NASA NASA launches its NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite to send back data on weather and climate conditions.
Obama administration The Obama administration orders an independent review of Department of Energy "clean-energy" loans following the bankruptcy of solar energy company Solyndra.
Soldiers Nine servicemen from the Thai army are arrested on suspicion of killing 13 Chinese sailors on October 5 in a section of the Mekong River bordering Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
Occupy London protests The City of London Corporation announces plans to launch legal action to evict the protesters from St Paul's.
St Paul's Cathedral re-opens to visitors after closing a week ago because Occupy London protesters had set up camp in its churchyard.
Joanna Yeates Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak is convicted of the murder of British landscape artist Joanna Yeates and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Prime Minister The trial of former Prime Minister of Croatia Ivo Sanader, which was due to begin in Zagreb, is postponed on health grounds.
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011 Leaders of the 16 countries which have the British monarch as their head of state agree to change succession laws so that sons and daughters of the monarch have equal succession rights and can marry a Roman Catholic.
Earthquake A 6.9 magnitude earthquake strikes 51 kilometres south-west of the city of Ica in Peru at a depth of 35 km. No reports of casualties are issued.
South Korea South Korea manufacturer Samsung supersedes Apple to become the largest maker of smartphones in the world.
United States The United States commemorates the 125th anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
Electronic Arts Electronic Arts has reportedly shipped 10 million copies of "Battlefield 3" since October 25, according to Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello.
Iran Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr is released from jail after her sentence for acting in the banned film "My Tehran for Sale" is reduced.
Bolshoi Theater The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow reopens following a six-year renovation which has restored it to its pre-revolution state.
Wahhabi A Wahhabi Islamist armed with hand grenades and an automatic weapon opens fire outside the United States embassy in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, resulting in two people being injured, including the gunman.