2010 Islamic Solidarity Games, Suspension and cancellation of Games
It was reported 3 May 2009, that Iran had suspended the games due to a dispute over the use of the term "Persian Gulf". Saudi Arabia and other Arabic countries disapproved of the use of the term "Persian Gulf" on literature and medals and insisted the term "Arabian Gulf" or just "Gulf" be used instead. Iran claimed it was still in talks to try to salvage the games.


2010 Islamic Solidarity Games, Suspension and cancellation of Games
On 17 January 2010, the governing body of the ISG reported that the event had been cancelled due to the tension between Arab states and Iran over the name of the body of water.


2010 Isle of Man Parish Walk
2010 Isle of Man Parish Walk was held on 26–27 June 2010 starting at 08:00 hours at the National Sports Centre, King George V Park, Douglas, Isle of Man. The race a racewalking event held under IAAF Category B Event rules follows an 85.00 miles (136.79 km) traditional route visiting each of the islands 17 parish churches with a time-limit of 24 hours to complete the course.


2010 Isle of Man Parish Walk
The 2010 Parish Walk was won by Jock Waddington in 15 hours, 18 minutes and 6 seconds to complete a hat-trick of wins on the event. The first female finisher was Susan Moore in 12th place in a time of 17 hours, 44 minutes and 13 seconds. The total number of classified finishers for the 85-mile course was 133 walkers from a record total of 1,710 entries.


2010 Isle of Man Parish Walk, Results
PB – Personal Best / SB – Season Best / NR – National Record / DNF – Did Not Finish / DQ – Disqualified / DNS – Did Not Start


2010 Isle of Man TT
The 2010 Isle of Man TT Festival was held between Saturday 29 May and Friday 11 June on the 37.73-mile Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. The 2010 races again included a second 600 cc Supersport Junior TT race. The Lightweight TT and Ultra-Lightweight TT race class previously held on the 4.25-mile (6.84 km) Billown Circuit in the Isle of Man for the 2008 Isle of Man TT and 2009 Isle of Man TT were dropped from the 2010 race schedule.


2010 Isle of Man TT
The 2010 Isle of Man TT Races included the one-lap TT Zero for racing motorcycles "to be powered without the use of carbon based fuels and have zero toxic/noxious emissions." which replaced the TTXGP and also a Suzuki 50th Anniversary Lap of Honour and the TT Classic Parade which were held before the main Senior TT race.


2010 Isle of Man TT
The Blue Riband event of the 2010 TT Race week the Senior TT run over a reduced race distance after the race was red-flagged on lap 3 after an incident at Ballagarey on the TT Course involving Guy Martin and caused a number of protective hay-bails to be set alight.


2010 Isle of Man TT
The 2010 Isle of Man TT Races provided a clean-sweep of the solo motorcycle classes for Ian Hutchinson winning five Isle of Man TT races in a week, including the Senior TT race, the Superport and Superstock TT races, the six lap Superbike TT race and also winning the prestigious Joey Dunlop 2010 Isle of Man TT Championship. The previous record for four race wins in a week completed during the 1996 Isle of Man TT was held by Phillip McCallen. During the 2010 Isle of Man TT Races, Ian Hutchinson also completed a Junior/Senior double win and completed two Isle of Man TT race wins in one day, winning the Supersport TT Race 1 and the Superstock TT races for the second consecutive year.


2010 Isle of Man TT
The 2010 Sidecar TT Race 1 proved to be a first-time win for the former World Sidecar champion Klaus Klaffenböck and the first Austrian winner of an Isle of Man TT race since Rupert Hollaus won the 1954 Ultra-Lightweight TT held on the Clypse Course. The sidecar crew of Klaus Klaffenböck/Dan Sayle also won the 2010 Sidecar TT Race 1 and the 2010 Sidecar TT Championship. The closely contested 2010 TT Privateers Championship was won by James McBride.


2010 Isle of Man TT
Another first-time winner during the 2010 Isle of Man TT races was Mark Miller from the United States after winning the inaugural TT Zero race with a battery-powered, electric motor-driven MotoCzysz E1pc motorcycle and the first United States winner since Dave Roper won the 1984 Historic TT riding a 500 cc Matchless. The MotoCzysz E1pc was also the first American-manufactured motorcycle to win an Isle of Man TT Race since Oliver Godfrey won the 1911 Senior TT with an Indian V-Twin motorcycle.


2010 Isle of Man TT
During the 2010 Supersport TT Race 2, the New Zealand competitor Paul Dobbs crashed fatally at Ballagarey and the Austrian Martin Loicht died in an accident at Quarry Bends during the same race. The 2010 Post-TT Races held on the Billown Circuit, the solo motorcycle races were won by William Dunlop with a Hat-trick of wins in the 125 cc, 250 cc and 600 cc classes. The 400 cc and 650 cc Twins class were run concurrently with other races; both classes were won by Roy Richardson to give a double win at the 2010 Post-TT Races.


2010 Isle of Man TT
The 2010 Isle of Man TT formed the subject of the 2011 documentary TT3D: Closer to the Edge.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Pre-TT Classic 2010
The traditional curtain-raiser since 1988 to the Isle of Man TT Festival has been the Pre-TT Classic Races held on the 4.25-mile (6.84 km) Billown Circuit in Castletown. The first evening practice session for the 2010 Pre-TT Classic Races were held on Friday 28 May 2010 in cold and blustery conditions. The fastest time in the first Friday practice session was set by the Isle of Man TT competitor Guy Martin in the Post Classic class in 2 minutes and 37.890 seconds at an average speed of 96.903 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Pre-TT Classic 2010
The Senior class was dominated by Alan Oversby debuting a 500 cc MV Agusta on the Billown Circuit at an average speed of 91.656 mph. With the highly competitive Junior class, it was Roy Richardson who was fastest in the Friday evening practice riding a 350 cc Aermacchi at an average speed of 84.551 mph and Chris Palmer in second place with a speed of 83.181 mph riding a 350 cc AJS. Fastest time in the Lightweight class was an average speed of 83.603 mph set by Mike Hose riding a 250 cc Ariel Arrow and Vince Biggs/Phil Biggs with a 1000 cc BMW outfit led the practice for the sidecar class at an average speed of 79.287 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Pre-TT Classic 2010
The first race of the 2010 Pre-TT Classic Races was the 350 cc Singles event held on Saturday 30 May 2010 and run in light rain and drizzle. Despite setting fast-time in practice and storming into the lead on lap 1, Roy Richardson slipped-off at Church Bends on lap 2 in the difficult conditions. This allowed local competitor and TT winner Chris Palmer to win in 19 minutes and 41.282 seconds at an average race speed of 77.712 mph riding a 350 cc AJS motorcycle. The 250 cc class was won by Ted Fenwick riding a Ducati at an average race speed of 69.279 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Pre-TT Classic 2010
Racing for the 2010 Pre-TT Classic recommenced on Monday 31 May 2010 with the 9 lap (38.25 miles) Lightweight Classic race in almost perfect conditions held in bright sunshine and light winds. The leader from the massed-start for the Lightweight race was Ewan Hamilton riding a 242 cc Suzuki leading all 9 laps to win in 27 minutes and 26.926 seconds an average race speed of 83.610 mph. The Senior Classic Race was also a start to finish race for the winner Mike Oversby riding a 500 cc MV Agusta at an average race speed of 90.659 mph. The 6 lap (25.5 miles) Sidecar Classic Race was won by Vince Biggs/Phil Biggs with a 1000 cc BMW outfit at an average race speed of 80.509 mph with only two competitors running at the finish.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Pre-TT Classic 2010
Recommencing after the lunch break was the Junior Classic race and the winner was Mike Hose riding a 350 cc Honda at average race speed of 85.796 mph. The penultimate race was the Post-Classic Superbike Race and the early leader was the Isle of Man TT race competitor Guy Martin retiring from a comfortable leader on lap 5 and the overall winner and class winner of the Post Classic class was Roy Richardson riding a 247 cc Yamaha TZ at an average race speed of 93.397 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Pre-TT Classic 2010
The winner of the 850 cc Classic class was Alan Oversby riding a 500 cc Norton at an average race speed of 93.244 mph. The final race of the 2010 Pre-TT Classic was the Support Race and the winner was Bernie Wright riding a 347 cc Yamsel at an average race speed of 82.943 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Saturday evening practice
The first practice session for 2010 Isle of Man TT races was due to feature an evening untimed practice session and a Newcomers control lap on Saturday 29 May 2010. Due to inclement weather conditions including light rain and low cloud on the Mountain Section of the course, the untimed session was cancelled by the Race organisers and only the TT Newcomers completed their speed control lap.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Saturday evening practice
There was a long delay to the start of the first practice session caused by vehicles on the course, the removal of signage from the Mountain Section and a wait for an improvement in the weather conditions and for better visibility on the Mountain Section. The competitors were a little disappointed about losing the first practice session to the weather and John McGuinness said;- "It would have been good to go out but I don't think we'd have learned a lot in the damp conditions."


