Spanish Prime Minister The Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero calls an early election for November 20 rather than 2012.
U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives votes to increase the debt ceiling but the Senate rejects it.
Court of Appeals A U.S. Court of Appeals holds that isolated DNA is "markedly different" in its chemical structure from the DNA within chromosomes, and thus is not simply a product of nature but of human ingenuity. According, the court upholds two patents held by Myriad Genetics against challenge.
Iraq war UK based Internet blogger Bilal Zaheer Ahmad is sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after admitting using his blog to solicit the murder of MPs who voted for the Iraq War.
Investigation into the murder of Joanna Yeates Christopher Jefferies, an early suspect in the investigation into the murder of Joanna Yeates, accepts "substantial" libel damages from eight British newspapers after they published details of his private life. "The Sun" and "Daily Mirror" are also fined for contempt of court in their reporting of the investigation.
Conspiracy to hack mobile phones Appearing in court, protester Jonathan May-Bowles admits to throwing a foam pie at Rupert Murdoch as he gave evidence to a Parliamentary Committee.
Broadcaster BSkyB announces its intention to return $1bn to shareholders angered by the recent fall in its share prices.
Baroness Peta Buscombe announces her intention to step down as Chair of the Press Complaints Commission following criticism about the way she handled the scandal.
MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee vote not to recall James Murdoch after his evidence was called into question by two senior News International executives. However, he may have to appear again later after more evidence is heard.
The legal team representing Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator at the centre of claims of phone hacking, says that he "acted on the instructions of others".
Ajmal Kasab Ajmal Kasab, the last surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, launches an appeal against his death sentence in India.
Turkish The Chief of the armed forces along with the heads of the army, navy and air force all resign in Turkey.
North Korea North Korea threatens to dispose of South Korean assets at the jointly-run Mount Kumgang resort.
Coal mine At least twenty coal miners are killed and seventeen are missing following two accidents in the Ukraine.
South Korean prime minister The Prime Minister of South Korea, Kim Hwang-sik, calls for an overhaul of disaster management following the death of 59 people in floods and landslides caused by heavy rain in recent days.
Poland A Polish report into the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash that killed President Lech Kaczyński blames the Polish crew and Russian air traffic controllers for the accident.
BSkyB Pay-TV company BSkyB secures a seven year deal to share the United Kingdom broadcasting rights of Formula One racing. From March 2012 half the races will air on Sky, while the BBC retains the right to show the other half.
Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson announced that it will lower the maximum daily dosage of one of its signature products, Extra Strength Tylenol, in order to reduce the risk of liver damage.
2011 Tunisian revolution 2011 Tunisian revolution: Former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is sentenced "in absentia" to 16 years imprisonment for corruption.
2011 Bahraini uprising 2011 Bahraini uprising: King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa approves parliamentary reforms, which are rejected by opposition groups.
2011 Syrian uprising Syrian forces kill at least 20 civilians in attacks on several pro-democracy demonstrations across Syria.
An oil pipeline near the city of Homs is blown up by "saboteurs", according to the state news agency.