Historical Events
Music Concert
Oct 1 Rock singer David Lee Roth announces his retirement will follow a five-concert residency in Las Vegas in January 2022
- Oct 1 US COVID-19 death toll passes 700,000, with daily deaths averaging 1,900 a day [1]
- Oct 2 Massive oil slick from a pipeline discovered off California, along Orange County coast covering 13 square miles
- Oct 3 MLB Cleveland win their last game under the Indians name, beating Texas Rangers 6-0
- Oct 3 MLB Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Hector Neris strikes out three Florida Marlins, setting new franchise record of 520, in his last game before becoming a free agent
Pandora Papers
Oct 3 Pandora Papers investigation reveals secret wealth of 30 current and former world leaders including Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Czech PM Andrej Babis and former UK PM Tony Blair
- Oct 3 Record rainfall in Europe when 36 inches (925 mm) of rain begins falling in northern Italian town of Rossiglione [1]
- Oct 3 Tropical Cyclone Shaheen makes landfall in Oman and Iran, killing at least nine people
Event of Interest
Oct 4 Fumio Kishida takes office as Japan's new Prime Minister after taking over as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party
- Oct 4 Global outage of Facebook and its apps, including Instagram and WhatsApp, for six hours
- Oct 4 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine awarded to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for discovering receptors for temperature and touch
- Oct 4 Three years worth of rain (14 inches or 300 mm) falls in 12 hours in city of Al Khaburah, Oman, in the wake of tropical cyclone Shaheen [1]
- Oct 5 480 Otis wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week for pre-hibernation weight gain for the third year in a row
- Oct 5 Major French investigation finds clergy sexually abused more than 200,000 children over 70 years, most of the victims boys [1]
- Oct 5 Nobel Prize for Physics awarded to Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi for pioneering work that warned of climate change
- Oct 5 Russia launches an actor and director to the International Space Station to make the first film in orbit
- Oct 6 Carnegie Hall in NYC re-opens after 18 month pandemic shutdown with a concert by The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin
- Oct 6 Los Angeles votes in some of the strictest COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the country, requiring vaccinations before people can enter indoor businesses and events
- Oct 6 Nobel Prize for Chemistry awarded to Benjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan for development of asymmetric organocatalysis (tool for building molecules)
Event of Interest
Oct 6 WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recommends world's first Malaria vaccine (Mosquirix) for children after a pilot program was effective in Africa [1]
Nobel Peace Prize
Oct 8 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression" [1]
Election of Interest
Oct 9 Czech populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis narrowly defeated in nation elections by a coalition of opposition parties
Event of Interest
Oct 10 Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen says country won't bow to Chinese pressure in defiant speech on Taiwanese National Day, day after Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to "fulfil reunification"
- Oct 11 Australia's largest city Sydney ends its 107-day lockdown, with restrictions easing for fully vaccinated people
- Oct 11 Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden steps down after The NY Times details emails in which he made homophobic and misogynistic remarks; earlier reports alleged racist statements about a union leader
- Oct 11 Nobel Prize for Economics awarded to David Card, Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens for their work on "natural experiments" [1]
- Oct 13 24-year-old Rumeysa Gelgi from Turkey confirmed as World's tallest living woman by Guinness World Records at 215.16 centimeters 215.16cm (7ft 0.7in) [1]
- Oct 13 Bow and arrow terrorist attack kills five and injuries two in Kongsberg, Norway
Film & TV History
Oct 13 William Shatner becomes the oldest person to reach space, travelling aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket on a 10 minute flight
- Oct 14 Record price for a Banksy artwork paid of 18.5 million pounds ($25.4 million) for "Love is in the Bin", that was famously shredded on purchase in 2018 [1]
