October 21, 2011 (Friday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Libyan Civil War:
- NATO commander James G. Stavridis announces that NATO plans to conclude its Libyan military intervention, Operation Unified Protector, on October 31. (AFP via Google News)
- Iraq War:
- The President of the United States, Barack Obama, announces a plan to withdraw all of the remaining American military forces from Iraq by the end of 2011. (CBS News)
Business and economy
- Verizon Communications reports that its third-quarter earnings have doubled. (Wall Street Journal)
Disasters
- The Government of Japan announces a $157 billion additional budget to cover the costs of recovering from March's earthquake and tsunami. (The Guardian)
Law and crime
- Gunmen kill three people near Freeport-McMoRan's gold and copper mine in Indonesia's Papua province. (Reuters via The Guardian)
Politics and elections
- Jay Weatherill is sworn in as the new Premier of South Australia after being officially elected as the leader of the state Australian Labor Party. (The Australian)
- The President of Cameroon Paul Biya is declared the winner of the Cameroonian presidential election held on October 6. (AFP via Google News)
- London's St Paul's Cathedral is forced to close its doors to visitors for the first time since the Second World War after protesters set up camp on its doorstep. (BBC)