Portal:Current events
Topics in the news
- Daniel Noboa (pictured) is elected President of Ecuador.
- Parties opposing the ruling United Right win a combined majority of seats in the Polish general election.
- The National Party, led by Christopher Luxon, wins the most seats in the New Zealand general election.
- Australian voters reject altering the Constitution to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
October 24, 2023
(Tuesday)
October 23, 2023
(Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Gaza–Israel conflict
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Hezbollah–Israel fire exchanges
- More than 20,000 people are internally displaced in Lebanon amid cross-border strikes by Israeli soldiers, according to the United Nations migration agency. (Reuters)
- Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
- The Indonesian Hospital, the largest in northern Gaza, loses power after running out of fuel. (CNN)
- Kidnappings during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Hamas releases two Israeli hostages following mediation by Qatar and Egypt. The pair were taken to the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. (AFP via The Philippine Star)
- War crimes in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Israeli airstrikes kill at least 436 Palestinians, including women and children, in northern Gaza’s Al-Shati refugee camp as well as Khan Younis. (Al Jazeera)
- Israeli forces launch night raids in the West Bank, with heavily armed troops backed by armored vehicles seen in at least two areas. (Al Jazeera)
- The UN General Assembly will hold a special emergency session following a request regarding the "grave situation" in Palestine from Jordan and Mauritania, on behalf of several countries. (Al Jazeera)
- French President Emmanuel Macron will call for "halting the colonisation of the West Bank with Israeli settlements" and "resumption of a genuine peace process" for the creation of a Palestinian state when he visits Israel. (Hindustan Times)
- Former US President Barack Obama has warned that Israel’s actions, like cutting off food and water for civilians in Gaza, could "harden Palestinian attitudes for generations" to come. (First Post)
- Hezbollah–Israel fire exchanges
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- At least 16 people, including numerous police officers, are killed in two separate armed attacks by unidentified assailants in Coyuca de Benítez, Guerrero, and Tacámbaro, Michoacán, Mexico. (AFP via France 24)
Disasters and accidents
- A cargo train collides with a passenger train in Bhairab, Bangladesh, killing at least 15 people and injuring many others. (AP)
International relations
- Sweden–NATO relations
- Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan submits a bill on granting Sweden membership into NATO to the Grand National Assembly. (Al Jazeera)
Law and crime
- Aftermath of the 2023 Pakistani protests
- The Supreme Court of Pakistan declares the court-martials of civilians unconstitutional, moving the trials of over 100 pro-Imran Khan protesters to civilian criminal courts. (Reuters)
- A Russian district court extends RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva's detention until December 5 as a "preventive measure" after Kurmasheva allegedly failed to register as a "foreign agent". (AFP via RFI)
- Authorities in Touboro, North Region, Cameroon confirm that over 30 people, likely including students from Chad, were abducted by suspected bandits yesterday. (Reuters via Japan Today)
Science and technology
- 2023 in arthropod paleontology
- A new species of prehistoric millipede named Lauravolsella willemeni is discovered in the Netherlands. (NOS)
October 22, 2023
(Sunday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Gaza–Israel conflict
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
- The United Nations says the lives of at least 120 newborn babies in incubators in Gaza hospitals are at risk, as fuel runs out in the enclave. (Al Jazeera)
- Journalists killed in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Palestinian journalist Rushdi Sarraj is killed in an Israeli attack on his home. (The Peninsula)
- October 2023 Hezbollah strike
- At least 55 Palestinians are killed in overnight Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health. (Al Jazeera)
- The number of mosques destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip increases to 31. (AA)
- An Israeli tank accidentally hits an Egyptian position near the border with Gaza. Several Egyptian border guards sustain injuries from shell fragments. (Reuters)
- At least 300 Palestinians are placed under administrative detention or have had detention orders renewed, allowing Israel to hold them without charge indefinitely under secret evidence. (Al Jazeera)
- Paddy Cosgrave, a co-founder of the European tech conference Web Summit, resigns after opposition to his public statements on Israel, which included, "War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are." (The Telegraph)
- Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Syrian civil war
- Israel launches airstrikes against Damascus International Airport, killing two workers. (Reuters)
International relations
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war protests
- Several thousand people gather in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, waving Palestinian and Bosnian flags and demanding an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza. (Reuters)
- Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
- The Philippines reports separate collision incidents between its military ships and vessels of both the China Coast Guard and the Maritime Militia near the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. (AFP via NDTV)
Law and crime
- Alaska Airlines Flight 2059
- An off-duty pilot reportedly attempts to hijack and crash an Alaska Airlines passenger plane travelling from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, United States. (BBC News)
Politics and elections
- Elections in Venezuela
- 2023 Unitary Platform presidential primaries
- Venezuelan opposition parties hold their first presidential primary since 2012. (AP)
- 2023 Unitary Platform presidential primaries
- 2023 Argentine general election
- Argentines elect the president and the members of the legislature. Sergio Massa and Javier Milei receives ~36% and ~30% of the votes respectively and will face off in a second round (Reuters) (CNN)
