Ukrainian President President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych signs a controversial law about official status of 18 languages (including Russian, Hungarian, Crimean Tatar language, etc.) as regional and minority languages, allowing officials in Russian-speaking regions of the country to use Russian at public events and in documents.
Prime Minister of Japan Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announces that the ruling Democratic Party of Japan has reached an agreement with the opposition Liberal Democratic and New Komeito parties to pass a bill that will raise Japan's consumption tax rate. This will "shortly" be followed by dissolution of the Diet and a snap election, although no timetable has been set.
United Nations Convention Against Corruption 30 leading German managers write a letter to the leaders of the parliamentary groups where they ask for the ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
Jared Lee Loughner Jared Lee Loughner, the shooter in the 2011 Tucson shooting, pleads guilty to all charges and is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Murder of Anni Dewani A man is sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for the kidnapping and Murder of Anni Dewani in South Africa.
Disappearance of Tia Sharp A police dog team searches a grandmother's house after the disappearance of Tia Sharp.
Supreme Court of Pakistan The Supreme Court of Pakistan orders the Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to appear before it to explain his alleged failure to comply with orders reopening corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Marvin Lee Wilson Marvin Lee Wilson is executed by the state of Texas despite the low IQ results that could have invalidated his punishment.
Templo Mayor Anthropologists find the skeleton of a young woman inside a burial in Templo Mayor, surrounded by piles of 1,789 human bones. This finding is "unprecedented for the Aztec culture."
Orange County A preliminary magnitude 4.5 earthquake strikes Orange County, California. Minimal damage was reported.
One World Trade Center A welding fire breaks out but is soon extinguished, with no injuries, on the 88th floor of One World Trade Center in New York City.
Typhoon Philippine news agencies report that several cities, provinces and towns in Luzon are now under state of calamity.
The death toll in the Philippines capital Manila from flooding rises to 16 with rain continuing to fall.
Rare-earth element China announces plan to close one-third of the nation's 23 rare-earth mines and about half of 99 smelting companies.
Syrian civil war A Jordanian government spokesman says Syria's ex-prime minister, Riad Hijab, arrives in Jordan, contradicting earlier reports that he had fled Syria on August 6.