Deaths on July 12

James P. Hogan, English-American author (b. 1941)

James Patrick Hogan (27 June 1941 – 12 July 2010) was a British science fiction author.

4 Jan

Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa, the current tallest building in the world, officially opens in Dubai
11 Mar

2010 Pichilemu earthquake
Economist and businessman Sebastián Piñera is sworn in as President of Chile, while three earthquakes, the strongest measuring magnitude 6.9 and all centered next to Pichilemu, capital of Cardenal Caro province, hit central Chile during the ceremony.
3 Apr

IPad (1st generation)
Apple Inc. released the first generation iPad, a tablet computer.
20 Apr

Deepwater Horizon explosion
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill that would last six months.
31 May

Gaza flotilla raid
Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos boarded the Gaza Freedom Flotilla while still in international waters trying to break the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip; nine Turkish civilians on the flotilla were killed in the ensuing violent affray.