While most of us took off from work and school to spend time with friends and family for the holidays, the rest of the world didn't come to a standstill. Just in case you weren't able to catch up on the news over the break, here are 10 important stories you might have missed.

Middle East

Turkish warplanes continued to bomb Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

Libya assumed the presidency of the U.N. Security Council.

Asia

Beijing said Hong Kong elections will not be possible until 2017, breaking an earlier promise of elections by 2012.

India has ended weapons sales and transfers to the ruling military junta in Burma.

Africa

Opposition political parties in Zimbabwe agreed to form a united front to defeat President Robert Mugabe in the March elections.

Six French aid workers were sentenced to eight years of hard labor, but were returned to France where they will serve their sentences.

Global Economy

The islands of Malta and Cyprus joined the Eurozone.

Venezuela introduced its new currency, the "strong Bolivar."

Elsewhere

In Colombia, a Venezuelan-backed mission failed to rescue hostages held by FARC rebels.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is trying to find passengers aboard a Chicago-bound flight from New Delhi who may have been exposed to drug-resistant TB.