World News Briefs -- July 21, 2017 (Evening Edition)

Times Of Israel: Abbas announces immediate halt to ‘all contacts’ with Israel

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced late Friday he was freezing all contacts with Israel.

“We announce a freeze on all contacts with Israelis on all levels,” Abbas said, according to Israel’s Channel 10, “until it cancel the steps taken against our people in Al-Aqsa and in Jerusalem.”

He specifically castigated the deployment of metal detectors at the Temple Mount compound — placed there by Israel after a July 14 terror attack in which three Arab-Israelis shot dead two Israeli police officers there with guns they had smuggled into the holy site — as being intended by Israel “to impose sovereignty at Al-Aqsa and divide it,” according to a Ynet translation of his remarks.

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MIDDLE EAST

3 Palestinians and 3 Israelis die in new spasms of violence. Six dead in worst Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed for years. Three Israelis stabbed to death in West Bank attack.

Al-Aqsa: Palestinians killed as Jerusalem protests rage. Palestinian killed as Israel restricts access to Jerusalem's Old City. 3 Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli troops.

US special ops chief confirms CIA ending support for Syria rebels.

US official: IS putting up stiff resistance in Syria’s Raqqa.

Jihadists battle rebels for control of key Syria province.

Hezbollah, Syria army launch attack on Lebanon border.

Mosul's Christians face dilemma after Islamic State.

Yemen's cholera epidemic is worst on record: Oxfam.

UN blames Saudi-led coalition for deadly Yemen strike.

Saudi source gives more detail on crown prince's dismissal.

Iran accuses US of nuclear deal 'sabotage'.

US warns Iran of 'new and serious consequences' if Americans not returned.

ASIA

Exclusive: U.S. presses Myanmar to cease military ties with North Korea.

Philippine MPs to vote on Duterte bid for longer martial rule.

Myanmar still using 'same tactics' of oppression as junta: UN envoy.

US to withhold funds from Pakistan over failure to fight Taliban's Haqqani Network.

Indian troops open fire on Kashmir protesters, killing one.

IS galvanized in Asia by Philippine city siege, report says.

No Korean military talks after North snubs South's call.

North Korean children face hunger amid worst drought since 2001.

N Korea economy grows at fastest rate in 17 years.

US to ban citizens from travel to North Korea, tour operators say.

Philippines freezes peace talks with communist rebels.

Pentagon blocks some Pakistan military payments.

AFRICA

Libya's eastern forces deny reports of summary executions.

Nigerian refugee camp hit by air strike was not marked on maps: military.

Mauritania referendum campaign starts under opposition boycott.

Congo's mining revenue 'missing' - Global Witness.

Kenya warns of social media crackdown ahead of polls.

Congo civil servants call strike over wages as crisis bites.

Angola adopts law limiting power of future presidents.

Namibia genocide victims battle for compensation.

Burundi relying on U.S. police to find missing robotics teenagers: official.

EUROPE

Polish lawmakers set to back judicial overhaul, defying protesters and EU.

2 dead, 500 hurt as deadly quake rattles Greece, Turkey.

Several Ukrainian troops killed in worst violence for months.

Germany sends Turkey carefully calibrated warning signal.

Moldova calls on Russia to withdraw troops from breakaway region.

Strong earthquake hits Greece, Turkey. Earthquake in Turkey and Greece leaves at least two dead in Kos.

Russian parliament bans use of proxy Internet services, VPNs.

Support for Catalan independence slips as referendum nears.

Kosovo indicts four for 2004 killing of two U.N. policemen.

AMERICAS

Sean Spicer resigns as White House press secretary after objecting to Scaramucci hire.

Venezuela opposition congress names alternative Supreme Court judges.

Mexico City sees drug-war-style violence come to the capital.

Two left dead as Venezuela strike erupts into violence. Venezuela crisis: Deadly clashes as millions join strike.

Trump legal team gets shake-up as investigation deepens.

Mueller expands probe to Trump business transactions.

Trump's FBI nominee passes committee, heads to full Senate.

New Hawaii campaign to help residents plan for North Korea attack.

Canadian military helping exhausted police officers dealing with B.C. fires.

'People are getting poorer': hunger and homelessness as Brazil crisis deepens.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Pentagon chief says he thinks IS leader Baghdadi is alive.

Growing number of potential Islamist terrorists in Germany: police chief.

How many fighters does the Islamic State still have in Libya?

Qatar changes anti-terror legislation amid Gulf crisis.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

US stocks dip with energy prices; European stocks sink.

FTC probing allegations of Amazon's deceptive discounting.

What drug-dealing ‘darknet’ sites have in common with eBay.

Mastercard £14bn 'overcharge' legal action fails.