October 1 — Middle East/North America: YEMEN/UNITED STATES
U.S. forces assassinate Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born al-Qaeda leader in Yemen. This is a major blow to the terrorist organization, as al-Awlaki was its major figure. The U.S. intelligence cooperated with the Yemeni security forces on this mission.
October 1 — Europe: BULGARIA
About 2,000 Bulgarians take part in protests against the Roma minority population, who they link to corruption and organized crime. The unrest started several weeks ago after a teenager was ran over and killed by a car driven by relatives of a Roma headman. The Roma minority constitutes about 5 percent of Bulgaria’s population.
October 2 — North America: UNITED STATES
Police of New York City arrests at least 700 protesters from the Occupy Wall Street movement mostly for disorderly conduct. Anti-corporate greed protests, Occupy Wall Street, begun last month and now have spread to other major U.S. cities, such as Boston, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Tens of thousands of people also protest job cuts, layoffs, and growing inequality between 99 percent of the U.S. population and the wealthiest 1 percent.
October 4 — Europe/Other Former Soviet Republics
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin calls on former Soviet republics to create a Eurasian Union. He says that it is not an attempt to restore the Soviet Union, but rather create a body similar to the European Union. He also says that Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus are already taking steps toward economic integration.
October 4 — South Asia: AFGHANISTAN/INDIA
Leaders of Afghanistan and India sign a strategic partnership expanding cooperation in security, development, and education. India is one of Afghanistan’s biggest donors; it has so far pledged $2 billion in aid.
October 5 — International Organizations/Middle East: UNITED NATIONS/SYRIA
China and Russia veto a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrators. The two countries say the resolution did not include guarantees against outside military intervention. Since the beginning of the unrest in March, more than 2,700 people have been killed.
October 10 — Europe: POLAND
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wins a second term in office after his Civic Platform party takes 39 percent of the votes in the parliamentary elections, becoming the first party to win two successive terms since the fall of communism. Donald Tusk’s popularity is attributed to Poland’s strong economic growth when other European Union’s economies have been struggling with recession.
October 17 — Africa: KENYA/SOMALIA
Kenya sends troops to neighboring Somalia to fight the al-Shabab militants who are in control of much of the south of the country. The Kenyan government makes this decision after several humanitarian workers were abducted from the Kenyan territory by suspected al-Shabab Islamists.
October 18 — Middle East: ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Israel and Hamas leaders who control the Gaza Strip come to an agreement on swapping 550 Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas in 2006. Rather than to the Gaza Strip, the released Palestinians will be repatriated to the West Bank, which is ruled by the Fatah faction.
October 18 — Europe/Former Soviet Republics: EUROPEAN UNION/UKRAINE
The European Union (EU) cancels a visit by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych who was expected to discuss an association agreement with the EU. The move was prompted by the jailing of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which, the EU says, was politically motivated. By canceling this important meeting, the EU also sends a message that Ukraine needs to commit to the rule of law and the independence of their judiciary in order to make progress in bilateral relations with the EU.
October 20 — Africa: LIBYA
Soldiers of Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) capture and kill Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in his home town of Sirte. Gaddafi was ousted in August and was on the run since then. His son, Mutasim, is also killed, while his other son, Saif- al-Islam, is captured.
October 24 — Latin America: ARGENTINA
Argentina’s president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, wins a second term in a landslide victory. Fernandez benefited from strong economy and fragmented opposition. She also invested in many social programs, which boosted her popularity.
October 27 — North America: UNITED STATES
Speaking in the United States Congress to the Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton says that cooperation with Pakistan was key to weakening the terrorist al-Qaeda organization. But she also criticizes Pakistan for tolerating safe havens for other terrorist groups on its border with Afghanistan, such as the Taliban and the Haqqani network. She also accuses the Pakistani government, as did former chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen before her, of having ties with the Haqqani organization.
October 27 — Europe: EUROPEAN UNION
Leaders of the eurozone countries reach an agreement to tackle the region’s debt crisis. Banks that hold Greece’s debt will accept a 50 percent loss, thus reducing the country’s debt to 120 percent of its GDP by 2020. The eurozone bailout fund is going to be increased to $1.4 trillion, and banks will be obligated to raise more capital. The announcement of the deal boosted the euro and shares on European markets.
October 31 — Former Soviet Republics: KYRGYZSTAN
Kyrgyzstan votes for Prime Minister and wealthy businessman, Almazbek Atambayev, to become the country’s new president. Promising to bring prosperity to Kyrgyzstan, Atambayev receives 63 percent of the vote.
October 31 — International Issues
A baby girl named Nargis, who was born in India on October 31, is symbolically declared the world’s seven-billionth person. Nargis was born in the most populous Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.