Top 10 news stories of 2012

With 2013 just around the corner, it's time once again to take a look at the most newsworthy stories of the year.

10. FLEMING DRIVE INCIDENT — It was an unusually warm night that brought over 1,000 students to Fleming Drive on St. Patrick's Day. The mix of alcohol, street parties, and police stirred up what became known as the Fleming Drive Riot. There were videos displayed on newscasts all over the world showing how much damage these students and others cost the city. The rioters destroyed property including a news vehicle, police vehicles, city streets, houses and more. There was a very thorough investigation completed and some of the people responsible for the riots were apprehended.

9. END OF THE WORLD — This year has brought on many astrological implications. For the ancient Mayans, it means the end of their long count calendar, which has gone through 13 stages called Baktuns. There have been reports of people suggesting that we are in the proverbial end times explained in the Revelations sector of the Bible. There have been several different theories across the world. Some claim to know that Planet X or Nemesis will return and infi ltrate our gravity fi elds and restore the world of the Annunaki or Fallen Angels based on a theory from a philosopher known as Zechariah Sitchin. It is essentially just another doomsday theory that will prove to be just another mass manipulation opportunity to increase revenues in various industries.

8 FACEBOOK GOES PUBLIC — The biggest social media website and online community in history went public on the New York Stock Exchange on May 18, 2012. It started off at $38 per unit and since then has not prospered as much as what was originally projected. Regardless of its performance, this will set a standard for social media companies to follow in the future.

7. UEFA EURO CUP 2012 — The tournament was held from July 8 to August 1 and was held in Poland and the Ukraine for the first time ever. This year saw people from around the world stand up for their favourite teams, pack the bars and have big game days with their friends to see who would walk away with the Cup. Spain ended up winning a grueling fi nal war against Italy who gave it all they had to try to win it all for their countrymen. The fi nal score was 4-0 Spain.

6. XXX OLYMPIAD IN LONDON — This year was one of the biggest sports years in recent history. The Olympics always deliver on action, drama, sadness, happiness, victory, defeat and everything in between. This year's events saw Michael Phelps offi cially retire as one of the greatest Olympic athletes in history, and Canada's fi rst gold medal came from the Trampoline competition. The top three fi nalists were U.S.A. with 104 medals, China with 88 medals and United Kingdom with 65 medals rounding out third place.

5. ELIZABETH II'S DIAMOND JUBILEE — This year marked the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth Windsor or Her Majesty Elizabeth II's reign as Queen of the United Kingdom and other commonwealth realms. Her coronation took place on February 6th, 1953, and has been the royal leader of many countries that are still associated with the common wealth. In the month of June, 2012 Jubilee beacons were lit around the world to celebrate her reign and achievement.

4. COLORADO THEATRE MASSACRE — On July 20, 2012 in Aurora, Colorado a terrible tragedy occurred among moviegoers at a highly anticipated theatrical debut. Police and multiple eye witnesses allege that a man by the name of James Holmes, 24 stood in front of the screen of the theatre during a fight scene and opened fi re on the audience, killing 12 people and injuring 58 people. He is now facing approximately 152 felony charges. The incident sparked controversy as to whether or not the fi lm industry should stop promoting these types of films, but as usual the world mourned the victims and no laws or changes were enacted with regards to the aftermath of these events.

3. THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT ELEVATION — Though the Israel- Palestinian conflict has been ongoing since the earlier portion of the 20th century, things really picked up in the last year. The confl icts that caused missiles and rockets to be sent from Gaza to Israel boiled down to squabbles over assumed ownership of various plots of land. Jerusalem is a major focus of the confl ict at this point as well as various infrastructural needs of both areas. As of this November 26 of this year, the Hamas and Israelis accompanied by Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton signed a ceasefire peace treaty which is hoped to be the beginning of the end of the conflict between these two areas.

2. HURRICANE SANDY — October 29, 2012 was a day that New Jersey, New York and most of the North Eastern Atlantic seaboard will never ever forget. The numbers don't lie: $25 billion is the estimated value of the lost business activity as a result of Sandy according to a financial analysis firm IHS Global Insight. The number of comfort kits given out by the American Red Cross was in excess of 78,450, which included necessary toiletries for the continuation of hygienic activities. There were over 57,000 utility workers from 30 states and Canada who travelled to New York to assist Consolidated Edison in their efforts to return power to the city. Over 1,000 beds were made available at a tent city for visiting relief Eight million is the number of homes that lost power and this fi gure is spread out over 17 states or approximately 33 per cent of the states in the U.S.A. During the American Thanksgiving weekend, only one per cent of Jersey Central Power and Light customers were without power. Manhattan, Staten Island and other areas of New York were annihilated by the superstorm and are still facing long term recovery and investment to restore the areas to prehurricane status. It is on biggest storm in the history of the North Atlantic seaboard.

1. BARACK OBAMA'S RE-ELECTION — The beginning of 2012 saw the Republican presidential primaries heat up as several notable American politicians vyed for the opportunity to be selected as the Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States of America. All the while, Barack Obama was taking part in various initiatives with regards to war, social services, and education. A lot of people in Canada tuned in to watch and analyze the elections as they occured. The home stretch of the election saw Mitt Romney become the Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States, promising the elimination of Medicare and severe reduction of old age benefi ts taken from pension. On November 6, 2012, Barack Obama was reelected to the Presidency of the United States of America for another four years, winning 332 electoral votes while opponent Mitt Romney earned only 206.