Looking back at 2012: What happened across the world

Bangalore, Dec 25: The year 2012 has been a memorable one in many respect. We have seen Barack Obama winning his second presidential term while countries like France and China witnessing leadership transition. In Russia, Vladimir Putin returned to power while an economically distressed Greece found a new leader. Middle-east continues to be volatile with Syria, Palestine and Iran witnessing endless slaughtering of innocent civilians. In Libya, the US Ambassador was killed on September 11, on the eleventh anniversary of the infamous terror attacks in the USA, after the consulate in Benghazi was severely attacked.

This was also the year of the Olympic Games, the greatest show on earth. London organised the Games this time and the host country finished third in the medals tally list, which was headed by the USA and China. The Games also had its dark moments when eight women's badminton doubles players were disqualified for not playing in the right spirit. South African Oscar Pistorius becomes first amputee to compete at the Olympics.

In the realm of movie, French movie The Artist won five Academy Awards this year. A massive diplomatic battle broke out between the UK and Ecuador after the latter granted asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

The Spanish football team achieved an enviable feat this year when they defeated Italy to bag their second successive Euro title. It was their golden hat-trick in world football for they had also won the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa. In golf, Tiger Woods equalled the record of "The Golden Bear", Jack Nicklaus when he won the 73rd PGA Tour title. Manchester City won the English Premier League this year, the first time in 44 years. Legendaru Formula One car-racer Micheal Schumacher called in quits this year.

60 years at the helm

Queen Elizabeth II completed 60 years of becoming the British Monarch on February 6.

Israel-Hamas clash intensifies

Israel Air Force conducted four air strikes in Gaza strip on February 11 and the clash between Israel and Hamas intensified throughout the year, resulting in the death of several people. Palestinian militant and second-in-coammnd of the Hamas, Ahmed Jabari, was assassinated on November 14. Both sides reached a ceasefire on November 21.

Fire in Honduras jail kills over 350

A devastating fire at Comayagua prison in Honduras kills 358 people on February 15.

German President resigns

President of Germany Christian Wulff resigned over a corruption scam on February 17. He was succeeded by Joachim Gauck.

Olympic artifacts stolen from Greece museum

Seventy-seven ancient Olympic artifacts were stolen from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The artifacts of 'incalculable value' were later recovered in November and three people were arrested.

Syria continues to burn

Syrian Army kills 100 civilians in artillery shelling of Homs and Hama on February 25. The country has been witnessing a deadly civil war since March 2011. Former UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan resigned as the UN and Arab League joint special envoy on August 2 over the increasing militarisation on the ground and lack of unity. Upto 116 people were massacred, including women and children, by the Syrian army in Houla region near Homs on May 25.

The Artist wins 5 Academy Awards

French roamntic comedy-drama fim The Artist wins five Academy Awards on February 26 and becomes the first silent film to win the coveted prize since 1927 . The film, made in the style of black-and-white, is directed by Michel Hazanavicius.

Occupy London protesters evicted

Occupy London protesters evicted from St Paul's Cathedral on Februray 28. The non-violent movement against economic inequality in London took place between October 15, 2011, and June 14, 2012.

Vladmir Putin becomes the President of Russia yet again

Valdimir Putin wins the presidential election amid allegations of voter fraud on March 4. He succeeded Dmitry Medvedev.

Nazi war criminal dies

John Demjanjuk, a convicted Nazi war criminal, dies on March 17 at the age of 91 .

Guatemalan paramilitaries sentenced to 7,710 years in jail

Five former Guatemalan paramilitaries sentenced to 7,710 years in jail on March 21 for their role in the Plan de Sanchez massacre in 1982.

Mar 21st - Greek Parliament votes in favour of an international bailout deal

Mar 21st - Greek Parliament votes in favour of an international bailout deal

Hollande becomes the President of France

Francois Hollande elected the 24th President of France on May 6. He is the second man from the French Socialist Party to become the country's President after Francois Mitterrand. He succeeded Nicolas Sarkozy.

Man City wins English Premier League

Manchester City win the English Premier League for the first time in 44 years on May 13. They surged past Queens Park Rangers 3-2 and in the process, snatched the coveted trophy from defending champions Manchester United.

Philip Philips the new American Idol

Philip Philips is crowned the eleventh American Idol on May 23. The World From The Side of The Moon is his first major label album.

Tiger Woods wins 73rd PGA Tour

Golfer Tiger Woods wins 73rd PGA Tour on June 3 to equal the record of "the Golden Bear". Jack Nicklaus.

Pak Supreme Court ousts PM Gilani

On June 19, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was ousted by the country's Supreme Court on the charges of contempt of court. He was replaced by Raja Pervez Ashraf.

