The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch

The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch

The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch

Top Five World News Events: Oct. 15 to Oct. 21

People celebrate in the streets, amid reports that Moammar Gadhafis death by anti-Gadhafi forces overwhelmed his hometown of Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, on October 20, 2011. Even before confirmation of ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafis death came from the nations interim government Thursday, Libyans erupted in jubilation after early reports said he had been captured or killed. (Erhan Sevenler/AA/Abaca Press/MCT)
People celebrate in the streets, amid reports that Moammar Gadhafi’s death by anti-Gadhafi forces overwhelmed his hometown of Sirte, in Tripoli, Libya, on October 20, 2011. Even before confirmation of ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s death came from the nation’s interim government Thursday, Libyans erupted in jubilation after early reports said he had been captured or killed. (Erhan Sevenler/AA/Abaca Press/MCT)

1. Moammar Gadhafi Killed by Rebels; War in Libya Ends. The 2011 Libyan Civil War came to a dramatic conclusion on Thursday as forces opposed to the ex-leader of Libya overtook the last pro-Gadhafi city of Sirte. Moammar Gadhafi was killed after fierce fighting between National Transitional Council (NTC) forces and holdouts loyal to the old government. Gadhafi seized power in Libya in a military coup d’etat in 1969, and has been accused of gross violations of civil liberties and human rights in Libya. Gadhafi had been wanted by the International Criminal Court for atrocities relating to the 2011 conflict. The NTC will now focus on reconstruction in the wake of the eight month-long civil war. (Source: CNN)

2. Gilad Shalit Released in Exchange for 1,027 Palestinian Prisoners. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli Defense Force soldier captured by Hamas five years ago, was released. The Israeli government agreed to release over a thousand prisoners held in Israeli jails. Four hundred seventy seven prisoners were released immediately as Shalit was led out of the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas. The remainder will be released at a later date. Both Shalit and the Palestinian ex-prisoners returned to celebrations at home. Shalit met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at an Israeli military base after his release. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with the released Palestinians upon their return. The prisoner swap has been a source of controversy, as many Israelis believe that the release of prisoners threatens their safety, while Palestinians hoped to secure the release of more senior officials in Hamas.  (Source: BBC)

3. Turkish Military Attacks Kurds in Iraq. The Turkish Army has sent special forces into the Kurdish region of northern Iraq following terrorist attacks in Turkey. Approximately 10,000 Turkish commandos entered the country on Wednesday after 24 Turkish soldiers were killed near the Turkey-Iraq border. At least 21 Kurdish militants were reportedly killed in the early days of the operation. The Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) has responded to what they consider oppression of Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. The Kurdish people have sought the creation of a separate state, Kurdistan, from territory from Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq, and have faced opposition from governments in each nation. (Source: BBC)

4. Violence in Athens as Protesters Fight Austerity. One protester is dead of a heart attack and many more are injured as Greek workers called a general strike. Protesters are fighting measures to make deep cuts to public sector spending. The measures are necessary if European and international finance groups are to give additional financial aid to Greece. Europeans are concerned that Greece failing to pay its debts will devalue the euro, the continental currency of European Union member states. Italy, Spain and Portugal also have extreme levels of debt, and have also received financial aid from the European Union. (Source: BBC)

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5. Kenya Intervenes in Somalia after Kidnappings. Kenyan soldiers entered Somalia to push Islamic militants away from its border after a recent spate of kidnappings. The Kenyan government blames al-Shabab, a militant group which controls much of Somalia, for the kidnappings. Al-Shabab has threatened to carry out attacks in Kenya itself if soldiers are not withdrawn from Somalia, and is already believed to be behind a grenade attack on a nightclub in Kenya in response to the military incursion. The provisional government in Somalia, backed by the United Nations, denies the presence of Kenyan troops inside of Somali borders. The UN-backed government has been in conflict with al-Shabab militants since the early 1990s. (Source: BBC)

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