October 4 — East Asia: NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean President Kim Jong Il meet for a three-day summit in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. During the meeting, the two leaders sign a joint declaration calling for the replacement of the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953 with a permanent peace agreement. The talks also address an unsettled issue of sea boundaries between the two countries and a joint fishing zone in the disputed western sea border. This is only the second summit between leaders of the two states.

October 6 — South Asia: PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s parliament elects General Pervez Musharraf for another term as president despite uncertainty over the legality of his candidacy. Opposition members of parliament abstain or boycott the election, saying it is unconstitutional. The country’s Supreme Court declares that Musharraf cannot be declared a winner until it decides whether he was eligible to stand for election while still holding the post of army chief.

October 7 — Latin America/North America: COSTA RICA/UNITED STATES

Costa Rican voters narrowly approve a controversial free-trade agreement with the United States, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), in a national referendum. If approved by the Costa Rican parliament, the agreement will abolish all trade barriers among Costa Rica and other CAFTA members over the next ten years.

October 8 — Latin America/International Organizations: NICARAGUA/HONDURAS/ICJ

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) settles an eight-year territorial dispute between Nicaragua and Honduras, setting a new maritime border in the Caribbean Sea. The ruling also grants Honduras sovereignty over four small Caribbean islands. The area in dispute is rich in fish and is thought to contain oil and natural gas.

October 9 — North America/International Organizations: UNITED STATES/GLOBAL HEALTH

The Gates Foundation commits another $100 million, on top of the $450 million already committed, for the Grand Challenges Explorations initiative, which supports innovative research projects to promote global health. The initiative encourages scientists to explore new creative methods that could lead to development of new vaccines, diagnostics, medicines, and other technologies that would prevent the spread of deadly diseases around the world.

October 10 — Middle East/International Organizations: IRAQ/UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that governors of eleven Iraqi provinces refuse to accept internally displaced Iraqis because of a lack of resources. According to the agency, there are up to 2.2 million internal refugees in Iraq. In addition, an estimated 2.2 million Iraqis have fled to neighboring countries, most of them to Syria and Jordan.

October 10 — East Asia/International Organizations: MYANMAR/UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that opium production in Myanmar has risen by 29 percent in 2007, making it the world’s second largest opium producer after Afghanistan. The report states that the reason behind the drug trade in Myanmar is corruption, inadequate border checks, and involvement by high-level officials.

October 11 — Europe: RUSSIA

Russia’s election commission bars the opposition group, The Other Russia, led by former world chess champion, Gary Kasparov, from participating in the December 2 parliamentary elections, stating the group is not registered as a political party. The Other Russia calls the decision discriminatory.

October 15 — North America/Latin America/Africa/International Organizations: UNITED STATES/AFRICA/BRAZIL/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

The World Trade Organization (WTO) rules that cotton subsidies to American farmers by the United States government are illegal. Cotton industries in West Africa and Brazil welcome the ruling, saying the subsidies drive down prices, making it difficult for cotton farmers in developing countries to compete.

October 15 — Former Soviet Republics/Europe: UKRAINE

Ukraine’s two pro-democracy Orange Revolution parties, the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and President Viktor Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine-People’s Self Defense, come to an agreement on forming a coalition after their election victory earlier in the month. The two-party coalition gives them a thin majority in the parliament, and Yulia Tymoshenko is expected to be the next prime minister. The election was called early after a long power struggle between President Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

October 17 — Europe/Middle East: TURKEY/IRAQ

Turkey’s parliament approves military cross-border incursions into northern Iraq to fight Kurdish PKK rebels. Turkey blames the PKK fighters for recent raids into Turkey, which left more than 40 Turkish soldiers and civilians dead. The PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, was formed in the 1970s and fights for greater autonomy for Turkey’s Kurdish population. It is listed as a terrorist organization by many states, including the United States and the European Union.

October 18 — North America/East Asia: UNITED STATES/CHINA

The United States awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, for his contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and religious understanding. U.S. President George W. Bush attends the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. Past recipients of this top civilian honor include Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Teresa. The award enrages China, which considers the Dalai Lama a separatist. China accuses the United States of interference in its internal affairs.

October 18 — South Asia: PAKISTAN

A double suicide bombing in the Pakistani city of Karachi kills 140 people during a rally celebrating the return of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto from an eight-year long exile. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf granted Bhutto amnesty and negotiated with her over a possible power-sharing agreement. Bhutto is a leader of Pakistan’s largest political party, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

October 19 — Europe: EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union leaders agree to a new reform treaty, which will replace the European Constitution rejected by France and the Netherlands in 2005. The treaty is designed to speed up decision-making within the enlarged union by creating a new voting system. It also creates two new posts: President of the European Council and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. It does not make mention, however, of a European flag and anthem, which are symbols of a supranational state. The treaty, which will be known as the Treaty of Lisbon, will be officially signed on December 13. If ratified by all 27 members, it will come into force in 2009.

October 22 — East Asia: CHINA

China’s 17th National Congress of the Communist Party announces new leaders who will run the country for the next five years. President Hu Jintao is reappointed for a second term as party and army chief. Wen Jiabao is reelected as premier. New central committee appointees include Xi Jinping, the party chief in Shanghai, who is expected to replace President Hu in 2012. China’s National Congress is held every five years and is the country’s most important political event. It endorses policies for the next five-year period and promotes and demotes senior party officials.

October 22 — Europe: POLAND

Poland’s opposition and pro-European Union Civic Platform party (PO) wins parliamentary elections, defeating Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s Law and Justice Party (PiS). PO’s leader, Donald Tusk, has pledged lower taxes and support for businesses, as well as to mend Poland’s relations with its neighbors. He has also vowed to withdraw Polish troops from the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. The election turnout was the highest since the fall of communism in 1989.

October 22 — North America: UNITED STATES/MEXICO

United States President George W. Bush asks Congress to approve the first installment ($500 million) of the proposed $1.4 billion-aid program to help Mexico fight drug trafficking. Upon approval by the U. S. Congress, the program will pay for equipment, such as helicopters, boats, and inspection equipment, as well as intelligence and training. Critics of the plan question whether the plan will be effective, saying that it is not designed to tackle the core of the drug problem, such as corruption and demand for drugs.

October 23 — South Asia: SRI LANKA

The Tamil Tiger rebels launch a combined air and land attack on an air base in the northern Sri Lankan town of Anuradhapura, killing nine Sri Lankan soldiers. The fighting between the Tamil Tigers and the government forces has intensified in recent months.

October 29 — South Asia: PAKISTAN

Forty-five Pakistani soldiers and 130 pro-Taliban rebels are killed in fierce fighting in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region, which is a stronghold of militants and al Qaeda fighters near the Afghan border. This has been the heaviest fighting in Waziristan in months. The United States and NATO have been pressing the Pakistani government to do more to stop the militants from cross-border attacks on their troops in Afghanistan.

October 29 — Middle East: IRAQ

Karbala authorities take control of their mostly Shia province in central Iraq from the U.S. forces. It is the 18th province that has been transferred to local control. Meanwhile, a suicide bomber kills 27 people, mostly police recruits, at a police headquarters in Baquba, north of Baghdad.

October 30 — Latin America: ARGENTINA

Argentina’s first lady and senator from the province of Buenos Aires, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, wins the country’s presidential election, becoming its first elected female president. Kirchner has promised to continue her husband’s policies.