- Oct 15 British MP Sir David Amess stabbed to death at a meeting of constituents in Essex in Leigh-on-Sea, England in probable terror attack
- Oct 15 IPL Cricket Final, Dubai International Stadium: Chennai Super Kings win their 4th IPL title beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs; Faf du Plessis scores 86 off 59 balls for Player of the Match
Sports History
Oct 16 Camden County Commissioners unveil Statue of boxing champion Jersey Joe Walcott at Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, New Jersey
- Oct 16 NASA probe Lucy launched on mission to fly-by eight Trojan asteroids circling the sun [1]
- Oct 17 Return engagement of David Byrne's musical revue "American Utopia" opens at St. James Theatre, NYC; runs for 134 performances
- Oct 18 Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso declares 60-day state of emergency in response to a violent crime wave caused by power struggle between drug cartels
- Oct 18 Flash foods and heavy rain in northern Indian state of Uttarakhand and Nepal kill over 100 people after 328mm falls in 24 hrs [1]
Eternals
Oct 18 Marvel film "Eternals" directed by Chloé Zhao, starring an ensemble cast including Gemma Chan, Richard Madden and Angelina Jolie premieres in Los Angeles
COVID-19 Pandemic
Oct 20 Brazilian Senate inquiry finds President Bolsonaro should face series of criminal charges, including crimes against humanity, for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic [1]
- Oct 20 Confirmation that Vikings established settlement first in 1021 AD in the New World at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, provided by new dating technique using solar storms [1]
Film & TV History
Oct 21 Actor Alec Baldwin shots cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead and injures director Joel Souza with a prop gun in rehearsal on a film set at Bonanza Ranch, New Mexico
- Oct 21 Syria's government says it has executed 24 people for starting devastating wildfires in 2020 that killed three [1]
- Oct 22 Australian city of Melbourne "world's most locked down city" exits its sixth lockdown after a total of 260 days
- Oct 23 Capture of Colombia's most-wanted drug lord, Dairo Antonio Usuga 'Otoniel', in Colombia's Uraba region, announced live on TV [1]
- Oct 24 COVID-19 cases in Eastern Europe pass 20 million with Russia, Ukraine and Romania in top five countries reporting deaths globally [1]
Air Jordans Sneaker Record
Oct 24 Michael Jordan's 1984 Nike Air Ships sell for $1.472 million at Sotheby's, a new record for sneakers at auction [1]
- Oct 24 Strongest storm to ever hit the West Coast of the US, with California recording barometric pressure of 945.2 mb, and San Francisco its wettest October day [1]
- Oct 24 Tom Brady becomes first quarterback in NFL history to record 600 touchdown passes when he hits Mike Evans in 1st quarter of the Buccaneers 38-3 rout of the Chicago Bears in Tampa Bay
- Oct 25 Afghanistan to become world's worst humanitarian crisis as nearly 23 million people face acute hunger over winter according to the World Food Program [1]
- Oct 25 NASA scientists announce they may have detected the first planet outside our galaxy, in Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), 28 million light-years away [1]
- Oct 25 Sudan's military takes control of the country, dissolving the power-sharing government and declaring a state of emergency
- Oct 26 UN report says current climate pledges put world on course for "catastrophic" average 2.7-degree Celsius temperature rise this century ahead of Glasgow climate summit [1]
- Oct 27 Cleveland Guardians men's roller derby team files lawsuit seeking to block MLB baseball Cleveland Indians name change
- Oct 27 More than one million people in southern Madagascar are on the brink of famine according to Amnesty International, who urges world to provide relief
- Oct 28 Largest-ever drug bust in Asia made by police in Laos with 55 million methamphetamine tablets and 1.5 tonnes of crystal meth discovered in beer crates [1]
Event of Interest
Oct 28 Mark Zuckerberg announces Facebook will change its corporate name to Meta amid increased public scrutiny over leaked internal documents
- Oct 28 One of world's largest floor mosaics unveiled after restoration at Hisham's Palace (660-750 AD) by Palestinian authorities in Jericho, West Bank [1]
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Oct 30 36th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Foo Fighters; The Go-Go's; Jay-Z; Carole King; Todd Rundgren; Tina Turner; Kraftwerk; Gil Scott-Heron; Charley Patton; LL Cool J; Billy Preston; Randy Rhodes; and Clarence Avant
