2010 in History

Wins the Golden Ball after leading Uruguay to the semi-finals.

Claims the Golden Boot on assists after scoring five goals for Germany.

Jeffery Nape again serves as acting Governor-General

Takes office as Acting Mayor of Amsterdam.

Ghimpu's acting presidency ends after parliamentary leadership changes

Marian Lupu becomes acting President while serving as President of Parliament

Attends signing of the Affordable Care Act.

Akatsuki launches to study Venusian meteorology, cloud circulation and atmospheric dynamics from orbit.

Akatsuki fails to enter Venus orbit after a propulsion-system malfunction and continues around the Sun.

The United States and the United Kingdom have close their embassies in the country of Yemen due to ongoing security threats from terrorist group Al-Qaeda. The suicide bomber on the Christmas Day flight to Detroit was tied to the terrorist organisation in Yemen

Brown's government coordinates with the United States over security threats in Yemen.

TerreBlanche, who had lived in relative obscurity since the collapse of his organisation, is murdered on his farm Villana, just outside Ventersdorp, beaten to death with pipes and pangas (machetes), while napping

Inter withstand sustained Barcelona pressure to reach the Champions League final on aggregate.

Scores Inter's equaliser in a 3-1 first-leg victory over defending champions Barcelona.

During a visit to the United Kingdom, Benedict proclaims the beatification of John Henry Newman

Promotes the Big Society as a central theme of his government during a Liverpool launch.

Launches the coalition's Big Society programme with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Apologises after the Saville Report finds the killings unjustified.

Publishes findings on the events of 30 January 1972.

Filat's brief acting presidential role ends after Marian Lupu takes over

Prime Minister Vlad Filat briefly exercises acting presidential duties

Keeps Bayern Munich scoreless as Inter complete an historic treble.

Returns to Stamford Bridge and guides Inter past Chelsea in the Champions League round of sixteen.

Nicknamed "Chemical Ali" in the region, al-Majid is part of the group of leader who are deemed responsible for the deaths of approximately 180,000 Kurds in the Iraq War, a devastation many call genocide

South Korea blames North Korea for sinking Cheonan.

Forms a coalition government promising no transfer of powers without referendum.

Announces plans to form a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats.

Becomes Deputy Prime Minister in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

Appears with Nick Clegg to present the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.

New Delhi opens the Commonwealth Games after extensive preparations and controversy over costs and administration.

Sikander Afzal completes his tour as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.

Just after midnight on 12 May 2010, the Liberal Democrats emerged from a meeting of their Parliamentary party and Federal Executive to announce that the coalition deal had been "approved overwhelmingly"

Inter defeat Roma in the Coppa Italia final to secure the first trophy of their treble.

Argues that reducing the deficit is necessary while maintaining the conditions for long-term economic growth.

Talks between Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg led to an agreed Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition, enabling the Queen to invite Cameron to form a Government

Just after midnight on 12 May 2010, the Liberal Democrats emerged from a meeting of their Parliamentary party and Federal Executive to announce that the coalition deal had been "approved overwhelmingly"

Parliament is dissolved and formal general-election campaigning begins.

Scores with a powerful diving header from a corner as Argentina defeat Nigeria 1-0 in Johannesburg.

The Act expands financial regulation, consumer protection and procedures for systemic institutions.

Sets out priorities of freedom, fairness and responsibility after accepting the Queen's request to form a government.

Declares emergency measures after a major earthquake and tsunami strike central and southern Chile.

Sets out plans to promote enterprise, rebalance the economy and support private-sector growth.

President Barack Obama extended the embargo through September 14, 2011, determining that the embargo "is in the national interest of the United States

Zardari signs the Eighteenth Amendment restoring parliamentary authority and provincial autonomy.

Leads the Conservatives to become the largest party in a hung parliament.

Instant polling after the 1st of 3 Prime Ministerial debates unanimously declared Nick Clegg the winner

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats control 363 seats in the House of Commons, with a majority of 76 seats. 35% of voters supported a party other than Labour or the Conservatives-the highest such figure since the 1918 general election

Respect Member of Parliament George Galloway chose not to contest his Bethnal Green & Bow seat, instead challenging Minister of State for Farming and the Environment Jim Fitzpatrick in the nearby Poplar and Limehouse constituency but loses

BNP leader Nick Griffin finishes in third place after a heavy loss in Barking to Labour Member of Parliament Margaret Hodge

Green leader Caroline Lucas wins Brighton Pavilion, the 1st Green MP

Delivers the coalition government's emergency budget.

