Timeline for 2009 to 2011 CE

2010 CE

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Global Change:
Control of Information

7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Port-au-Prince, Haiti (Jan. 12): The beleaguered country of Haiti is dealt a catastrophic blow when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince. It is the region's worst earthquake in 200 years. (Jan. 13): PM Préval expects fatalities to near 100,000. The UN mission in Haiti is destroyed, 16 members of the UN peacekeeping force killed, and hundreds of UN employees are missing. (Jan. 14): International aid begins pouring in, and the scope of the damage caused by the quake highlights the urgent need to improve Haiti's crumbling infrastructure (Jan. 19): Authorities attempt to bury those killed during the earthquake and its aftermath, experts estimate a staggering death toll of 200,000 people.

U.S. Economy Grows (Jan. 29): The US' gross national product grows at an annual rate of 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009, the fastest growth the economy has seen in six years. However, the economy finished 2009 in its worst contraction since 1946.

Jobless Rate Drops to 9.7%; 20,000 Jobs Lost in January (Feb. 5)

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Global Change:
Surprise Attacks
Global Changes are signs of the times

Chile Hit By 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake (Feb. 27): Fatalities are relatively low, ~ 750 people killed. As many as 1.5 million people are displaced. Strict building codes in urban areas, helped limit the damage. Buildings and homes in poorer areas — many built with adobe — did not fare as well. Chile's electricity grids, communication, and transportation systems are badly damaged, hampering rescue and aid efforts. The epicenter of the quake was 70 miles northeast of Concepcion in central Chile. Massive waves continue to cause additional damage along the coast.

Chilean Government Requests Foreign Aid (Mar. 1): After refusing contributions from foreign governments, Chile officials change course and request help.

Government Issues Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Guidelines (Apr. 1): The EPA issues guidelines for the amount of greenhouse gas emissions cars will be able to produce. The new standards mean that combined fuel economy average for new vehicles must be 35.5 by 2016.

Obama Announces Revised U.S. Nuclear Strategy (Apr. 5): President announces revised US nuclear strategy that limits the instances in which the U.S. will use nuclear weapons. However, Obama points out that exceptions will be made to countries such as Iran and North Korea who have violated the nuclear proliferation treaty in the past.

7.2 Earthquake Shakes Mexico & California, Kills Two (Apr. 4) A 7.2 earthquake, centered in Mexico is felt for miles, shakes California and kills two. It is the strongest earthquake the state has experienced in 20 years.

Earthquake in China Kills Hundreds, Injures 10,000 (Apr. 14): A 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes China's Qinghai Province, killing at least 400 people and injuring another 10,000. Many buildings and homes have collapsed, though since the area is less densely populated than the Sichuan Province, where the devastating
2008 earthquake occurred, the death toll and overall damage is expected to be lower.

Volcanic Ash from Iceland Disrupts Travel Plans Across Europe (Apr. 14): An explosion in the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland—which had erupted in late March and produced minimal seismic activity—resulted in a volcanic ash plume in the atmosphere over northern and central Europe. Air travel in the region was halted for several days, causing the cancellation of several thousand flights and disrupting the travel plans of millions of people. (Apr. 21): After millions of travelers have been stranded for days in Europe and North America, airports around the world begin operation again.

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Global Change:
Denail of Change

Oil Rig Explosion Kills 11 (Apr. 20): An explosion on a BP oil drilling rig off the coast of Lousiana kills 11 people and injurs 17. Experts estimate that 13,000 gallons of crude oil per hour are pouring into the gulf of Mexico. (Apr. 26): new estimate ... approximately 42,000 gallons of crude oil per hour. Remote-controlled robots are used to try and seal the oil well. (Apr. 30): The oil slick from the rig reaches the Gulf Coast of Lousiana. For the first time, President Obama criticizes BP's handling of the crisis; he chatizes the company for not stemming the flow of oil and cleaning up the spill before it reached land.

Government Approves Nation's First Offshore Wind Farm (Apr. 28): The federal government approves the building of the nation's first wind farm, dubbed Cape Wind, which will be located off the coast of Cape Cod,
Mass.

Russia, U.S. Sign Nuclear Arms Pact (Apr. 8): The United States and Russia usher in a supposedly new era in nuclear arms control after Obama and Medvedev sign arms reduction treaty and agree to act in a united fashion against the threat of Iran's nuclear program. The pact, called the New Start, has each country promise to scale back on their nuclear arsenals.

