News Timeline: October 2013

 

October 1 – North America: UNITED STATES

The largest overhaul of the United States’ healthcare system since the 1960s, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, takes effect.  The intention of the law is to extend healthcare coverage to all uninsured Americans and slow the skyrocketing cost of the U.S. healthcare. The law makes purchasing healthcare insurance mandatory, providing simultaneously subsidies for those with low income. It also requires businesses with more than 50 employees to provide healthcare for their workers. The law bans insurance companies from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions and allows children to remain on their parents’ policies until the age of 26. The law was passed in 2010, with all Republicans fervently opposing it and challenging its constitutionality. In 2012, however, the Supreme Court declared the law constitutional.

October 1 – North America: UNITED STATES

Due to strong disagreements between the Democrats and Republicans over federal spending, the United States Congress fails to pass a new budget causing a partial shutdown of the government, the first one in 17 years. The central issue is the country’s new healthcare law, with Republicans attempting to defund it, which would cause a delay in its implementation. About 700,000 government employees deemed as “non-essential” are told to stay home. Most national parks, museums, federal buildings and services are shut down. (October 17): After many negotiations, the Congress passes a temporary deal that ends the government shutdown and extends the country’s debt ceiling until the beginning of February. The cost of this government shutdown for the economy is estimated to be in hundreds of millions of dollars.

October 1 – Europe/Former Soviet Republics: RUSSIA/TAJIKISTAN

Tajikistan and Russia ratify a treaty that extends Russia’s bases and troops in Tajikistan for the next 30 years. Russia already has 6,000 troops stationed in Tajikistan protecting the country’s border with Afghanistan.

October 5 – North America/Africa: UNITED STATES/LIBYA

The United States Army Delta commandos apprehend one of the most wanted al-Qaeda leaders, Abu Anas al-Liby, in a special counter-terrorism operation in Libya. Al-Liby is suspected of being a mastermind behind bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

October 6 – Africa: EGYPT

More than 50 people are killed in Egypt in clashes between the police and supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi. Also, several hundreds demonstrators are arrested. Since Morsi’s removal from office in July, hundreds of his supporters have been killed. He and other Muslim Brotherhood activists have been arrested, awaiting trial. (October 9): In response to the violence in Egypt, the United States announces a temporary freeze of a big part of its $1.3 billion aid to Egyptian government until new free elections are planned.

October 9 – Former Soviet Republics: AZERBAIJAN

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev wins reelection for a third five-year term with over 80 percent of votes against a history professor Camil Hasanli of the National Council of Democrat Forces, a candidate put forward by the two main opposition parties. The opposition alleges widespread fraud and campaign manipulations, such as restrictions to the media. Election observers from the Council of Europe declare the election “free, fair and transparent”; the OSCE, however, reports such practices as intimidation and ballot-stuffing. Aliyev took over in 2003 from his father Heydar, who in turn had ruled since 1993.

October 15 – Europe: ITALY

Italy’s coast guards rescue 370 migrants from three boats apprehended on the waters between Sicily and Libya. The migrants are transferred to temporary facilities on the island of Lampedusa. Italy says that just this year more than 35,000 migrants arrived on Italy’s coast, mostly from Syria, Mali, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Eritrea mostly through Egypt and Libya. Sicily announces state of emergency due to the high number of migrants it has to deal with.

October 18 – Middle East/International Organizations: SAUDI ARABIA/UNITED NATIONS

Saudi Arabia turns down a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, accusing the organization of double standards and inability to perform its duties of providing peace and security. It refers to failure to act on Syria, Palestine, and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Ten rotating non-permanent members sit on the council for two years with the permanent five: United States, United Kingdom, China, Russia, and France.

October 22 – Latin America: CUBA

As part of its reforms, Cuba announces it abandons its two-currency system that has been in place since early 1990s. It will phase out the more valuable convertible peso that was pegged to the US dollar and used in foreign trade and tourism sectors. Most Cubans have been paid in the lower-value peso.

October 22 – Middle East: BRUNEI

The Sultan of Brunei who rules by decree announces that the country will enforce a Sharia law penal code, including death by stoning, limb amputation for theft, and flogging for drinking alcohol and abortion. The Sultan ensures that the law will apply only to the Muslim citizens, who constitute about two thirds of the country’s population.

October 26 – Europe: CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Republic votes in inconclusive parliamentary elections after the Centre-right government of Petr Necas was brought down in June due to a corruption scandal. Since then, the country has been run by a caretaker government appointed by the president. Social Democrats win the most votes, about 20 percent, which is not enough to form a government alone. The Communists garnered over 15 percent and the new party called Ano run by a billionaire who campaigned against corruption received 19 percent. The Ano leader says he will not enter a collation government with Social Democrats.

October 27 – Former Soviet Republics: GEORGIA

Giorgi Margvelashvili wins presidential elections in Georgia by a wide margin, defeating President Mikhail Saakashvili’s protégé and ally David Bakradze. Margvelashvili is a member of the country’s Dream party, which last year won parliamentary elections.

October 29 – Europe/Middle East: TURKEY

Turkey opens a 8.5 mile-long Marmaray tunnel under the Bosphorus Straits that connects the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. This is the first link ever connecting two continents. The Turkish government hopes that the new tunnel will become an important trade route.

October 30 – Middle East: IRAQ

About 20 people are killed in three separate suicide bombings in Iraq in renewed violence. Deadly bombings of public places such as bus stations and restaurants have become a daily occurrence. In September alone, more than 1,000 people were killed with thousands wounded.

2013 has shown a reversal of the previous improvements in providing security and has reached the 2008 levels in the number of people killed in bombings.

October 30 – South Asia/North America: PAKISTAN/UNITED STATES

Pakistan provides statistics showing that only 67 civilians have been killed in U.S. drone attacks since 2008, a figure much lower than the one provided by independent organizations estimating several hundreds killed. The report also says that in that period of time there were 317 U.S. drone strikes, which killed more than 2,000 militants.