 This is the VOA Special English Economics Report. Today, we look back at some of the top stories of 2011. In Europe, the debt crisis that started in 2010 in Greece and Ireland spread to other countries. Portugal needed a financial rescue, and Italy needed a new prime minister. Silvio Berlusconi lost his job over Italy's debt problems. Former European Union official Mario Monti replaced him in November. Pressures on Europe's financial system called into question the future of the Euro. European finance officials called for greater cooperation and new rules. Bank President Robert Zelik said Europe would have to find its own answers to its debt problems. Europe has to rescue Europe, okay? And it's very important. If there's any message when I'm asked, well, what can the US do? And what can China do? The best thing they can do is clean up their act at home. The source of growth at home. Mr. Zelik also said it was important for other big economies to deal with their own budget imbalances. The downgrade of America from AAA didn't affect the finances today. But it may be one of those events people look back on 10 years from now and say, they get the warning? In August, a credit rating agency cut the United States credit rating from the highest level AAA to AA+. Also in August, Steve Jobs stepped down as chief at Apple because of his failing health. He died of cancer in October at the age of 56. He brought the world the iPod, iPhone and iPad and helped make Apple into one of the world's most valuable companies. 2011 will be remembered as a year of protests. Revolutions for political freedom swept North Africa and the Middle East in the Arab Spring. But protests over budget cuts and jobs were heard around the world. In the United States, activists in hundreds of cities protested economic inequality and joblessness. Protesters were angry that banks got rescued with taxpayers' money during the financial crisis nearly four years ago. But many Americans continue to face hardship. Anger over government budget cuts led to protests in Greece, Britain and elsewhere. And in southeastern China, villagers in Wukong rebelled against local officials they accused of illegally taking land. For VOA Special English, I'm Alex Villareal. If your New Year's resolution is to learn English, we can help. Find out more at voaspecialenglish.com and on Facebook, Twitter and iTunes at VOA Learning English.