Mass grave Mass graves are discovered in Côte d'Ivoire amid other political violence as United Nations peacekeepers come under increased tension in the country when allies of Alassane Ouattara call for a forceful removal of Laurent Gbagbo.
Bolivia The Bolivian government rescinds a government decree that significantly increased fuel prices after violent unrest.
Ford Open Prison Specialist prison guards and firefighters are sent into Ford Open Prison in West Sussex, United Kingdom, after 40 inmates started a riot. Part of the prison has been destroyed by fire.
Santiago del Estero A deep earthquake measuring magnitude 7.0 hits near Santiago del Estero in northern Argentina. Only weak shaking is felt and no damage is reported.
Blackbirds Over a thousand dead blackbirds and other fowl fall out of the sky in Arkansas after a violent tornado outbreak and hailstorm.
Hot air balloon Two people are killed after a hot air balloon crashes onto a bowling green in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, United Kingdom.
A passenger plane explodes Four people are killed and around 40 injured after a passenger plane explodes in Surgut in eastern Russia.
Bonaire Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius adopt the United States dollar as the sole legal currency, reducing the use of the Netherlands Antillean guilder to Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
New Year's Day church bombing A bomb explodes outside a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt, killing at least 21 people and wounding 97 more; street disturbances between Christians and Muslims ensue.