1. Emerging from the pandemic, farewelling Britian’s longest-serving monarch, and returning to a mission to the moon. The past 12 months have been packed with action. Let’s recap the biggest events and stories of 2022.
January
2. The year started with a scoop of drama when tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic had his VISA cancelled.The 21-time Grand Slam winning star was detained at Melbourne airport after failing to provide sufficient evidence of his COVID-19 vaccination exception. The matter soon turned into a legal stouch that resulted in Serbian being deported. He was not able to defend his Australian Open title, so no doubt he’ll be edging for his comeback in 2023.
February
3. A major escalation of decades-long post-Soviet tensions came to a head on February 24 when Russia invaded Ukraine. The Russo-Ukranian War, which has been brewing strongly since the 2014 annexation of Crimea, was one of the largest news events of the year. It has dominated headlines ever since February.
What were the top 3 memorable news from this year?
March
4. It would be impossible to forget, but just in case you have, here’s a recap: After making an ill-advised joke at Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s expense, Smith walked up on stage and dramatically slapped Rock in the face. The slap ignited an online storm and brought the topic of alopecia and hair loss well and truly into the mainstream.
June
5. Climate activists around the world began making headlines in June when they began vandalising internationally recognised artworks. It began in London on June 30 when Just Stop Oil activists Louis McKechnie and Emily Brocklbank risked 10 years in prison to glue themselves to Vincent Van Gogh’s famous Peach Trees Blossom.
July
6. Shocking events unfolded on July 8 when former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated. The former leader of the Liberal Democratic Party had been the longest-serving prime minister in Japan’s history. He was speaking at an event outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara City, when he was shot from close range by a man holding a homemade gun. He was transported by helicopter to Nara Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
What is something you accomplished this year that you are proud of?
September
7. Arguably the largest month on record in 2022, September was packed with globally significant events. All eyes were on Britain in September after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8. The monarch had been the longest-serving British ruler and had only just celebrated her Platinum Jubilee months before. In the midst of the national mourning and commerations for the late Queen, a storm continued to brew inside Westminster.
8. After a scandal-filled year, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he would step down from the top job, and leave the Conservative Party. His resignation was to lead to the ‘year of the three prime ministers’ in Britain. Liz Truss took over from Boris Johnson as prime minister and leader of the UK’s Conservative Party. Holding her audience with Elizabeth II at Balmoral on September 6, Truss was to be the last Prime Minister sworn into the office by the late Queen.
November
9. The world’s population officially reached 8 billion in November.
The launch of the Artemis I space mission returned NASA’s focus to the moon. It spent 25 days, 10 hours, 53 minutes in space before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean again.
And, in preparation for the USA’s return to the polls in 2024, former President Donald Trump announced he would indeed be running for re-election.
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