while Democrats Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Manchin supported Pruitt, who has been described as a climate change denier with a history of criticizing the agency he now leads. (CNBC)

Science and technology

Zealandia comes closer to being recognized as a continent. (BBC), (The Guardian)

February 16, 2017 (Thursday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

2017 Sehwan suicide bombing
- At least 70 people are killed and more than 150 injured in suicide bombing at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Shrine in Sehwan, Sindh, Pakistan; 50 of the injured are in critical condition, medical emergency has been declared in the hospitals of Hyderabad, Dadu and Jamshoro. (Dawn News), (The News)
Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)
- A car bomb explodes in a Shi'ite neighbourhood in Baghdad, killing at least 48 people. ISIL claimed responsibility for the bombing. (BBC)
2016–17 Rohingya persecution in Myanmar
- According to Myanmar's military, it has ended its "clearance operation" against the country's Rohingya minority in Rakhine State, which the United Nations says may amount to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. (The Guardian)
Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
- An air raid on a funeral in a village north of Sana'a kills at least eight women and children. The Houthis blames the Saudi-led coalition for the attack. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

Venezuelan protests
- Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice upholds the 13-year, 9-month-plus prison term of Popular Will party founder Leopoldo López for inciting violence, via "subliminal messages," at the 2014 anti-government protests where 43 people were killed. Yesterday, United States President Donald Trump met with López's wife, Lilian Tintori, and called on Venezuela to release López immediately. (Latin American Herald Tribune) (Reuters) (Heavy.com)

Politics and elections

Philippine presidential election, 2016
- The Supreme Court of the Philippines allows the electoral protest of defeated candidate Bongbong Marcos against Philippine vice president Leni Robredo to continue. (Reuters via U.S. News and World Report)
United Nations officials announce the creation of a new team in Geneva to investigate possible war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide during the Syrian Civil War in order to prepare for future prosecutions of those responsible. (The Guardian)
Formation of Donald Trump's cabinet
- U.S. President Donald Trump names Florida International University College of Law Dean and former National Labor Relations Board member Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor. The President's initial nominee, Andy Puzder, withdrew his nomination yesterday. (Politico) (CNN) (NPR)
Political appointments of Donald Trump
- The U.S. Senate confirms, 51-49, Congressman Mick Mulvaney to head the Office of Management and Budget. (The Washington Post)
U.S. immigration suspension, Day Without Immigrants
- Hundreds of restaurants and other businesses in U.S. cities close their doors after activists called on immigrants to stay home from work, avoid shopping or eating out, and skip classes Thursday for #ADayWithoutImmigrants, to protest the President's immigration reforms and highlight the immigrant community's contributions to the United States. (Reuters) (The Atlantic) (The Philadelphia Inquirer) (Los Angeles Times)

February 15, 2017 (Wednesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

War in North-West Pakistan
- Two separate bombings take place in Pakistan, killing at least seven people. A suicide bomber kills five people at the administrative headquarters in the Mohmand Agency tribal district while the other kills two people at a hospital in Peshawar. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claims responsibility for the first attack. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)
- A suicide bomber detonates a pick-up truck full of explosives at a busy street in northern Baghdad, killing at least nine people. (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

Eurovision Song Contest 2017
- Twenty-one organizers for the Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine, resign en masse after claiming they were completely blocked from making decisions about the show. Despite the setback, the European Broadcasting Union insists that the event must go on. (BBC)
At the Indigenous Peoples Forum in Rome, Italy, Pope Francis says that developmental needs have to be reconciled with the protection of the particular characteristics of indigenous peoples and their territories. This is taken by some as a reference to the Standing Rock Sioux and other groups opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

At least eight homes are destroyed as a wildfire rages out of control in the Port Hills, in the southern outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand. A pilot died when his helicopter crashed while fighting the fire. (Stuff) (The New Zealand Herald)

Law and crime

Censorship in Venezuela
- Venezuela bans CNN en Español, CNN's 24-hour Spanish language television channel, after accusing it of spreading propaganda. (BBC)

