October Current Events 2024: 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 World news events you need to know so far for October 2024.
- Former Japan Defence Minister Becomes The New Prime Minister
- Mission To Return Stranded Astronauts Launched By SpaceX
- Freedom Party Comes Out Top In Austria’s Election
- School Bus Caught Fire In Thailand Killing 20 Children
- Mexico Swears In First Female President
- President Of Georgia Refuses To Sign Anti-LGBTQ Rights Into Law
- 70 People Killed In Haiti Gang Massacre
- Vaccination For Mpox Begins In DRC Following Several Deaths this Year
- Pope Francis Appoints 21 New Cardinals
- President Of Tunisia Wins Election To Secure Second Term In Office
- Ban On X In Brazil Lifted After Payment Of $5m Fine
- Rail Links Between North Korea And South Korea To Be Cut Off
Former Japan Defence Minister Becomes The New Prime Minister
Friday, September 27, 2024 – Shigeru Ishiba, former Japan defense minister, has become the new prime minister after winning the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Ishiba, aged 67, emerged victorious in a tightly contested race involving nine candidates, culminating in a runoff where he defeated Sanae Takaichi, the economic security minister, by a vote of 215 to 194.
Takaichi aspired to become Japan's first female leader, while Shinjiro Koizumi, a former prime minister's charismatic son, competed but didn't make it to the final round. The LDP, which has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, is considered scandal-ridden, and Ishiba's victory comes after multiple attempts to lead the party.
Known for his outlier status and willingness to challenge his party, Ishiba has faced internal opposition but garnered support among grassroots members and the public.
Source: CNN
Mission To Return Stranded Astronauts Launched By SpaceX
Saturday, September 28, 2024 – SpaceX has launched a mission to retrieve two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June. Originally, their stay was intended to last around eight days, but a fault detected in the new Boeing Starliner resulted in the spacecraft returning to Earth empty as a safety measure.
The Dragon capsule took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Saturday with two empty seats for the astronauts. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov are accompanying the mission, who are carrying fresh supplies and aim to bring Wilmore and Williams home in February.
The Dragon launch was initially set for Thursday but was postponed due to Hurricane Helene's impact, which destroyed Florida and neighboring states. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has been responsible for transporting crews to and from the ISS every six months.
Source: BBC
Freedom Party Comes Out Top In Austria’s Election
Sunday, September 29, 2024 – Austria’s Freedom Party (FPÖ) secured the highest number of votes in the country’s election on Sunday, marking the first time since the Nazi era that a far-right party has won the most votes. The FPÖ, which is both pro-Kremlin and anti-Islam, garnered 29.2% of the vote, beating the ruling center-right People’s Party (ÖVP), led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer, which came in second with 26.5%.
The Social Democratic Party had its worst-ever performance, receiving only 21%, while the liberal NEOS managed 9%. Despite recent devastating floods linked to the climate crisis, the Greens, coalition partners in the government, took fifth place with 8.3%.
The FPÖ focused their campaigns on concerns about migration, asylum, and crime, amplified by the cancellation of Taylor Swift concerts due to an alleged Islamist terror threat. Rising inflation, weak economic growth, and frustration over strict COVID-19 measures further fuelled their support.
Source: The Guardian
School Bus Caught Fire In Thailand Killing 20 Children
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 – A tragic accident occurred when a bus carrying school children and teachers crashed and caught fire outside Bangkok, Thailand. The bus was returning from a school trip to the northern part of the country when it crashed into a concrete barrier after a front tire burst.
The crash ignited an intense fire, trapping many people inside. Twenty children and three teachers were killed, while nineteen others survived, with sixteen being treated in hospital for their injuries. The driver initially tried to extinguish the fire but later fled the scene, surrendering to police 100 km north of Bangkok.
The bus, powered by compressed natural gas, raised concerns from Thailand's Transport Minister, Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit, who highlighted the risks associated with such fuel. He suggested that passenger vehicles should be prevented from using this type of fuel due to safety concerns.
Source: BBC
Mexico Swears In First Female President
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 – Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico's first female president, marking a historic moment as the country used the feminine form of "president" in Spanish for the first time since gaining independence over 200 years ago.
The 62-year-old scientist-turned-politician comes to power amid widespread enthusiasm for her predecessor's social programs but also faces several challenges. These include high levels of violence, a sluggish economy, unfinished building projects, rising debt, and recovery efforts for Acapulco after a devastating hurricane.
While giving her speech, Sheinbaum highlighted the significance of her presidency for women who have fought to overcome barriers in Mexico, emphasizing that gender should not limit one's ability to achieve dreams. She promised to control gasoline and food prices, expand social programs for women and children, boost business investment, and support housing and rail construction.
Source: CNN
President Of Georgia Refuses To Sign Anti-LGBTQ Rights Into Law
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 – President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili has refused to sign a controversial bill that would severely restrict LGBTQ+ rights, returning it to parliament instead of vetoing it. The bill, passed by Georgia's parliament last month, includes bans on same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples, and limits on gender-affirming treatments.