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Saturday evening practice
As with previous years the Newcomers Control Lap was led away from the TT Grandstand by the TT Travelling Marshals and a steady pace set by the accompanying experienced Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix competitors. The first group of Newcomers to leave the TT Grandstand at 8 pm was the former TT winner and Rider's Liaison Officer Richard Quayle with the South African competitor Hudson Kennaugh from Durban, Brandon Cretu from Felton, Pennsylvania, David Johnson from Adelaide and the Swiss competitor Herve Ganther.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Saturday evening practice
Fellow TT Rider's Liaison Officer John Barton accompanied Brian McCormack, the Japanese rider Takahiro Itami and Gary May. The former 2003 Senior Manx Grand Prix winner Paul Duckett led a group of newcomers including Tony Czyzewski, Dan Cooper, the Austrian rider Martin Loicht and Stephen Thompson. The final group of Newcomer solo competitors on their speed control lap were escorted by the 2002 Lightweight Manx Grand Prix winner Nigel Beattie with James Hurrell, David Jones and Clinton Pienaar from Johannesburg.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Saturday evening practice
The newcomers control lap a number of outfits for the Sidecar TT were accompanied by experienced TT sidecar competitors Roy Hanks/Dave Wells and John Holden/Andrew Winkle and included TT sidecar newcomers Michael Grambuller/Stefan Trautner from Vienna, the German crew Mike Roscher/Gregory Cluze from Kassel and Roger Stockton/Annette Daykin. The South African competitor Hudson Kennaugh stopped at Douglas Road Corner on the Newcomers Control Lap with technical problems and Clinton Pienaar at the Quarterbridge.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Monday evening practice
The first timed session of the 2010 Isle of Man TT commenced on Monday 31 May 2010 after the Saturday practice session was cancelled by race organisers due to inclement weather. Held in warm overcast conditions, the Monday evening practice session for solo motorcycles commenced promptly at 6:35 pm with Michael Dunlop and Cameron Donald the first competitors away from the TT Grandstand. The fastest time on Monday evening practice was set by Ian Hutchinson on a 1000 cc Honda in the Superbike class in 17 minutes and 38.66 seconds at an average speed of 128.302 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Monday evening practice
The Supersport TT class was dominated by Michael Dunlop and the winner of the 2009 Supersport Race 2 with a lap at an average speed of 123.960 mph riding a 600 cc Yamaha motorcycle. The Superstock TT class was led by Ryan Farquhar riding a 1000 cc Kawasaki at an average speed of 126.799 mph. The Sidecar TT class on Monday evening, the fastest time was set by Klaus Klaffenböck/Dan Sayle with a 600 cc LCR Honda outfit in 20 minutes and 15.35 seconds at an average speed of 111.761 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Tuesday evening practice
After overnight rain the Tuesday practice session was held in ideal conditions and warm evening sunshine with damp patches reported on the many tree lined sections of the course including Glen Helen and the Ramsey Hairpin. The practice session was again dominated by Ian Hutchinson in the Superbike class setting at an average speed of 128.017 mph and 2.36 seconds slower than the mark set on Monday evening. It was Michael Dunlop that was again set the fastest time in the Supersport class at an average speed of 122.278 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Tuesday evening practice
The Superstock class the fastest time was again by Ian Hutchinson riding a 1000 cc Honda at 126.339 mph and just 3.9 seconds slower than the time set by Ryan Farquhar on the previous night. In the Sidecar class the first lap under 20 minutes was recorded by Dave Molyneux/Patrick Farrance with a 600 cc DMR Kawasaki outfit in 19 minutes and 47.77 seconds an average speed of 114.355 mph to lead the Sidecar TT practice times.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Tuesday evening practice
At Keppel Gate during Tuesday evening practice, Chris Bradshaw suffered a shoulder injury and the American competitor James Vanderhaar walked into the TT Grandstand after an incident at Governor's Bridge. The local Isle of Man side crew of Glyn Jones/Jason O'Connor following an accident at Lambfell Mooar on Creg Willey's Hill sustained ankle and hand friction burns.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Wednesday evening practice
The Wednesday evening practice session held on 2 June 2010 was run in almost perfect conditions and without most of the damp road patches which had caused problems to competitors the previous evening. In the Superbike class, the first 130 mph lap was recorded in practice for the 2010 Isle of Man TT races by John McGuinness riding a 1000 cc Honda in 17 minutes and 22.89 seconds an average race speed of 130.242 mph to move to the top of the practice Superbike/Senior TT leaderboard.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Wednesday evening practice
The 600 cc Supersport class continued to be dominated by Michael Dunlop lapping the Mountain Course in 18 minutes and 5.87 seconds an average speed of 125.087 mph and 9.87 seconds faster than his time recorded on Monday practice. For the Superstock class there was further improvements in practice times with Ryan Farquhar also 10.69 seconds faster than his time on the Monday evening practice, recording an average speed of 128.076 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Wednesday evening practice
After winning the Superstock class at the 2010 North West 200 Races, the 1000 cc BMW ridden by Keith Amor moved into second place on the Superstock TT leaderboard, with a lap at an average speed of 127.525 mph during Wednesday evening practice. For the Sidecar TT, the 600 cc DMR Kawasaki of Dave Molyneux/Patrick Farrance continued to lap under 20 minutes pushing the practice pace to an average speed of 114.748 mph. The TT newcomer Brian McCormack, Scott Wilson and Paul Shoesmith were involved in an accident at the Water Works Corner.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Wednesday evening practice
Other incidents included TT newcomers, the Japanese competitor Takahiro Itami at the Jubilee Oak on Braddan Bridge and Brendan Cretu at the Nook. The 2009 Junior Manx Grand Prix winner Steven McIlvenna slipped-off at the nearby Governor's Bridge and Jenny Tinmouth at Sulby Bridge all without serious injury. Approaching Cruickshanks Corner, the passenger Keir Pedley fell from a sidecar outfit driven by Carl Fenwick sustaining leg injuries and was taken to Ramsey Cottage Hospital by Ambulance.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Thursday evening practice
The Thursday evening practice session was delayed until 6:45 pm due to a series of road traffic accidents on the A18 Mountain Road. The first scheduled session was the sidecars to allow an extended track-time for the class and also to permit the solo competitors to test the new pit-lane speed limit first used for the 2009 Manx Grand Prix.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Thursday evening practice
The 600 cc DMR Kawasaki of Dave Molyneux/Patrick Farrance was first away from the end of the TT Grandstand pit-lane and recorded another lap under 20 minutes to continue to dominate the class with a time of 19 minutes and 36.36 seconds and average speed of 115.464 mph. The Monday evening practice leader for sidecar class, Klaus Klaffenböck/Dan Sayle with a 600 cc LCR Honda outfit also recorded a sub-20-minute lap at an average speed of 114.096 mph in the Thursday evening practice session.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Thursday evening practice
In the Superbike class, Ian Hutchinson was fastest during practice and recorded his first 130 mph lap with a time of 17 minutes and 23.51 seconds at an average speed of 130.165 mph. The fastest time in the Supersport class was set by Keith Amor riding a 600 cc Honda motorcycle at an average speed of 124.797 mph to move into third place on the Supersport practice leaderboard. With the 1000 cc Superstock class, the fastest time of the evening was recorded by Michael Rutter at an average speed of 127.564 mph. The TT newcomer sidecar outfit of Nigel Mayers/Joseph Shardlow crashed at Kate's Cottage during Thursday evening practice with the passenger taken to Noble’s Hospital by Medical Helicopter.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Friday evening practice
The Friday evening practice session on 4 June 2010 was delayed until 6:30 pm and the first competitor away from the TT Grandstand in the sidecar class was the 600 cc LCR Suzuki of John Holden/Andrew Winkle following the Thursday practice format to allow the solo competitors a further test of the new 60 km/h pit-lane speed limit. The fastest time of the evening in the Sidecar TT class was recorded by Klaus Klaffenböck/Dan Sayle with a time of 19 minutes and 56.64 seconds at an average speed of 113.508 mph.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Friday evening practice
The sidecar crew of John Holden/Andrew Winkle recorded their first lap in practice under 20 minutes at an average speed of 113.224 mph to move into third place in the Sidecar TT practice leaderboard. The Superbike class continued to be denominated by Ian Hutchinson with the only 130 mph lap during Friday evening practice in a time of 17 minutes and 19.92 seconds at an average speed of 130.614 mph to claim pole position for the Superbike TT Race.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Friday evening practice
The fastest time for the 600 cc Supersport TT was Michael Dunlop recording the first lap in practice under 18 minutes for the class in a time of 17 minutes and 54.63 seconds an average speed of 126.395 mph. The fastest time for the 1000 cc Superstock TT was also set by Michael Dunlop at an average speed of 128.324 mph to displace Ryan Farquhar from pole position for the class. The New Zealander Bruce Anstey stopped at Sulby Bridge during Friday evening practice and Guy Martin was delayed with mechanical problems at Ballacraine.


2010 Isle of Man TT, TT Practice Week 2010, Friday evening practice
A further practice session occurred after racing on Saturday 5 June 2010 for the Supersport and Superstock classes with the TT Zero motorcycles also completing their first practice lap. The fastest time was recorded by Rob Barber the winner of the 2009 TTXGP class at an average speed of 84.875 mph riding the Team AGNI Motors entry.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Superbike TT final standings.
5 June 2010 6 Laps (236.38 Miles) TT Mountain Course.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Superbike TT final standings.
Fastest Lap and New Class Record': Conor Cummins – 131.511 mph (17' 12.83) on lap 1.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Sidecar TT Race 'A' TT final standings
5 June 2010 3 Laps (113.00 Miles) TT Mountain Course.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Sidecar TT Race 'A' TT final standings
Fastest Lap: Dave Molyneux/Patrick Farrance – 115.284 mph (19' 38.20) on lap 3.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Supersport Junior TT Race 1
7 June 2010 4 Laps (150.73 Miles) TT Mountain Course.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Supersport Junior TT Race 1
Fastest Lap and New Lap Record: Keith Amor – 126.909 mph (17' 50.28) on lap 4.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Superstock TT final standings.
7 June 2010 4 Laps (150.73 Miles) TT Mountain Course.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Superstock TT final standings.
Fastest Lap and New Lap Record: Ian Hutchinson – 130.741 mph (17' 18.91) on lap 4.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Sidecar TT Race 'B' TT final standings
10 June 2010 3 Laps (113.00 Miles) TT Mountain Course.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Sidecar TT Race 'B' TT final standings
Fastest Lap: Klaus Klaffenböck/Dan Sayle – 114.157 mph (19' 49.84) on lap 3.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Supersport Junior TT Race 2
10 June 2010 4 Laps (150.73 Miles) TT Mountain Course.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Supersport Junior TT Race 2
Fastest Lap and New Lap Record: Michael Dunlop – 127.836 mph (17' 42.52) on lap 4.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 TT Zero Race
The inaugural TT Zero race was held in 2010. The class is for racing motorcycles "powered without the use of carbon based fuels and have zero toxic/noxious emissions."


