2011 in History

Sarita Francis serves briefly as acting Governor

Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi briefly announced that he would exercise presidential duties.

Fouad Mebazaa was sworn in as acting president under the constitutional succession rules.

Assumes presidential responsibilities under the GCC transition agreement.

Links aid, trade, enterprise and democratic accountability in a speech during a visit to Nigeria.

Tessy Thomas leads the Agni-IV project as the missile completes a successful developmental test flight.

Demonstrations expand as Yemen joins the Arab Spring.

Holds the referendum on replacing first past the post with the alternative vote.

Wins his third Champions League title as a player.

Wins his second Champions League title as a manager.

Demonstrations against the government begin after the arrest of a human-rights lawyer.

Scores twice against Real Madrid, including a celebrated solo goal, in the semi-final first leg.

Disorder and looting spread through parts of Birmingham during nationwide disturbances.

Conservative Eurosceptic MPs rebel in favour of a referendum on EU membership.

The transitional government replaced several ministers following continued public protests.

Transitional Council forces seize most of Tripoli and collapse central government control.

Scores from a tight angle to equalise against Barcelona in Arsenal's Champions League round-of-16 victory.

Finishes a rapid counter-attack to give Arsenal a 2-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona.

Scores twice as Barcelona defeat Santos 4-0 to win the FIFA Club World Cup.

Papademos forms a coalition government during the sovereign debt crisis.

Receives the Congressional Gold Medal with other Apollo 11 astronauts.

Tunisia held its first national election after the revolution to choose a Constituent Assembly.

At the United Russia Congress Medvedev officially proposed that Putin stand for the Presidency in 2012, an offer Putin accepted. Given United Russias near-total dominance of Russian politics, many observers believed that Putin was all but assured of a third term

New constitution retains the British monarch as head of state

Scores Argentina's equaliser in the opening Copa America match against Bolivia.

Real Madrid defeat Barcelona after extra time to win the Copa del Rey.

Reports that the destroyed Dair Alzour building in Syria was very likely a nuclear reactor that should have been declared.

Gaddafi vows to remain in Libya and suppress the expanding uprising.

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali left Tunisia as protests ended his presidency.

A decree formally dissolved both chambers of the former national parliament.

Tai participates in economic reform connected with Jordanian political and historical developments.

The National Transitional Council elects el-Keib to head the interim government.

The Constituent Assembly elected Moncef Marzouki president of Tunisia.

A decree-law established the electoral system for the National Constituent Assembly.

Guides Ajax to the Eredivisie title in his first season as head coach.

Refuses to support proposed European treaty changes during negotiations over the eurozone crisis.

Guides FC Porto to Europa League victory over Braga.

Introduces the referendum lock for major future EU treaty changes.

Jibril leads the National Transitional Council's executive body during the civil conflict.

The government completes major transfers of federal functions to the provinces.

Receives the FIFA World Coach of the Year award for his achievements with Inter in 2010.

The National Constituent Assembly held its first session after the October election.

Addresses the United Nations General Assembly as Prime Minister for the first time.

Sidibe becomes the first woman appointed Prime Minister of Mali.

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act receives royal assent.

Sings on Fly from Here, a Yes album developed from Buggles-era material.

Returns to Yes and plays keyboards on Fly from Here.

Faces a political crisis after protesters are killed in Sanaa.

A uranium-fuelled reactor crisis follows the Tohoku earthquake.

The IAEA activates sustained emergency information and coordination work after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.

An IAEA international fact-finding mission visits Japan to assess the Fukushima Daiichi accident and identify lessons.

Signs the Gulf Cooperation Council transition agreement.

Tai participates in government appointment connected with Jordanian political and historical developments.

The government led by Mari Kiviniemi ends in Helsinki, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Finland.

Adrian Davis becomes Governor of Montserrat

Announces final Gravity Probe B results confirming geodetic precession and frame dragging around Earth.

Makes his senior debut for Groningen and develops into a first-team central defender.

Hamadi Jebali became head of government following the Constituent Assembly election.

Presidency combines head of state and head of government powers

Than Shwe hands power to the new civilian-style government

The IAEA General Conference endorses the Action Plan on Nuclear Safety developed after Fukushima.

The Libya Contact Group recognises the council as Libya's legitimate governing authority.

Marks the end of the U.S. military mission in Iraq.

Juno launches to investigate Jupiter's origin, interior, atmosphere and magnetosphere.

A Hubble search led by Mark Showalter discovers a fourth moon of Pluto, later named Kerberos.

A follow-up Hubble image confirms the newly detected fourth Pluto moon.