- 2023 Swiss federal election
- Voters in Switzerland elect the members of the Federal Assembly. Results show that the right-wing Swiss People's Party becomes the largest parliamentary faction after the election, gaining nine seats compared to the previous election. (AP)
- 2024 Indonesian presidential election
- Defense minister and Gerindra presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto chooses Surakarta mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest child of incumbent president Joko Widodo, as his running mate. (AFP via The Guardian)
October 21, 2023
(Saturday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- The Rafah Border Crossing on the Egypt–Gaza border opens for the first time since the war began, allowing humanitarian aid trucks to enter Gaza. (AFP via NDTV)
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Myanmar civil war
- The Tatmadaw conducts airstrikes and deploys additional troops in response to the Kachin Independence Army's attacks near the China–Myanmar border in Mu Se District and Laiza, Kachin State. (AFP via TOI)
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Somali Civil War
- Six people are killed and nine others injured during an Al-Shabaab suicide car bombing outside a military facility in Lower Shabelle, Somalia. (AP)
Disasters and accidents
- 2023 Pacific hurricane season
- Hurricane Norma makes landfall near Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Warnings have been issued for the states of Baja California Sur and Sinaloa. (AP)
Law and crime
- Police in Cyprus arrest four Syrians for detonating a small explosive device near the Israeli embassy in Nicosia. (AP via ABC News)
Politics and elections
- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan after four years in self-imposed exile in London, United Kingdom. (AP)
October 20, 2023
(Friday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2023 Nigerien crisis
- The French Armed Forces confirms that 1,500 troops will leave Niger by the end of the year, following the military junta's request. (AFP via Le Monde)
- Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Evacuations during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Israel announces the total evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a city of 20,000 near the border with Lebanon, amid increasing tensions with the militant group Hezbollah. (The Jerusalem Post)
- Kidnappings during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Evacuations during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Battle of Avdiivka
- Ukrainian forces repel Russian forces from Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, saying it has destroyed at least 175 vehicles, including 55 tanks. (Forbes)
- Battle of Avdiivka
International relations
- Foreign relations of Colombia, Foreign relations of the State of Palestine
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro announces the establishment of an embassy to the State of Palestine in Ramallah in the West Bank, and also announces humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war. (AA)
- Foreign relations of Italy, Foreign relations of the State of Palestine
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tells the Cairo Peace Summit the international community must avoid an escalation in the war in Gaza and set a roadmap towards a two-state solution. (Al Jazeera)
- Foreign relations of Greece, Foreign relations of the State of Palestine
- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis calls for a new peace process envisioning an independent State of Palestine alongside Israel, saying "no military intervention can replace a viable political solution". (Al Jazeera)
Politics and elections
- October 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election
- The Republican majority fails to deliver enough votes for Jim Jordan to become House Speaker on the third vote, with Jordan also losing a subsequent secret ballot among Republican members, thereby ending his nomination. (CNN)
October 19, 2023
(Thursday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Iraqi conflict
- Drones and rockets strike the Al-Asad Airbase in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq, which houses U.S. troops. (Reuters)
- Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- 2023 Hezbollah–Israel fire exchanges
- Dozens of rockets are fired at the northern Israeli cities of Nahariya and Kiryat Shmona from southern Lebanon, injuring at least three civilians. Hamas says that its cells in Lebanon were responsible for the rocket attacks. Israel responds with airstrikes on Hezbollah positions. (The Times of Israel)
- A member of the Security Cabinet of Israel says that the Israel Defense Forces has been given the "green light" to enter the Gaza Strip. (ABC News)
- 2023 Hezbollah–Israel fire exchanges
- Five Palestinians are killed in clashes with the Israeli military at the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm in the West Bank. (Reuters)
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Somali Civil War
- Khatumo is reestablished as one of the federal states of Somalia by the Somali government. (Horseed Media)
- Yemeni civil war
- In the Red Sea, the United States Navy destroyer USS Carney uses SM-2 missiles to shoot down three cruise missiles and eight drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. The Pentagon says that the missiles and drones were "potentially headed towards Israel". (Yahoo! News)
Disasters and accidents
- 2023–24 European windstorm season
- Storm Babet impacts the United Kingdom, bringing gale force winds and heavy rains, killing two people in Angus, Scotland, and another person in Shropshire, England. The crew of a Danish fishing trawler is rescued by the RNLI in the North Sea. (BBC News)
International relations
- Canada–India relations
- Canada withdraws 41 diplomats from India due to India's decision to revoke the diplomats' immunity following the death of Sikh independence leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. (AFP via NDTV)
- International reactions to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Israel–United Kingdom relations
- UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visits Israel and meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announcing the UK's solidarity with Israel in its war with Hamas. (BBC News)
- Israel–United Kingdom relations