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 TT Zero Race
10 June 2010 1 Lap (37.773 Miles) TT Mountain Course


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 TT Zero Race
Fastest Lap and New Lap Record:Mark Miller – 96.820 mph (23' 22.89) on lap 1.


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Senior TT final standings.
11 June 2010 4 Laps (150.73 Miles) TT Mountain Course (Reduced Race Distance).


2010 Isle of Man TT, Results, Race results, 2010 Senior TT final standings.
Fastest Lap: Ian Hutchinson – 131.487 mph (17' 13.01) on lap 1.


2010 Islington London Borough Council election
The 2010 Islington Council election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect members of Islington London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.


2010 Israel Open
The 2010 Israel Open was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was part of the 2010 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Ramat HaSharon, Israel between May 3 and May 8, 2010.


2010 Israel Open, Entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2010 Israel Open, Champions, Doubles
Jonathan Erlich /  Andy Ram def. Alexander Peya /  Simon Stadler, 6–4, 6–3


2010 Israel Open – Doubles
George Bastl and Chris Guccione were the defending champions. Guccione chose not compete this year and Bastl chose to compete in Sanremo instead. Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram won in the final 6–4, 6–3 against Alexander Peya and Simon Stadler.


2010 Israel Open – Singles
Lu Yen-hsun was the defending champion, but lost in the second round against Denis Gremelmayr.Conor Niland won in the final 5–7, 7–6(5), 6–3, against Thiago Alves.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash
On 26 July 2010, an Israeli Air Force Sikorsky CH-53 Yas'ur helicopter crashed during a training flight in the Carpathian Mountains, near the city of Brașov in Romania. The accident took place during a joint Romanian-Israeli aviation military exercise code-named "Blue Sky 2010".


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash
All on board the aircraft died: four Israeli pilots, two Israeli mechanics, and one Romanian liaison officer. An investigation into the incident concluded that the crash was most likely due to human error.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Background
In September 2003, an agreement was signed between the Romanian and Israeli Air Forces on cooperation and training, with the first training session being held in August 2004. This cooperation was important to the IAF, as Romania's geography includes high-altitude terrain and climate conditions that are different than those in Israel, and allows the IAF to practice special techniques and train in a different terrain. Another military exercise and cooperation agreement between Israel and Romania was signed in 2006, and was extended in 2009.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Background
On 18 July 2010, a joint exercise of the Israeli Air Force and Romanian Air Force began, in which Yasur helicopters from the 118 Squadron took part. This squadron, based at the Tel Nof air base, has participated in all of Israel's recent major operations and wars, mainly for transporting special forces into enemy territory. The exercise was known as Blue Sky 2010, which was supposed to last for 11 days, and in which the Romanian and Israeli troops practiced flying at low altitudes in difficult terrain for search-and-rescue missions and medical evacuations.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Background
The Yasour transport helicopter, (Sikorsky CH-53), is considered by Israel to be the most reliable aircraft of its kind in the IDF, and has been used for over 40 years. The aircraft was bought from the United States and integrated into the Israeli Air Force service in 1969. The aircraft is used by the IAF's 669 Search and Rescue team, and is also the IAF's main aircraft for transporting soldiers, as it can carry 35 soldiers with all of their equipment. In 2007, under a program called "Yasour 2025," intended to extend the Yasour's life until 2025, the IAF installed over 20 new electronic systems, including, for the first time on helicopters, one for missile defense,


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Accident
On 26 July 2010 at 1:15 p.m., two Yasur helicopters took off from the Romanian Air Force Base in Boboc and headed north toward the Carpathian Mountains. The fog which prevailed at the flight altitude made it difficult to navigate.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Accident
The two helicopters were flying in formation at a low altitude as part of the exercise. While over the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, one of the helicopters radioed that it had lost visual and radio contact with its counterpart. The Israeli Air Force confirmed that it lost contact with one of the helicopters. The helicopter had crashed at approximately 4:00 p.m. at an altitude of 2,246 m (7,369 ft).


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Response
Initial reports over the loss of contact with the CH-53 helicopter were received in the Israeli Air Force headquarters at around 5:00 p.m. (Israeli time), and as a result, a gag order was issued in Israel over releasing information concerning the incident. The purpose of this gag order was so the IDF could personally contact and inform the families of the deceased, rather than having them hear about it through the media. Although initially the Israeli media did not report about accident, the Internet was quickly flooded with information about the accident.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Response
The Israeli media noted that despite the seniority of the IAF Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion Yas'ur helicopters, the helicopters were recently upgraded, both in terms of systems and in terms of technical care, as part of the "Yas'ur 2025" program aimed at having the Sikorsky CH-53 helicopters remain in service up until 2025.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Response, Search and rescue
A search-and-rescue unit was sent by Israel to Romania to assist in the rescue, and included approximately 80 personnel from the IDF Medical Corps, the IAF, the Oketz K-9 Unit, the 669 Airborne Rescue and Evacuation Unit, the Chief Military Rabbinate, search and rescue teams, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, and an investigatory team to the crash site.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Response, Search and rescue
Rescuers could not land near the crash site due to the rugged terrain, and had to either walk to the crash site on a difficult path or be lowered to the site by rope. In addition, the bad weather also made it tougher for search-and-rescue teams to identify and reach the crash site.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Response, Search and rescue
The Romanian authorities declared the area around the crash site a closed military zone and sent police and security forces into the mountain the morning after the accident.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Response, Search and rescue
On 27 July 2010, the Romanian Defense Ministry officially announced that 7 bodies were found, and that there were no survivors in the accident.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Response, Search and rescue
Around midnight on 27 July 2010, the Romanian Army discovered the helicopter's black box. The Romanian troops sent a photo of the black box to the IDF, which confirmed that it was the actual black box of the helicopter. Israeli Air Force officials confirmed that Israel would investigate the black box.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Response, Search and rescue
On 30 July, the IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Raphael Peretz confirmed that all the bodies were identified and that an IAF plane would take off to Israel with the six bodies during the morning hours of July 30.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Investigation
Immediately after learning of the accident the Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nehoshtan appointed an investigative team to look into the causes of the crash, headed by Brigadier-General Shlomo Mashiach.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Investigation
A short time after, Israeli Air Force officials requested that the Romanian Air Force would bring the remains of the helicopter back to Israel in order that the IDF would carry out a full investigation of the event.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Investigation
The investigation determined that the accident was most likely due to human error.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Funeral
Hundreds of Israelis attended the funeral services of the Israeli soldiers who were killed during the crash. The bodies were returned to Israel on an IAF plane which arrived at the Tel Nof airbase. At the funeral services, friends, families, and fellow soldiers eulogized the 6 soldiers who were killed in the crash.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Impact
All flight exercises were halted by IAF commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nechushtan for a day, in order to conduct safety inspections.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Impact
The Romanian and Israeli military aviation commanders decided to collaborate in raising a memorial at the site of the crash.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Impact
Seven months after the accident, Israel decided that the widow of the Romanian captain who was killed in an accident would be given the status of a "widow of the Israeli army", and as such she would be granted a monthly pension from the Israeli Defense Ministry. In addition, it was decided that a special fund would be opened for her baby which would include an initial fund of 20,000 dollars.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Impact
In 2011, the IAF announced that the Sikorsky CH-53 transport helicopters would return to Romania for training the following summer. In August 2011, the Israeli Air Force sent a Hercules squadron for joint-exercises in Romania, which marked the first time since the Sikorsky CH-53 crash that the IAF sent a squadron for training in Romania. However, Sikorsky squadrons did not take part in the joint-exercises. The joint-training lasted for two weeks.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Impact
Cooperation between Israel and Romania increased following the crash, and Romanian Air Force Deputy Commander General Alexander Glushka said that "In the past year, the friendship between us has become a brotherhood. This cooperation is extremely important to us."


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Impact
In February 2012, the Israel Air Force finished upgrading and rebuilding old Sikorsky 985 helicopters, and turned them into new Sikorsky 2025s. Much time was spent on the project after the Sikorsky CH-53 crash occurred. Israeli Warrant Officer Ziv, Officer of the Cargo Department in the Equipment Squadron, explained that this upgrade was made apparent following the Sikorsky CH-53 crash in Romania, and that "after many examinations it was concluded that the Sikorsky 985 is the most efficient aircraft for our unique project."


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Memorials
On 12 August 2010, a memorial ceremony was held in the central synagogue of Bucharest in Romania, and was attended by representatives of the Romanian Jewish community, Romanian public figures, Israeli President Shimon Peres, and IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nechushtan. Hermina Darganah, the widow of Romanian Air Force Captain Stephen Claudius Darganah who was killed in the crash, also attended the memorial service, where Peres addressed her personally, saying, "We share the same feelings. You are just as dear to us as any Israeli friend who lost her loved one." Peres' official visit was the first to Romania by an Israeli president.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Memorials
Israel's airway routes are limited, and we are happy that other nations are opening their skies to us. Romania opened her skies to us, we are happy to train here. Over the years our partnership with Romania has developed into a friendship. I want to thank he Romanian air force and army for their assistance after the tragedy that occurred, and to assure them that our cooperation and partnership will continue.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Memorials
In September 2011, IAF chief Major General Ido Nehushtan led a service with his Romanian counterpart in memory of those killed during the crash. In addition, Israeli Air Force officers, representatives from the Israeli Defense Ministry, and IDF rabbinate officials attended the memorial, which took place in Romania.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Memorials
In November 2011, the Tel Nof base of the Israeli Air Force received an ancient 200-year-old Torah, one which had survived the Holocaust, as a donation from Romania's Jewish community in commemoration of the victims of the Sikorsky CH-53 crash. A special ceremony marked the occasion for the receiving of the scroll, which was found in Romania in the cellars of the previous Romanian leader Nicolae Ceaușescu.