Politics and elections

Formation of Donald Trump's cabinet
- Andrew Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, withdraws from consideration to be Secretary of Labor in President Donald Trump's cabinet. (NBC News)

Science and technology

The Indian Space Research Organisation launches a record 104 satellites in single mission. (BBC)

February 14, 2017 (Tuesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War, Idlib Governorate clashes (2017)
- Rival fighters between Tahrir al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa clash in Syria's northern Idlib Governorate, killing "dozens" according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. (BBC)
Kashmir conflict
- At least three Pakistan Army soldiers are killed by the Indian Army, while separate clashes kill three Indian Army soldiers and one suspected militant, at the Line of Control. (Al Jazeera)
Kasaï-Central clashes (2016–present)
- According to the United Nations, the Congolese military has killed at least 101 people, including over 30 women, in the last five days while fighting Kamwina Nsapu rebels in Kasaï-Central. (Al Jazeera)

Business and economics

Cigna announces that it has terminated its merger with Anthem, a deal that was blocked by a U.S. federal judge last week. In addition, Cigna sues Anthem for the $1.85 billion reverse termination fee, and for more than $13 billion in additional damages. Anthem says Cigna has no right to terminate the merger, a deal which in January was extended to April 30, 2017. (Bloomberg) (CNBC)
Aetna and Humana terminate their proposed merger that had been blocked last month by a U.S. federal judge. Aetna announces it will pay Humana the $1 billion fee for calling off the agreement. (Forbes) (NPR)

International relations

United States–Venezuela relations
- The United States sanctions Vice President of Venezuela Tareck El Aissami for allegedly "playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking". The sanctions freeze his assets in the U.S. and bar him from entering the country. (BBC)
Foreign relations of the Gambia
- British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, during a visit to the Gambia, announces that the West African nation is to rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations following talks with Gambian President Adama Barrow. The Gambia withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2013 under Yahya Jammeh, who considered it a "neo-colonial institution". (Sky News)

Law and crime

Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present) / 2016–17 Turkish purges
- Turkish police arrest over 800 people with alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). (Al Jazeera)
Two radio journalists are shot dead and a co-worker injured in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, while presenting the show "Milenio Caliente" on Facebook Live. Three people were arrested. (BBC) (CNN)

Politics and elections

Joseph Clancy, Director of the United States Secret Service, announces his retirement effective March 4. (USA Today)

Science and technology

The United Arab Emirates announces at the World Government Summit that its planned passenger drone will begin operations in July. (BBC)

February 13, 2017 (Monday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

War in North-West Pakistan
- 2017 Lahore suicide bombing
  - At least 13 people, including six police officers, are killed and 85 are injured after a bomb explodes at a protest rally in Lahore, Punjab. The Pakistani Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claims responsibility. (Dawn)
War in Afghanistan (2015–present)
- According to a United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan inquiry, 18 civilians in Helmand Province were killed in coalition air raids last Thursday and Friday, with locals and Afghan officials claiming that the death toll is higher. (Al Jazeera)

Disasters and accidents

2017 Oroville Dam crisis
- Thousands of people are urged to evacuate in and around the vicinity of Yuba City due to the impending failure of an emergency spillway at Oroville Dam in Northern California. 188,000 people were reported to be evacuated. (CNN) (The Washington Post)
At least four skiers are killed in an avalanche at the Tignes resort in France. (The Guardian)
At least 34 people are killed after a tour bus, carrying mostly local elderly tourists, overturns on a freeway in Taipei, Taiwan. (Focus Taiwan) (BBC)
The U.S. Coast Guard continues to search for the missing F/V Destination, a Seattle-based fishing vessel operating near St. George, Alaska, with a six-member crew. The Coast Guard has discovered a debris field, but no sign of the crew. (KTUU-TV)

Law and crime

A warrant of arrest is to be served on Philippines opposition leader and senator Leila de Lima. (CNN)