Oil Spill Biggest in History, Estimates Suggest (May 27): The NOAA, revising previous figures, estimates that 12,000 to 19,000 barrels of oil per day are spilling into the Gulf of Mexico due to the collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in April. The government previously believed that the rig was leaking 5,000 barrels per day. Given the new numbers, this oil spill, approximately 30
million gallons of oil so far, is proving to be the worst in America's history. The world's worst spill ever occurred in 1979 on the Mexican oil rig Ixtoc I, when 140 million gallons of oil were released over a nine-month period.

Oil From BP Spill Spreading Farther Than Expected (June 8): Tests confirm that oil is spreading throughout the ocean farther than initially expected. Toxic compounds that in a shallow-water spill would have normally evaporated have instead remained on the surface. The NOAA is still trying ot determine how the oil is going to affect ocean wildlife into distant future. (June 16): BP will place $20 billion in an escrow fund to help pay damages for fishermen and other coastal residents who have seen a sharp decline in income following April's oil spill.

U.S. Finds $1 Trillion in Untapped Mineral Deposits in Afghanistan (June 13): The United States finds more than $1 trillion in mineral resources in the mountains of Afghanistan, far more than expected or previously
estimated. The findings, which include previously unknown deposits of iron, copper, gold, and lithium, could drastically improve the country's economy and fundamentally change the outcome of the war there.

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WARNING:
World's Scientists
Warning on Global Change

BP Caps Oil Well After 86 Days of Gushing (July 15): After 86 days of gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico and several previous attempts to contain the flow, BP caps its leaking oil well.

Russia Bans Grain Export in Response to Drought, Wildfires (Aug. 5): Russian president Valdimir Putin bans the export of grains from his country, citing the widespread drought and wildfires that are crippling Russia. They are suffering from the country's worst heat wave in 130 years. Putin claims that the damage to their crops has increased food prices in Russia dramatically. (Aug. 6): At least 52 people have been killed in the more than 800 wildfires that have swept across Russia.

CA Gay Marriage Ban Overturned (Aug. 4): A federal judge strikes down the voter-approved gay marriage ban in California, calling the law unconstitutional.

Obama Announces End to Combat Mission in Iraq (Aug. 31) Seven years after the war in Iraq began, President Obama announces the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom with a withdrawal of combat troops.

U.S. Scientists Estimate BP Oil Spill Leaked 5 Million Barrels (Aug. 2)

Poverty Rates Hit 15-Year High (Sept. 16): The percentages of American living below the poverty line, or $10,830 for an individual and $22,050 for a family of four, reached 15-year high in 2009. Over 44 million people, or 14.3 percent of Americans, are considered living in poverty. The U.S. is experiencing its worst economic period since the Great Depression.

White House Lifts Moratorium on Deepwater Drilling (Oct. 12): The White House lifts the moratorium on deepwater drilling for oil and gas, which has been in place since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill that killed 11 people and spewed 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

California Judge Orders Government to Stop Enforcing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (Oct. 12): U.S. District Judge orders the government to stop the enforcement of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Law," which forbids gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military.

Federal Reserve Will Buy $600 Billion in Debt (Nov. 3):

U.S. Economy Adds 151,000 Jobs in October; Unemployment Remains at 9.6% (Nov. 5)

Obama Announces Pay Freeze for Federal Employees (Nov. 30)

U.S. Extends Moratorium on Offshore Drilling off Eastern Gulf Coast, Along Atlantic Coast (Dec. 1)

Jobless Rate Rises to 9.8%; Only 39,000 Jobs Added in November (Dec. 3)

Take a look at 2010 at Info Please for a complete listing of this year's events!

2010 CE

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TIME LINE FOCUS: On the other side of the time line we see a hint of something of biblical nature outside of the Middle East. Prophesy tells us of signs, birth pangs or pains, that will be observed in the world as we approach the end of the current era. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and even spoiling of the environment all come now … in almost an obvious manner … but who is paying attention? Look! It’s remarkable how these events arise in a flurry … and on this side the Middle East seems to pause, but for how long? The apparent pressures build against Israel all the same. We might expect “Something has gotta give at some point here!” Can we see it coming?

