Portal:Current events/2023 October 18
October 18, 2023 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Gaza-Israel conflict
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
- The United States vetoes a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have called for a humanitarian pause in Gaza. Twelve other countries voted in favour of the resolution while two abstained. (AP)
- UN Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths reiterates that there are rules of war after the US vetoed humanitarian pauses in the conflict. (Al Jazeera)
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemns the UNSC for failing to pass a resolution for a humanitarian pause, adding that efforts to deescalate the conflict have been hindered by the collective punishment of Palestinians through airstrikes and the deployment of US aircraft carriers to the region. (Reuters)
- International reactions to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- President Biden visits Israel and declares "You are not alone." (Times of Israel)
- Hate crimes related to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Islamic terrorism in Europe
- Extremists throw Molotov cocktails at a synagogue in Berlin, Germany. Several antisemitic incidents in the country have been rising following the escalation in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. The incident is being investigated as a terrorist attack. (Politico)
- Islamic terrorism in Europe
- Evacuations during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Saudi Arabia tells its citizens to immediately leave Lebanon due to the deteriorating security situation in southern Lebanon. (Al Arabiya)
- October 2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
- 2023 Israel–Hamas war
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- A Russian missile strike on an apartment building in Zaporizhzhia kills two civilians, according to Ukrainian officials. (The New York Times)
- Military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Russia–United States relations
- Russia says the U.S. decision to supply Ukraine with long-range ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles is a "grave mistake" which will have serious consequences. Ukrainian forces used the missiles in combat for the first time yesterday. (Reuters)
- Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- Two tourists from the United Kingdom and South Africa and a local tour guide are shot dead at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda by Allied Democratic Forces gunmen. (BBC News)
Business and economy
- Guinea-Bissau's capital Bissau experiences a major blackout after Turkish energy firm Karpowership cuts the supply of electricity to the city over an unpaid bill of at least $15m. The Guinea-Bissauan government says the outstanding amount will be paid within 15 days. (BBC News)
Law and crime
- Disappearance of Natalee Holloway
- Dutch serial killer Joran van der Sloot confesses in an Alabama federal court that he killed Natalee Holloway. (CNN)
- The Palace of Versailles and three French airports are evacuated and temporarily closed "for security reasons". (AP)
Politics and elections
- 2024 Indonesian presidential election
- Chairwoman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Sukarnoputri announces Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD will be a vice-presidential running mate for Ganjar Pranowo. (CNA)
- Georgian parliament members from the ruling Georgian Dream party fail to impeach President Salome Zourabichvili, securing only 86 of the required 100 votes, after the constitutional court ruled that Zourabichvili violated the constitution by advocating for Georgia's European Union membership during international trips without government approval. (AFP via France 24)