A further Hubble observation again confirms the fourth Pluto moon and strengthens its orbital solution.

Announces a public inquiry into press ethics after the phone-hacking scandal.

Jalil declares Libya liberated and announces the beginning of a political transition.

Reports to Parliament on the collapse of Qadhafi's rule and Britain's role in the international campaign.

Wins House of Commons support for military action implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

Updates Parliament after British aircraft and ships help evacuate nationals from unrest in Libya.

Wins Commons support for UK participation in military action over Libya.

Reports to Parliament after Libya's National Transitional Council declares the country's liberation.

Announces that British forces are taking part in international military action under the United Nations mandate.

Opens an international conference coordinating political and diplomatic support for Libya's transition.

Releases Lulu, a collaborative album with Metallica based on writings by Frank Wedekind.

MESSENGER fires its main engine and becomes the first spacecraft to enter orbit around Mercury.

MESSENGER begins its primary year-long orbital science campaign to map Mercury and study its composition, magnetic field and environment.

Restores Barcelona's lead with a low strike from outside the penalty area.

The IAEA convenes a forum on experience relevant to creating a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

Convenes an IAEA ministerial conference to examine lessons from Fukushima and strengthen global nuclear safety.

Opposition representatives establish the National Transitional Council as a provisional authority.

Mohamed Ghannouchi announced a national unity government containing opposition figures and former ruling-party ministers.

NATO assumes command of international military operations enforcing the United Nations mandate.

Hubble images commemorate Neptune completing its first full orbit around the Sun since its discovery in 1846.

New START enters into force after the United States and Russia exchange instruments of ratification.

Announces changes to NHS reform proposals following the government's listening exercise.

Meets President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss military, diplomatic and political pressure on the Qadhafi regime.

Re-elected party general secretary at the ninth LPRP congress

Scores Barcelona's first goal in the Wembley final against Manchester United.

Becomes the youngest manager winning a major UEFA club trophy.

Reuben Meade becomes first Premier when the new constitution replaces the Chief Minister title

Appointed President of Argentina, 2nd term

Appointed President of Brazil, 1st term

Thein Sein becomes President under the 2008 constitution

Is seriously wounded in an attack on the presidential compound.

Kabila wins a disputed single-round presidential election.

Agrees to transfer presidential powers to his deputy.

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

Beji Caid Essebsi became prime minister of the transitional government.

Peter O'Neill becomes Prime Minister during the 2011 political crisis

Senior officials and military commanders begin defecting.

Makes his senior debut for PSV after progressing through the club's academy.

The achievement marks radioastron mission as an important Russian scientific milestone.

Nazarbayev wins early presidential election

Moves a Commons motion calling for an EU membership referendum.

Mohamed Ghannouchi resigned as prime minister amid continuing demonstrations.

Burnham returns to the shadow health portfolio.

Returns after medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Political negotiations over transferring power continue.

Leaves Yemen for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Backs the GCC initiative for a peaceful Yemeni transition.

The Constituent Assembly elected Mustapha Ben Jaafar as its speaker.

Sees the launch of the space radio observatory developed from his RadioAstron concept.

Is proclaimed supreme leader after Kim Jong Il dies.

Recalls Parliament and sets out the government's response after serious rioting in English cities.

Becomes Taoiseach after the 2011 general election and forms a Fine Gael-Labour government.

Somare is replaced as Prime Minister during a constitutional crisis

The Dalai Lama formally transfers his political responsibilities to elected Tibetan leadership.

Assumes executive authority for the military council after Hosni Mubarak resigns.

Joins PSV from Feyenoord and later becomes club captain.

Prepares Yemen for a transitional presidential election.

Chairs the National Security Council and responds as Qadhafi's regime loses control of most of Tripoli.

The Security Council imposes an arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes.

The Security Council authorises a no-fly zone and measures to protect civilians.

At the United Russia Congress Medvedev officially proposed that Putin stand for the Presidency in 2012, an offer Putin accepted. Given United Russias near-total dominance of Russian politics, many observers believed that Putin was all but assured of a third term

Venus Express detects an ozone layer high in the atmosphere by analysing starlight passing through the planet's limb.

Curls Barcelona's third goal into the top corner to seal a 3-1 victory.

Announces that women may vote and stand in future municipal elections.

Prepares municipal institutions for expanded electoral participation.

Supports the negotiated transfer of power from Saleh.

Faces mass protests demanding political change.

Death of Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor

Death of Gary Moore

Death of John Barry Prendergast

Death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Gaddafi is captured and killed as transitional forces take his final stronghold.

Death of Muammar Gaddafi