North Korea became the first country to withdraw from the NPT and conduct a nuclear test in the 21st century.

Protesters carrying roses stormed the parliament, leading to the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze.

Bin Laden was found hiding in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed during Operation Neptune Spear.

A massive earthquake and tsunami caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

After 42 years in power, Gaddafi was ousted by NATO-backed rebel forces and killed in Sirte.

The self-immolation of street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia sparked protests that spread across the Arab world.

The Orange Revolution was a series of protests against a rigged presidential election, resulting in a revote won by Viktor Yushchenko.

The US boycotted the Moscow games to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Student-led protests for democracy were forcibly suppressed by the Chinese military in June 1989.

Students in Soweto protested against being forced to learn in Afrikaans, the language of the apartheid government.