- Oct 30 Grand Ole Opry broadcasts its 5000th Saturday night radio program, from Nashville, Tennessee [1]
- Oct 30 World Leader agree historic corporate tax agreement of at least 15% at G20 summit in Rome
- Oct 31 World's largest solar farm goes live in Sirindhorn reservoir, Thailand, as a hydro-floating solar hybrid system the size of 70 football fields [1]
Famous Weddings
- Oct 26 Japanese Princess Mako (30) marries commoner Kei Komuro (30) in an understated ceremony in Tokyo
Famous Deaths
- Oct 1 Earle Wells, New Zealand sailor (Olympic gold Flying Dutchman 1964), dies at 87
- Oct 1 Fred Hill, English soccer forward (2 caps; Bolton Wanderers 375 games), dies at 81
- Oct 3 Budge Patty, American tennis player (French C'ship, Wimbledon men's singles 1950), dies at 97
- Oct 3 Cynthia Harris, American stage and screen actress (Edward & Mrs. Simpson; Mad About You - "Sylvia"), dies at 87
- Oct 4 Alan Kalter, American television announcer (Late Show with David Letterman, 1995-2015), dies at 78
- Oct 4 Eddie Robinson, American baseball first baseman (MLB All Star 1949, 51–53; Washington Sens, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia A's) and executive (GM Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves), dies at 100
- Oct 4 Laurie Davidson, New Zealand yacht designer (Black Magic 1995; Team New Zealand 2000; America's Cup HOF 2007), dies at 94
- Oct 5 Jerry Shipp, American basketball forward (Olympic gold 1964; 3× AAU All-American 1962–64 SE Oklahoma State), dies at 86
- Oct 6 Pat Fish [Huntrods], British guitarist (The Jazz Butcher), dies at 63
- Oct 7 (Frederick) "Rick" Jones, Canadian-British children's television presenter (Play School; Fingerbobs), and folk musician (Meal Ticket - "Better Believe It Babe"), dies of esophageal cancer at 84
- Oct 8 Everett Morton, Nevisian-born English drummer and percussionist (English Beat), dies at 71
- Oct 9 Keitaro Hoshino, Japanese boxer (WBA minimumweight title 2000-01, 02), dies at 52
- Oct 10 Luis de Pablo, Spanish composer, and musicologist, dies at 91
- Oct 11 Olav Nilsen, Norwegian soccer striker/midfielder (62 caps; Viking FK), dies at 79
- Oct 11 Tony DeMarco, American boxer (NBA, NYSAC, The Ring welterweight titles 1955), dies at 89
- Oct 11 Trevor Hemmings, British businessman (Owner Preston North End FC; 3 x Grand National winners Hedgehunter [2005], Ballabriggs [2011], Many Clouds [2015]), dies at 86
- Oct 12 Leon Black, American college basketball coach (Texas Longhorns men's team 1967-76), dies at 89
- Oct 12 Paddy Moloney, Irish uilleann pipe and tin whistle player, composer, and producer (The Chieftains), dies at 83
- Oct 12 Raúl Coloma, Chilean soccer goalkeeper (13 caps; Ferrobádminton, Municipal Santiago, Ferroviaros), dies at 93
- Oct 12 Renton Laidlaw, Scottish golf broadcaster and journalist (President Association of Golf Writers 1995-2015; BBC Radio), dies from COVID-19 at 82
- Oct 13 Dale Kildee, American politician (Rep-D-Michigan, 1977-2013), dies at 92
- Oct 13 Gary Paulsen, American author of young adult literature, dies of a heart attack at 82
- Oct 13 Norm Provan, Australian rugby league second rower (14 Tests; St. George RLFC NSWRL Premiers 1956-66; RL "Immortal") and coach (St. George, Parramatta, Cronulla), dies at 89
- Oct 13 Otis Armstrong, American College Football HOF running back (Purdue; All-Pro 1974; Pro Bowl 1974, 76; Denver Broncos), dies at 70
- Oct 13 Ray Fosse, American baseball catcher (MLB All-Star, Gold Glove Award 1970, 71 Cleveland Indians; World Series Oakland A's 1973, 74) and broadcaster (Oakland A's NBC), dies of cancer at 74
- Oct 15 Miguel de Oliveira, Brazilian boxer (WBC light middleweight champion 1975), dies from pancreatic cancer at 74
- Oct 15 Tuineau Alipate, Tongan-born NFL and CFL player (Frankfurt Galaxy, Minnesota Vikings), dies at 54
- Oct 16 Jean Rochon, Quebec politician, dies at 83
- Oct 16 Leo Boivin, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs) and coach (St. Louis Blues), dies at 89
- Oct 16 Pat Studstill, American football wide receiver (Pro Bowl 1965, 66; NFL receiving yards leader, record 99-yard TD reception [tied] 1966; Detroit Lions, LA Rams), dies at 83
- Oct 16 Ron Tutt, American session and touring drummer (Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris; Jerry Garcia; Neil Diamond), dies at 83
- Oct 18 Bandula Warnapura, Sri Lankan cricket batsman (4 Tests; first SL Test captain; 12 ODIs; Bloomfield CC), dies at 68
Colin Powell (1937-2021)
Oct 18 American General and 1st Black US Secretary of State (2001-05), dies from complications of COVID-19, blood cancer, and Parkinson's disease at 84 [1]