2010 Israeli Air Force CH-53 crash, Aftermath, Memorials
A commentation ceremony was held on 10 June 2021 at the memorial site, attended by Romanian dignitaries, former Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and the commander of the Israeli air force Amikam Norkin


2010 Israeli Basketball League Cup
The 2010 Israeli Basketball League Cup was the 5th edition of the Israeli Basketball League Cup pre-season tournament. It was played between October 10 and October 14 at Malha Arena in Jerusalem. Maccabi Tel Aviv has won the cup after beating Hapoel Jerusalem 87-77 in the final. MVP was Jeremy Pargo (Maccabi Tel Aviv).


2010 Israeli Basketball League Cup, Tournament Bracket
The teams were seeded according to their last season standings.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash
The 2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash occurred on August 3, 2010, between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Israel Defense Forces (IDF), after an IDF team attempted to cut down a tree on the Israeli side of the Blue Line, near the Israeli kibbutz of Misgav Am and the Lebanese village of Adaisseh. A high-ranking IDF officer was killed and another wounded, when LAF snipers opened fire on an Israeli observation post after receiving authorization from senior Lebanese commanders. IDF soldiers returned fire and responded with artillery shelling and airstrikes on Lebanese positions, killing two Lebanese soldiers and Al Akhbar correspondent Assaf Abu Rahhal. and wounding five soldiers and one journalist. This was the most serious escalation on the border since the 2006 Lebanon War.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash
The Lebanese Army asserted that it opened fire on Israeli soldiers to contravene the attempt of Israelis to intrude through the border of Lebanon in violation of the internationally recognized border between Israel and Lebanon. Israel claimed that it only crossed over a fence on its side of the Blue Line. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed Israel's position, adding that Israel had informed them of the border work beforehand. Lebanon's Information Minister later stated that "the Blue Line is not the international border and there are areas south of the Blue Line that are Lebanese territory."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash
The United States condemned the Lebanese fire on Israeli soldiers as "wholly unjustified and unwarranted", and in response to the incident the United States House of Representatives announced a suspension of aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces. Lebanon responded by saying that it would decline any military assistance from the United States that is conditioned on its agreeing not to use those weapons against Israel.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Background
In the weeks leading up to the incident hostile rhetoric was traded between the Lebanese (particularly Hezbollah) and Israeli sides in light of the reports suggesting the Special Tribunal for Lebanon would indict Hezbollah members. Following an impromptu visit to Lebanon by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Syria's Bashar al-Assad just days before the incident, various media in Lebanon and outside said the likelihood of sparking an outbreak of violence eased.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Background
Two days before the incident, however, Assad made a statement marking Syria's Army Day warning that "The spectre of real peace in the region is disappearing, and the possibility of war is increasing." There were conflicting reports as to which side provoked the firefight.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Background
The Lebanese Army claimed the conflict began when an Israeli patrol attempted to uproot some trees between the Lebanese villages of Adaisseh and Kfar Kila, while the Israel Defense Forces claimed that Lebanese snipers opened fire on an observation post inside Israel while Israeli troops were carrying out routine maintenance on the Israeli side of the border. UNIFIL confirmed the Israeli claim that the soldiers were inside Israeli territory when the clashes erupted.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Background
According to an IDF spokesperson, "the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) fired at an IDF position along the Lebanese border in northern Israel. The soldiers were in Israeli territory, carrying out routine maintenance and was pre-coordinated with UNIFIL." Only then, the spokesperson said, did Israel return fire. The Israel Defense Forces released aerial footage that claims to show the IDF soldiers were standing in Israeli territory when fired on, and "did not cross the Lebanese border." United Nations representatives confirmed the photos. Israeli analysts speculated that a renegade commander sympathetic to Hezbollah may have ordered the attack.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Background
According to Lebanon army officials, Israeli soldiers crossed into Lebanon to uproot trees which according to Israel blocked their view and made surveillance over Lebanon border posts uneasy. A military spokesperson said that upon of overpassing of the border by Israeli troops the Lebanese border defence troops as of first procedure fired warning shots and requested the Israeli troops to cease their unsanctioned actions, however the Israeli troops immediately started a targeted fire on their position, forcing them to return fire in defense. A Lebanese Army official later officially confirmed that Lebanese troops had fired warning shots first, after the Israelis had crossed into Lebanese territory.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Background, Allegations of planned ambush
If this incident was not planned in advance, why did field commanders in the Lebanese army bother to dispatch journalists to the area and ensure that cameras were present at the site?


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Background, Allegations of planned ambush
A report released by senior Israeli officials in Jerusalem accuses the Lebanese army of taking "advantage of the fact that the IDF delayed several hours of maintenance work" near the Lebanese border, to "plan and prepare an ambush" against IDF troops. According to the report, the Israeli Army contacted UNIFIL at 6:00 on August 3 to inform them of maintenance work to commence three hours later. UNIFIL representatives responded that their forces needed extra time to prepare for the IDF presence and requested the IDF delay work until 11:00. The Israeli army delayed the operation by several hours. UNIFIL commanders then told the Lebanese Army of the IDF plans. At this point it was suspected by Israel that the Lebanese military used the extra time to prepare an ambush, even inviting journalists and photographers to the site to observe its aftermath.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Background, Allegations of planned ambush
IDF officers alleged that Lebanese military called in journalists and photographers in advance of the confrontation. Officials have questioned the large presence of journalists and broadcast trucks at the scene before the clash ensued:


