Israel-Hamas War
Militants from Hamas and other allied terrorist organizations launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing and capturing hundreds of Israelis and foreign citizens.
The attack consisted of a barrage of rockets, as well as land and air assaults, according to the Associated Press. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu said the country is “at war,” in a post on the social media site X, formerly Twitter.
The operation was launched by Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other western governments. Hamas has also formed the government in Gaza since a war with rival political faction Fatah in 2005.
The Oct. 7 attacks came 50 years after the Yom Kippur War, in which Egyptian and Syrian forces launched an attack on Israel. Militants crossed over the border from the Gaza strip, with videos showing a bulldozer tearing down a border fence.
The night after the attacks, Israeli forces launched airstrikes against targets in Gaza, causing mass destruction and killing hundreds. The 14-story Palestine tower collapsed in Gaza City right behind an Al Jazeera film crew.
International reactions were swift. Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and Brazil called an emergency meeting in the UN Security Council.
Police departments in major cities such as London, Los Angeles, and Ottawa, among others, have increased patrols around places of worship in wake of the attacks, and to supervise demonstrations which are occurring as a result.
Two Israeli citizens were killed in a shooting by an Egyptian police officer in Alexandria on Sunday. An Egyptian civilian was also killed in the attack before the police officer was detained, according to Egyptian authorities.
Herat Earthquake
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Herat in western Afghanistan on Oct. 7. Over 2,000 people were pronounced dead, according to the Taliban, the de facto authorities in the country.
Desperate survivors used their bare hands and shovels to dig out the dead and wounded from the rubble. The initial earthquake was followed by multiple powerful after-shocks.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed his solidarity with those affected and has deployed humanitarian assistance on the ground. Doctors Without Borders and the Red Crescent have also deployed resources.
War in Ukraine
More than 50 people were killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian town of Hroza. The bombardment occurred as a funeral was underway in the Kharkiv village. The UN says it is investigating the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful testing of a nuclear-powered strategic missile on Oct. 6. Putin also escalated nuclear rhetoric this week, threatening to end the ban on nuclear testing.
Türkiye-Kurdish Conflict
A terrorist attack near government buildings in the Türkiye’s capital Ankara left two dead, and two injured. The PKK, a Kurdish militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that the terrorists have “not achieved their goals, and never will.” Police also conducted controlled explosions of unexploded bombs in other parts of the capital.
Turkish forces conducted airstrikes on suspected Kurdish targets in Northern Iraq, and in Syria, killing dozens, following the attack. Turkish authorities have also reportedly arrested over 2,000 fugitives in a nationwide counter-terrorism operation.
U.S. forces shot down a Turkish drone in Syria on Oct. 6. Military leaders from both NATO allies have discussed the incident by phone. Tensions have existed for years between the two nations over the U.S. support of Kurdish militants in the fight against ISIS.
War in Sudan
Fighting continues in Sudan, where two rival generals have been in a power struggle since April. Over 9,000 people have been confirmed dead in the conflict.
At least 5.4 million people have been displaced in the region since April. Humanitarian officials are struggling to meet the needs of millions of refugees, and those who have remained face major food insecurity.
20.3 million people are facing food insecurity in the country, according to the World Food Program. The UNHCR, the refugee agency of the United Nations, is also warning of a growing public health crisis.
“Nearly six months of conflict have brought Sudan’s health care system to its knees,” the UNHCR said. Primary issues are respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, malaria, and measles.
Crisis in Haiti
The UN Security Council approved the deployment of a Kenyan-led international force to Haiti to fight off violent gangs in the country. Thirteen of the fifteen members of the Security Council voted in favour, and China and Russia abstained.
Critics have pointed to alleged human rights abuses conducted by Kenyan police, who are being sent to Haiti, in the past. This primarily revolves around brutal crackdowns on anti-government protests in Nairobi and Mombasa this July.
Chaos in U.S. Congress
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in an unprecedented vote on Oct. 4. The vote was spearheaded by far-right Republican House Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida. McCarthy was ousted for cooperating with Democrats to avert a government shutdown in late September.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, an ally of McCarthy, was made interim speaker following the vote. The decision to oust McCarthy has kickstarted a race for the next house speaker.
The race is between House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, and House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan. Jordan was endorsed by former President, and current Republican front-runner for the White House, Donald Trump.
The ongoing war in Ukraine, and the recent outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas has put more demand on Congress to approve spending bills.
Canada House Speaker Election
The Canadian House of Commons has elected a new Speaker of the House on Oct. 4. Greg Fergus, a Liberal MP representing Hull-Alymer, was elected to fill the role.
Fergus is the first person of colour to hold the position, and has been a vocal advocate for the Black community in Canada during his long career in the public and private sector.
Two weeks ago, House Speaker Anthony Rota resigned in a historic move. Rota had elicited immense controversy after he invited Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian veteran who served for the SS, a military wing of the Nazi party, during WWII, into the House of Commons during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy.
The incident, which has come to be known as the ‘Hunka Affair’, led to an official apology by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The incident has elicited outrage from Vladimir Putin, and led to Poland making moves to extradite Hunka.