Current events: 2026-06-21

[Wikipedia Current Events]

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Middle Eastern crisis
  • Gaza war
    • Calls for a ceasefire during the Gaza war
      • Saudi Arabia reaffirms its call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza during a UN Security Council meeting on behalf of the Arab Group. (Saudi Gazette)
    • The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet confirm that they have killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander Zaki Youssef Mahmoud Abu Mustafa, who participated in the kidnapping of 12-year old Yagil Yaakov during the Nir Oz attack on October 7, 2023. Additionally, he was also accused of training jihadists at the Nasser Hospital. (The Jerusalem Post) (Ynetnews)
    • Three Palestinians, including a eight-year old girl, are killed in drone strikes by Israel in Gaza. (The New Arab)
  • 2026 Iran war
    • 2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations
      • 2026 Iran war ceasefire
        • The first talks between Iran and the United States since the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum are held at the Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland. The talks are mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. (Kashmir Observer) (Middle East Eye)
    • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
      • The Tasnim News Agency reports that Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until the ceasefire is implemented in the Lebanon war and waivers are issued for Iranian oil sales. (Reuters)
      • Five known ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, down from 26 ships the previous day, amidst the closure. (Reuters)
  • 2026 Lebanon war
    • Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says that Israeli troops are not going to withdraw from the Beaufort Castle, Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
• Sudanese civil war
  • A drone strike by the Rapid Support Forces hits civilian facilities in Kosti in Sudan's White Nile state, killing one person and injuring 14 others. (Sudan Horizon)

Disasters and accidents

• Six people are killed in a house fire in Luxi County, Hunan, China. (Xinhua)

Politics and elections

• 2026 Colombian presidential election
  • Colombians vote in the second round to determine the presidency, choosing between the conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and the progressive Historic Pact candidate Iván Cepeda. (AP)
• 2026 Ethiopian general election
  • Ethiopia's National Election Board reports that prime minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party will secure a parliamentary majority in the country's general election. (AP) (Reuters)

Sports

• 2026 FIFA World Cup
  • Cape Verde at the FIFA World Cup
    • In association football, Kevin Pina scores Cape Verde's first ever goal at the FIFA World Cup in a 2–2 tie group stage match against Uruguay. (FOX Sports)

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