Portal:Current events/2019 October 18

October 18, 2019 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Mexican Drug War
- The Mexican National Guard arrests Ovidio Guzmán López, one of former cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's sons, in Culiacán. He is later released after government forces come under intense attack and are overpowered by Sinaloa Cartel gunmen, according to Security Minister Alfonso Durazo. (BBC News) (CNBC)
- According to a later statement, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and government authorities ordered officers to let Guzmán López go free to avoid a "bloodbath" and "preserve the lives of our officers and bring calm back to the city". (Clarín)
- Eight people are confirmed killed in the failed raid. More than twenty others were injured. (AP News)
Haska Meyna mosque bombing
- Multiple explosions inside a mosque in Haska Meyna District of Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province kill at least 62 people and severely damage the building. (Reuters)
2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
- The Kurds say that Turkey is already violating the ceasefire agreement by shelling the border town of Ras al-Ain. (CNN)
- Turkish airstrikes kill five civilians in the village of Bab al-Kheir. (Times of Israel)

Arts and culture

The wreck of Japanese warship Kaga, sunk in the Battle of Midway during World War II, is discovered on the seabed in the Pacific Ocean. It is only the second vessel sunk during the battle to have been found. (Live Science)

Business and economy

UK clothing retailer Bonmarché collapses into administration. The chain employs 2,900 people and operates 318 stores. (iNews)

Disasters and accidents

Seattle crane collapse
- Washington State authorities find a crane collapse earlier this year in Seattle was caused when workers removed securing pins too early during the crane's dismantling. Four people were killed in the accident. Three firms are issued fines. (NBC News)

International relations

Japan says it will not join the U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct to protect international shipping in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz amid Iranian aggression, but will instead deploy its own Maritime Self-Defense Force to the region to guard merchant vessels "related to Japan". (Reuters)
The Financial Action Task Force, an international counter-terrorism finance taskforce, tells Pakistan to improve its counter-terror funding operations by next February or face being added to the group's blacklist. (The Hindustan Times)

Law and crime

Trial of Catalan independence leaders; 2019 Catalan protests
- Catalonia goes to a general strike in protest of the prison sentence of the Catalan independentists leaders. Thousands of demonstrators arrive walking to Barcelona from the whole region. (The Guardian)
- After a peaceful demonstration involving more than 500,000 people in Barcelona, violent clashes erupt, with more clashes in Tarragona and Girona. (El Periódico) (Tarragona Digital)
- In Barcelona, a water cannon is used for the first time against protesters in Spain. (La Vanguardia)
Former President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont is released with charges by the Brussels prosecutor's office after surrendering on Thursday to the Belgian authorities following the issuing of the European Arrest Warrant on Monday. (The Guardian) (Euronews)

Politics and elections

2019–20 Lebanese protests
- Hundreds of protestors march across Lebanon over the government's proposal to tax numerous goods, such as tobacco and WhatsApp calls. Police respond by firing tear gas on those in Beirut. (Al Jazeera) (Reuters)
- The government withdraws the controversial tax plan. Despite this, protests continue, with participants swelling to tens of thousands and them now calling for the downfall of the government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri gives his government 72 hours to resolve the country's worsening economic crisis. (Al Jazeera)
2019 Santiago protests
- After a week of fare-dodging protests in the Santiago Metro, thousands of protestors clash with police in different places across Santiago, Chile. Subway service is suspended in the entire city. Protests started after a price hike in the most expensive subway system in Latin America. (The Guardian)

Science and technology