2011: The Year in Review

      

2011 started on a Saturday and UN designated 2011 'International Year of Forests'

January 2011

Estonia officially adopts Euro Currency and becomes the 17th  Eurozone Country.

 

Southern Sudan holds a referendum on independence and people voted in favour of the independence.

The Tunisian Govt.  falls after a month of increasingly violent protests.President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali flees to Saudi Arabia after 23 years in power.

February 2011

 Egypt President Hosni Mubarak resigns after widespread protestscalling for his departure, leaving control of Egypt in the hands of the Military  until a general election can be held.

 Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt's Ruling Military Council

March 2011

Earthquake and susequent Tsunami killing 15,840 and leaving another 3,926 missing in Japan

Hamad bin Isa Khalifa,Bahrain's King   declares a three-month State  of Emergency  as troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council are sent to quell the Civil Unrest.

The UN Security Council  votes 10-0 to create a No-fly Zone  over Libya in response to allegations of government aggression against civilians.In light of continuing attacks on Libyan rebels by forces in support of leader Muammar Gaddafi , military intervention authorized under UNSCR 1973 begins as French fighter jets make reconnaissance flights over Libya.

 

 

April 2011 

Former Ivory Coast  President Laurent Gbagbo  is arrested in his home in Abidjan  by supporters of elected President Alassane Ouattara  with support from French forces thereby ending the 2010-11 Ivory Coast Crisis and Civil War.

 

Prince William,Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Middleton Weds at Westminister Abbey in Londom,U.K.
                                                                

May 2011

Osama bin Laden, the founder and leader of the militant group Al-Qaeda killed during an American military operation in in Abbottabad,Pakistan.

The European Union agree to €78 billion rescue deal for Portugal.

June 2011

Chile's Puyehue Volcano erupts causing air traffic cancellations across South America, New Zealand, Australia and forcing over 3,000 people to evacuate.

 

Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh goes to Saudi Arabia  for treatment of an injury sustained during an attack on the Presidential Palace after transfer of power to his VP Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi

July 2011

South Sudan secedes from Sudan  per the result of the independence referendum held in January 2011.

In Thailand over 12.8 million people are affected by Severe Floods affecting 58 of the country's 77 provinces and killing around 800 people.