12th January Haiti was struck by magnitude-7 earthquake, killing as many as 300,000 residents and leaving over 1.

5 million people homeless. 27th January CEO Steve Jobs unveils the iPad tablet computer. 10th April Poland's President Lech Kaczynski, first lady and dozens of dignitaries killed in plane crash while headed to Russian memorial ceremony. On April 14, 2010, the second eruption of the Iceland volcano Eyjafjallajkull caused disruptions in European airline travel until May 23, 2010. 7th May Britain has a hung Parliament after no party was able to win a majority in the most tightly fought General Election in a generation. 10th July In July, Northumbria was gripped in a manhunt for gunman Raoul Moat. Moat, who had shot his exgirlfriend and her former lover, eventually turned the gun on himself after a dramatic stand-off with police

On July 26, 2010 huge quantities of rain flooded 1/5th of Pakistan. The resulting flood disaster affected 20 million people creating the worst flood disaster in Pakistan. 24th Aug A video of 'Cat-Bin Lady' Mary Bale putting a cat in a wheelie bin became a viral sensation on the internet, causing a national outcry 29 August 2010 Match-fixing allegations hit England v Pakistan Test at Lord's Cricket Ground. On the 12th October, the world celebrated as the last of 'Los 33', a group of Chilean Miners trapped underground for 68 days made it to the surface after an international rescue effort. 16th November Prince William announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton. The pair will get married at Westminster Abbey on 29th April, beginning a four-day national celebration. 9th December Thousands of students protested across London as the Coalition government voted to increase tuition fees.