Leaves office as Acting Mayor of Amsterdam.

Leaves office as Mayor of Amsterdam.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, cousin of and former aid to Sadaam Hussein, is executed in Iraq for his role in the poison-gas attack of the village of Halabja, where 5,000 Kurds were killed

Reaffirms the coalition government's commitment to family policy in a speech hosted by Relate.

Starmer publishes final public-interest guidance for assisted-suicide prosecution decisions.

The first Aadhaar identification number is issued as India begins building a nationwide biometric identity system.

Begins a long international career as Portugal goalkeeper.

Hosts the first Nuclear Security Summit focused on securing vulnerable nuclear material and reducing nuclear terrorism risks.

Brown participates in Britain's first televised general-election leaders' debate.

Supports creation of a continuing international support process for Yemen.

Brown leads Labour into the general election that produces a hung Parliament.

Brown announces that the general election will be held on 6 May.

Brown announces that the general election will be held on 6 May.

General election outcome recorded for James Gordon Brown: Brown announces that the general election will be held on 6 May.

Government context for this general election: Brown announces that the general election will be held on 6 May.

Brown apologises after a private remark about voter Gillian Duffy is broadcast.

His government ends in Helsinki, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Finland.

Michael Ogio becomes Governor-General of Papua New Guinea

Brown helps secure agreement on devolving policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland.

Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon call for a secret ballot on Brown's leadership.

The election produces a hung Parliament and negotiations over a new government.

Leads Conservative negotiations after the general election produces a hung Parliament.

Leaves Inter after two seasons and an unprecedented Italian treble.

Captains Inter to European glory in his 700th appearance for the club.

Completes Inter's Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble by defeating Bayern Munich.

It is released that Abdullah wanted all detainees released from the Guantanamo Bay prison to be tracked through an implanted microchip, according to the leaked diplomatic cables published by Wikileaks

The initiative links security concerns with economic and governance assistance.

Encourages coordinated international support for the Yemeni government.

Begins presenting Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Records a brief flash produced by a small object striking Jupiter.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, cousin of and former aid to Sadaam Hussein, is executed in Iraq for his role in the poison-gas attack of the village of Halabja, where 5,000 Kurds were killed

Nicknamed "Chemical Ali" in the region, al-Majid is part of the group of leader who are deemed responsible for the deaths of approximately 180,000 Kurds in the Iraq War, a devastation many call genocide. Ali Hassan al-Majid, cousin of and former aid to Sadaam Hussein, is executed in Iraq for his role in the poison-gas attack of the village of Halabja, where 5,000 Kurds were killed

Burnham finishes fourth in the Labour leadership election won by Ed Miliband.

Hosts an international meeting focused on Yemen's security and development.

Nicknamed "Chemical Ali" in the region, al-Majid is part of the group of leader who are deemed responsible for the deaths of approximately 180,000 Kurds in the Iraq War, a devastation many call genocide. Ali Hassan al-Majid, cousin of and former aid to Sadaam Hussein, is executed in Iraq for his role in the poison-gas attack of the village of Halabja, where 5,000 Kurds were killed

Takes office as Mayor of Amsterdam.

BNP leader Nick Griffin finishes in third place after a heavy loss in Barking to Labour Member of Parliament Margaret Hodge

BNP leader Nick Griffin finishes in third place after a heavy loss in Barking to Labour Member of Parliament Margaret Hodge

Green leader Caroline Lucas wins Brighton Pavilion, the 1st Green MP

Scores both goals as Inter defeat Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Bernabeu.

I participates in national development connected with Jordanian political and historical developments.

Publishes a national security strategy setting out threats and strategic priorities for the United Kingdom.

New Horizons passes the halfway point in travel time between its 2006 launch and the 2015 Pluto encounter.

Signs the New START treaty with Dmitry Medvedev to limit deployed strategic nuclear forces.

New Hubble maps assembled from 2002-2003 observations reveal measurable changes in Pluto's surface color and brightness patterns.

Makes his senior Portugal debut in a friendly against Spain.

