This week, the Boston Red Sox rallied to win a third World Series championship, shedding light on the team’s ascending status in baseball within the past 10 years. On the other side of the world, U.S. drone strikes have reportedly killed the Pakistani Taliban’s head commander, but whether this will drum up more support for the U.S. drone program is still under question. Finally, at this very moment a gunman is in police custody in L.A. after shooting a TSA officer dead at L.A.’s international airport, with the F.B.I. investigating to find a clear motive for the attack.
Welcome back to NEWSFLASH, giving you this week’s biggest news stories!
Red Sox Clinch World Series Title
The Boston Red Sox routed the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to win the World Series on Wednesday, giving the Red Sox their third championship title since 2004.
The team was long a source of frustration for their fans after failing to win a title for 84 years. Wednesday night’s Red Sox victory marked a definite shift in momentum for the team, as their third World Series title revealed the Red Sox’s true potential.
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was named the series’ most valuable player following the win. Ortiz, 37, joined the Red Sox in 2003 and was instrumental in all three of their World Series victories.
A huge victory parade was held in Boston on Saturday with almost 1 million fans cheering on the streets. While the team has won two previous championship titles in the past nine years, Wednesday’s victory has re-energized Boston once more and signaled a possible new era in baseball.
Drone Strikes in Pakistan Reportedly Killed Taliban Chief
A series of drone strikes on Friday reportedly took out the head of the Pakistani Taliban, a positive result for the U.S.’s drone program long criticized for its imprecision and threat to civilians.
In a phone call, an unidentified Taliban commander reportedly stated that “Hakimullah has been martyred,” implying that their leader had died. Hakimullah Mehsud had a $5 million bounty on his head issued by the U.S. government for his capture.
The chief orchestrated an attack on a U.S. spy base in eastern Afghanistan that killed seven American C.I.A. employees in 2009. He was also wanted for training Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-American man who attempted to bomb Times Square in 2010.
The U.S.’s drone strike military program has undergone widespread criticism. On October 25, the American government defended its use of drone strikes at the U.N. by describing them as “necessary” in the war against Al-Qaeda. The address took place at a U.N. General Assembly meeting where many nations openly expressed their outrage at the U.S.’s drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and other countries of interest.
Shooting at L.A. Airport Kills 1, Gunman Taken Down By Security Officials
A shooting at LAX left one TSA official dead and at least six others injured before officers could bring down the gunman.
Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, opened fire in LAX’s Terminal 3, claiming one victim and injuring six people, including three police officers. The victim was identified as Gerardo Hernandez, 39, who worked as a TSA document checker.
While Ciancia’s motive remains unclear, investigators have reported that he held anti-government sentiments and seemed especially hostile towards the TSA. Witnesses stated that Ciancia had gone around asking people if they worked for the TSA and would avoid them if they said no.
Police shot Ciancia in the chest and the gunman is now in custody. The airport’s security officials have been praised for their quick response that prevented more damage from being done.