Notable events from Wikipedia:
Politics, war, and Genocide
The decade began with a growing liberal population in the early 2000's leading to numerous close elections globally, by 2006 there was an almost immediate backlash against conservatism with popularity in liberalism starkly increasing due to the issues of unpopular international wars, the rise of rogue states, various rights, and genocide in the world. By 2008, liberal sides were winning elections with near landslides as compared to the slowly declining conservatism.
Genocide still remains a problem in the century with the concern of the situation in Darfur and the growing concern in Sri Lanka. Low estimates on the deaths in Darfur stand around 200,000 deaths with 2.5 million in displacement, there has been much outrcy against the perpetrators, the Sudanese government, and the very weak international response. Also controversies from past genocides remain commonplace in the minds of victims and average people alike. An example of this is the Armenian Genocide which was carried out by The Ottoman Empire (now present day Turkey). National organisations and nations abroad have been slow and weak in the Recognition of the event as a genocide as Turkey continues its denial of the event.
1998 - 2002 – The Second Congo War continued into the early 21st century. A 1999 ceasefire quickly broke down and a UN peacekeeping mission, MONUC, was unable to control the fighting. Troops from Rwanda and Uganda continued to support rebel groups against the DRC and rifts also grew between Rwanda and Uganda as they accused each other of supporting rival rebel groups as well. Laurent Kabila, president of the DRC, was assassinated in January 2002 and his son, Joseph Kabila, took power. Throughout 2002 steps were made towards peace and Rwanda and Uganda both removed their troops from the country. On December 17, 2002, a massive treaty officially ended the war. However, the DRC only holds power in less than half of the country, with most of the eastern and northern portions still controlled by rebel groups, where there is still significant infighting. In addition, Rwanda still supports anti-DRC rebels and anti-Rwandan rebels continue to operate from the DRC. The war killed an estimated 3.9 million people, displaced nearly 5.5 million, and led to a widespread and ongoing famine that continues to result in deaths. Severe human rights violations continue to be reported.
2001 – Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked 4 commercial airliners and crashed 3 of them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon in the United States on September 11, killing nearly 3,000 people. The United States subsequently declared a War on Terrorism.
2001 - present – The U.S. and NATO invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 and overthrew the Al-Qaeda-supportive Taliban government. Troops remained to install a democratic government, fight a slowly escalating insurgency, and to hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
2002 – The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established on July 1.
2002 – A series of bombings carried out by Islamic militants killed 202 people at the resort of Kuta, Bali, Indonesia on October 12.
2003 - present – In February 2003, a conflict in Darfur, Sudan began and soon escalated into full-scale war. It is soon considered the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. By 2008 it is believed that up to 400,000 people have been killed and over 2.5 million displaced. In 2005, the ICC decided that Darfur war criminals would be tried, and on July 14, 2008, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir was charged with 5 accounts of crimes against humaninty and 2 acconts of war crimes, although the ICC currently has no power to enforce these charges.
2003 - present – The U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003 and overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein (who was executed by the Iraqi government on December 30, 2006). Coalition troops remain in the country to install a democratic government and fight an escalating insurgency. In addition to an insurgency against the American presence, Iraq also suffered from a civil war for several years. The war was soon seen as the central front of the War on Terror by many governments, despite growing international dissatisfaction with the war. The total death toll has been estimated at near 150,000 but these estimations are highly disputed. After the U.S.-led coalition initiated a troop surge in 2007, casualty numbers have decreased significantly.
2003 - 2005 – A series of nonviolent revolutions known as the colour revolutions overthrew governments in Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Lebanon.
2004 – The European Union expanded by 10 countries, including 8 former communist countries, plus Malta and Cyprus.
2004 – On March 11, bombings carried out by Islamic militants killed 191 people on the commuter rail system of Madrid, Spain.
2005 – A series of bombings carried out by Islamic militants killed 56 people in London on July 7.
2005 – Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip on September 11.
2006 - 2008 – The dismantling of former Yugoslavia continues after Montenegro gained independence on June 3, 2006 and Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008. However, Kosovo's independence is disputed by Russia and many of its allies and is currently only partially recognized.
2006 – On July 12, Hezbollah militants crossed the border of Lebanon and captured two Israeli troops. Israel responded by sending troops across the border and bombing Hezbollah strongholds, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly Lebanese civilians. A ceasefire was signed on August 14, after which Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon. Many believed that it was a victory for Hezbollah, since Israel failed to destroy them and emerged with stronger political clout within Lebanon.
2006 – On July 11, bombs planted on the train system in Mumbai exploded, killing 209 people.
2006 – North Korea conducted its first nuclear test on October 9.[9] This was preceded by years of political wrangling with the U.S. over the status of their nuclear program. On February 13, 2007 North Korea agreed to dismantle its nuclear program and has so far adhered to its promises.
2007 – A civil war escalated in the Gaza Strip throughout June, which resulted in Hamas eventually driving most Fatah-loyal forces from the Strip. In reaction, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh and dissolved the Hamas-ruled parliament. Scattered conflict continues.
2008 – Russia invaded Georgia on August 7 as a response to a Georgian military attack on the capital of the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Russia extensively bombed the infrastructure of the country and occupied some small cities, but a ceasefire was signed about a week later. Russia occupied the Georgian breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and officially recognized their independence.
2008 - 2009 – Israel launches a military campaign on the Gaza Strip, killing some 1,500 militants and civilians over a three week period.
[edit]Science and technology
[edit]Space exploration
2001 - Dennis Tito becomes the first space tourist by paying $20 million to board the International Space Station.
2002 - Mars Odyssey arrives in orbit around Mars.
2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia disaster February 1.
2003 - The Chinese space program launches its first manned space flight, Shenzhou 5 on October 15.
2004 - Mars Exploration Rovers land on Mars; Opportunity discovers evidence that an area of Mars was once covered in water.
2004 - The Cassini–Huygens probe arrives at Saturn.
2004 - SpaceShipOne makes the first privately-funded human spaceflight, June 21
2005 - The Huygens probe lands on Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons, January 14.
2005 - The Deep Impact probe impacts Comet Tempel 1, July 4.
2006 - New Horizons is launched on a 9 year voyage to Pluto, January 19.
2006 - The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter arrives at Mars.
2006 - Pluto is reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet, leaving the solar system with eight planets.
2008 - NASA's MESSENGER flies by Mercury, becoming the first spacecraft to do so in 33 years.
2008 - Phoenix Lander successfully arrives at Mars; later tests conducted by the spacecraft reveal evidence of ice on Mars.
2008 - Chinese space program launches its third manned space flight carrying its first three-person crew and conducts its first spacewalk that makes China the third nation after Russia and USA to do that, Shenzhou 7 on September 25 -
[edit]Medicine
2003 - Completion of the Human Genome Project
2003 - Dolly the cloned sheep dies prematurely February 14.
2003 - Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) spreads around the globe.
2005 - The first successful partial face transplant is performed in France.
2006 - Australian of the Year Dr Ian Frazer develops a vaccine for cervical cancer.
[edit]Personal technology
Laptops are a common example of widely used wireless technologies.
Mobile phone usage approaches 100% in Europe.[10]
Digital audio players are widely used in developed nations.
Digital cameras are making traditional film cameras obsolete.
Wireless technologies are beginning to play a greater role in people's lives.