Thein Sein leaves the prime ministership after the 2010 election period

Bakir Izetbegovic becomes Bosniak member of the Presidency

Takes office as President of Chile for his first constitutional term.

Parliament re-elects Karolos Papoulias for a second presidential term.

Appointed President of Nigeria after the death of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua

Appointed President of Switzerland

Appointed President of Uruguay

Appointed Prime Minister after Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition talks.

Takes office as Prime Minister of Finland and forms a government in Helsinki.

Becomes prime minister after Bouasone Bouphavanh resigns

Rejoins Take That for Progress, the first album with the five-man line-up since 1995.

Appears in senior party roles before succession.

Becomes Slovakia's first female prime minister.

Burnham retains Leigh at the general election.

Is appointed Real Madrid manager after leaving European champions Inter.

Oversees the rescue of thirty-three miners trapped underground for sixty-nine days.

Brown resigns as Prime Minister after coalition negotiations produce a Conservative-led government.

Brown resigns after the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats agree to form a coalition.

Is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis.

Is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis.

Is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis.

Is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis.

Is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis.

President Barack Obama extended the embargo through September 14, 2011, determining that the embargo "is in the national interest of the United States

74 of Cuba's dissidents sign a letter to the United States Congress in support of a bill that would lift the US travel ban for Americans wishing to visit Cuba

President Barack Obama extends the Cuban embargo, determining that the embargo "is in the national interest of the United States"

Congressman Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota introduced a bill that would bar the president from prohibiting travel to Cuba or preventing transactions required for such trips

Inter defeat Siena to retain Serie A and complete the domestic double.

Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after a dispute with local officials, triggering nationwide protests.

Burnham becomes Shadow Education Secretary and Labour's election coordinator.

Burnham becomes Shadow Health Secretary after Labour leaves government.

Makes decisive saves during the final against the Netherlands.

Starts every match during the title-winning tournament.

Controls possession and creates chances throughout the tournament.

Defeats the Netherlands after extra time in Johannesburg.

Delivers the goal securing Spain's first World Cup.

Announces the coalition spending review and programme of austerity.

Presents the Strategic Defence and Security Review to Parliament.

The suicide bomber on the Christmas Day flight to Detroit was tied to the terrorist organisation in Yemen

The Who perform the Super Bowl XLIV halftime show.

Takes part in the first televised general-election leaders' debates during the 2010 campaign.

President Barack Obama extends the Cuban embargo, determining that the embargo "is in the national interest of the United States"

Joins Schalke from AC Milan and begins a highly productive spell in German football.

Scores twice as the Netherlands eliminate Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Scores twice as Argentina defeat Mexico 3-1 in the World Cup round of sixteen.

The United States and the United Kingdom have close their embassies in the country of Yemen due to ongoing security threats from terrorist group Al-Qaeda

The United Nations appoints Muhammad Khalid as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.

Starts for the Netherlands in the World Cup final against Spain.

Starts for the Netherlands in the World Cup final against Spain after scoring five goals during the tournament.

Scores the extra-time winner against the Netherlands.

Saves Arjen Robben's one-on-one chance before Spain win the final in extra time.

Scores Argentina's late second goal against Greece in his only World Cup appearance.

Scores Argentina's second goal in the 3-1 World Cup round-of-sixteen victory over Mexico.

Scores a hat-trick as Argentina defeat South Korea 4-1 in the World Cup group stage.

Captains the Netherlands and scores a long-range opening goal in the World Cup semi-final victory over Uruguay.

Heads the only goal as Spain defeat Germany to reach their first World Cup final.

Captains Spain to its first FIFA World Cup title.

Guides Spain to its first FIFA World Cup title.

Helps Spain win its first FIFA World Cup.

Helps Spain win its first FIFA World Cup.

Britain temporarily closes its embassy in Yemen after warnings of an al-Qaeda threat.

North Korea shells Yeonpyeong Island.

Death of Dennis Lee Hopper

Death of Eugene Ney TerreBlanche

Death of Irvin Kershner

Death of Jerome David Salinger

Death of Lech Kaczynski

Death of Malcolm McLaren

Death of Michael Mackintosh Foot

Death of Michael Foot

Death of Patricia Neal

Death of Kinks bassist Peter Quaife.