People's Republic of China China announces a breakthrough in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing technology that could solve the country's uranium supply problem.
Red-winged blackbird Scientists are investigating the sudden dieoff of over 5,000 red-winged blackbirds in Beebe, Arkansas, United States, on New Year's Eve.
Republican Party Republican U.S. Representative Darrell Issa calls for Attorney General Eric Holder to resign over lack of progress in prosecuting Julian Assange, and plans are announced of holding a congressional inquiry into Wikileaks and Assange.
United States A study reports that 61% of Americans believe the best way to solve the budget deficit is to raise taxes for the wealthiest, in contrast to a plan by Republicans to permanently extend Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans
Pakistan The second-largest party in Pakistan's coalition, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, quits the government leaving it with a minority in parliament.
Judiciary An Iranian judiciary official says that Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani could be spared execution by stoning for murder, manslaughter, and adultery, pointing out that ambiguities remain in her case.
A newly released cable According to a new Wikileaks document, U.S. ambassador to France, Craig Stapleton, asked Washington to penalize nations, including France, who do not support genetically modified crops.
Africa A delegation of African leaders from Benin, Cape Verde, Kenya and Sierra Leone travels to Côte d'Ivoire to offer incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo an amnesty if he resigns from office.
Three-alarm fire A six-alarm fire destroys a former hotel built in 1888 and recognized as a heritage building on Toronto's Yonge Street before it was scheduled for demolition; the fire forced the temporary closure of Ryerson University and nearby schools and hot spots remained a danger after extinguishing the fire. Two firefighters who fell into the building were rescued uninjured while arson remains a suspected cause.
Yemen Two boats capsize off the southern coast of Yemen with a total of 80 people missing. Only three have been found alive.
The Australian government announces that it will make relief payments of hundreds of millions of dollars for flood victims.
Facebook Investments in Facebook totaling US$500 million lead to speculation that its value could be as high as US$50 billion.
Pakistani troops Pakistani forces fire on Indian posts along the border along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of the disputed Kashmir region, in a second ceasefire violation since December 29.
Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel In response to the firing of a Kassam rocket from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, Israel planes bomb three targets, including two refugee camps and a weapons factory in the Gaza Strip, injuring two people.
Coptic Christians Coptic Christians clash with police in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt, as they demand more protection for Egypt's Christian minority following a New Year's Day bombing of a Coptic church that killed 21.
Bangladesh A further 35 officers in Bangladesh are sentenced over their involvement in a mutiny in February 2009.