Species A new species of guenon monkey discovered in 2007 is now identified in Opala, DR Congo. Local inhabitants call it "lesula". The first specimen resembled the owl-faced monkey, but of unseen colour. More specimen have been located in a 6,500 square mile area. The species' genetic and anatomical distinctiveness (identification) has been determined in a study made the following three years. Its scientific name is "Cercopithecus lomamiensis". The publication already recommends it to the Red List of endangered species and proposes conservation measures for its Lomami and central Congo Basin habitat.
General election in the Netherlands Dutch general election of 2012, voters in the Netherlands elect new representation in the House of Representatives. The final prognosis shows 41 (+10) seats for incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte's People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and 40 seats (+10) for PvdA, Diederik Samsom's Labour Party, out of a total 150 seats. Four other parties get between 12 and 15 seats: SP 15 (0), PVV 13 (-11), CDA 13 (-8), and D66 12 (+2) The remainder, 16 seats, are divided among five more parties. The final televised debate is cancelled.
Hillsborough disaster Previously unseen files relating to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster are released to the public. They show police failings, and attempts to shift the blame for the tragedy onto football fans. British Prime Minister David Cameron says he is "profoundly sorry" for what happened.
Cambodia A Cambodian journalist is found murdered in the boot of his car, after reporting on illegal logging.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Police in Bosnia and Herzegovina arrest 25 people on suspicion of multiple murders, drug-trafficking and robbery in the biggest crackdown on organised crime since the Bosnian War.
Senkaku Islands dispute Luo Zhaohui, the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Asian department, vowed China would "never accept Japan's illegal occupation or so-called 'actual control'" of the islands.
Attacks and protests Syrian rebels express outrage that the privately produced video belittling the prophet Muhammad is generating more anger among Arabs than the rising death toll within Syria.
Sam Bacile, supposed writer and director of the privately produced film that motivated the attacks, has gone into hiding, while a second person, apparently separately, claims production of the artefact.
U.S. President U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney says President Obama's first reaction to Tuesday's attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions was to "sympathize" with the assailants; Obama's campaign team expresses "shock" that Romney would choose such a tragic event to launch a political attack.
Attacks and protests Libyan president Mohamed Magariaf condemns the "cowardice," apologizes to the U.S. and vows to bring the perpetrators to justice, while the United States sends 50 FAST marines to Libya.
U.S. President U.S. president Barack Obama strongly condemns the "outrageous attack" that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other U.S. citizens in Benghazi, Libya, saying that the United States rejects denigration of religious beliefs but also rejects the "senseless violence that killed the US diplomat".
European Parliament In his yearly State of the Union speech at the European Parliament, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso appeals for more European integration and a supervision mechanism for the 6,000 banks in Europe.
South Africa The miners' strike movement in South Africa extends to Anglo Platinum in Rustenburg. At least 45 people have died in the ongoing Lonmin Marikana miners' strike.
Federal Constitutional Court of Germany The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe rules that Germany's participation in the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is, conditionally, within the German Constitution's limits, allowing President Gauck to approve the Bundestag's previous agreement with the mechanism.
Ghent Altarpiece The first panels of the Ghent Altarpiece, the "Lamb of God", are secretly moved from Saint Bavo Cathedral to the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts for a five-year restoration. It is probably the most frequently stolen artwork in history. One panel has been missing since 1934.
Suicide bombing A suicide bombing at a hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu where newly elected president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud was holding a news conference kills at least four people.
Russia Russia's foreign minister Lavrov expresses regret that the West accepts terrorist acts in Syria according to its political considerations.
Syrian civil war Rebels kill 18 soldiers in Idlib Governorate in a car bomb and ground attack on a military installation.