Portal:Current events/2017 February 16

February 16, 2017 (Thursday)

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 (2014–2017)
- 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)
Legal challenges to U.S. immigration suspension order
- The U.S. Justice Department tells the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that it won't be seeking further action by the court since this executive order will soon be replaced by a different one. Justice added they expect the Ninth Circuit ruling will be vacated once the new executive order is issued. (NBC News)

Politics and elections

Presidency of Donald Trump
- Protests against Donald Trump
  - 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)
- 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)
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)