South Africa South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu retires from public life after reaching his 79th birthday.
Mark Rutte Mark Rutte of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is asked by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands leading a coalition government.
United Kingdom The United Kingdom Labour Party announces its Shadow Cabinet to be led by Ed Miliband.
Zimbabwe Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai charges his President Robert Mugabe with violating the constitution and unilateral decision-making. Mugabe and his party fail to respond in public.
New Zealand New Zealand MP and senior Cabinet Minister Chris Carter quits politics, stating that his travel expenses received unfair attention due to his sexuality.
People's Republic of China China issues new regulations requiring the managers of mines to accompany workers down the shafts.
Israel Right-wing Israeli politicians push for a controversial change to the wording of the oath required to become an Israeli citizen, amending the wording so that potential citizens must promise to respect Israel as a "Jewish and democratic state".
Kenya Kenyan authorities announce that more than 1,000 teachers have been fired for sexually abusing girls over a 2-year period.
Israel Israel buys 20 F-35I variant radar-evading fighter jets from the United States, Israel's first batch of advanced fighter jets which arm the country with the most sophisticated combat aircraft in the Middle East. Officials at The Pentagon acknowledge the sale.
United States Pakistan says no decision to reopen the border will take place until the security situation is improved.
The United States apologizes to Pakistan for a helicopter strike on a Pakistan Army border post that killed 3 soldiers.
Russia Russia will refund Iran for the canceled the sale of an air defense missile system following United Nations sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program
Security Council Members of the U.N. Security Council arrive in the Darfur region of Sudan prior to the referendum on independence from Sudan and receive a hostile welcome from pro-government forces.
Red mud Red mud from the Ajka alumina plant accident in Hungary reaches the Danube River with alkalinity rising in the Rába River which flows into the Danube.
Flash flood The death toll from flash floods in Indonesia's West Papua province rises to 97 with dozens of people missing.
Beishan Six workers die when scaffolding collapsed near the Beishan Interchange in Nantou County, Taiwan.
Kashipur A woman was killed and 25 others were injured when the tractor-trolley they were travelling in overturned in Kashipur town of Udhamsingh Nagar district.
Irrawaddy River Nine, mostly children, die, after an overloaded river ferry capsizes in the Irrawaddy River delta, in Myanmar.
$ The United States dollar reaches a 15-year low against the Japanese yen and depreciates against a range of other currencies due to concerns about further quantitative easing by the United States Federal Reserve.
Austerity Austerity measures of pay cuts and pension freeze supported by the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) cause civil servants to stage a 24-hour strike in Greece.
United States United States film studio Metro Goldwyn Mayer begins plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a bid to rid itself of $4 billion in debts.
Roman parade helmet A Roman parade helmet discovered by a metal detectorist in May 2010 is auctioned for £2.3 million ($3.6 million).
Antonio Vivaldi A lost Antonio Vivaldi concerto is found in the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh.
TVNZ There are calls for advertising to be withdrawn from TVNZ's "Breakfast" show after Henry's slur.
Suspended TVNZ broadcaster Paul Henry is embroiled in further controversy as his mockery of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is declared "racist" and "unacceptable" and New Zealand's ambassador to India is summoned for a dressing down.
Peru Peruvian-Spanish writer Mario Vargas Llosa is announced as the winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Taliban An airstrike and a raid by ground troops kills 8 insurgents, including a senior Taliban leader who spearheaded attacks against Afghan security forces.
Takhar 20 Taliban militants, including two rebel commanders, are killed in fighting with security forces in northeastern Takhar province, Afghanistan.
Baghdad At least 5 people are killed due to back-to-back afternoon bombings at a vegetable market south of Baghdad. In Iskandariyah, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Baghdad, also wounded at least 20 people.
Democratic Republic of the Congo The leader of a Congolese rebel group suspected of being involved in the mass rape of more than 300 civilians is arrested by the Congolese army and United Nations peacekeeping troops.
African Union The African Union says its forces have captured 40% of the Somali capital Mogadishu from Islamist militants in a recent offensive.
Israeli Air Force At least 7 people are injured in separate attacks by the Israeli Air Force on the Gaza Strip after rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Wednesday.
Tamaulipas Six gangsters died and one soldier was injured when an army patrol clashed with suspected gang members in northeastern Mexico state Tamaulipas.