The year 2010: Upsets and embarrassments

Published January 2, 2011
The homepage of Wikileaks.ch with a picture of its founder Julian Assange is seen on a computer screen on December 4, 2010 in Lausanne. In December 2010, Wikileaks released thousands of diplomatic cables that caused a pandemonium in the international diplomatic community which is scrambling to redress some foreign relations that have soured. - Photo by AFP.
The homepage of Wikileaks.ch with a picture of its founder Julian Assange is seen on a computer screen on December 4, 2010 in Lausanne. In December 2010, Wikileaks released thousands of diplomatic cables that caused a pandemonium in the international diplomatic community which is scrambling to redress some foreign relations that have soured. - Photo by AFP.
Pakistan cricket players Salman Butt (R) and Mohammad Amir (C) arrive for the second day of their hearing at the International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters in Dubai October 31, 2010. Butt and Amir must wait to learn if their suspensions over spot-fixing allegations will be lifted after the hearing by cricket's governing body was extended on Saturday. - Photo by Reuters.
Pakistan cricket players Salman Butt (R) and Mohammad Amir (C) arrive for the second day of their hearing at the International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters in Dubai October 31, 2010. Butt and Amir must wait to learn if their suspensions over spot-fixing allegations will be lifted after the hearing by cricket's governing body was extended on Saturday. - Photo by Reuters.
In this June 17, 2010 file photo, BP CEO Tony Hayward prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the House Oversight and Investigations subcommittee hearing on the role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and oil spill. - Photo by AP.
In this June 17, 2010 file photo, BP CEO Tony Hayward prepares to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the House Oversight and Investigations subcommittee hearing on the role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and oil spill. - Photo by AP.
In this May 31, 2010 file photo, the Mavi Marmara ship, the lead boat of a flotilla headed to the Gaza Strip which was stormed by Israeli naval commandos in a predawn confrontation, sails into the port of Ashdod, Israel. - Photo by AP.
In this May 31, 2010 file photo, the Mavi Marmara ship, the lead boat of a flotilla headed to the Gaza Strip which was stormed by Israeli naval commandos in a predawn confrontation, sails into the port of Ashdod, Israel. - Photo by AP.
Dove World Outreach Center church pastor Terry Jones announces the burning of the Qurans will continue as planned in Gainesville, Florida September 8, 2010. Jones, leader of a tiny, little-known Protestant church in Gainesville, Florida, which openly campaigns against what it calls "radical Islam," faced a barrage of calls from US government, military and religious leaders, and from abroad, to cancel his plans to publicly burn Islam's holy book. - File Photo.
Dove World Outreach Center church pastor Terry Jones announces the burning of the Qurans will continue as planned in Gainesville, Florida September 8, 2010. Jones, leader of a tiny, little-known Protestant church in Gainesville, Florida, which openly campaigns against what it calls "radical Islam," faced a barrage of calls from US government, military and religious leaders, and from abroad, to cancel his plans to publicly burn Islam's holy book. - File Photo.
Ijaz Butt, chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, arrives at Lahore airport in Pakistan on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010. Butt arrived from London after apologizing to England and Wales Cricket Board for his remarks that England cricketers took money to lose the third one-day international at the Oval in September. - Photo by AP.
Ijaz Butt, chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, arrives at Lahore airport in Pakistan on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010. Butt arrived from London after apologizing to England and Wales Cricket Board for his remarks that England cricketers took money to lose the third one-day international at the Oval in September. - Photo by AP.
Actress Lindsay Lohan reacts beside her attorney Shawn Chapman Holley (R) as Judge Marsha Revel rules that Lohan had violated her probation on a 2007 drunken driving charge in Beverly Hills, California July 6, 2010. Lohan was sentenced to 90 days in jail after the Beverly Hills judge ruled that she had violated her probation by missing a string of alcohol education classes imposed for a 2007 drunk driving arrest. - Photo by Reuters.
Actress Lindsay Lohan reacts beside her attorney Shawn Chapman Holley (R) as Judge Marsha Revel rules that Lohan had violated her probation on a 2007 drunken driving charge in Beverly Hills, California July 6, 2010. Lohan was sentenced to 90 days in jail after the Beverly Hills judge ruled that she had violated her probation by missing a string of alcohol education classes imposed for a 2007 drunk driving arrest. - Photo by Reuters.