Greece gets new leader

Economist Antonis Samaras, leader of the New Democracy party in Greece, takes over as the Prime Minister of the country on June 20. Seven days after he took charge, the eurozone announced of paying 43.7 billion euros loans to Greece.

Defending world champions Spain routed Italy 4-0 to win

On July 1, defending world champions Spain routed Italy 4-0 to win the Euro football championship in Kiev. It was the their major tournament victory for the Spanish after their 2008 Euro and 2010 World Cup crowns.

London Olympics begin

Queen Elizabeth II announces the opening of the London 2012 Olympics on June July 27. The mega showdown continued till August 12. the United States, with 47 golds and 29 silvers and bronzes finished first in the medal's tally while China with 38 golds, 27 silvers and 23 bronzes finished second. The hosts, UK, finished third with 29 golds, 17 silvers and 19 bronzes.

Olympics continued

On July 28, China's Ye Shiwen of China sets world record in the women's 400m individual medley with a time of 4:28.43.

Olympics continued

On August 1, eight women's badminton doubles players were disqualified from the Olympics for "not using one's best efforts to win a match".

Olympics continued

On Aug 4, South African Oscar Pistorius becomes first amputee to compete at the Olympics .

General Motors inks a record-breaking

On August 5, General Motors inks a record-breaking $559 million marketing deal with Manchester United Ltd.

Olympics continued

On Aug 9, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt becomes the first person to win the 100m and 200m sprint in the Olympics.

Assange granted asylum by Ecuador

Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder, is granted political asylum by Ecuador on August 16. Massive diplomatic row breaks out between Ecuador and the UK. Assange took shelter in the Ecuador embassy in London.

Samsung loses court battle to Apple

A US jury in California ruled that Samsung was guilty of patent infringement and awards over US$1 billion in damages to Apple on August 24.

Moon man passes away

Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon, passes away in the USA on August 25. He was 82.

New Zealand to pull troops out of Afghanistan

On September 3, New Zealand decides to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by April 2013. Five New Zealand soldiers were killed in the war-ravaged country in August, taking its troop casualties to 10.

9/11 relived in Libya

On September 11, the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, is attacked and five prople, including the US ambassador to the African country, Christopher Stevens.

314 killed in twin Pakistan fires

On September 12, 314 people are killed in devastating twin factory fires in Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan.

Michael Schumacher decides to stop

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher retires on October 4.

Hugo Chavez re-elelcted for the 4th time

Hugo Chávez is re-elected as president of Venezuela for a fourth term on October 8.

Caribbeans win World Cup after 33 years

On October 7, West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 36 runs to lift the World Twenty20 in cricket. The competition was held in Sri Lanka this time.

Nobel Prize winners

On October 8, John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka win the 2012 Nobel Prize for Medicine while on October 12, the European Union wins the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.

Fall of an icon

On October 22, American road-racing cyclist Lance Armstrong stripped of seven Tour titles and banned from competition for doping scandal.

Hurricane Sandy hits the USA

Hurricane Sandy hits the USA and many other countries in central American region. Over 250 people were killed while property worth $65.6 billion was damaged.

US President Obama gets a second term

On November 6, US President Barack Obama was relected as the White House incumbent. The Democrat defeated Republican Mitt Romney. Obama is the third US President to win two successive presidential terms.

China's leadership transition

Xi Jinping takes over as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Chine from Hu Jintao on November 15. He is expected to become the new President in March 2013.

Gangnam Style becomes most viewed YouTube video

South Korean dance form Gangnam Style becomes the most viewed youtube video surpassing 808 million views on November 24.

Vettel makes a hat-trick in Formula One championship

Sebastian Vettel wins the 2012 Formula One championship for the third consecutive year on November 25.

Palestine recognised by the UN as a non-member state

On November 29, the UN General Assembly voted to recognise Palestine as a non-member observer state. Israel and the US opposed the move.

Punter calls it a day

On November 29, Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting retires from international cricket. He had led his country to win two consecutive World Cup titles, in 2003 and 2007.

Twenty children shot dead in US school

On December 17, twenty children were shot dead in a primary school in Connecticut in the USA. The horrific incident even left the President of the cvopuntry in tears. In fact, 2012 has been a year of shooting in the USA. Be its shopping malls, film premiere, gurudwara, random shooting at public places has seen several innocent people lose lives in the country this year.

John Kerry set to succeed Hillary Clinton as US Secretary of State

US President Obama appoints senior Senator John Kerry as the next Secretary of State. He will replace Hillary Clinton.

Egypt constitution referendum delayed

The result of a controversial referendum on Egypt's new constitution is delayed as officials check allegations of fraud. The High Commission for elections in Egypt had announced the result of the referendum on the new constitution would be announced by December 25.

Tony Greig breathes his last

England cricketer-turned-commentator Tony Greig passes away in Australia on December 29. The former test captain was suffering from cancer. He was 66.

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