2012 news

Here are some of the top news stories from 2012:

Politics

• Barack Obama was re-elected as President of the United States, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney in the presidential election.
• The European sovereign-debt crisis continued to affect several European countries, including Greece, Ireland, and Portugal.
• The United States and Iran engaged in a diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

Economy

• The global economy continued to recover from the 2008 financial crisis, with the United States experiencing a slow but steady growth.
• The European Union implemented austerity measures to address its debt crisis.
• China's economy continued to grow rapidly, becoming the world's second-largest economy.

Disasters

• Hurricane Sandy devastated the eastern United States, particularly New York and New Jersey, causing widespread damage and loss of life.
• A massive tornado outbreak occurred in the United States, killing over 500 people and causing widespread destruction.
• A severe drought affected the United States, particularly the Midwest, leading to crop failures and food shortages.

Technology

• Facebook went public with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $16 billion.
• Apple released the iPhone 5, which became one of the best-selling smartphones of the year.
• Google launched its social network, Google+, which quickly gained popularity.

Entertainment

• The Avengers, a superhero film directed by Joss Whedon, became a massive hit, grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide.
• The Hunger Games, a dystopian film based on the bestselling book series, became a huge success, grossing over $694 million worldwide.
• Whitney Houston, a legendary singer, passed away at the age of 48.

Sports

• The London Summer Olympics took place, with the United States winning the most medals.
• The Miami Heat won the NBA championship, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.
• The New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI, defeating the New England Patriots.

Other notable events

• The world population reached 7 billion people.
• The United States and Russia signed a new nuclear arms reduction treaty.
• The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft landed on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

These are just a few of the many news stories that made headlines in 2012.