Tuvalu: History

Britain declares a joint protectorate over the Ellice Islands and the Gilbert Islands, which include present day Tuvalu.

The Ellice Islands become a separate British dependency and is renamed Tuvalu.

Tuvalu achieves independence.

Britain, New Zealand, and Australia set up the Tuvalu Trust Fund to provide development aid to the country.

The government leases it "900" telephone lines to a foreign company which generates a substantial income.

Tuvalu sold internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.

Tuvalu is admitted to the United Nations.

Under pressure from the US, Tuvalu agrees to de-register Iranian ships it had previously allowed to sail under its national flag. Iran had applied to register oil tankers in Tuvalu in a bid to circumvent an international embargo on Iranian oil shipments.

Tuvalu issues a plea to world leaders to join the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty as the low-lying country faces rising sea levels.