Given that each one is 365 (and a bit) days long, it’s usually possible to fit in a fair amount of news into the course of a year.
Even so we don’t think we’re alone in thinking that there has been just a little bit more news this year than usual.
From the Arab Spring to the London riots and from natural disasters to dictators falling like dominos, at almost every turn the news in 2011 has challenged the established order.
We’ve taken a look back at the biggest stories of the year, as well as the best photos that illustrated them.
The Deep Economic Winter And The Bright Arab Spring
In the UK 2011 began with fresh concerns about the economy, after a rise in VAT to 20% took holdand GDP contracted by around 0.5%.
Across the Arab world, however, 2011 began with severe convulsions to the established political order.
Nepal - the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest 