Podcast 

October Recap

Protests are being held both in Iran and around the globe in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, after she was detained by ‘Morality Police’ Officers in September for allegedly violating Iran’s strict rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab or headscarf. Iranians have been recorded setting their headscarves on fire, defiantly cutting their hair and chanting “women, life, freedom” as well as “death to the dictator”, aimed at Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Over 284 people have died with over 14,000 detained, BBC reports.The UN's Secretary-General has deplored the state’s use of "unnecessary" force. Iranian authorities continue to heavily disrupt internet access in large parts of the country ,as well as blocking, messaging applications, making documentation and verification difficult. Human Rights Watch have documented numerous incidents of security forces unlawfully using excessive or lethal force against protesters in 13 different cities across Iran. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutierres called on security forces to stop using “unnecessary or disproportionate force”, and stated “we [the UN] underline the need for prompt, impartial and effective investigation into Ms. Masha Amini’s death”. The UN Committee on the Rights of Child have condemned the killings of at least 32 children by Iranian security forces in response to the protests.

In Burkina Faso, the country’s second coup in nine months has replaced Paul Henri Damiba, who had orchestrated the coup against President Roch Kabore, with Captain Ibrahim Traore, the now-President, on October 6th. Xi Jinping has secured a third president as the Chinese Communist Party’s General-Secretary and President of China. During the 20th National Congress of the CCP, Xi expressed an agenda to open China up to the world, while becoming self-reliant, and a goal to obtain “full control” over Hong Kong, although the current “one country, two systems” arrangement isn’t set to expire until 2047. The party congress also drove Hong Kong stocks to a 13-year low as Western foreign investors get cold feet in response to China’s doubling down in its political direction. In Italy, far right leader Giorgia Meloni has formally accepted the job of forming the next government at the head of the country’s most right-wing administration since World War II. In the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak has become Prime Minister following Liz Truss’ resignation. In Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won the Presidential election, receiving 50.9% of the vote, securing victory over his opponent, Jair Bolsonaro.

At least 100 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem this year amid a massive increase in Israeli military raids, it was reported at the start of October. Violence continues in Tigray, Ethiopia following a ceasefire in March 2022, as pro-federal government troops control the majority of Ethiopia. All sides have committed war crimes during the conflict, and an estimated 300,000-600,00 people have been killed, including multiple UN guards. Pro-democracy protestors in Chad have resulted in 50 deaths and 300 injured, the UN reports, after a delayed transition to ‘democratic rule’ as promised by new leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby. The UN Human Rights High Commissioner has deplored the violent retaliation by the government, who had deployed tear gas and fired ammunition at protestors, killing civilians and a journalist.

Hunger in one of the Haiti’s biggest slums is at a catastrophic level, as the country facing a humanitarian crisis due to acute political, economic, health and security crises, which have worsened food insecurity. Gangs have taken control of key highways and Haiti’s largest fuel terminal, whilst several warehouses run by aid organisations have been looted.

Flooding in Nigeria has resulted in over 600 deaths, and 1.3 million displaced, the UN reported on October 21st. The floods have affected over 2.8 million people so far, the UN has estimated, of which UNICEF have reported that 60% of those at risk are children. Somalia is facing its worst drought in 40 years, as the worst affected regions are largely occupied by militants from the al-Shabab group. Since June, 1717 people have died to due flooding in Pakistan that has put a third of the country underwater, figures from OCHA show. Millions have been displaced, creating “climate refugees within their own country” as Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan's Prime Minister declared.

125 people have died and 320 were injured after a crush at a football match in Indonesia on October 1st. In Seoul, South Korea, 154 people have died following a crush in the Itaewon district on October 29th. A bridge collapse in India on October 30th has killed 141 people. 177 people have been rescued so far and search operations are underway to recover those who are still missing. Authorities have reported that most of the victims were children, women and elderly people, BBC reports.