- Israel–Turkey relations
- Israel withdraws its ambassador Irit Lillian and other diplomats from Turkey after urging its citizens to avoid all travel to the country. (The Jerusalem Post)
Law and crime
- Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election
- 2020 Georgia election investigation
- American attorney Sidney Powell pleads guilty to six misdemeanor charges in the Georgia election racketeering prosecution for her role in attempting to overturn the results in Georgia. (BBC News)
- 2020 Georgia election investigation
October 18, 2023
(Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- Allied Democratic Forces gunmen shoot and kill a British and South African honeymoon couple and their local tour guide at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda. (BBC News)
- Gaza-Israel conflict
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- October 2023 Israel–Hezbollah fire exchanges
- Evacuations during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Saudi Arabia tells its citizens to immediately leave Lebanon due to the deteriorating security situation in the south of the country. (Al Arabiya)
- Evacuations during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
- The United States vetoes a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have condemned violence against civilians while urging humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Twelve countries vote in favour of the resolution, while Russia and the United Kingdom abstain. (AP)
- United Nations experts, including Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, express serious concerns over Israel tightening its siege on Gaza, saying it "is an ongoing campaign resulting in crimes against humanity.” (Anadolu)
- UN Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths reiterates that there are rules of war after the US vetoed the resolution. (Al Jazeera) (Relief Web)
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemns the UNSC for failing to pass a resolution for a humanitarian pause, adding that efforts to deescalate the conflict have been impeded by the collective punishment of Palestinians through airstrikes and the deployment of US aircraft carriers to the region. (Reuters)
- October 2023 Israel–Hezbollah fire exchanges
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Russian missile strikes across Ukraine, kill at least 10 people, including five civilians in a strike on an apartment building in Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukrainian officials. (Reuters) (The New York Times)
- Military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Russia–United States relations
- Russia says that the U.S. decision to supply Ukraine with long-range ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles is a "grave mistake" which will have serious consequences. Ukrainian forces used the missiles in combat for the first time yesterday. (Reuters)
- Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Business and economy
- Guinea-Bissau's capital Bissau experiences a major blackout after Turkish energy firm Karpowership suspends the supply of electricity to the city over an unpaid bill of at least US$15m. The Guinea-Bissauan government says that the outstanding amount will be paid within 15 days. (BBC News)
- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos postpones the enactment of the Maharlika Investment Fund, the country's proposed first sovereign wealth fund, citing the need for further review. (Reuters via CNA)
Disasters and accidents
- A driver is arrested after crashing into a group of Pepperdine University students walking in Malibu, California, United States, killing four and injuring two others. (AP)
International relations
- Holy See–Nicaragua relations
- Nicaragua releases 12 Catholic priests, critical of President Daniel Ortega's regime, and sends them to Rome, Italy, following an agreement with Vatican City. (AFP via The Manila Times)
- International reactions to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Israel–United States relations
- U.S. President Joe Biden visits Israel and meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (The Guardian)
- United States–Venezuela relations
- The U.S. Treasury Department announces an ease of certain oil, gas, and gold sanctions on Venezuela following the Venezuelan government and opposition's agreement to conduct elections. (AFP via France 24)
Law and crime
- Disappearance of Natalee Holloway
- Dutch serial killer Joran van der Sloot confesses in a U.S. federal court that he killed Natalee Holloway. (CNN)
- Islamic terrorism in Europe, Antisemitism in 21st-century Germany
- Extremists throw Molotov cocktails at a synagogue in Berlin, Germany. The incident is being investigated as a terrorist attack. (Politico)
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war protests
- Anti-war activists gather at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., calling for a ceasefire. Over 300 people are arrested following the protest. (NBC 4 Washington)
- The Palace of Versailles and three French airports are temporarily evacuated "for security reasons". (AP)
- Chadian Defense Minister Daoud Yaya Brahim and the government's general secretary are sacked after a sex tape is leaked showing the two men having sex with other people. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- 2024 Indonesian presidential election
- Chairwoman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Megawati Sukarnoputri announces that Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD will be a vice-presidential running mate for Ganjar Pranowo. (CNA)
- Georgian parliament members from the ruling Georgian Dream party fail to impeach President Salome Zourabichvili, securing only 86 of the required 100 votes, after the constitutional court ruled that Zourabichvili violated the constitution by advocating for Georgia's European Union membership during international trips without government approval. (AFP via France 24)
- October 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election
- The Republican majority fails to deliver enough votes for Jim Jordan to become House Speaker on the second vote (CNN)
Sports
- 2023 WNBA Finals
- In basketball, the Las Vegas Aces repeat as WNBA champions, becoming the first team to do so since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002. (AP)
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