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Confrontation
According to the Israeli military the fighting began when a Lebanese Army sniper unit fired on an IDF observation post inside Israeli territory after receiving authorization from Lebanese commanders. The gunshots were fired from a range of about 700 meters from a building in the Lebanese village of Adaisseh. An Israeli military spokeswoman said there were about two or three sniper shots, and that the surprise attack seemed like an ambush. IDF soldiers immediately fired on Lebanese troops with small arms, and the Lebanese returned fire.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Confrontation
The IDF launched a heavy artillery attack targeting Lebanese Army outposts, claiming that the outposts held a "dominating position" and could have posed a threat to troops still on the ground. Israeli artillery fired at an army position in Adaisseh. One artillery shell hit a civilian area.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Confrontation
Several minutes after the confrontation began, an Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship attacked a Lebanese Armed Forces command center in the southern Lebanese town of Al Taybeh, destroying several M113 armored personnel carriers.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Confrontation
Throughout these assaults, the IDF had been receiving a number of requests from the senior command levels of the Lebanese Army, asking for a cease-fire to allow the Lebanese to evacuate their casualties. Later, the IDF agreed to a cease-fire, and halted its attacks. Half an hour later, a Lebanese Army rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) team fired a single round at an Israeli tank, but missed. This tank then fired at the Lebanese position from which the attack had come.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, UNIFIL report
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) officials in Lebanon said that the IDF informed the organization of its intention to conduct routine maintenance in the area where the Lebanese Army opened fire on IDF soldiers. UNIFIL said Israeli soldiers were inside Israeli territory when the border clashes erupted.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, UNIFIL report
UNIFIL established ... that the trees being cut by the Israeli army are located south of the Blue Line on the Israeli side.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, UNIFIL report
UNIFIL personnel later visited the site of the skirmish. According to Israeli officials who spoke to UNIFIL representatives, UNIFIL determined that Lebanese forces had no reason to fire on Israeli troops. Milos Strugar, a diplomat and senior political advisor to UNIFIL Force Commander Alberto Asarta said he "does not believe IDF soldiers crossed the international border during the maintenance work."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
I see the Lebanese government as directly responsible for this violent provocation against Israel.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he held the Lebanese government "directly accountable for this violent provocation against Israel." He also added that "Israel responded aggressively, and will do so in the future against any attempt to violate the quiet on [our] northern border, and attack residents of the north and the soldiers who are protecting them."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned the Lebanese government against continuing to provoke IDF forces. He added that Israel would not tolerate any attacks on soldiers or citizens within its sovereign territory and also called on the international community to condemn the "criminal act carried out by the Lebanese army." He later added that "It was a very grave provocation and we reacted in a measured, just and immediate manner. Tuesday's incident was not programmed by the chiefs of staff of the Lebanese army in Beirut or by Hezbollah. I hope there will be no escalation, that we will have a calm summer and that things will return to normal." He also expressed concern that the United States and France had "provided sophisticated weapons to Lebanon which were used in Tuesday's incident and could fall into Hezbollah's hands."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
The Foreign Ministry labeled the incident a "severe violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701" and only "one of many violations of Resolution 1701, the most severe of which is the massive rearmament of Hizbullah, including the rearmament of Hizbullah units in southern Lebanon." It declared, "Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the grave incident, and warns of the consequences should these continue." Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman "instructed the Israeli diplomatic delegation to the United Nations to file a protest with the UN Secretary General and the Security Council."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
Major General Gadi Eisenkot said "It was a planned ambush by a sniper unit ... this was a provocation by the Lebanese army. We view this fire was a highly grave incident. Our forces responded at once, and immediately after that we resorted to artillery and gunship fire." Israel also filed a complaint with the United Nations, alleging that Lebanese soldiers opened fire despite the IDF having informed UNIFIL forces in advance of its plan to cut down a tree along the border fence.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
Former Israeli Defense minister Shaul Mofaz called the incident a "planned terror attack" and said he had "no doubt that Hizbullah was involved in the Lebanese Army's actions." Mofaz also criticized UNIFIL's involvement, stating that their "inability to prevent the Lebanese Army from firing on IDF soldiers proves their incompetence."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
Israeli sources also alleged that UNIFIL forces said the Lebanese soldiers had no reason to open fire as the Israeli army was conducting routine activity. Government officials in Israel have criticized the United States and France for supporting Lebanon's military in the wake of the border clash. The US has provided Lebanon with over 400 million in military aid, and France has supplied the military with advanced anti-tank missiles.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
Israeli UN Ambassador Daniel Carmon wrote a letter of complaint to the UN that: "These attacks threaten stability, peace, and security in our region. In response to this grave incident that constitutes a blatant violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, Israel exercised its right of self-defense, responding with the appropriate measures on LAF positions in the area. Israel holds the Government of Lebanon responsible for these attacks and all actions conducted from Lebanese territory. Israel calls upon the international community to exert its influence and to take the necessary measures with the Lebanese authorities to ensure that such provocative violations will not be repeated."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
Israel's security cabinet called a meeting to discuss "the consequences of the attacks for which the Lebanese government is responsible. It is evident that the Lebanese government is doubly responsible: the attack against our soldiers occurred when they were on Israeli territory and it is Lebanese soldiers who opened fire and forced us to respond."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Israel
According to Lebanese news sources, the Israeli government demanded that Lebanon court-martial the commander of the Lebanese unit that fired at IDF troops across the border.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
President Michel Suleiman said he would "stand up to Israel's violation of Resolution 1701, whatever the price". He denounced the clash including the "bombing of a Lebanese army checkpoint and attacks on Lebanese property" and called for both countries to respect the Blue Line. Prime Minister Saad Hariri called the attack a "violation of Lebanese sovereignty and demands." He called for "the United Nations and the international community bear their responsibilities and pressure Israel to stop its aggression."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called on the government to "urgently file a complaint to the Security Council over the violation of Resolution 1701." Minister of Social Affairs Selim el-Sayegh of the Phalange party said "The history of the Lebanese army's actions have been defensive ... it is in no position whatsoever to conduct any attack against Israel. It wants only to defend Lebanese territory ... Israel has been doing these activities as a matter of provocation.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
I say honestly, that in any place where the Lebanese Army will be assaulted and there's a presence for the resistance, and it is capable, the resistance will not stand silent, or quiet or restrained.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
Lebanese Information Minister Tarek Mitri stated that Lebanon respects the border but contests part of it. He said that while the tree which triggered the confrontation is on the Israeli side of the border, it "is Lebanese territory."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah declared that in the future his group would not "stand silent" in any future attacks against the LAF and that "The Israeli hand that targets the Lebanese army will be cut off. [ However] I don't expect a war to happen soon...but there are reasons for worry." He added that "We told our militants to hold back, not to do anything. [ But] From now on, if the army is attacked in any area where the resistance [Hezbollah] has a presence or a say, we will not stand by idly."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
He also praised the Lebanese army saying it "acted courageously and decisively. Lebanon in its entirety will not consent to attacks on its sacred soil and will fight with full courage." In addition to his support for the army he said "We contacted the president and the army command and told them that the party is at their service."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
The Higher Defence Council chief, General Said Eid, said Lebanon stood ready to confront Israeli aggression "by all available means." Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said they would be ready to strike the heart of Israel in the event of a new aggression against Lebanon. "Israel must understand that any aggression on Lebanon, no matter how small, gives us the complete right to retaliate when and how we find appropriate and in line with Lebanon's political interests. Hezbollah chooses when to be patient and when to retaliate. When Israel threatens to destroy Lebanon, it knows Hezbollah is capable of making Israel suffer properly. Israel's territory will be completely exposed and they will have to bear responsibility for that aggression and pay the price."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
Maronite Bishops also condemned Israel's "aggression" and said they were sorry for the Lebanese army victims. Following the Council of Maronite Bishops' monthly meeting, they issued a statement describing the dead as "heroic martyrs;" they also called on all Lebanese to put their differences aside and "focus on what brings them closer together because the country's stability is based on their closeness."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
A spokesman for the LAF said Lebanon stands ready to retaliate in the event of any new aggression. "The answer will be the same in the event of any aggression along the border. Any aggression against Lebanon will have serious consequences." He added that the army was in contact with UNIFIL after Israeli army radio said troops planned to try again to uproot the tree in the border area.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
The day after the incident Lebanese authorities also arrested a senior member of the opposition bloc's Free Patriotic Movement, Fayez Karam, on suspicion of spying for Israel.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, Lebanon
After the United States House of Representatives voted to suspend military aid to Lebanon, the Lebanese government stated that it would reject any future U.S. military aid conditioned on Lebanon agreeing not to use it against Israel.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, International organizations
The head of the United Nations peacekeeping operations Alain le Roy said that UNIFIL "established...that the trees being cut by the Israeli army are located south of the Blue Line on the Israeli side," and that the Israeli army gave notification of "several hours...by the Israeli authorities of their intention to do this operation, and immediately as procedure we informed the Lebanese side." UNIFIL then asked Israel to delay cutting down the trees in order to "facilitate an agreement between the two parties."


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, International organizations
Though the Israeli army delayed the operation by several hours, le Roy said the UN would have liked a longer delay. UNIFIL Spokesman Neeraj Singh confirmed the firefight and urged both sides to use "maximum restraint." He added that "UNIFIL peacekeepers are in the area and are trying to ascertain the circumstances of the incident and any possible casualties. Our immediate priority at this time is to restore calm in the area." The United Nations Security Council held a backdoor meeting, and called on all parties to practice "utmost restraint". Following initial investigation of the incident, UNIFIL confirmed the Israeli claim that the soldiers were inside Israeli territory when the clashes erupted.


2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash, Reactions, International reactions
The firing by the Lebanese Armed Forces was wholly unjustified and unwarranted.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round
The 2010 Turkish GP2 round was a GP2 Series motor race held on May 29 and May 30, 2010 at the Istanbul Park in Istanbul, Turkey. It was the third race of the 2010 GP2 Season and the second race of the 2010 GP3 Season. The race was used to support the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round, GP2 Report, Feature Race
Pastor Maldonado became the fifth winner in as many races in GP2 in 2010 following a dominant victory in Turkey. Rapax driver Maldonado got past polesitter Davide Valsecchi (iSport) at the start and never looked troubled, lapping up to a second quicker than his rivals before slowing down in the final stages of the race and settling for a huge victory margin of 17.9 seconds. There was rather more competition for the remaining podium places. Valsecchi spent the first stint trying to hold off Sergio Pérez, only for the Mexican to leapfrog him in the pits.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round, GP2 Report, Feature Race
But Pérez's pace began to fade dramatically as the race progressed and Valsecchi capitalised with a nice move at the end of lap 26 to reclaim second. That was Valsecchi's afternoon sorted, but Pérez now had ART's Sam Bird to worry about, and after a prolonged battled the Briton came out on top to steal the final podium spot, leaving Pérez to just barely hold off Addax team-mate Giedo van der Garde for fourth. By comparison, Maldonado's Rapax team-mate Luiz Razia had a relatively serene drive to sixth, but there was more action just behind him.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round, GP2 Report, Feature Race
DPR's Giacomo Ricci and Racing Engineering's Christian Vietoris were disputing the final point for eighth when they made contact and sailed off the track, allowing Ricci's stablemate Michael Herck past. Vietoris continued, but Ricci was forced to retire. Not content with provisional pole for Sunday, Herck then dispensed with Racing Engineering's Dani Clos for seventh, and Clos later dropped behind Vietoris to inadvertently give the German pole position for the sprint race.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round, GP2 Report, Feature Race
iSport's third-place qualifier Oliver Turvey had a terrible afternoon, losing two spots off the start and then being dealt a drivethrough penalty for moving twice to defend his position. It was while honouring that penalty that he was then picked up for speeding in pitlane, resulting in another drive-through and an eventual finishing position of 15th. Scuderia Coloni lost both cars late in the race when Vladimir Arabadzhiev crashed into the tyre wall with two laps remaining and Alberto Valerio spun and stalled moments later, while Super Nova's Marcus Ericsson was forced to park at mid-distance when his engine exploded. The other major incident occurred much earlier, when Spain feature race winner Charles Pic and ART's Jules Bianchi found themselves on the same patch of Turn 3 at the same time; the resultant collision putting both out of the race.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round, GP2 Report, Sprint Race
Dani Clos claimed his maiden GP2 victory with a dominant lights-to-flag win in the sprint race at Istanbul Park. The 21-year-old held off the challenge of Racing Engineering team-mate Christian Vietoris into the first corner to lead, taking the chequered flag 23 laps later 8.8 seconds ahead of Rapax driver Luiz Razia to become the sixth GP2 winner in six races in 2010. Vietoris had looked on course to make it a comfortable one-two for the Spanish team, only to retire with a mechanical problem, which left Razia to take an easy runner-up spot.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round, GP2 Report, Sprint Race
Addax's Giedo van de Garde claimed third place after getting ahead of third-place starter Michael Herck (DPR) on the opening lap, but he had to absorb pressure from race one pole position starter David Valsecchi throughout the race. Herck shadowed iSport's Valsecchi to the finish to take fifth place, with race one winner Pastor Maldonado (Rapax) taking the final point for sixth place to consolidate his championship lead but unable to get on terms with the three-car group ahead of him.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round, GP2 Report, Sprint Race
DAMS driver Jérôme d'Ambrosio, a race-winner in Monaco in the previous round, lost seventh place to the inspired Sergio Pérez on the last lap. The Barwa Addax driver had started from the back of the grid after being found to be underweight following his fourth-place finish in the feature race, but made up 11 places in the opening laps. ART's Sam Bird ended up 10th after being passed by d'Ambrosio, Pérez and Ho-Pin Tung in quick succession in the closing laps after suddenly dropping to around two seconds off the pace.