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Facing Threats, U.S., U.K. Embassies Close in Yemen (Jan. 3): The United States and the United Kingdom have closed their embassies in the country of Yemen due to ongoing security threats from the terrorist group alQaeda. Military and ntelligence organizations in Yemen had information about plans to attack Western groups in the capital; military action prevented the threatened attack, however. The suicide bomber on the Christmas Day flight to Detroit has been tied to the terrorist organization in Yemen.

January Report

Multi-Country Offensive Launched in Afghanistan (Feb. 12): Thousands of American, Afghan, and British troops storm the city of Marja, Afghanistan in an attempt to destroy the Taliban's latest haven. The attack by the 6,000 troops is the biggest offensive in the country since the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001.

Taliban's Top Commander Captured (Feb. 15): The Taliban's top military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is captured in Karachi, Pakistan in a secret joint operation by the American and Pakistani intelligence forces.

February Report

SW4
Moral Decay & Being Deceived

U.S. Forms Agreement with Russia, China, and Others on Sanctions for Iran (May 19): The United States and major world powers Russia, China, and others agree to impose a fourth set of sanctions on Iran's nuclear program, in an attempt to stop the country from enriching uranium. The agreement is revealed shortly after Iran announces its own deal with Turkey and Brazil to relinquish half of the country's stockpile of nuclear fuel for a year. None of the three previous sets of sanctions had any effect on Iran's program to enrich uranium nor its willingness to fully disclose actions to international inspectors.

Israeli Attack on Pro-Palestinian Aid Flotilla (May 31): Nine people are dead after an Israeli navy commando attacks a flotilla of cargo ships and passenger boats on their way to Gaza to provide aid and supplies for the area. Israel claims that the passengers on the flotilla, who were pro-Palestinians and mostly Turks, presented
themselves as humanitarians but were clearly hostile.

May Report

Al Qaeda Leader in Afghanistan Killed in American Strike (May 31): The top financial chief and co-founder of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, is killed in an American drone attack in Pakistan. American intelligence officials say he was the third highest leader in the organization, behind Osama Bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.

SW1
Storm Warnings Everywhere

Police Find Car Bomb in Times Square, Evacuate Area (May 2): After discovering a bomb in a smoking vehicle parked in Times Square, in New York City, police evacuated several blocks around the popular tourist spot. The bomb was made of propane, gasoline, and fireworks and did not explode.

June Report

Coordinated Bombings Kill 70 in Uganda (July 11): The Shabab, an Islamic insurgent group from Somalia, claim responsibility for the coordinated bombings that kill at least 70 people in a crowd of soccer fans in Uganda.

July Report

Sucide Bomber Kills At Least 48 in Attack on Iraqi Army (Aug. 17): A suicide bomber blows himself up at an Iraqi Army recruiting office, killing at least 48 army recruits and soldiers, and wounding 120 others.

August Report

State Department Increasing Civilian Presence in Iraq (Aug. 18): The U.S. State Department announces that it will increase the presence of civilian contractors in 2011 as the military prepares to leave the country. Contractors will be responsible for training Iraqi police and preventing confrontations between the Iraqi Army and civilian groups.

September Report

Talks to End Afghan War Between Karzai, Taliban Leaders (Oct. 19): Leading members of the Taliban in Afghanistan – members of the Quetta shura – and President Karzai and his advisors, meet to discuss the end of the nine-year war in Afghanistan. The Taliban leaders, whose identities are kept secret in order to prevent rival Taliban leaders from harming or killing them, were lead to the meetings from their safe havens in Pakistan by NATO troops.

Suspicious Packages on Airplane Bound for U.S. Contain Explosives (Oct. 29): President Obama confirms that the suspicious packages found on an airplane originating in Yemen and bound for the United States contained explosive materials. Saudi intelligence officials tipped the U.S. government about the packages, resulting in a brief terrorism scare across the country. No additional exploseives were found.

October Report

Church Attack in Baghdad Kills 58 (Oct. 31): An Al Qaeda-affiliated massacre at a church in Baghdad leaves 58 dead and scores more wounded. This is the largest attack on Iraqi Christians since the war in Iraq began in 2003. Gunmen took over 100 hostages in the church before killing most with two suicide bombs.

Obama Backs India for Permanent U.N. Security Council Seat (Nov. 8) President Obama, breaking with tradition, announces support of India for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. A closer relationship between the United States and India should reduce some of the power of rapdidly growing China. The governments of China and Pakistan, both countries with strained relationships with India and close ties with the United States, respond with concern over the growing relationship.

