Portal:Current events/2011 July 21

Current events of July 21, 2011 (2011-07-21) (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks 2011 Syrian uprising: Gunfire and arrests take place in Syria's third largest city of Homs against anti-government protests. (Al Jazeera) 2011 Libyan civil war: Rebels report "fierce" counter-attacks on the eastern front. (Reuters) 2011 Malawian protests: At least eighteen people are killed during mass protests in Malawi. (AP) The army has reportedly been deployed in the capital, Lilongwe. (BBC) Senegal bans demonstrations in the capital Dakar ahead of planned opposition protests against the regime of President Abdoulaye Wade. (BBC) Arts and culture Author Lee Child – creator of the Jack Reacher series – wins the novel of the year award at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival for his book 61 Hours. (BBC) Business and economy Euro zone leaders secure a €109 billion bailout for Greece with the country going into default for a short period, but with increased powers for the main European rescue fund to assist countries that have not been bailed out, such as Spain and Italy. (New York Times) Disasters The Government of Japan publishes a reconstruction plan for areas devastated by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. (NHK World) Two dozen people have died this week in a heat wave in the United States. (New York Times) Law and crime Australian radio host Derryn Hinch is sentenced to five months home detention for broadcasting the names of two sex offenders. (News.com.au) Three Russian police officers are convicted for abuse of office in Khabarovsk in the Far Eastern Federal District. (RIA Novosti) Another riot occurs at Australia's Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre overnight with tear gas again used to quell inmates. (Herald Sun) A Japanese court sentences Tatsuya Ichihashi to life imprisonment for the murder of British teacher Lindsay Hawker. (Sky News) News International phone hacking scandal MSNBC reports that the United States Department of Justice is investigating claims that News Corporation's advertising arm repeatedly hacked into the computers of competitors. (MSNBC) Two former News International executives have called into question certain aspects of the evidence given by James Murdoch to a House of Commons select Committee earlier this week. (BBC) Politics The Central Bank of Iran launches a website, intending to poll the Iranian public about planned economic reforms and a change of national currency. (Tabnak) Science Space Shuttle Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center, concluding its final mission and marking the end of the 30-year Space Shuttle program. (USA TODAY), (CNN) Sport Team owners in the National Football League have voted to approve a 10-year deal with the National Football League Players Association and to end a lockout if players approve. (AP via Atlamta Journal Constitution), (Washington Post) The 2000th match in the history of Test Cricket starts at Lord's Cricket Ground in London between England and India. (Daily Mail), (ESPN Star)