July 2017 Current Events: World News
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The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the 15 world news events you need to know for July 2017:
- India Undergoes Sweeping Tax Reform
- In Midst of Civil War, Syria Issues Assad Bank Notes
- North Korea Tests First ICBM on Fourth of July
- Two New World Heritage Sites Announced in Contested West Bank
- G20 Summit Held in Hamburg
- Venezuelan Opposition Leader Released from Prison
- Huge Crowds March to Oppose President Erdogan
- Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo Dies
- Polish Citizens Rally Against Judicial Reform
- Turkish Police Arrest Amnesty International Director
- South Korea Declares New Holiday Memorializing “Comfort Women”
- Ram Nath Kovind Elected President of India
- Palestinians Protest Israeli Restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque
- Chris Froome Wins Third Consecutive Tour de France
- Nawaz Sharif Disqualified as Prime Minister of Pakistan
India Undergoes Sweeping Tax Reform
On Jul. 1, the Indian parliament passes new legislation implementing the broadest tax reform since India became an independent nation in 1947. India passes the Goods and Services tax to replace their broader system of state and federal taxes across the country. The legislature hopes to unify and level out the market in India, and estimates that the economy will grow by 2%. (BBC)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal
In Midst of Civil War, Syria Issues Assad Bank Notes
On Jul. 2, as violent civil war continues to displace people across the country, the Central Bank of Syria is issuing a new run of currency featuring the likeness of sitting president Bashar al-Assad. The new 2,000 lira note is the first one to feature the 17-year president, even as his presidency is widely opposed within the nation and across the globe. (ABC News)
Photo Source: SAVA via AP
North Korea Tests First ICBM on Fourth of July
On Jul. 4, widely known as Independence Day in the United States, the North Korean army tests its first real intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States. The missile traveled several hundred miles into the Sea of Japan, a clear signal to the United States’ closest ally in the Pacific. More tests are expected to follow, and the US responds with increased missile defense tests. (Reuters)
Photo Source: KRT via AP Video
Two New World Heritage Sites Announced in Contested West Bank
On Jul. 7, UNESCO announces two new world heritage sites. The first of these is the city of Hebron in the West Bank, under Israeli control. The second is the site within Hebron known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs or the Ibrahimi Mosque. These two sites were specifically noted as “in danger,” questioning the validity or efficacy of Israeli authority in the region. Israeli officials express their disagreement with the classification. (Associated Press)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File
G20 Summit Held in Hamburg
On Jul. 7, the Group of Twenty (G20) holds their summit in Hamburg. World leaders including Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Xi Jinping gather in the city. They discuss, primarily, the situation in Syria. The US and Russia draft a ceasefire deal with regional countries. Near the summit, nearly 100 people are arrested in widespread anti-capitalist protests, and 160 police officers injured. (The Guardian)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Released from Prison
On Jul. 8, Leopoldo López is released from prison. Lopez is an opposition leader in Venezuela, and leader of the Popular Will party. He has been confined for over three years, when he is released on house arrest. Lopez was originally sentenced to a nearly fourteen year term. He was arrested for allegedly inciting mob violence at a protest, but many international organizations and watchdogs claim that his arrest was plain political persecution. (CNN)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Huge Crowds March to Oppose President Erdogan
On Jul. 9, not long after the massive commemoration of the failed coup, Istanbul sees yet another huge political action. Hundreds of thousands participate in the March for Justice, which began last month in Ankara. The nearly 300-mile march culminates in a huge rally in Istanbul. President Erdogan accuses the opposition and marchers of actively colluding with or supporting terrorists in Turkey. (BBC)
Photo Source: AP Photo/ Lefteris Pitarakis
Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo Dies
On Jul. 13, after being let out of prison on medical parole, Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo dies of liver cancer. Xiaobo was the recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of a lifetime promoting human rights in China. The literary critic and activist was the first Chinese person living in China to receive the prize. The government of China opposed his nomination and temporarily cut trade to Norway in retaliation. People across China recognize Xiaobo’s passing. (BBC)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Vincent Yu
Polish Citizens Rally Against Judicial Reform
On Jul. 16, rallies are held across Poland calling for the veto for a recently passed bill that would significantly reform Poland’s judiciary. Critics of the new bill say that it will break down judge’s autonomy and make them more compliant to the wishes of legislators, extending the control of the government and undermining democracy. The president of Poland declares his intention to veto the bill. (Associated Press)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Alik Keplicz
Turkish Police Arrest Amnesty International Director
On Jul. 18, Turkish police detain and arrest six human rights activists, including the regional director for the widely recognized humanitarian organization Amnesty International. The Turkish government claims that they were aiding the efforts of an armed (and unnamed) terrorist organization. Amnesty International denies the claims, and the arrest exacerbate the issues surrounding several other Turkish arrests. (Al Jazeera)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Ferdinand Ostrop
South Korea Declares New Holiday Memorializing “Comfort Women”
On Jul. 19, the South Korean Government declares their plans to create a new national holiday memorializing the “comfort women” abducted from the country in World War II. “Comfort women” were taken by the Imperial Japanese army across their occupied territories in the Pacific; the women were prostituted by the army and forced to work as camp followers. The new holiday in their memory is to be recognized annually on August 14. (Reuters)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File
Ram Nath Kovind Elected President of India
On Jul. 20, voting closes in India for the presidential elections. Ram Nath Kovind, an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wins the president in an electoral landslide. Though the presidency of India is more ceremonial than the position of Prime Minister, this win indicates continued support for the policies and agenda of Prime Minister Modi. (BBC)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Manish Swarup
Palestinians Protest Israeli Restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque
On Jul. 21, a mass protest breaks out over Israeli restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. After the deaths of two policemen the week before, Israel announced it would ban all men under fifty from entering the site (one of the most sacred spots in Judaism and in Islam). Israel further began installation of metal detectors at the site. Following the protest and scrutiny from abroad, Israel lifts the restrictions. They then attempt to install security cameras, but this decision is also revoked. (CNN)
Photo Source: AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean
Chris Froome Wins Third Consecutive Tour de France
On Jul. 23, the Tour de France comes to a close. British competitor Chris Froome is declared the winner, beating out second-place finisher Rigoberto Urán of Colombia by under a minute. This is Froome’s third consecutive Tour de France victory, and his fourth win in the last five years. (AP via ESPN)
Photo Source: Franck Faugere, Pool via AP
Nawaz Sharif Disqualified as Prime Minister of Pakistan
On Jul. 28, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issues its verdict that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is disqualified from his position (and from public office in general) due to dishonesty surrounding his previous employment. Sharif failed to disclose his work at a Capital firm in Dubai when submitting his papers for nomination. The Prime Minister resigns his post by the end of the day. (BBC)
Photo Source: AP Photo/KM Chaudary, File
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