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The world celebrates the turn of the millenium
Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and 3rd millennium. According to the Gregorian calendar, this distinction falls to the year 2001, because the 1st century was retroactively said to start with year AD 1. -
Concorde crashes in france
Air France Flight 4590 was a Concorde flight from Charles de Gaulle International Airport near Paris, France, travelling to JFK International Airport in New York City. -
George Bush is sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States
Over an eight year period, Bush's once-high approval ratings steadily declined throughout his Presidency, while his disapproval numbers increased significantly over the same time frame. -
WTC buildings collapse
Both towers - two of the tallest in the world at the time - collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and heavily damaging others. 2,973 victims and the 19 hijackers died as a result of the attacks. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 90 countries. -
The dwarf planet Quaoar is discovered
Quaoar is a binary, trans-Neptunian object and dwarf planet. It was discovered on 4th June 2002 by astronomers at the California Institute of Technology. It orbits at 43 astronomical units (6.4×109 km; 4.0×109 mi) from the Sun, with an orbital period of 286 years. It has a single tiny moon called Weywot. -
The deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia
The 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia, killing 202 people, 152 of whom were foreign nationals (including 88 Australians), and 38 Indonesian citizens. A further 240 people were injured. -
The invasion of Iraq
The invasion of Iraq was led by the United States, alongside the United Kingdom and smaller contingents from other countries. The initial invasion phase lasted from 20th March to 1st May and involved troops from the US (248,000), UK (45,000), Australia (2,000) and Poland (194). 36 other countries were involved in its aftermath. -
China launches its first manned space mission
On 15th October 2003, China successfully placed its manned "Shenzhou 5" spacecraft into orbit. This followed four previous missions, of which three were unmanned and one carried animals. The capsule carried a single astronaut, Yang Liwei. It was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, using a Long March 2F rocket booster. -
George W. Bush is re-elected
The US presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. Foreign policy was the dominant theme throughout the election campaign, particularly Bush's conduct of the War on Terrorism and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. -
Indian Ocean earthquake leaves 230,000 dead
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred on 26th December 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Caused by subduction, it triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along coasts bordering the Indian Ocean, inundating towns and cities with waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. Nearly 230,000 people in fourteen countries were killed and 1.7 million displaced. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. -
Suicide bombers in London kill 56 people, injure 700 others
The 7 July 2005 London bombings, also known as 7/7, were a series of coordinated suicide attacks on London's public transport system during the morning rush hour. The bombings were carried out by four British Muslim men, three of Pakistani and one of Jamaican descent. -
Hurricane Katrina floods New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina, of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, was the costliest hurricane - as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was sixth strongest overall. Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005 and crossed southern Florida as a moderate Category 1 hurricane, causing some deaths and flooding there before strengthening rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm weakened before making its second landfal -
Pluto is demoted to "dwarf planet" status
On 24th August 2006 the International Astronomical Union defined the term "planet" for the first time. This definition excluded Pluto, instead adding it as a member of a new category - "dwarf planet" - together with Eris and Ceres. After the reclassification, Pluto was added to the list of minor planets and given the number 134340. A number of scientists continued to hold that Pluto should be classified as a planet. -
North Korea conducts its first nuclear test
North Korea announced its intention to conduct a test on 3rd October, six days prior, and in doing so became the first nation to give warning of its first nuclear test. The blast was estimated to have an explosive force of less than one kiloton, and some radioactive output was detected. -
Apple debuts the iPhone
Released in June 2007, the iPhone is a multimedia-enabled smartphone designed and marketed by Apple. Time magazine named it the invention of the year. -
Multiple suicide bombings kill 796 people in Kahtaniya, northern Iraq
The Yazidi communities bombings occurred at around 8pm local time on 14th August 2007, when four co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks detonated in the Yazidi villages of Kahtaniya and Jazeera, near Mosul. Entire neighbourhoods were flattened by the blasts. -
Tornado across the Southern United States
A major tornado, outbreaks across the Southern United States leaves people at least 58 dead. -
Barack Obama Elected
Barack obama was elected as the president of the United States of America. Barack Obama is the first afro american who was elected as the president of the United States of America -
Earthquake near L'Aquila in Italy
6.3 Earthquake magnitude strikes near L'Aquila, Italy, killing at least 253 people. -
JW Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta
JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, were hit by separate bombings and killed seven peoples and more than 50 people were injured in this terrorist attack. -
Haiti is struck by a devastating earthquake
A 7.0 magnitude quake occured in Haiti, devastating the nation's capital, Port-Au-Prince. With a death toll of more than 230,000 people. -
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take off from Beirut Rafic Hariri internation airport killing 90 people on board. -
Japan is devastated by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake
On 11th March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami hit the east of Japan, killing over 15,000 and leaving another 9,000 missing. -
The death of Osama Bin Laden
Osama Bin Laden the founder and head of the millitant group al-Qaeda was killed in Pakistan by Navy SEALSs. -
The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
6th February 2012 marked the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the thrones of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (as well as the 60th anniversary of her becoming Head of the Commonwealth). Celebrations were held in these countries to mark the occasion. -
Whitney Houston died
Whitney Houston died at 48 years old. She died in her hotel room.