2000s

2000
- George W Bush is declared president elect
- Big Brother launches.
- ITN news channel launched.
- Child of Our Time begins.
-Reformists win control of Iranian parliament for first time since 1979 Islamic revolution (Feb. 26).

2001
- US terrorists attacks. September 11th bombings of the World Trade Centre
-In response to Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. and British forces launch bombing campaign on Taliban government and al-Qaeda terrorist camps in Afghanistan (Oct. 7). Bombings continue on a daily basis. Background: Afghanistan.
-Race riots in Cincinnati continue for several days following a shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police officer (April 7 et seq.).

2002
- 17th Football World Cup begins
- BBC four launches
-Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan government sign a cease-fire agreement, ending 19 years of civil war (Feb. 22). Background: World in Review
-India's worst Hindu-Muslim violence in a decade rocked the state of Gujarat after a Muslim mob fire-bombed a train, killing Hindu activists. Hindus retaliated, and more than 1,000 died in the bloodshed (Feb. 27 et seq.).
-U.S. and Afghan troops launch Operation Anaconda against remaining al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan (March 2). Background: Taliban Timeline and Afghanistan

2003
- After giving Saddam Hussain and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq, Bush orders the firing of missiles on the country’s capital
-Ariel Sharon elected Israeli prime minister (Jan. 29).
-Suicide bombing destroys UN headquarters in Baghdad, killing 24, including top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello (Aug. 19).
-Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem kills 20 Israelis, including 6 children (Aug. 19).
-Suicide bombers attack two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 25 (Nov. 15).
-Saddam Hussein is captured by American troops (Dec. 13).
- Leni Reifenstahl dies

2004
- Tsunami kills hundreds and thousands of people.
- The Secret Policeman documentary looks at institutional racism within the police force.
-Spain is rocked by terrorist attacks, killing more than 200. Al Qaeda takes responsibility (March 11).
- Michael Moore releases Farenheit 9/11
- Mel Gibson releases Passion of the Christ

2005
- Desperate Housewives (Kiran’s Independent Study)
- Iraq elections take place
-Pope John Paul II Dies (April 2). Benedict XVI becomes the next pope (April 24).
-Tony Blair becomes first Labour Party prime minister to win three successive terms, but his party loses a large number of seats in the elections (May 5).
-The European Union abandons plans to ratify the proposed European constitution by 2006 after both France and the Netherlands vote against it (June 16).
-London hit by Islamic terrorist bombings, killing 52 and wounding about 700. It is Britain's worst attack since World War II (July 7).
-Group of Eight industrial nations pledge to double aid to Africa to $50 billion a year by 2010, cancel the debt of many poor countries, and open trade (July 8).

2006
-A Danish newspaper challenges taboos against illustrations of Muhammad by printing several negative cartoons depicting him. Angry demonstrators throughout the Muslim world smash windows, set fires, and burn flags of Denmark and other nations whose newspapers reprint the cartoons (Feb. 4 onward).
-Saddam Hussein is convicted of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court (Nov. 5), and hanged in Baghdad. A witness videotapes the hanging using a cell phone and captures the chaos that unfolds as Shiite guards taunt Hussein (Dec. 30).