Contemporary
Eurozone Crisis (2009–2015): Greece, Bailouts and Austerity
Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus received rescue loans in return for austerity and reforms; the euro survived, but Greece suffered a deep depression.
Era · 1945 – present
Contemporary
From the Cold War and the Space Race to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the world we live in today.
Contemporary
Black Saturday Bushfires (2009): Victoria's Deadliest Fire Day
173 people were killed and more than 2,000 homes destroyed, Australia's deadliest bushfire disaster; fire warnings and the 'stay or go' policy were overhauled.
Contemporary
2009 Swine Flu Pandemic: The H1N1 Influenza Outbreak Worldwide
The first influenza pandemic of the 21st century caused an estimated 151,700–575,400 deaths in its first year, mostly among younger adults, and prompted a large vaccination campaign and a review of pandemic planning.
Contemporary
2010 Pakistan Floods: The Indus Inundation That Hit 20 Million
About 1,700-2,000 people died, some 20 million were affected and damage was estimated at around 10 billion US dollars.
Contemporary
2010 Chile Earthquake: The Maule Quake and Its Coastal Tsunami
About 525 people died, many in the tsunami; damage reached about 30 billion US dollars, but modern buildings largely withstood the shaking.
Contemporary
Chilean Miners Rescue (2010): 69 Days Underground at San José
All 33 trapped miners were brought to the surface alive in the Fénix 2 capsule on 12-13 October 2010.
Contemporary
Eyjafjallajökull Eruption (2010): The Ash Cloud Over Europe
European airspace was largely closed for about six days, about 100,000 flights were cancelled, and aviation ash rules were rewritten.
Contemporary
Arab Spring (2010-2012): Uprisings Across the Middle East
Four long-ruling leaders fell, but only Tunisia made a lasting, if fragile, transition to democracy; Libya, Yemen and Syria descended into civil war.
Contemporary
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010): Blowout in the Gulf of Mexico
Eleven workers died and about 3-4 million barrels of oil escaped; BP paid more than 60 billion dollars in fines, settlements and clean-up costs.
Contemporary
2010 Haiti Earthquake: Destruction of Port-au-Prince and Recovery
Port-au-Prince was devastated, with deaths estimated from under 100,000 to over 300,000 and about 1.5 million people made homeless.
Contemporary
South Sudan Independence (2011): Birth of the Newest Nation
South Sudan seceded peacefully from Sudan and was admitted to the United Nations as its 193rd member state.
Contemporary
2011 Thailand Floods: Bangkok and the Global Supply Chain
Over 800 people died, millions were affected and seven major industrial estates were flooded, disrupting global electronics and car production.