In this June 3, 2010 file photo, a bird is mired in oil on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast. - Photo by AP.
In this June 3, 2010 file photo, a bird is mired in oil on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast. - Photo by AP.
This undated booking file photo released by the US Marshal's Service shows Faisal Shahzad. Shahzad, 31, who tried to set off a car bomb in New York's busy Times Square, was sentenced to life in prison after he defiantly said more attacks on America were imminent. - Photo by AP.
This undated booking file photo released by the US Marshal's Service shows Faisal Shahzad. Shahzad, 31, who tried to set off a car bomb in New York's busy Times Square, was sentenced to life in prison after he defiantly said more attacks on America were imminent. - Photo by AP.
Protesters wearing prison costumes hold signs as David Viniar (R), executive vice president and chief financial officer at Goldman Sachs, waits to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Investigations Subcommittee hearing on "Wall Street and the Financial Crisis: The Role of Investment Banks" on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 27, 2010. - File Photo.
Protesters wearing prison costumes hold signs as David Viniar (R), executive vice president and chief financial officer at Goldman Sachs, waits to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Investigations Subcommittee hearing on "Wall Street and the Financial Crisis: The Role of Investment Banks" on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 27, 2010. - File Photo.
This picture taken on November 23, 2010 by a South Korean tourist shows huge plumes of smoke rising from Yeonpyeong island in the disputed waters of the Yellow Sea on November 23, 2010. North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on November 23, 2010, killing two people, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire as the South's military went on top alert. - Photo by AFP.
This picture taken on November 23, 2010 by a South Korean tourist shows huge plumes of smoke rising from Yeonpyeong island in the disputed waters of the Yellow Sea on November 23, 2010. North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on November 23, 2010, killing two people, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire as the South's military went on top alert. - Photo by AFP.
In this Nov. 10, 2010 file photo, a demonstrator kicks the windows of Millbank Tower, housing the headquarters of the Conservative Party, during a protest in London against an increase in university tuition fees. - Photo by AP.
In this Nov. 10, 2010 file photo, a demonstrator kicks the windows of Millbank Tower, housing the headquarters of the Conservative Party, during a protest in London against an increase in university tuition fees. - Photo by AP.
Pakistan athletes led by chef de mission Mohammad Ali Shah, who insisted on carrying the flag to lead the team parade instead of celebrated former gold medal weightlifter Shujauddin Malik (second from right), arrive onto the field at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on October 3, 2010. - Photo by AFP.
Pakistan athletes led by chef de mission Mohammad Ali Shah, who insisted on carrying the flag to lead the team parade instead of celebrated former gold medal weightlifter Shujauddin Malik (second from right), arrive onto the field at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on October 3, 2010. - Photo by AFP.
Workers drain away polluted water near the Zijin copper mine in Shanghang on July 13, 2010, after pollution from the mine contaminated the Ting river, a major waterway in southeast China's Fujian province. China's top gold producer Zijin Mining defended its handling of a toxic pollution spill that killed off vast numbers of fish, saying heavy rains were to blame, as the company's shares slumped. - Photo by AFP.
Workers drain away polluted water near the Zijin copper mine in Shanghang on July 13, 2010, after pollution from the mine contaminated the Ting river, a major waterway in southeast China's Fujian province. China's top gold producer Zijin Mining defended its handling of a toxic pollution spill that killed off vast numbers of fish, saying heavy rains were to blame, as the company's shares slumped. - Photo by AFP.
In this April 27, 2010 file photo, guards cover parliament speaker Volodymr Lytvyn with an umbrella from eggs thrown by opposition lawmakers during ratification of the Black Sea Fleet deal with Russia, in parliament in Kiev, Ukraine. - Photo by AP.
In this April 27, 2010 file photo, guards cover parliament speaker Volodymr Lytvyn with an umbrella from eggs thrown by opposition lawmakers during ratification of the Black Sea Fleet deal with Russia, in parliament in Kiev, Ukraine. - Photo by AP.

Big names were put to shame. As satirical the events of the year were, they also proved to be highly disturbing.

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