Gaddafi dies after capture, video of last moments goes viral

Libyan rebels are rejoicing following the death of their ousted dictator, Col. Muammar al-Gaddafi. He was killed Oct. 20 by gunshot wounds to the head after being captured by government fighters following a NATO strike on his convoy.

Shortly after his death was announced, a cell phone video of Gaddafi stumbling amid the rebels went viral.

American troops in Iraq expected to be home before Christmas President Barack Obama announced the United States' exit strategy from Iraq Oct. 21. All American troops currently in Iraq will leave by the end of this year.

The decision to pull ground forces out of Iraq has faced opposition by many who said the the pullout would be risky.

The pullout comes nearly nine years and more than 4,000 American deaths after the first troops were deployed in 2003.

Tunisia holds first democratic elections since revolution

Millions of Tunisians turned out to vote on Oct. 23 in the nation's first free elections since its revolution earlier this year. Citizens voted for a new leader and parameters for a draft of a constitution for the incoming government.

Late last December and early January, Tunisia was the first country to overthrow its government in what soon became known as the Arab Spring.

Results from this election are expected to be tallied within the next few days.

Earthquake in eastern Turkey kills, traps hundreds

An earthquake Oct. 23 in eastern Turkey near the Iranian border has been measured at magnitude 7.2 and is the largest earthquake to hit the region in more than 30 years.

The death toll for the quake is currently about 300 and hundreds more people are trapped amid debris of collapsed apartment buildings. About 4,000 homes are estimated to be destroyed, leaving 40,000 homeless.

About 200 aftershocks hit the area following the quake.

Kenya declares war on Al-Shabaab

Kenya declared war on Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate in Somalia, Oct. 15 because of a recent attack on foreign workers. Two Spanish aid workers were kidnapped on the Kenya-Somalia border, the third kidnapping in the past month. The U.S. Embassy in Kenya warned American citizens of an imminent threat of terrorist attacks.