2010 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round, GP2 Report, Sprint Race
His team-mate Jules Bianchi was involved in some hectic midfield racing but could only make it up to 13th after his early retirement yesterday. Arden's Charles Pic – the man Bianchi tangled with in the feature race – missed today's round due to food poisoning. Former McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC award winner Oliver Turvey's nightmare weekend ended with 18th place after stalling on the grid and then being hit with a drive-through penalty.


2010 Istanbul bombing
The 2010 Istanbul bomb blast was a suicide bombing that took place on Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey on 31 October 2010. The bomb resulted in at least 32 injuries, 15 of whom were police officers and was claimed by a Kurdish secessionist group known as the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK).


2010 Istanbul bombing, Attack
The explosion occurred in Taksim Square on the European side of the city. The blast was reportedly a suicide bombing, targeting the riot officers and police vehicles typically stationed in the area. Multiple additional explosive devices were reportedly discovered at the scene of the incident after bomb squads examined the area.


2010 Istanbul bombing, Attack
Seventeen of the injured were civilians, while fifteen were police.


2010 Istanbul bombing, Responsibility
Initially, there were no official confirmations as to who carried out the attack, though many speculated that left-wing groups or the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were responsible. PKK never confirmed that they had organised the attack.


2010 Istanbul bombing, Responsibility
The day was significant as it was the day of final celebrations for Republic Day, marking the declaration of independence for the Turkish Republic, and Turkish President Abdullah Gül was due to arrive at a nearby location. The timing could also be significant since a unilateral ceasefire by the PKK declared two months earlier was due to expire on 31 October. The PKK, however, denied responsibility, with its spokesman, Roj Qandil, saying he had no "idea" about the bombing. The PKK also declared it was extending the unilateral ceasefire till the 2011 Turkish general election.


2010 Istanbul bombing, Responsibility
The TAK released a statement on their website claiming responsibility for the attack. The statement said that "We as TAK claim responsibility for the action carried out against the police force of Turkish fascism at Istanbul's Taksim Square on 31 Oct 2010." The PKK denied involvement in the attack.


2010 Italian Athletics Championships
The 2010 Italian Athletics Championships (Italian: Campionati italiani assoluti di atletica leggera 2010) was the 100th edition of the Italian Athletics Championships and were held in Grosseto from 30 June to 1 July.


2010 Italian Athletics Indoor Championships
2010 Italian Athletics Indoor Championships was the 41st edition of the Italian Athletics Indoor Championships and were held in Ancona.


2010 Italian Figure Skating Championships
The 2010 Italian Figure Skating Championships (Italian: Campionati Italiani Assoluti 2010 Pattinaggio Di Figura Su Ghiaccio) was held in Brescia from December 17 through 20, 2009. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, ice dancing, and synchronized skating on the levels of senior, junior, and novice. The results were used to choose the teams to the 2010 World Championships, the 2010 European Championships, and the 2010 World Junior Championships.


2010 Italian Formula Three Championship
The 2010 Italian Formula Three Championship was the 46th Italian Formula Three Championship season. The season began on 24 April at Misano and ended on 24 October at Monza after 16 races held at eight meetings.


2010 Italian Formula Three Championship
With victories at Hockenheim, Vallelunga and Monza, César Ramos of BVM – Target Racing finished the season as champion, becoming only the fifth non-Italian driver to win the title. He finished eight points clear of Lucidi Motors driver Stéphane Richelmi, who won four races during the season. Third place went to Prema Junior's Andrea Caldarelli, who took two victories at Mugello as well as the season-opening round at Misano. Ramos, Richelmi and Caldarelli each earned a Formula One test with Scuderia Ferrari, as well as a test in a Formula Renault 3.5 Series car. Fourth place in the championship was claimed by Team Ghinzani's Daniel Mancinelli who won races at Hockenheim and Imola, while fifth went to triple race-winner Sergio Campana, the team-mate of Richelmi. Jesse Krohn took the other race victory at Varano for RP Motorsport.


2010 Italian Grand Prix
The 2010 Italian Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 Gran Premio Santander d'Italia 2010) was the fourteenth round of the 2010 Formula One season. It was held in Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy on 12 September 2010. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso won the race from pole position, taking Ferrari's first win on home soil since 2006 and their last until 2019.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Background
On the Wednesday before the race, Ferrari were summoned before the FIA World Motor Sport Council to answer charges related to fixing a race outcome through the use of team orders – banned since 2003 under Article 39.1 of the sporting regulations following an infamous incident at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix – and subsequently bringing the sport into disrepute at the German Grand Prix. Although Ferrari were fined US$100,000 at the time of the incident, the special meeting of the WMSC opened the door for further sanctions. The tribunal eventually decided against punishing the team further, with a promise to review the ban on team orders, a decision that was received negatively by fans.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Following increased speculation over Red Bull and Ferrari appearing to use flexible bodywork – banned under the sporting regulations – the FIA announced its intention to intensify testing procedures for the second time, having increased lateral load-bearing tests on the front wings at Spa-Francorchamps. Speculation within the Belgian paddock suggested that both teams had been using flexible floors to lower the front wings closer to the roadway, giving rise to the FIA's plan for stricter testing at Monza. On the Wednesday before the race, McLaren admitted to changing the floor of the MP4-25 to meet the increased load tests.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Background
Lewis Hamilton led the drivers' championship and Mark Webber went into this race 3 points behind, since Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso did not score in Belgium. They were over a race win behind Hamilton and Webber. Sakon Yamamoto took Karun Chandhok's seat again for the Italian Grand Prix.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The first qualifying session saw all six cars from the new teams knocked out, with Jarno Trulli in the Lotus leading among them in 18th. His teammate Heikki Kovalainen was 19th and then came Vitantonio Liuzzi, whose Force India had had technical issues. Timo Glock had originally been ahead of Liuzzi in his Virgin, but he was handed a five place grid penalty for changing his gearbox, putting him at the very back. Lucas di Grassi was 21st in the other Virgin ahead of Bruno Senna and Sakon Yamamoto in the HRTs.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
There were no real surprises in the second qualifying session either, as the two BMW Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi (13th) and Pedro de la Rosa (17th) were eliminated along with the Toro Rossos of Sébastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari, the Force India of Adrian Sutil and Michael Schumacher's Mercedes. Also eliminated was Vitaly Petrov, who qualified his Renault 15th but was given a five place grid drop for blocking Glock in the first session.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Rubens Barrichello scraped into the top 10 and qualified tenth in his Williams, just behind Robert Kubica in the other Renault. It was a good performance from the other Williams of Nico Hülkenberg, who out qualified his teammate to qualify eighth. Nico Rosberg was probably pleased with seventh in the Mercedes, but then came the championship contenders. A mistake put Sebastian Vettel sixth, and it was a tough day for his Red Bull team as Mark Webber could only qualify fourth in the sister RB6.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
The two McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button had chosen completely different car set ups, and it did not work out for Hamilton who could qualify only fifth. It was looking good for Ferrari in front of their home crowd, and Felipe Massa qualified third. It was their day as Button was pipped to pole by Fernando Alonso, the 19th pole of the Spaniard's career.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
At the start of the race, Jenson Button had a fantastic start, jumping his McLaren from second past Fernando Alonso's Ferrari. Alonso, who was alongside his teammate Felipe Massa through the turn one chicane, just clipped the rear of Button's diffuser, but there was only light damage to the McLaren. As the pack headed down to the second chicane of turns three and four, Button's teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was in fourth, tried to pull a move on Massa, but there was contact between the two. Although Lewis tried to carry on, the front track rod was broken and he pulled up at the next corner. Massa managed to carry on unscathed. Kamui Kobayashi did start the race but retired his BMW Sauber on the first lap with a gearbox failure.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Meanwhile, Mark Webber in the Red Bull was going backwards from his fourth place grid slot, and he was ninth at the end of the first lap. He soon re-passed Michael Schumacher's Mercedes at the second chicane on lap 6, with a calm and collected move on the seven times world champion. A hydraulic failure made Bruno Senna's HRT the race's third retirement on lap 11.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Alonso was harrying Button all the way, and drama occurred further back on lap 20 as Webber's teammate Sebastian Vettel, who had also had a bad start, dropping from 6th to 7th and was harrying Nico Hülkenberg in the Williams to take the place back, complained of an engine issue in the Red Bull's Renault power unit. Webber sailed past and Vettel was just dropping back into the clutches of compatriot Schumacher when he suddenly regained power, and began to close in on Hülkenberg and Webber.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Button made his pit stop on lap 36, and by staying out for one lap longer Alonso rejoined ahead of Button after his stop, although his teammate Massa actually held 1st for two laps before his own pit-stop relegated him back to 3rd. It was very tight as Alonso exited the pits, but the Spaniard just managed to stay ahead by holding the racing line as the two were side-by-side through turns one and two. Jarno Trulli was the race's next retirement in the Lotus with a gearbox failure on lap 46.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
After even more off track adventures for Hülkenberg, he was finally passed by Webber with just four laps to go, and the Aussie was visibly frustrated by then. On the same lap, Lucas di Grassi's Virgin suffered a suspension failure. After his phantom technical failure, the Red Bull mechanics had decided to leave Vettel's stop to the last lap, which they did, and the gamble paid off handsomely as the German emerged from the pits still in fourth place, ahead of his teammate.