North Korean Military Attacks South Korean Island, Killing 4 (Nov. 23): The military of North Korea unexpected attacks the island of Yeonpyeong in South Korea, killing two civilians and two marines. Eighteen others are wounded. This is the first time North Korea has fired on a civilian target since the suspension of the Korean War in 1953.

November Report

WikiLeaks Founder Arrested in Sweden for Alleged Sex Offenses (Dec. 7): Julian Assange, the Australian-born co-founder of WikiLeaks, is arrested in England on a Swedish warrant in connection to accusations made in August: two women in Sweden accused him of sexual assault. He is denied bail by a London court. (Dec. 8): Hundreds of Internet activists attack several businesses seen as "enemies" of WikiLeaks, in response to Assange's imprisonment. Amazon.com, Paypal.com, and the MasterCard website are among those attacked with an onslaught of web traffic. (Dec. 14): Assange is released on $310,000 bail, but remains in British custody temporarily. He faces possible extradition to Sweden for his alleged sexual assaults on two women.

December 2010 Report

Governor of Punjab Province, Pakistan, Assassinated (Jan. 4): The Governor of the Punjab Province, and a close ally of the President of Pakistan, is assassinated. Gov. Salman Taseer is shot getting into his car by Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, an elite-force security guard, who is apprehended immediately after the shooting.

At Least 24 Die in Tunisian Protests (Jan. 11): At least two dozen people, mainly young civilian men, are killed in government protests in Tunisia. The protesters are unhappy with the chronic unemployment they are facing in the country, as well as perceived police brutality. President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali ordered a night curfew, and schools and universities have been temporarily closed. (Jan. 14): After 23 years of authoritarian rule, President Ben Ali flees Tunisia for Saudi Arabia amid protests. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announces he will take over as interim protests. It is the first time a President of an Arab country has been overthrown because of widespread protesting.

January 2011

11 Cabinet Members Resign, Toppling Lebanese Government (Jan. 12): Hezbollah and its allies withdraw from the Lebanese government, breaking a unity government that has been in place since 2009.

Egyptian President Asks Army to Intervene After Days of Violent Protest (Jan. 28): After days of violent protest in Cairo, Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak calls the army into the streets to stop the demonstrators, protesting over government corruption, the economy, and lack of personal freedom. Those involved called the event a "day of wrath"; the protests have stretched on for four days.

Unrest in Middle East Spreads to Bahrain (Feb. 14): Violence erupts in Bahrain as protestors, inspired by recent events in Egypt and Tunisia, select February 14th as a day of protest to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter. Bahrain is the latest country to face unrest from its citizens with protests also happening in Yemen, Iran, and Libya.

Libya on Brink of Civil War (Feb. 24): Civilians and defected soldiers seeking the removal of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi hold off his forces in cities close to Tripoli, Libya's capital. Unlike the Facebook-enabled youth rebellions in neighboring Egypt and Tunisia, the insurrection in Libya is being led by people who have been actively opposing the regime for some time. In a series of determined stands through cities these rebel forces are proving to be a well-armed revolutionary movement.

Security Council Approves Sanctions on Libya (Feb. 26): The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to impose strong sanctions on Libya's leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, and his inner circle of advisers. The council also called for an international war crimes investigation into "widespread and systemic attacks" against Libyan citizens.

CRISIS REPORT

On Feb. 11, 2011, embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak announced his resignation and handed power of the country over to the military. Upon hearing Mubarak's speech, Cairo erupted in joyous celebration, with crowds chanting, "Egypt is free!" His resignation followed nearly three weeks of unprecedented anti-government protests in Cairo and ended 30 years of autocratic rule

February 2011

Egyptian Protestors Demand Faster Change and Accountability (March 6): Newly appointed Prime Minister Essam Sharaf addresses tens of thousands of protestors in Tahrir Square, where demonstrators press for faster and more substantive changes. The former interior minister, Habib el-Adly, pleads not guilty to corruption charges. A series of fires break out in government security and financial investigation offices angering protestors who suspect that senior officials are trying to destroy evidence that will implicate more of them in corruption and human rights abuses.

Upheaval Continues in Libya (March 7): Government warplanes repeatedly bomb rebel positions near an oil refinery in the coastal city of Ras Lanuf, seeking to drive them back farther to the east, as the country's slide into civil war continues. In Tripoli, government supporters celebrate after state television falsely reports that Colonel Qaddafi's forces had regained the entire country.

