October 17, 2007 (Wednesday)
- French public transport workers hold a 24-hour strike protesting at changes to pensions. (BBC via ABC News Australia)
- John Fahey, former Premier of New South Wales, is appointed as the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency. (Herald Sun)
- The Dalai Lama is awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress; the decision is defended by George W. Bush.[citation needed]
- Burmese activist and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is granted honorary citizenship by Canada. (Globe and Mail)
- 2007 Turkish offensive on Iraqi territories against Kurdish rebels: The Turkish Grand National Assembly approves a government request for their troops to cross the Iraqi border to attack Kurdish rebels. (Sky News)
- The President of Sudan Omar Hassan al-Bashir approves a Cabinet reshuffle meeting one of the demands of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) who had earlier withdrawn participation in the government. (Reuters)[permanent dead link]
- Trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange's BSE Sensex is briefly suspended after a 9% decline in the market. (BBC)
- Floyd Roland becomes the new Premier of the Northwest Territories, Canada. (Globe and Mail)
- Pope Benedict XVI announces he will create twenty-three new members of the College of Cardinals in the consistory of November 24. (ZENIT)