2010 Italian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Alonso crossed the line in first place to the delight of the Tifosi, with Button still less than three seconds in arrears. Massa was third to complete a fantastic double home podium for the Scuderia, while Vettel drove a brilliant recovery drive to bring the Red Bull home fourth, holding off a late challenge from Nico Rosberg, who had had a quiet race for Mercedes. Webber, Hülkenberg and Robert Kubica's Renault were all in close attendance, while Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello's Williams rounded out the points.


2010 Italian Open (tennis)
The 2010 Italian Open (also known as the 2010 Rome Masters and sponsored title 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia) was a tennis tournament, being played on outdoor clay courts at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. It was the 67th edition of the event and was classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2010 ATP World Tour and a Premier 5 event on the 2010 WTA Tour. The men's event took place from April 24 to May 2, 2010 while the women's event took place from April 30 to May 8, 2010.


2010 Italian Open (tennis), ATP entrants, Other entrants
The following player received special exempt into the main draw:


2010 Italian Open (tennis), Finals, Men's doubles
Bob Bryan /  Mike Bryan defeated  John Isner /  Sam Querrey, 6–2, 6–3


2010 Italian Open (tennis), Finals, Women's doubles
Gisela Dulko /  Flavia Pennetta defeated  Nuria Llagostera Vives /  María José Martínez Sánchez, 6–4, 6–2


2010 Italian Open – Men's Doubles
Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjić were the defending champions, but lost in the second round to Pablo Cuevas and Juan Mónaco. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan defeated their compatriots John Isner and Sam Querrey in the final. They won 6–2, 6–3.


2010 Italian Open – Men's Singles
Defending champion Rafael Nadal successfully defended his title, defeating David Ferrer 7–5, 6–2 in the final. It was his record-extending fifth title at the Italian Open.


2010 Italian Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2010 Italian Open – Women's Doubles
Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai were the defending champions, but Hsieh chose not to compete this year and Peng chose to compete in Estoril instead. 6th-seeded Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta won in the final 6–4, 6–2, against 2nd-seeded Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez.


2010 Italian Open – Women's Doubles, Seeds
The top four seeds received a bye into the second round.


2010 Italian Open – Women's Singles
Dinara Safina was the defending champion, but lost in the second round to Alexandra Dulgheru.


2010 Italian Open – Women's Singles
Unseeded María José Martínez Sánchez won in the final 7–6(7–5), 7–5, against Jelena Janković.


2010 Italian Open – Women's Singles
Top seed and world No. 1 Serena Williams made it to the semifinals, but was edged by Janković after failing to convert a match point.


2010 Italian Open – Women's Singles
Unseeded and former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic also made a surprise run into the semifinals by beating two top 10 players and a top 15 player, but failed to defeat Martínez Sánchez.


2010 Italian Open – Women's Singles, Seeds
The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2010 Italian local elections
The 2010 Italian local elections were held on different dates; most on 29–30 March (second round on 11–12 April) concurrently with the Regional elections.


2010 Italian local elections
In Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol the elections were held on 15–16 May with a second ballot on 30–31 May; all of 321 comuni of the region voted for a new mayor and a new City Council.


2010 Italian local elections
In Aosta Valley the elections were held on 23–24 May in the city of Aosta.


2010 Italian local elections
On May 30–31 the elections were held in Sicily and Sardinia.


2010 Italian local elections
In Italy, direct elections were held in municipalities and provinces: in each municipality (comune) were chosen mayor and members of the City Council, in each province were chosen president and members of the Provincial Council.


2010 Italian local elections
Citizens living in Italy who were 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote in the local council elections.


2010 Italian local elections, Voting System
The voting system is used for all mayoral elections in Italy, in the city with a population higher than 15,000. Under this system voters express a direct choice for the mayor or an indirect choice voting for the party of the candidate's coalition. If no candidate receives at least 50% of votes, the top two candidates go to a second round after two weeks. This gives a result whereby the winning candidate may be able to claim majority support, although it is not guaranteed.


2010 Italian local elections, Voting System
The election of the City Council is based on a direct choice for the candidate with a preference vote: the candidate with the majority of the preferences is elected. The number of the seats for each party is determined proportionally.


2010 Italian local elections, Provincial elections
Only 12 provinces were up for election. The elections was for a new provincial president and members of the Provincial Council. Four presidents were elected in March. Below the results of each candidate and coalition on the first and second round.


2010 Italian local elections, Provincial elections
Then on May was elected all the provincial president and Provincial Council of Sardinia. Below the results of each candidate and coalition on the first and second round.


2010 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2010 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix was the fourth round of the 2010 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 4–6 June 2010 at the Mugello Circuit. Seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi suffered a displaced compound fracture of his right tibia in free practice, after losing control of his Yamaha in one of the circuit's fast corners. The injury saw him lose any hope of retaining his 2008 and 2009 crowns.


2010 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix
Dani Pedrosa dominated the MotoGP event aboard his Honda, reaching the finish line well clear of chasing championship leader Jorge Lorenzo in second. Andrea Dovizioso took third, while ex-champion Casey Stoner took his Ducati to fourth on the final lap. The 125cc race saw the first victory of future multiple MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez.


2010 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix, Championship standings after the race (MotoGP)
Below are the standings for the top five riders and constructors after round four has concluded.


2010 Italian regional elections
A large round of regional elections in Italy took place on 28–29 March in 13 regions out of 20, including nine of the ten largest ones: Lombardy, Campania, Veneto, Lazio, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Apulia, Tuscany and Calabria.


2010 Italian regional elections, Overview
The elections turned out to be a competition between two rival coalitions built around the two major parties: The People of Freedom (PdL) of Silvio Berlusconi and the Democratic Party (PD) led by Pier Luigi Bersani. The third largest party in Italy, Northern League (whose main regional sections, Liga Veneta, Lega Lombarda and Lega Piemont playing a large role in Veneto, Lombardy and Piedmont, respectively) supported joint candidates with the PdL in Northern and Central Italy.


2010 Italian regional elections, Overview
The centre-right went to win the elections by gaining four more regions than in 2005: Campania, Lazio, Piedmont and Calabria. The centre-left coalition won seven regions out of 13.


2010 Italian regional elections, Overview
Lega Nord played a major role in the North, where it was the second-largest party and the largest in Veneto. The party led by Umberto Bossi managed to have two of its leading members elected at the head of a region: in Piedmont and in Veneto.


2010 Italian regional elections, Overview
Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement, a protest party popular, had a strong showing in Emilia-Romagna.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy
The 2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy took place in Itawamba County, Mississippi, and began when lesbian student Constance McMillen was refused permission to take her girlfriend to the Itawamba County Agricultural High School prom. As a result of a lawsuit brought against the school, the school canceled the prom. Parents were encouraged to organize a private prom, but they canceled it. A second private prom was organized and represented to be the official prom. Meanwhile, parents organized a secret prom to which McMillen was not invited and which most of the student body attended. The school district settled the lawsuit by agreeing to a payment to McMillen and adoption of a sexual orientation non-discrimination policy.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Incident
In March 2010, the Itawamba County School District board made international news after it decided to cancel the prom for Itawamba Agricultural High School because 18-year-old lesbian student Constance McMillen had requested permission to take a same-sex date to the event, and to wear a tuxedo. The school board encouraged the creation of a private prom. McMillen called the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which threatened the school with legal action. On March 10, 2010, the ACLU filed a free speech lawsuit on McMillen's behalf, seeking an injunction which would reinstate the prom. The ACLU stated that it was "shameful and cowardly of the school district to have canceled the prom and to try to blame [the student]." On April 21, 2010, an amended complaint was filed, seeking compensatory damages.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Incident
On a March 12, 2010 appearance on The Early Show, McMillen said that she had first asked the school principal about bringing a same-sex date to the prom in December 2009, and that he said it was not allowed, due to a concern that pairs of same-sex friends who were not in a relationship would buy less expensive couples tickets instead of individual tickets. McMillen said she told him "you can't pretend like there's not gay people at our school, and if you tell people they can't bring a same-sex date, that is discrimination to them." Although the school board did not explicitly say the prom was cancelled due to McMillen's request, the cancellation came only one week after the ACLU sent a letter to the board pleading her case.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Incident
Subsequent to international press coverage of the prom's cancellation, many groups offered to sponsor a non-discriminatory prom and enough money was reportedly raised to host one. However, it was reported that adults posted signs in protest on the high school, including ones stating "What happened to the Bible Belt?" and "Gomorrah."


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Court ruling
On March 23, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson issued a ruling partly in favor of McMillen and partly favorable to the Itawamba County School District. Judge Davidson ruled that Itawamba County School District did violate McMillen's First Amendment rights by not allowing her to attend the prom with her girlfriend, not allowing her to wear a tuxedo and cancelling the prom. Judge Davidson wrote, "The court finds this expression and communication of her viewpoint is the type of speech that falls squarely within the purview of the First Amendment."


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Court ruling
However, in favor of the Itawamba County School District, Judge Davidson ruled that he would not force the school district to hold the prom since a private prom had already been planned. At the preliminary hearing, school board members testified that all junior and senior students would be allowed to attend the private prom but did not make it clear as to whether or not same-sex couples would be allowed to attend. McMillen received no official information on, nor an invitation to, the private prom.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Court ruling
During the hearing, the school board testified that they cancelled the prom because the "media attention generated distracted the school from its educational mission, and that the board cancelled the prom in an attempt to restore order." Judge Davidson said he was not swayed by that testimony because the high school's own principal had testified to the opposite, saying that "e-mail and phone calls generated by the controversy had no impact on classroom instruction."