It also seeks to outlaw Pride events and censor LGBTQ+ depictions in films and books, echoing similar legislation in neighboring Russia. Despite the president's refusal, the bill is expected to be signed into law by the parliament's speaker.
Rights advocates and the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, condemned the legislation, warning of increased discrimination and stigmatization. The controversial bill, supported by the ruling Georgian Dream party, underscores a hardening stance on LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Source: The Guardian
70 People Killed In Haiti Gang Massacre
Friday, October 4, 2024 – According to the United Nations, a recent attack by the Gran Grif gang in Pont-Sondé, Haiti, resulted in the deaths of at least 70 people, including children, with 16 others seriously injured. The attack happened in the Artibonite region, about 71 kilometers northwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The gang members set fire to 45 houses and 34 vehicles, forcing many to flee for safety on foot and motorbikes. Described as a “massacre” by a government prosecutor, the assault is one of many in recent years as armed gangs have seized control of large portions of the country.
Gran Grif, one of the most violent gangs, has been involved in previous brutal incidents, including a January 2023 attack on a police station. The group is notorious for crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and kidnappings.
Source: BBC
Vaccination For Mpox Begins In DRC Following Several Deaths this Year
Saturday, October 5, 2024 – In response to the global Mpox emergency declared by the World Health Organization, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has begun vaccinating against the disease. The vaccination campaign was launched in Goma, North Kivu province, following the donation of 265,000 doses by the European Union and the United States.
Hospitals in the region have been under strain due to the spread of a potentially more infectious strain of Mpox. The DRC has been severely impacted, with 30,000 suspected cases and 859 deaths, representing over 80% of Africa’s Mpox cases and 99% of the continent’s deaths.
Health Minister Roger Kamba said the current vaccine rollout is targeted at adults, specifically high-risk populations and frontline workers. In addition, Japan is expected to soon provide 3 million vaccine doses approved for use in children.
Source: The Guardian
Pope Francis Appoints 21 New Cardinals
Sunday, October 6, 2024 – Pope Francis has appointed 21 new cardinals, signaling his intent to further reshape the group of church leaders responsible for electing the next pope. This decision aligns with his vision of a more globally representative Church and his focus on fostering dialogue and peace, particularly in conflict-ridden regions.
One notable appointee is Archbishop Dominique Mathieu of Tehran, a Belgian missionary, reflecting Francis’ desire to encourage peace and dialogue with Islam, especially in the Middle East.
The announcement came after the Pope had called for the international community to end the cycle of violence, referencing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and recent tensions involving Iran. Among the new cardinals is Mykola Bychok, a Ukrainian bishop based in Australia, who, at 44, will be the youngest cardinal.
Source: CNN
President Of Tunisia Wins Election To Secure Second Term In Office
Monday, October 7, 2024 – In Tunisia, President Kais Saied secured a second five-year term with a landslide of 90.7% of the vote, despite the election seeing one of the lowest turnouts in the country’s history at 27.7%.
The election was marked by the disqualification of over a dozen candidates, leaving Saied to contend with two main rivals. Ayachi Zammel, who was jailed a week prior for allegedly falsifying documents, placed second with 7.4%, while former lawmaker and one-time ally Zouhair Maghzaoui also competed.
Though turnout was higher than the 11% seen in the 2022 local elections, the low numbers reflect growing dissatisfaction among Tunisians as the nation drifts towards authoritarian rule. Since coming to power in 2019, Saied has suspended parliament and expanded his presidential powers through a controversial referendum.
Source: The Guardian
Ban On X In Brazil Lifted After Payment Of $5m Fine
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – The Supreme Court of Brazil has lifted its ban on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, after the platform complied with court orders. Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized X’s return to Brazil following the payment of fines amounting to 28 million reais ($5.1 million) and the platform’s agreement to block accounts accused of spreading misinformation during the 2022 presidential election.
Additionally, X appointed a local representative in line with Brazilian law. The platform, owned by Elon Musk, had initially refused to ban profiles spreading false information, prompting the court to block the site nationwide.
Musk, who advocates free speech, criticized the court’s actions as an overreach of power, which led to a rise in the use of alternative platforms and VPNs. X, however, reversed its stance and began complying with the court’s demands.
Source: BBC
Rail Links Between North Korea And South Korea To Be Cut Off
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – North Korea’s military has announced its decision to fully sever its connections with South Korea, cutting off all remaining roads and railways along their heavily fortified border. This move follows the North Korean leader’s earlier decision to abandon peaceful reunification efforts with the South.
Citing rising tensions on the Korean peninsula, the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) emphasized that these actions are necessary to improve national security. Since January, North Korea has intensified its border defenses by installing land mines, anti-tank traps, and dismantling railway infrastructure.
Kim’s rhetoric against South Korea has also escalated, labeling it the North’s “primary foe and invariable principal enemy.” This shift in stance comes in response to recent military exercises held in South Korea and the presence of United States strategic nuclear assets in the region.
Source: CNN
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