J. Craig Venter Institute Scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute announce the successful transplant of a synthesized genome into an existing cell, creating the world's first artificial lifeform ("Mycoplasma laboratorium").
Malawi Malawi, considering them to be a gay couple, sentences a transgender woman and a cisgender man to 14 years of hard labour.
North Korea Numerous countries condemn North Korea for the sinking of the South Korean vessel Cheonan; North Korea denies involvement, and threatens war if sanctions are imposed.
Antananarivo At least one police officer is killed and five other people are injured in a battle with a dissident army unit in Antananarivo.
Poland Floods in Poland kill 5. The downpours also cause flooding in areas of Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.