Major Events of November 2011: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from November 2011 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of November 2011: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Nov 2011 China's Historic Space Docking Mission: China launched the unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft with the ambitious goal of robotically docking with the Tiangong 1 space station module, marking a significant milestone in the country's space exploration efforts.
- 02 Nov 2011 China Achieves First Orbital Spacecraft Docking: China's unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong1 space station module, marking a significant milestone in China's space exploration capabilities and technological advancement.
- 03 Nov 2011 Eurozone Debt Crisis Summit in Cannes: The G-20 Summit is being held in Cannes, France, with a primary focus on addressing the ongoing Eurozone debt crisis and its potential economic implications.
- 04 Nov 2011 Greek Parliament Rejects No-Confidence Motion: After a failed referendum attempt on a Eurozone bailout, the Hellenic Parliament rejected a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister George Papandreou, reflecting the complex political landscape of the Greek debt crisis.
- 05 Nov 2011 Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal: Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State defensive coordinator, was arrested on 40 counts of sexual abuse spanning a 15-year period, triggering a major institutional scandal and public outcry.
- 06 Nov 2011 Greek Political Transition: In a significant political development, two prominent Greek political parties agreed to form a coalition government. Prime Minister George Papandreou was set to resign upon the new government's formation, marking a critical moment in Greece's ongoing economic and political challenges.
- 07 Nov 2011 Conrad Murray Convicted in Michael Jackson's Death: Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of pop icon Michael Jackson, marking a significant moment in the high-profile medical malpractice case.
- 08 Nov 2011 Syrian Uprising Crackdown: The Syrian government intensified its brutal crackdown on protesters and army defectors in Homs, resulting in numerous civilian casualties. This event was part of the larger 2011 Syrian uprising, characterized by widespread government violence against civilian demonstrators.
- 09 Nov 2011 Penn State Football Scandal: Joe Paterno Fired: Following serious allegations of sexual abuse cover-up by assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, the Pennsylvania State University trustees have terminated the employment of legendary football coach Joe Paterno and University President Graham Spanier.
- 10 Nov 2011 Syrian Uprising Violence: Opposition activists reported at least 38 people, including six children, were killed by Syrian security forces across multiple cities. The casualties were distributed as 16 in Homs, 10 in Hama, and 12 in other locations, highlighting the ongoing brutal suppression of protests.
- 11 Nov 2011 Arab Spring Continues: The Arab Spring, a significant wave of pro-democracy protests and political upheaval across the Middle East and North Africa, continued to unfold with ongoing demonstrations and conflicts in multiple countries.
- 12 Nov 2011 Arab League Suspends Syria: The Arab League voted to suspend Syria due to its violent suppression of the ongoing uprising, urging member states to withdraw their ambassadors from Damascus. This diplomatic action signaled growing international condemnation of the Syrian government's brutal response to civilian protests.
- 13 Nov 2011 Mario Monti Nominated as Italian Prime Minister: President Giorgio Napolitano nominated Mario Monti as the new Prime Minister of Italy, signaling a potential shift in the country's political leadership during a period of economic challenges.
- 14 Nov 2011 Anders Breivik Terrorism Trial: Anders Breivik, responsible for the devastating 2011 Norway attacks, is standing trial in Norway for his terrorist acts.
- 15 Nov 2011 International Pressure on Syrian Regime: The Syrian government faces mounting pressure from multiple fronts, with Turkey threatening to cut electricity and the European Union implementing additional sanctions against the Assad regime.
- 16 Nov 2011 Syrian Uprising Escalates: The Free Syrian Army killed at least eight Syrian soldiers in attacks near Damascus. In response to increasing violence, France recalled its ambassador to Syria, signaling diplomatic tensions with President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
- 17 Nov 2011 Attempted Assassination at White House: Oscar Ramiro Ortega Hernandez, an Idaho resident, was charged with attempting to assassinate President Barack Obama. Two bullets were found embedded in the White House's exterior, though the President and First Lady were not present during the incident.
- 18 Nov 2011 Minecraft Official Release: The video game Minecraft receives its first official release, marking a significant milestone for the indie game that would become a global cultural phenomenon.
- 19 Nov 2011 Egypt's Tahrir Square Protests Turn Violent: Mass protests against Egypt's post-revolutionary military leadership erupted into violent clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square, resulting in at least two deaths and over 600 injuries as tensions between protesters and police escalated.
- 20 Nov 2011 Violent Protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square: Intense protests continue in Cairo's Tahrir Square, with security forces attempting to suppress demonstrations. At least 13 people were killed and nearly 900 injured as tensions escalated between protesters and Egyptian military government forces. Security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowds, highlighting the volatile political situation in Egypt during the Arab Spring.
- 21 Nov 2011 Khmer Rouge Leaders on Trial for Genocide: Three of the most senior members of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime are being prosecuted for genocide and other serious crimes, marking a significant moment in international criminal justice.
- 22 Nov 2011 Death of Evolutionary Biologist Lynn Margulis: Lynn Margulis, a prominent American evolutionary biologist renowned for her groundbreaking theory of endosymbiosis, passed away at the age of 73. Her work significantly transformed understanding of cellular evolution and symbiotic relationships in biological systems.
- 23 Nov 2011 Yemen's Political Transition during Arab Spring: After 11 months of sustained protests challenging his long-standing rule, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a landmark power transfer agreement, agreeing to cede authority to his vice president in exchange for legal immunity. This pivotal moment marked a significant shift in Yemen's political landscape during the broader Arab Spring movement.
- 24 Nov 2011 India's Foreign Retail Policy Reform: India's government implemented a significant economic policy change by relaxing regulations for foreign-owned retailers like Tesco and Wal-Mart. This decision marked a pivotal moment in India's economic liberalization, potentially opening up the retail sector to substantial international investment.
- 25 Nov 2011 Deadly Storms in Southern Sri Lanka: Sudden and violent storms devastated southern Sri Lanka, resulting in 27 fatalities, primarily among fishermen caught unprepared. The natural disaster caused extensive damage, with thousands of homes losing roofs and significant landslides and flooding reported on the mainland.
- 26 Nov 2011 Mars Science Laboratory Launch: NASA launches the Mars Science Laboratory with the Curiosity Rover from Kennedy Space Center, marking a significant milestone in planetary exploration. This is the most complex Martian exploration vehicle ever sent, designed to search for evidence of past or current life on Mars.
- 27 Nov 2011 Arab League Imposes Sanctions on Syria: The Arab League approved unprecedented sanctions against Syria in response to ongoing violence during the Syrian civil unrest. The Syrian government strongly criticized the League's decision, marking a significant diplomatic escalation in the regional conflict.
- 28 Nov 2011 Fitch Downgrades US Credit Outlook: Fitch Ratings maintained the United States government's credit rating at AAA but downgraded its economic outlook to negative, reflecting ongoing fiscal uncertainties following Standard & Poor's earlier downgrade.
- 29 Nov 2011 Breivik Declared Criminally Insane: Anders Behring Breivik, responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks that killed 77 people, was officially declared criminally insane by legal authorities.
- 30 Nov 2011 Attack on British Embassy in Iran: Iranian protesters attacked the British Embassy in Tehran, causing significant diplomatic tension between the United Kingdom and Iran.