Politics and elections

The Islamabad High Court indefinitely bans the celebration of Valentine's Day in Pakistan. (CNN)
Michael T. Flynn resigns as National Security Advisor following controversy over his alleged contacts with Russian officials. Retired United States Army general Keith Kellogg subsequently becomes acting National Security Advisor until a permanent replacement is appointed. (Reuters)
Kim Jong-nam, eldest son of Kim Jong-il, is assassinated in Malaysia after two unidentified women reportedly poisoned him at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. (FOX News)
Cabinet of Donald Trump
- The United States Senate, in a 53–47 vote, confirms Steven Mnuchin to be Treasury Secretary. (NBC News)

February 12, 2017 (Sunday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Yemeni Civil War (2015–present), Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
- A helicopter from the Saudi-led coalition bombs a vehicle outside Aden International Airport, wounding at least three Yemeni soldiers. (Reuters)
Kashmir conflict
- Four suspected militants, two Indian Army soldiers, and one civilian are killed in clashes in a village in southern Jammu and Kashmir. (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

59th Annual Grammy Awards
- Adele wins the Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Hello" and Album of the Year for 25. Chance the Rapper wins the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. David Bowie wins four posthumous awards, two for his final studio album Blackstar and two for its title track. (CNN)
70th British Academy Film Awards
- La La Land wins five awards. I, Daniel Blake wins Best British Film. Emma Stone, Casey Affleck, Viola Davis and Dev Patel win in their respective acting categories. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service issues an emergency warning for a bush fire located to the east of Dunedoo in New South Wales, Australia. The warning comes amidst "unprecedented" fire conditions across the region, deemed to be worse than the conditions precipitating the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria. (The Daily Telegraph) (NSW Rural Fire Service)
The California Department of Water Resources orders residents near Oroville Dam to evacuate, including low-lying levels of Oroville, after an emergency spillway severely eroded. (Fox News)

International relations

North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
- North Korea test fires a ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan. (BBC)

Politics and elections

Swiss referendums, 2017
- Voters in Switzerland approve a referendum that makes it easier for third-generation immigrants to become citizens. (BBC) (Reuters)
Turkmenistani presidential election, 2017
- Voters in Turkmenistan go to the polls for an election, with current president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow expected to win another term. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
German presidential election, 2017
- Former Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is elected President of Germany. (The Guardian)

More February 2017 events...

Ongoing events
Disasters European cold wave UK and Ireland windstorm season Law Philippine Drug War Political European migrant crisis (timeline) Romanian protests South China Sea disputes U.S. travel ban More details on ongoing conflicts below Sport 2016–17 Bundesliga 2016–17 La Liga 2016–17 NBA season 2016–17 NHL season 2016–17 PBA season 2016–17 Premier League 2016–17 Serie A 2016–17 EuroLeague 2016–17 EuroLeague Women 2017 Pakistan Super League edit sidebar

Recent deaths
February 2017 17: Warren Frost 17: Michael Novak 17: George Steele 16: Dick Bruna 16: Jannis Kounellis 15: Stuart McLean 13: Ricardo Arias Calderón 13: Kim Jong-nam 12: Al Jarreau 12: Sione Lauaki 11: Chavo Guerrero Sr. 10: Mike Ilitch 10: Hal Moore 9: Packy 8: Tara Palmer-Tomkinson 8: Tom Raworth 8: Hans Rosling 7: Svend Asmussen 7: Richard Hatch 7: Alec McCowen 6: Irwin Corey 6: Inge Keller 6: Joost van der Westhuizen 4: Basil Hetzel 4: Bano Qudsia 3: Gordon Aikman 2: Jeff Sauer 1: Desmond Carrington 1: Étienne Tshisekedi January 2017 31: Rob Stewart 31: John Wetton 31: Tokitenkū Yoshiaki 28: Christopher Bland 28: Many Clouds 27: Emmanuelle Riva 26: Mike Connors 26: Barbara Hale 26: Tam Dalyell 25: John Hurt 25: Mary Tyler Moore 24: Butch Trucks 23: Gorden Kaye 23: Douglas Reeman 22: Jaki Liebezeit 22: Naqsh Lyallpuri 22: Andy Marte 22: Yordano Ventura 20: Harry J. Middleton 20: Emma Tennant 19: Miguel Ferrer edit sidebar

