2022 in Review

2022 in Review

When considering the year that has just passed, many events spring to mind; the political tumult around the globe, but especially in this country, the return of war to Europe, the death of the Queen and of the former Pope. However, as we sit here in retrospect it is easy to forget key events, and I at least find that these are usually the positive ones. I will endeavor to highlight a bit of joy and hope with this review as we turn to what will be, I am sure, a year just as eventful and diverse in goings on as this.

January

The year began with scandal and concern as the country was rocked by allegations that the Prime Minister and his closest colleagues had been holding parties, in government buildings, in breach of the regulations that they imposed. Covid dominated the news with Novak Djokovic being prohibited from playing in the Australian Open due to his refusal to be vaccinated. Scandal also gripped the Labour party with Barry Gardiner MP being accused of taking money from the Chinese government. On the global front, relations between the US and Iran showed signs of improvement as the two nations began indirect talks aimed at reviving the Iran Nuclear deal. In a positive turn of events, the Arctic saw a decrease in sea ice levels, indicating a shift towards a more stable climate. The country also saw the successful launch of the UK's first crewed mission to space, a proud moment for British science and technology. January also saw a breakthrough in our understanding of how our galaxy was formed, with a new theory on the initial formation of stars in the Milky Way.

February

On the 24th February, Russian troops entered Ukraine, crossing the Belorussian border in what was described as a "special military operation". This commenced the war that has raged in the East of Europe since, a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and that has displaced millions. February was also the month when the final Covid restrictions were, after nearly two years, lifted. It also saw the end of Prince Andrew's ongoing lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, in the same month as the Queens reign passed beyond 70 years. In the realm of science and technology, the successful landing of the Mars Rover on the Red Planet sparked a renewed sense of wonder and excitement about the possibilities of space exploration. In sport the Winter Olympics opened on the 4th and lasted just over a fortnight, though the games were marred with controversy over the actions of host China, who have been perpetrating a genocide against the Uyghur Muslim population.

March

The effects of the Russian invasion took hold with sanctions being handed out to anyone known to be close to the Kremlin, most publicly the sale of Chelsea FC, whose now former owner Roman Abramovich is a friend of Vladimir Putin. In happier news Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe returned to the UK after 6 years in prison in Tehran. In Britain, the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was a source of pride for the nation, showcasing the country's sporting talent and determination. The games were also a symbol of hope and unity, bringing together athletes from around the world. The Oscars ceremony was held in March but in place of the usual headlines of glamour and celebration, the news was dominated by Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. A study published in March confirmed the first instances of microplastics in human blood. In other environmental news the Conger ice shelf collapsed in March, the 450 square miles of ice, which had not been considered vulnerable by scientists, providing a stark warning on the effects of our actions on the climate and the planet. The cricketer Shane Warne died, leaving a legacy as one of the sport's greats.

April

Boris Johnson made unwelcome history in April by becoming the first UK Prime Minister to be reprimanded by the police when he was served with a fixed penalty notice regarding his breaking of lockdown rules. Another Boris, this time of the Becker variety, was also in trouble with the law in April, he was sentenced to serve 2 years in prison for concealing assets during bankruptcy proceedings. One of the biggest positive news stories was the success of the world's largest renewable energy projects, which aimed to provide clean energy to millions of people in the developing world. This project was a major milestone in the fight against climate change and showcased the world's ability to work together to tackle global issues. Another positive story was the announcement of a new cancer treatment that showed promising results in early trials. This was a key breakthrough in the fight against cancer and offered hope to millions of people affected by the disease. Some highly futuristic plans were put in place, with the first airport for flying cars and electric drones beginning construction in Coventry, although I am uncertain what will come first, its completion or the widespread use of flying transportation. Emanuel Macron extended his stay in power by defeating Marine Le Pen, although the dramatic rise in support for the far right leader was, at least to me, concerning.

May

In the UK, May was marked by the ongoing efforts to rebuild the country's economy following the COVID-19 pandemic. The government announced a major infrastructure investment plan aimed at creating jobs and boosting the country's economic growth. This was welcome news for many people in the country, who had been affected by the economic impact of the pandemic. However, the month was not without its challenges. The ongoing political debates around Brexit and its impact on the country continued, causing concern for many people in the UK. In an unexpected turn of events Apple ended production of the iPod after 21 years. A portrait of Marilyn Monroe painted by Andy Warhol sold for $195 million, making it the most expensive piece of American art ever. Additionally, discussions on the country's potential relationship with the European Union remained ongoing, with some uncertainty surrounding the future of the country. One of the biggest positive news stories of the month was the successful launch of a new satellite that aimed to provide internet access to people in remote and underserved areas.

