The 2010s

2011 15 years ago

Global demonstrations against economic inequality, corporate influence on government, and other issues, were held in…

The 15 October 2011 global protests were part of a series of protests inspired by the Arab Spring, the Icelandic protests, the Portuguese "Geração à Rasca", the Spanish "Indignants…

Global demonstrations against economic inequality, corporate influence on government, and other issues, were held in…

2011 15 years ago

First Libyan Civil War: Muammar Gaddafi, the deposed Libyan leader, was captured by rebel forces during the Battle of…

The Libyan Civil War, also known as the First Libyan Civil War and Libyan Revolution, was an armed conflict fought in 2011 in the North African country of Libya between forces loya…

First Libyan Civil War: Muammar Gaddafi, the deposed Libyan leader, was captured by rebel forces during the Battle of…

2011 15 years ago

During the Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix, Marco Simoncelli (pictured) collided with two other riders, resulting in…

The 2011 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventeenth round of the 2011 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 21–23 October 2011 at the Sepang…

During the Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix, Marco Simoncelli (pictured) collided with two other riders, resulting in…

2011 15 years ago

Michael D. Higgins (pictured) was elected President of Ireland with far more votes than any politician in the…

Michael Daniel Higgins is an Irish politician, poet and broadcaster who served as the president of Ireland from November 2011 to November 2025. Entering national politics through t…

Michael D. Higgins (pictured) was elected President of Ireland with far more votes than any politician in the…

2010

The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill tha

Deepwater Horizon was an ultra-deepwater, dynamically positioned, semi-submersible offshore drilling rig owned by Transocean and operated by the BP company. On 20 April 2010, while…

The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill tha

2010

The controversial Kharkiv Pact (Russian Ukrainian Naval Base for Gas Treaty) is signed in Kharkiv, Ukraine, by Ukrainian

The Agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine, widely referred to as the Kharkiv Pact or Kharkov Accords, was a treaty between Ukraine and Russia where…

The controversial Kharkiv Pact (Russian Ukrainian Naval Base for Gas Treaty) is signed in Kharkiv, Ukraine, by Ukrainian

2010

Faisal Shahzad attempts to detonate a car bomb in Times Square, but the bomb fails to go off

Faisal Shahzad is a Pakistani-American man who was arrested for the attempted May 1, 2010, Times Square car bombing. On June 21, 2010, in Federal District Court in Manhattan, he co…

Faisal Shahzad attempts to detonate a car bomb in Times Square, but the bomb fails to go off

2010

Mass protests in Greece erupt in response to austerity measures imposed by the government as a result of the Greek gover

The anti-austerity movement in Greece involved a series of demonstrations and general strikes that took place across the country. The events, which began on 5 May 2010, were provok…

Mass protests in Greece erupt in response to austerity measures imposed by the government as a result of the Greek gover

2010

In just 36 minutes, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges nearly 1,000 points in what is known as the 2010 Flash Cras

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Dow Jones, or simply the Dow, is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.

In just 36 minutes, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges nearly 1,000 points in what is known as the 2010 Flash Cras

2010

David Cameron takes office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats form the c

David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton, is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the…

David Cameron takes office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats form the c

2010

Pamir Airways Flight 112 crashes in Afghanistan's Shakardara District, killing 44

Pamir Airways Flight 112 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Kunduz Airport, Kunduz to Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. On 17 May 2010, the flight oper…

Pamir Airways Flight 112 crashes in Afghanistan's Shakardara District, killing 44

2010

The Royal Thai Armed Forces concludes its crackdown on protests by forcing the surrender of United Front for Democracy A

The Royal Thai Armed Forces are the armed forces of Thailand.

The Royal Thai Armed Forces concludes its crackdown on protests by forcing the surrender of United Front for Democracy A

2010

Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 crashes on final approach to Tripoli International Airport in Tripoli, Libya, killing 103 o

Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 was a scheduled international Afriqiyah Airways passenger flight from Johannesburg, South Africa to Tripoli, Libya. On 12 May 2010 at about 06:01 while…

Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 crashes on final approach to Tripoli International Airport in Tripoli, Libya, killing 103 o

2010

Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on the STS-132 mission to deliver the first shuttle-launched Russian ISS component — Ras

Space Shuttle Atlantis is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle which belongs to NASA, the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States. Atlantis was manufacture…

Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on the STS-132 mission to deliver the first shuttle-launched Russian ISS component — Ras

2010

Jessica Watson becomes the youngest person to sail, non-stop and unassisted around the world solo

Jessica Rose Watson is an Australian sailor who was awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia after attempting a solo circumnavigation at the age of 16 from 18 October 2009 to 15…

Jessica Watson becomes the youngest person to sail, non-stop and unassisted around the world solo

2010

JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, launches the solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS aboard an H-IIA rocket

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is the Japanese national air and space agency.

JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, launches the solar-sail spacecraft IKAROS aboard an H-IIA rocket

2010

Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737 crashes over a cliff upon landing at Mangalore, India, killing 158 of 166 peo

Air India Express Flight 812 was a scheduled international flight from Dubai International Airport, Dubai, to Mangalore International Airport, Mangalore. On 22 May 2010, the Boeing…

Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737 crashes over a cliff upon landing at Mangalore, India, killing 158 of 166 peo

2010

Julia Gillard assumes office as the first female Prime Minister of Australia

Julia Eileen Gillard is an Australian former politician who served as the 27th prime minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013. She held office as the leader of the Labor Party (ALP)…

Julia Gillard assumes office as the first female Prime Minister of Australia

2010

In Johannesburg, Spain defeat the Netherlands 1–0 after extra time to win their first FIFA World Cup title.

The Spain national football team has represented Spain in men's international football competition since 1920. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governin…

In Johannesburg, Spain defeat the Netherlands 1–0 after extra time to win their first FIFA World Cup title.

2010

A Filair Let L-410 Turbolet crashes on approach to Bandundu Airport, killing 20.

Filair was an airline based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It operated from N'Dolo Airport in Kinshasa. The airline was on the list of air carriers banned in the European…

A Filair Let L-410 Turbolet crashes on approach to Bandundu Airport, killing 20.

2010

Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich 2–0 in the UEFA Champions League final in Madrid, Spain to become the first, and so far o

Football Club Internazionale Milano, widely referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, and commonly known as Inter Milan in English-speaking countries, is an Italian profession…

Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich 2–0 in the UEFA Champions League final in Madrid, Spain to become the first, and so far o

2010

In West Bengal, India, the Jnaneswari Express train derailment and subsequent collision kills 148 passengers

West Bengal is a state in the eastern part of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal. It had a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of 88,752 km2 (34,267…

In West Bengal, India, the Jnaneswari Express train derailment and subsequent collision kills 148 passengers

2010

Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos boarded the Gaza Freedom Flotilla while still in international waters trying to break the

Shayetet 13 is a naval commando unit of the Israeli Navy and one of the primary reconnaissance units of the Israel Defense Forces. Shayetet 13 specializes in sea-to-land incursions…

Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos boarded the Gaza Freedom Flotilla while still in international waters trying to break the

2010

Falcon 9 Flight 1 is the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Stati

The Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit was a boilerplate version of the Dragon spacecraft manufactured by SpaceX. After using it for ground tests to rate Dragon's shape and mass …

Falcon 9 Flight 1 is the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Stati