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Court ruling
On July 20, 2010, the school district settled the case out of court by paying McMillen US$35,000 (equivalent to $41,035 in 2019), paying her attorneys' fees, and agreeing to create a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Private prom
On March 30, 2010, The Clarion-Ledger newspaper reported that the original private prom scheduled to be held at the Tupelo Furniture Market had been cancelled after McMillen attempted to purchase a ticket. Lori Byrd, who served on the parent organizing committee of the private prom, told the newspaper that there were many parents involved who did not want to be sued for not allowing same-sex dates at the private prom, so they cancelled it. However, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported the following day that a new private prom had been organized, to be held at the Fulton Country Club, and that McMillen would be allowed to attend with her girlfriend.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Private prom
McMillen and her date attended the prom, but found only five other students in attendance including two students "with learning difficulties." A second private prom had been arranged by parents, to be held in the community of Evergreen, and the rest of the students attended that prom instead of the Fulton Country Club prom. McMillen said she was aware of the "Evergreen" event but when she asked another student if she was invited, the student told her, "the prom is at the country club." McMillen said she took that answer as a "no" in regards to her question on whether or not she was invited and details about the secret private prom were kept from her.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Private prom
Students who attended the "Evergreen" prom posted photos of the event on their Facebook pages, but many of the photos were deleted after they became public. Some students said the event was not a prom but was instead a birthday party, while others said it was just a private party. However, while claiming the event was not a prom publicly, students uploaded photos from the event to their Facebook pages labeled as "Prom 2010" and posted status updates which referred to the gathering as "prom."


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Private prom
McMillen subsequently transferred out of the Itawamba high school and into Murrah High School in Jackson, Mississippi, saying she was harassed by other students blaming her for the prom controversy.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
The controversy brought about worldwide media attention as well as attention from celebrities.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
Dan Savage, a sex and relationship advice columnist and podcaster, exhorted his followers to contact the principal and superintendent of the school to protest the decision.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
Ellen DeGeneres invited McMillen to be a guest on her television show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. On the show, DeGeneres presented McMillen with a $30,000 scholarship, paid for and donated by Tonic.com.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
McMillen was also invited to be a guest by Wanda Sykes on her television show, The Wanda Sykes Show. On the show, Sykes noted that she was receiving the Stephen F. Kolzack Award at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards and that award recipients, such as her, could decide who they wanted to present their award. Sykes said that she would like McMillen to come to Los Angeles, at Sykes's expense, and be the person who presented the award to her.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton invited McMillen and guests of her choosing to attend at his expense a birthday bash being held for him, and she accepted. When he posted about it on his web site, he wrote that "she will be treated like a homecoming queen for the day."


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
Along with activists Judy Shepard and Lt. Daniel Choi, McMillen was chosen as a Grand Marshal of the 2010 New York City Gay Pride March.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
The television series Drop Dead Diva based a season 3 episode on the incident (Prom, aired July 24, 2011). Wanda Sykes plays the judge, Amanda Bearse another judge, and McMillen has a cameo role as a bailiff.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
In 2012, she appeared with Lance Bass (from NSYNC) in Mississippi I Am, a documentary by Harriet Hirshorn and Katherine Linton about young gay Mississippians.


2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy, Media and celebrity attention
The 2016 Broadway musical The Prom, and subsequent 2020 film adaptation, were inspired by the events.


2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
The 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an under-18 ice hockey tournament held in Břeclav, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia from August 9–14, 2010. The two venues were Alcaplast Arena in Břeclav and Patrícia Ice Arena 37 in Piešťany. Canada won the gold for the third consecutive year and the 15th time overall. The United States lost in the final to win the silver, their first medal since 2006. Sweden got the bronze for the third consecutive year by defeating the Czech Republic 6-1 in the bronze medal game.


2010 Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast local election
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast local election, 2010 is a local election in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast that took place on October 31, 2010. Seats were split among 13 political parties.


2010 Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast local election, Notes
Due to the lack of candidates to deputies, All-Ukrainian Union "Freedom" chose not to fill its available place in the Ivano-Frankivsk city council cutting the size of the council to 59.


2010 Ivorian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Ivory Coast in 2010. The first round was held on 31 October, and a second round, in which President Laurent Gbagbo faced opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, was held on 28 November 2010. Originally scheduled to be held in 2005, the vote was delayed several times due to the Ivorian Civil War and difficulties involved in the organization and preparation of the elections.


2010 Ivorian presidential election
A peace agreement between the government and the former rebel New Forces was signed on 4 March 2007, and in late April 2009, it was announced that the elections would be held by 6 December 2009, and that the date would be announced shortly. On 15 May 2009, the date was announced to be 29 November 2009. On 11 November, the elections were postponed again due to delays in the electoral roll. It was announced on 3 December 2009 to be held in late February or early March 2010.


2010 Ivorian presidential election
The elections, in which ethnicity and the country's north–south divide played a crucial role, ultimately pitted President Gbagbo, who had a strong support base in the south, against the long-time opposition leader and former Prime Minister Ouattara, who had overwhelming support in much of the north.


2010 Ivorian presidential election
The events leading up to the second round and following it were characterized by serious tension and some incidents of violence, and the preliminary report of the Carter Center "cautions against a rush to judgment regarding the overall credibility of the election", but most observers considered that the overall result was not compromised, and that the elections were essentially free and fair. On 2 December 2010, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) released provisional results showing that Ouattara had won the elections in the second round with 54% of the vote.


2010 Ivorian presidential election
However the President of the Constitutional Council (CC) immediately declared that the results were invalid and the next day, in accordance with article 94 of the Constitution, the Constitutional Council declared Gbagbo the winner. Both Gbagbo and Ouattara claimed victory and took the presidential oath of office. The ensuing events led to the 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis.


2010 Ivorian presidential election
The international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union, the United States, and former colonial power France have affirmed their support for Ouattara, who is "almost universally acknowledged to have defeated [Gbagbo] at the ballot box," and have called for Gbagbo to step down, despite the fact that the body charged by the Constitution with determining electoral disputes had declared Gbagbo to be the winner. On 18 December, Gbagbo ordered all UN peacekeepers to leave the country.


2010 Ivorian presidential election
However, the UN has refused, and the Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Ivory Coast until 30 June 2011. International powers have been in talks to enlarge the UN force in the Ivory Coast. The World Bank has halted loans to the country and travel restrictions have been placed on Gbagbo and his political allies. The rising political tensions resulted in a sharp jump in cocoa prices, up to an increase of 10 percent. The Ivory Coast is the world's largest producer of the crop.


2010 Ivorian presidential election
After fighting the Second Ivorian Civil War, Gbagbo was forcefully removed from office and Ouattara took office as the undisputed president on 11 April 2012. Afterward, Gbagbo was indicted and arrested by the International Criminal Court.


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
Following the March 2007 agreement with the New Forces, the election was planned to be held in the first quarter of 2008. On 6 August 2007, President Laurent Gbagbo said it would be possible, with goodwill and determination, to hold the election as early as December 2007. This was greeted with widespread skepticism by observers and the opposition, who said that the preparations for elections would be incomplete at such an early stage.


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
It was announced on 12 September 2007 that the process of voter identification and registration would begin on 25 September, and if it went well it was expected to be completed by the end of 2007. On 13 September, the President of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), Robert Mambé, said that the presidential election should be held, "at the latest", ten months after the end of the identification process, around October 2008, and that the parliamentary election should be held 45 days after the presidential election. On 18 September, Gbagbo again expressed his desire to see the elections held quickly and said that he was opposed to the "remote dates" being suggested.


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
On 27 November 2007, Gbagbo and Guillaume Soro reached an agreement in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, that the election would be held by the end of June 2008; the electoral commission was to propose the specific date of the election. Gbagbo reiterated on 19 December that the election would be held no later than the end of June 2008, and he said that he would visit all the regions held by the New Forces by March 2008 and would then make a report to the Constitutional Council, which would in turn approve the holding of the election.


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner said on 27 January 2008 that the election might be delayed slightly past the end of June deadline due to technical requirements, particularly the need to update voter lists.


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
By March 2008, the common view among observers was that it would be impossible to hold the election as early as June. Although no leading political figures had yet expressed that view, in March Gbagbo referred to the importance of considering actual conditions and said that it would not mean "death" if the election was not held in June.


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
On 14 April, Government Spokesman Amadou Koné announced that the presidential election would be held on 30 November 2008, thus delaying it by five months. According to Koné, the date was chosen by the CEI, which had presented a report to the government. Koné said that the parliamentary election would be held on a different date. Gbagbo expressed enthusiasm on the occasion, describing it as "a great day for Côte d'Ivoire". According to Soro's spokesman Sindou Méité, a "broad consensus" had been reached by Soro and other leading political figures regarding the date.


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
The PDCI and RDR welcomed the announcement of a date, although they remained cautious; the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire also welcomed it. On the same day, Gbagbo signed a decree outlining the terms of cooperation between the National Institute of Statistics and the French company Sagem, the latter of which is tasked with surveying the population so that voter lists can be updated and new voter cards can be created.


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
By the first half of September 2008, there was widespread speculation that the election could be again delayed to early 2009. Gbagbo said in mid-September that a delay to 15 December would be needed unless the period allowed for challenges to the electoral register was truncated; however, CEI President Robert Mambé said on 18 September that such a delay was "out of the question" for the time being, noting that the CEI considered meeting the 30 November date to be "a moral obligation".


2010 Ivorian presidential election, Background, Date
At a New Forces meeting on 11 October, the group recommended that the election be postponed to 2009, citing concerns about security and inadequate progress in identity card distribution. Speaking on 29 October, Prime Minister Soro suggested the possibility of a delay, saying that the CEI had been asked "to work out a reliable time-frame to give us an idea of a probable definitive date for the election".