Mexico As part of a lengthy interview with the Mexican newspaper "La Jornada", Fidel Castro admits responsibility for the persecution of homosexuals in Cuba after the revolution of 1959.
South Africa The South African government improves a pay offer to more than a million striking public sector workers in an attempt to end the two-week-long strike.
U.S. President President of the United States Barack Obama delivers a televised Oval Office address to the United States commemorating the end of United States armed forces being directly involved in fighting in Iraq.
Russia Russian police detain more than 150 people including prominent opponents of Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin such as former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, following protests in Moscow and Saint Petersburg in support of freedom of assembly.
People's Republic of China A Chinese court accepts its first case relating to a man claiming job discrimination on the grounds he had HIV.
Iran Iran's foreign ministry criticises state media for branding French first lady Carla Bruni as a "prostitute" over her support for Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who faces death by stoning after being convicted of adultery.
Russia The Russian embassy in the Belarussian capital Minsk is attacked with firebombs; Russia says the incident is "outrageous".
Hurricane Earl Hurricane Earl moves away from the Leeward Islands towards the east coast of the United States with a hurricane watch issued for most of the North Carolina coast.
Cessna Citation Four people die following a Cessna Citation crash on Misima Island in Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay Province.
Hewlett-Packard Hewlett-Packard (HP), the world's largest computer maker based in the U.S. state of California, pays US$55 million amid allegations it defrauded the United States government.
Sudan People's Liberation Army The Sudan People's Liberation Army pledges to demobilise all of its child soldiers by the end of the year.
Bangkok An explosion occurs outside the head office of a government-run television station in Bangkok, Thailand.
Somalia A roadside bomb and mortar attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu kill at least 14 people and injure several others.