Yemen President Rejects Proposal to Step Down (March 7): President Ali Abdullah Saleh rejects the political opposition's proposal that he step down by the end of the year, calling it undemocratic and unconstitutional, the official Saba news agency reported. Saleh calls for a national conference to be held, which is rejected by the opposition who dismiss the president's proposal as an attempt to quell the escalating protests.

Thousands Protest in Bahrain (March 8): Thousands of Shiite protestors form a human chain around the Manama, the capital of Bahrain while hundreds demonstrate outside the United States Embassy appealing for American support. Opposition leaders vow that they will not be mollified by offers of money and jobs.

Interim Government Dissolves State Security Department in Tunisia (March 8): The State Security Department, which had been accused of human rights abuses under the ousted president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, is disbanded by the interim government in Tunisia. The prime minister also named a new cabinet, selecting new leaders for six ministries while retaining ministers in significant agencies like defense, interior, and justice.

March 2011

Libyan Rebels Reject Truce Plan (Apr 12): Plan includes suspension of NATO airstrikes and cease-fire. Col. al-Qaddafi accepts the plan; rebels reject it. (Apr 30): Col. al-Qaddafi survives a NATO airstrike.

April 2011

Osama bin Laden Is Killed in Pakistan (May 1): U.S. troops and CIA operatives shoot and kill Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan -- bringing cheers and a sense of relief worldwide. (May 13): Two suicide bombers attack recruits leaving a paramilitary training center in Shabqadar, Pakistan. Eighty people are killed and 120 are wounded in the first retaliation for the killing of bin Laden.

Palestinian Factions Sign Historic Reconciliation Accord (May 4): Fatah and Hamas, rival Palestinian parties, sign a reconciliation accord. The two cite common causes: opposition to the Israeli occupation and disillusionment with the US peace efforts. The deal remakes the Palestine Liberation Organization, which previously excluded Hamas.

Syria Security Forces Go Door-to-Door (May 5): Security forces raid a Damascus suburb, going house-to-house and arresting men in an effort to intensify their crackdown of the uprising against four decades of authoritarian rule--at least 286 men, most are between ages of 18 and 50.

Egypt Stops Enforcing Israel's Blockade of Gaza (May 29): Egypt lifts the Rafah border blockade, allowing Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip to pass through. This is first break in enforcement of the 4-year Israeli blockade.

Bin Laden Plotted Attacks (May 5): Documents and computer files found at bin Laden compound show that he played a direct role in plotting terror attacks for years.

Obama Calls for Israel/Palestine Peace Deal Based on 1967 Borders (May 19): In an effort to capitalize on the season of change in the Arab world, President Obama declares that the borders before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war should be the basis of a Mideast peace deal between Israel and Palestine. The Israeli government protests immediately, saying that a return to the pre-1967 borders would leave Israel "indefensible."

May 2011

Injured in Attack, President Leaves Yemen (Jun 3): President Ali Abdullah Saleh barely survives an attack when a mortar shell or rocket hits the mosque at the presidential compound where he and other government officials are praying. (June 4): Saleh agrees to leave Yemen. Al Qaeda and other jihadists appear to already be exploiting the unrest to solidify their base in Yemen. (June 8): The Obama administration sends armed drones and fighter jets to Yemen to strike militant suspects linked to Al Qaeda.

Killing of a 13-year-old Boy Fuels Protests in Syria (Jun 3): Syrians pour into streets, creating some of the largest antigovernment protests despite a brutal government crackdown that has killed more than 1,000 people. The protests are fueled by anger over the torture and killing of Hamza al-Khateeb, a 13-year-old boy. (June 12): Syrian forces regain control over Jisr al-Shoughour, crushing a mutinous alliance of armed civilians and soldiers there. Seizing the northern Syrian town causes thousands of residents to leave, most of them fleeing to Turkey.

Somalis Kill East African Al Qaeda Leader (Jun 11): Somali Soldiers kill Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, the leader of Al Qaeda in East Africa and the mastermind behind the American Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

Injured in Attack, President Leaves Yemen (Jun 3): President Ali Abdullah Saleh barely survives an attack when a mortar shell or rocket hits the mosque at the presidential compound where he and other government officials are praying. (June 4): Saleh agrees to leave Yemen. Al Qaeda and other jihadists appear to already be exploiting the unrest to solidify their base in Yemen. (June 8): The Obama administration sends armed drones and fighter jets to Yemen to strike militant suspects linked to Al Qaeda.