Ongoing conflicts
Africa Algeria and Tunisia Maghreb insurgency ISIL insurgency in Tunisia Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria Boko Haram insurgency Central African Republic Civil war Democratic Republic of the Congo Kivu conflict ADF insurgency Ituri conflict Lord's Resistance Army insurgency Libya Civil war Mali Northern Mali conflict Somalia Civil war South Sudan Ethnic violence (South Sudanese Civil War) Sudan War in Darfur South Kordofan conflict Sudanese nomadic conflicts Americas Mexico Mexican War on Drugs Peru Internal conflict in Peru Asia Afghanistan Afghanistan War China Xinjiang conflict India Naxalite–Maoist insurgency Insurgency in Northeast India India and Pakistan Kashmir conflict Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines Moro conflict Cross border attacks in Sabah Indonesia and Papua New Guinea Papua conflict Myanmar Internal conflict in Myanmar Pakistan War in North-West Pakistan Balochistan conflict Philippines CPP-NPA-NDF rebellion Thailand South Thailand insurgency Europe Armenia and Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Georgia Abkhaz–Georgian conflict Georgian–Ossetian conflict Russia Chechen–Russian conflict North Caucasus insurgency Ukraine War in Donbass Russian military intervention in Ukraine Middle East Egypt Sinai insurgency Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria Arab–Israeli conflict Iran Iran–PJAK conflict Iraq American-led intervention in Iraq Iranian intervention in Iraq Iraq and Syria (map) Military intervention against ISIL Israel and Lebanon Israeli–Lebanese conflict Israel and Palestine Gaza–Israel conflict Israeli–Palestinian conflict Syria American-led intervention in Syria Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War Turkish military intervention in Syria Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon Turkey Turkey–PKK conflict Turkey–ISIL conflict Yemen Yemeni Civil War Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Al-Qaeda insurgency edit sidebar

Elections and Referendums
Recent February 5: Liechtenstein, Landtag 8: Somalia, President 12: Germany, President 12: Switzerland, Referendum 12: Turkmenistan, President Upcoming February 19: Ecuador, President, National Assembly, Referendum March 2: Northern Ireland, Assembly 4: Niue, Assembly 7: Micronesia, Congress edit sidebar

Trials
Recently concluded Australia: Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara Cambodia: Sam Rainsy China: Wan Qingliang, Ling Jihua, Zhoi Bin, Guo Boxiong Iran: Babak Zanjani Netherlands: Geert Wilders Philippines: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Nur Misuari, Joel Villanueva Romania: Liviu Dragnea, Gheorghe Ștefan, Gabriel Sandu, Dorin Cocoş, Dumitru Nicolae Spain: Lionel Messi United Kingdom: Chris Denning, Adam Johnson, Ched Evans United States: Bob McDonnell, Paul Anthony Ciancia International ICTY: Radovan Karadžić Ongoing China: Bai Enpei, Pan Yiyang, Yang Weize Germany: Beate Zschäpe Indonesia: Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Mary Jane Veloso Pakistan: Waseem Azeem, Mufti Abdul Qawi Philippines: Andal Ampatuan Jr., Leila de Lima, Rodrigo Duterte, Jovito Palparan Romania: Dan Șova, Elena Udrea, Radu Mazăre, Gheorghe Nichita, Marian Vanghelie Russia: Alexei Navalny South Korea: Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil Spain: Gürtel case, Spanish Royal House, Bárcenas affair United States: Etan Patz United Kingdom: Rolf Harris, Barry Bennell International ICC: Laurent Gbagbo ICTY: Ratko Mladić Upcoming China: Wu Changshun Egypt: Mohamed Morsi Estonia: Edgar Savisaar Libya: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi United States: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley, Gary Schultz, Bill Cosby edit sidebar