E-petition The UK Government gives the go-ahead to plans to allow popular online petitions to be debated in Parliament within a year.
Forensic Science Service 33 leading forensic scientists have expressed concerns about the UK Government's plans to close the Forensic Science Service, saying that the justice system will take a "backward step" as a consequence.
The coalition The UK Government defends a decision not to include children under the age of five in this year's flu vaccination programme, saying the decision is for medical and not financial reasons.
Kuwait Kuwaiti Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah is grilled by MPs over clashes between riot police and protesters at an opposition rally earlier this month.
Avon and Somerset Police The UK's Avon and Somerset Police launch a murder investigation after a post mortem into the death of Joanna Yeates concludes that she had been strangled.
People's Republic of China A Chinese investigative reporter known for reporting on sensitive issues dies after being attacked by six men.
Benin The leaders of Benin, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone arrive in Côte d'Ivoire to urge Laurent Gbagbo to resign as President.
Russia A Russian Antonov military cargo plane crashes between Tula and Oryol, Russia, killing all 11 on board.
Little Haiti 5 male teenagers from Little Haiti, Miami, in the U.S. state of Florida are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning in a motel room after fumes from a car kept idling overnight vent up a staircase into their room.
Northern Ireland Thousands of homes and businesses in Northern Ireland are without water as melting snow and ice from the recent freezing weather conditions reveals burst pipes. Northern Ireland Water says it is alternating supplies from reservoirs in order to help alleviate the crisis in which some have been without supplies since before Christmas.
Turkey Turkish construction workers employed in Israel protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv over fears they may lose their jobs.
Protests 2010 Tunisian protests: Protests in Tunisia over unemployment and poor living conditions are criticized by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali during a national television broadcast; he warns of "firm" punishment.
Elton John Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish become parents after a surrogate mother from California gives birth to a son on Christmas Day. The boy is named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John.
Israel Israeli archaeologists reportedly discover human remains from 400,000 years ago, challenging the theory that humans originated in Africa.
Christian The death toll from recent violence between Christians and Muslims in Jos, Nigeria, rises to 80. Islamist group Boko Haram claims responsibility for the deadly Christmas Eve bombings in the city.
Somali pirates Somali pirates release a German ship with 22 crew, eight months after it was seized near Oman.
North Waziristan A series of suspected U.S. missile strikes causes at least 15 deaths in North Waziristan, Pakistan.