Killing of a 13-year-old Boy Fuels Protests in Syria (Jun 3): Syrians pour into streets, creating some of the largest antigovernment protests despite a brutal government crackdown that has killed more than 1,000 people. The protests are fueled by anger over the torture and killing of Hamza al-Khateeb, a 13-year-old boy. (June 12): Syrian forces regain control over Jisr al-Shoughour, crushing a mutinous alliance of armed civilians and soldiers there. Seizing the northern Syrian town causes thousands of residents to leave, most of them fleeing to Turkey.

Somalis Kill East African Al Qaeda Leader (Jun 11): Somali Soldiers kill Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, the leader of Al Qaeda in East Africa and the mastermind behind the American Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

June 2011

Two Related Terrorist Attacks Shock Norway (Jul 22): First, a bomb explodes in Regjeringskvartalet, the government quarter of Oslo. Two hours later, a gunman disguised as a policeman opens fire on campers at a camp for young political activists on the island of Utoya in Tyrifjorden, Buskerud.

July 2011

Crackdown Continues in Syria (Aug 1): Syrian forces bomb the west-central city, Hama. (Aug 3): Despite global condemnation, government orders military to march into Hama after three days of bombing. Tanks and soldiers seize the central square. Russia, a Syrian ally, supports possible Security Council Action against Syria. (Aug 4): Syrian military kill more than 100 people in 24 hours in Hama, bringing the civilian causalities to more than 200 since the bombing began. (Aug 7): Military initiates attack in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour. Thousands of people flee and dozens are killed as tanks roar into the city. (Aug 15): Taking the uprising crackdown to another level, the Syrian government sends navy vessels along with tanks and soldiers to the port city of Latakia. The attack sparks renewed outrage, partly because this happened during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. (Aug 18): Britain, France, and Germany release a joint statement, which says that President Assad has lost legitimacy as a leader and that he must step down. For the first time, President Obama calls for Assad to leave office. (Aug 22): President Assad says American and European calls for him to step down are "meaningless" and suggests that the military in Syria will continue its crackdown. (Aug 26): Inspired by the fall of Col. Muammar Qaddafi in Libya, thousands of protestors take to the streets in Syria, demanding that President Assad leave.

Mubarak Trial Begins (Aug 3): Tens of millions watch live on television as an ailing Hosni Mubarak is rolled into the courtroom on a hospital bed for the beginning of his trial. Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, faces charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of protesters. Mubarak was ousted earlier this year after an 18-day revolution in Egypt.

US Forces Experience Deadliest Day in Afghan War (Aug 6): Thirty U.S. armed service men, including 22 members of the Navy SEALs, are killed in Afghanistan when insurgents shoot down their Chinook helicopter.

Yemen President Leaves Hospital (Aug 7): President Saleh, having recovered from injuries sustained in June when the presidential compound was attacked, is discharged from a hospital in Saudi Arabia. (Aug 17): Yemen opposition leaders form a national council. The government instantly condemns the act.

Rebel Forces Advance in Libya (Aug 18): Rebels opposing Qaddafi seize Zawiyah and gain control of the city's oil refinery. Zawiyah, a port city just 31 miles west of Tripoli, is a key gain. (Aug 21): Rebels advance into Tripoli as foreigners try to flee the city. Residents in Tripoli take to the streets to celebrate the end of Qaddafi's 42 years in power. (Aug 23): Rebels seize Qaddafi's compound. Qaddafi and his family flee and remain at large. (Aug 27): Five mass executions made by Qaddafi loyalists during his final hours in power are uncovered. (Aug 29): Qaddafi's whereabouts still remain unknown, but three of his children and his second wife flee to Algeria.

Attacks in Israel Cause More Tension with Gaza and Egypt (Aug 18): Multiple attacks made near Eilat, kill 8 Israelis and wound more than 30. Authorities blame the Popular Resistance Committees, a group that has worked with Hamas. The attackers may have crossed into Israel from Egypt. Israel responds with airstrikes on Gaza, killing the Popular Resistance Committees' commander. Egyptian officials deny the attackers crossed through Egypt. Hamas denies Israel's accusations. (Aug 19): Tension between Israel and Egypt increases when three Egyptian security officers near the border are inadvertently killed during Israeli airstrikes. Palestinian militants fire more than 10 rockets into Israel. (Aug 20): Palestinian militants continue to fire rockets, killing one civilian and wounding six. Hamas, which controls Gaza, takes credit for four of the rockets fired into Israel.