- Oct 18 Edita Gruberová, Slovak operatic soprano, dies at 74
- Oct 18 Manuel Neri, American sculptor (life-size figurative sculptures), dies at 91
- Oct 18 Val Bisoglio, American actor (Lt Marsh-Police Woman, Danny-Quincy ME), dies at 95
- Oct 19 Fred Goodall, New Zealand cricket umpire (24 Tests, 15 one-day internationals 1965-88), dies at 83
- Oct 19 Leslie Bricusse, British stage and film composer and lyricist (Doctor Dolittle; Goodbye, Mr. Chips; "Goldfinger"; Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory - "The Candy Man"; "Pure Imagination"), dies at 90
- Oct 19 Pierre Kerkhoffs, Dutch soccer striker (5 caps; SC Enschede, PSV, Lausanne Sport), dies at 85
- Oct 20 Dragan Pantelić, Serbian soccer goalkeeper (19 caps Yugoslavia; Radnički Niš, Bordeaux), dies at 69
- Oct 20 Hans Haselböck, Austrian organist and composer, dies at 93
- Oct 20 Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, Hungarian-American psychologist (concept of "flow"), dies at 87
- Oct 21 Bernard Haitink, Dutch conductor (Concertgebouw, 1961-88; London Philharmonic, 1967-79; Royal Opera Covent Garden, 1987-2002), dies at 92 [1]
- Oct 21 Kathy Flores, American rugby union coach (United States women's team 2002-11; Brown University), dies at 66
- Oct 21 Nils Einár Grönberg, Swedish rapper ("Första klass"; "Katten i trakten"), shot to death in suspected gang-related incident at 19
- Oct 21 Wilfred Gibson, British session and pop violinist (Electric Light Orchestra, 1972-73; ELO II, 1991-94; Berkeley Square Society Band), dies at 72
- Oct 22 Jay Black [David Blatt], American pop singer (Jay and the Americans - “Come A Little Bit Closer”; “This Magic Moment”), dies of pneumonia and complications from dementia at 82
- Oct 22 Peter Scolari, American stage and screen Emmy Award-winning actor (Newhart - "Michael"; Girls - "Tad"; Bosom Buddies - "Henry"), dies of cancer at 66 [1]
- Oct 23 Bob Neumeier, American sportscaster (WBZ-radio, TV Boston; NBC Sports), dies from heart disease at 70
- Oct 24 Sonny Osborne, American bluegrass banjo player (The Osborne Brothers - "Rocky Top"), dies of a stroke at 83
- Oct 25 Aleksandar Shalamanov, Bulgarian soccer defender (42 caps; PFC Slavia Sofia) and alpine skier (Winter Olympics 1960), dies at 80
- Oct 26 Glen Tuckett American college basbeall coach (Brigham Young Uni 1959-76) and administrator (BYU athletic director 1976-94), dies at 93
- Oct 26 Mort Sahl, American stand-up comedian, political satirist, writer, and TV personality (The Big Party), dies at 94 [1]
- Oct 26 Umberto Colombo, Italian soccer midfielder (3 caps; Juventus, Atalanta), dies at 88
- Oct 26 Walter Smith, Scottish football manager (Rangers, Everton; Scotland 2004-07), dies at 73
- Oct 27 Bernd Nickel, German soccer attacking midfielder (1 cap West Germany, 1972 Olympics; Eintracht Frankfurt 426 games, 141 goals), dies at 72
- Oct 27 Bob Ferry, American basketball forward (St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets) and executive (GM Washington Bullets; NBA Exec of the Year 1979, 82), dies at 84
- Oct 27 Sandy Carmichael, Scottish rugby union prop (50 caps; British and Irish Lions 1971, 74; West of Scotland, Glasgow District), dies at 77
- Oct 28 David C. Johnson, American composer, flautist, educator, and electronic music performer (Stockhausen), dies at 81
- Oct 28 Dick Szymanski, American football center (Pro Bowl 1955, 62, 64; Baltimore Colts) and executive (GM Baltimore Colts 1977-82), dies at 89
- Oct 29 Ashley Mallett, Australian cricket spin bowler (38 Tests, 132 wickets, best 8/59; South Australia), dies from cancer at 76
- Oct 29 Mehdi Cerbah, Algerian soccer goalkeeper (57 caps; JS Kabylie), dies at 68
- Oct 30 Alan Davidson, Australian cricket all-rounder (44 Tests, 1,328 runs @ 24.59, 186 wickets, best 7/93, 42 catches; NSW), dies at 92
- Oct 30 Bert Newton, Australian radio, television, and stage personality (Good Morning Australia; Logie Award ceremonies; 20-1), dies at 83
- Oct 30 Jerry Remy, American baseball infielder (MLB All Star 1978; California Angels, Boston Red Sox) and broadcaster (NESN), dies from lung cancer at 68
- Oct 30 Pepi Bader, German bobsledder (World C'ship gold 2-man 1970; Olympic silver 1968, 72), dies at 80
- Oct 31 Dorothy Manley, British 100m sprinter (Olympic silver, 1948), dies at 94
- Oct 31 Joan Carlyle, Welsh operatic soprano (Covent Garden, 1955-76), dies at 90
- Oct 31 Peter Philpott, Australian cricket spin bowler (8 Tests, 26 wickets, best 5/90; NSW CA), dies due to complications from a fall at 86
Assassination
Car Crash
Hanging
Killed in Action
Plane Crash
Poisoning