Just 18 months after the Y2K bug turned out to be a damp squib, the world was changed suddenly and irreversibly by the events of September 11th 2001.

We have seen war, terrorism, conflict and death, as well as disasters - both natural and manmade - economic crises and political turmoil.
And yet, we have also witnessed greatness, a figurehead of hope in Barack Obama, sporting glories on the track and in the field, musical maestros, astounding art, fantastic films and giant leaps in lifestyle technology.
Here's to you, Noughties! Now bring on 2010...