U.S. Defense Secretary United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urges the United States Senate to abolish "don't ask don't tell" for gays and lesbians serving in the US military and releases a report showing that ending the policy would have little impact.
Minister for Justice and Equality Irish Minister for Justice and Law Reform Dermot Ahern announces he is not to contest his seat in Dáil Éireann at the next general election (due in 2011) as he has "a painful medical condition necessitating heavy medication".
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan's parliament agrees to form a three-way coalition government, creating the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia.
Interpol Interpol issues an arrest warrant for Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, to face sexual assault charges in Sweden.
Pakistan Pakistani government starts securing 36 hacked websites after the ‘Indian Cyber Army’ gained root access to a main server hosting important Pakistani government websites.
India India's top investigating agency raids 11 locations in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
European Parliament There is a row in the European Parliament as French and German MEPs attack Ireland's 12.5% corporate tax rate.
Israeli blockade The easing of Israel's blockade of Gaza six months ago has led to "little improvement" for people living there, a report by 21 aid and rights agencies says; Israeli officials says that the claims "are biased and distorted" and that truckloads of supplies entering the Gaza Strip has increased from 86 to 176 truckloads per day, since June.
Ecuador Ecuador invites Julian Assange of WikiLeaks to speak publicly and offers him residency where he can make more revelations. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez praises the website and calls for the resignation of U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
Russia Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warns of an "arms race" if Russia and the West can not agree on a missile defence system for Europe.
Korean Peninsula North Korea claims it has "thousands" of nuclear centrifuges operating at a previously undetected nuclear plant.
North Korea warns of "all-out war any time" in response to a continuing drill by South Korean and US forces.
Officials from the United States, South Korea and Japan are to meet in Washington, D.C., to discuss North Korea.
Mudslide Heavy flooding and mudslides claim at least 21 lives in Venezuela, with the President of Venezuela declaring a state of emergency in the state of Falcón.
United Kingdom The United Kingdom continues to face blizzard conditions with many schools closed, long queues on the M8 motorway in Scotland, and Edinburgh Airport closed.
Shell Officials from multinational corporations Royal Dutch Shell and Halliburton are to be questioned in Nigeria in relation to bribery scandals and corruption.
Rome Students protest in Rome and other Italian cities as politicians threaten to cut funding for education and research.
United Nations The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-16) opens in the Mexican resort city of Cancún.
Suicide bombing Six people are killed in a suicide bombing in the Bannu district in northwestern Pakistan.
tear gassed An inquiry is ordered over the death of an immigrant in France, who was tear gassed, batoned, and twice tasered during an incident which left four police injured.
Battle of Mogadishu (2010) Fighting in the Somali capital Mogadishu leaves at least 15 people dead and 25 injured.