Arizona A federal land swap in Arizona green lights the US's deepest (1.3 miles) and largest (1.6b tons) copper mine.
Human rights Eleven (11) of 15 United Nations Security Council members approve placing North Korea's human rights record on the Council's agenda. Russia and China oppose the decision while Chad and Nigeria abstain. This is the first time this issue has been debated by the Security Council. Procedurally, once a topic makes the agenda, that issue can be brought up again at any time.
Rebel Kazakhstan renews its military cooperation with Ukraine, to which it promises vital supplies of coal, following a visit to Kiev by the Kazakh leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Dustbin lorry An out-of-control dustbin lorry in the Queen Street and George Square areas of Glasgow, Scotland, kills at least six people.
War in North-West Pakistan Following the December 17 announcement that it would lift its moratorium on terror-related death penalty cases, Pakistan announces that it will execute 500 militants in the coming weeks.