August 2011

Iran's President Calls for Syrian Leader to Back Down (Sep 8): President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran joins other world leaders in calling for President Bashar al-Assad to end his crackdown on the uprising that is challenging his rule in Syria. Ahmadinejad's shift is unexpected because Iran has recently been accused of funding Assad's crackdown.

Protesters Attack Israeli Embassy in Cairo (Sep 9): Thousands of protestors attack the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, demolishing a protective wall while Egyptian security forces watched. When riot police attempt to stop the attack, protesters fight back with Molotov cocktails and stones. At least two protestors die in the attack and at least 1,200 are injured. The attack in Egypt comes just one week after Turkey expels Israel's ambassador.

Palestinians Officially Request United Nations Membership (Sep 23): Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas officially requests a bid for statehood at the UN Security Council. The request comes after months of failed European and U.S. efforts to bring Israel and Palestine back to the negotiating table. In addition, the European states in the General Assembly have made it clear that they will support the proposal if the Palestinians drop their demand that Israel halt settlement construction. The Palestinians have long insisted that Israel cease the settlement construction and deemed the condition unacceptable. The Palestinian Authority takes its case to the Security Council even though the U.S. has vowed to veto the request.

September 2011

Yemen President Returns From Saudi Arabia (Sep 23): President Ali Abdullah Saleh returns to Yemen. Saleh calls for a return to negotiations and a cease fire, but his return does not immediately stop the fighting between government forces and soldiers who are now siding with anti-government protesters. The fighting has killed more than 70 people since last Sunday.

Alleged Assassination Plot Is Exposed (Oct. 11): U.S. Attorney General announces the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps paid assassins from a Mexican drug cartel $1.5 million to kill Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States. The main suspects are Mansour J. Arbabsiar, an American citizen of Iranian descent who is in custody, and Gholam Shakuri, a member of the Quds Force, who is at large and is believed to be in Iran. US investigators believe high-ranking Iranian government officials are responsible for the plot.

Prisoner Swap Between Israel and Hamas Begins (Oct. 18): Gilad Shalit, a twenty-five year old Israeli soldier, is released after being held for more than five years by Hamas, a militant Palestinian group. He is exchanged for one thousand Palestinians who have spent years in Israeli jails.

Qaddafi Is Captured and Killed (Oct. 20): Libya's interim government announces that Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi has been killed by rebel troops in Surt, his hometown. Initial reports are unclear on the cause of death. (Oct. 23): Libya officially declares its liberation for Qaddafi and begins the process of electing a government and creating a constitution.

Tunisia Votes in First Ever Free Election (Oct. 24): Millions of Tunisians vote for an assembly to write a constitution and shape a new government. Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party, is the winner with 41 percent of the vote.

Palestine Becomes Member of UNESCO (Oct. 31): UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) approves the Palestinian bid for full membership to the UN with a 107 to 14 vote. The favorable vote defies a mandated cutoff of American funding. The U.S. contributes $70 million to UNESCO per year, about 22 percent of its yearly budget. The vote makes Palestine the 195th member of UNESCO.

October 2011

Protesters Return to Tahrir Square (Nov. 18): Protesters-representing both Islamists and the liberal opposition-return to Tahrir Square in Egypt to demand the ruling military council step aside in favor of a civilian-led government. The demonstrations turn violent with police firing on crowds with tear gas and rubber bullets. (Nov. 21): As protests grow in size and police are widely criticized for their crack down, the cabinet resigns. In an agreement reached with the Muslim Brotherhood, the military council vows to install a civilian prime minister and to accelerate the transition to a civilian government, with presidential elections being held by June 2012.

Iran Downgrades Relations with Britain (Nov. 28): Iran criticizes the increase in sanctions by Western nations and is particularly outraged with England. Parliament votes to downgrade the diplomatic ties with Britain. Several dozen Iranian protesters rush into the British embassy compound in Tehran, yelling, "Death to England!" They break embassy windows, burn the British flag, and vandalize offices. British Prime Minister David Cameron withdraws several diplomats from Iran following the incursion.

November 2011

December 2011