October 2-6, 9: Sweden
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for the underlying technology in mRNA vaccines against COVID-19; the Prize in Physics to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier for generating attosecond pulses of light; in Chemistry to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Aleksei E. Yekimov for making quantum dots, particles so tiny that they are governed by quantum phenomena; in Literature to Jon Fosse for “his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable”; the Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all”; and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences to Claudia Goldin for “having advanced our understanding of women’s labor market outcomes.” (The Nobel Prize)
October 3: U.S.
Kevin McCarthy became the first ever House of Representatives speaker to be ousted. Eight far right-wing Republicans joined Democrats in a 216-210 voted to oust McCarthy following farright concerns that he did not do enough to cut spending in September, necessary to avert a federal shutdown. (NYTimes, PBS) On October 25, his successor, Mike Johnson, was elected Speaker of the House. (AP)
October 4: Spain, Portugal, and Morocco
The 2030 World Cup will be held in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, becoming the first World Cup to be held in North Africa. The opening ceremony will be held in Montevideo, Uruguay, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the tournament at the site where it was first held. (FIFA)
October 7: Palestine (Gaza Strip) and Israel
Hamas launched 3500 rockets into Israel and surprise land, sea, and air attacks. (Times of Israel, AP, Reuters, Memri) On October 12, France banned all pro-Palestinian protests. (Politico EU) On October 14, the Human Rights Watch confirmed that Israel had used white phosphorus: a chemical banned by international law. (France 24) Israel has been sieging Gaza since the October 9, and from the October 18 to October 24, 54 relief trucks have made their way into Gaza. (Al Jazeera) On October 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill signaling the nation’s solidarity with Israel. (NYTimes) On October 27, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) entered Gaza from multiple directions with infantry and tanks. (NY Magazine) The same day, Palestine reported Israeli disruption of most communication and Internet services in the Gaza Strip. (AFP via Onmanorama) Also on October 27, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in the area, despite U.S. and Israeli opposition. (The Guardian)
October 15: Afghanistan and China
The Afghani Taliban government attended China’s Belt and Road Initiative forum in Beijing the week of October 13, signaling closer economic ties between the two governments. China does not yet recognize the Taliban government. (Reuters)
October 15: Ecuador
After a day of voting in Ecuador, American-born Daniel Noboa was declared president-elect of Ecuador, defeating Luisa González in the election. He is Ecuador’s youngest president-elect. (AFP via France 24)
October 18: Georgia
Georgian Parliament failed to impeach President Salome Zourabichvili after the constitutional court ruled that he violated the Georgian Constitution when advocating for Georgia’s EU membership without the government’s approval. (AFP via France 24)
October 25: Russia
The Russian Federation Council unanimously approved a bill to revoke Russia’s membership in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Guardian) On November 2, President Vladimir Putin signed the bill, formally removing Russia from the Treaty. Russia has said it will not resume nuclear testing unless the U.S. does so. (Reuters)
October 25: U.S.
Multiple shootings in Lewiston, Maine, resulted in 18 deaths and dozens more injuries. The alleged shooter, Robert Card, fled the scene. On the 27th, Maine authorities confirmed his death by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Maine, a democratically controlled state, has loose gun regulations due to hunting’s popularity in the state. For example, the state lacks a red flag law that allows law enforcement or citizens to petition to temporarily remove firearms from a potentially dangerous person and has a “yellow flag” law that requires an opinion from a medical professional. Three major gun control bills were rejected in Maine by a wide margin just months before the shootings. (New York Times)
October 30: Spain
FIFA banned former Royal Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales from all soccer-related activities for three years in the aftermath of his unwarranted and non-consensual kiss of a Spanish Women’s National Football Team player in the celebrations of the Women’s World Cup. (Associated Press)