June

At a global level, the COVID-19 pandemic remained a major concern, but progress was made in the fight against the virus. A number of countries reported significant reductions in the number of cases, while the World Health Organization declared that the pandemic was entering a new phase. Another significant event in June 2022 was the G7 summit, which was held in Germany. Despite these important events, June was also a month of positive news stories from a range of sectors. For example, the Queens Platinum jubilee celebrations were in full force, with Britons enjoying a long weekend from the 2nd to the 5th of June, and notably the Queen played herself in a heart-warming sketch with Paddington Bear. In politics Boris Johnson narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in the Commons over the findings of the Sue Grey report. The United States, along with the rest of the world, were shocked at the overturning of Roe vs Wade, the historic legislation that guaranteed abortion rights in all US states. This ruling was met with an outpouring of indignation from Women's Rights groups especially considering that many States rapidly introduced prohibitions on abortion.

July

In July the UK was greeted by record temperatures as the mercury hit 40C for the first time ever. The month left Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party under the collar. A scandal emerged with allegations of sexual assaults perpetrated by the deputy chief whip Chris Pincher. The situation worsened when it was revealed that Boris Johnson had ignored previous allegations of misconduct, and on 7th July he was forced to resign. In happier news July was the month that the Lionesses were victorious in the European championships, they won 2-1 in the final against Germany at Wembley. Globally, Shinzō Abe was assassinated, he was widely credited with improving the Japanese economy with combined policies of increased government spending with monetary easing. In the world of Space exploration, the James Webb Telescope revealed its first images of a group of galaxies 4 billion light-years away.

August

In Europe August was greeted with swathes of wildfires that burned well over 5000 square miles of land, the consistently rising temperatures of the past few summers have contributed to mounting concerns over the tangible impacts of climate change. Later in the month the British-Indian author Salman Rushdie was stabbed by a 24-year-old man, whose motives were unknown, but who may have been involved with Islamic fundamentalism. In the USA Donald Trump was searched by the FBI as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents. Back at home the inflation rate rose to a 40-year high of just over 10%, with price rises in various sectors putting the squeeze on British families. It also marked the start of the ongoing Ukrainian fightback against Russian occupation, beginning in the Kherson region in the south of the country. It also saw the death of Mikhail Gorbachev, the former and final head of the Soviet Union, whose policies of Glasnost and Perestroika culminated in the dissolution of the USSR.

September

The defining event of September 2022 was the death of Queen Elizabeth II after 70 years as the monarch of the United Kingdom and head of the Commonwealth. Thousands queued for hours to walk past her body in the days before the state funeral. She was succeeded by King Charles III. There was another change of leadership in Britain, with Liz Truss becoming Prime Minister after a lengthy transition period from Boris Johnson's premiership. Across Europe there was a swing to the right, with Viktor Orbán's Hungarian government being branded a hybrid electoral autocracy by the European Parliament. The Russian mobilization of troops expanded with hundreds of thousands of men being drafted to fight, this led to drastic measures being taken by those trying to avoid conscription. The UK economy tanked after the Governments proposed "mini-budget" was announced, leaving a 30 billion hole in the economy, and eventually forcing the chancellor to depart from his post.

October

Inflation continued to rise, breaking more unwanted records, hitting 11% for the first time ever. Economic turmoil continued with mortgage rates becoming nearly unaffordable, and then house purchases started to fall through. The situation became unviable and faith in the government collapsed, with Liz Truss resigning just weeks into her premiership, leaving her the shortest- serving Prime Minister in history. She was replaced by Rishi Sunak, who became the First Prime Minister from an ethnic minority background. There was tragedy in South Korea when more than 150 people were killed in a crush at a Halloween event in Seoul. Elon Musk purchased Twitter, and his proposed changes caused myriad problems and have left the company's stock in the gutter.

November

The Conservative Party was rocked by another shock with Matt Hancock, having the party whip suspended for taking part in the reality programme I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. His presence on the show caused much outrage, with complaints flooding in. People felt it was inappropriate for him to conduct himself in that manner, after his conduct during the pandemic. In global news the football world cup was held in Qatar to a backdrop of controversy surrounding the nations human rights record and its treatment of LGBTQ individuals. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was shot four times in an attempted assassination, but he survived with the aid of a crowd of his political supporters. In other political news, the US midterm elections were in November, with the Republican Party taking control of Congress and the Democrats maintaining the Senate. On the 16th NASA launched the first stage of its Artemis mission to put people back on the moon.

December

The most outstanding event of December, from my perspective, was the protests against lockdown restrictions spreading across China. Demonstrations are rare, and there were initially fears of a brutal crackdown, but ultimately restrictions were relaxed. Buckingham Palace had yet another difficult month, with Lady Susan Hussey being forced to resign after making racist comments at a reception held by Queen Camila, this was further compounded by the release of a documentary on Netflix by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, exposing details of the inner workings of the Palace. The world Cup in Qatar concluded with a victory for Argentina, and Lionel Messi.

2022 was, as with every year, an eventful one with twists and turns around every corner. For me, it has been a year that has focussed on the future, both personal and global, with a mixed bag of considerations that contributed both to my confusion and optimism at what is to come. When considering 2023, I have been trying to identify both input and output variables. Those being my objectives, and what I need to adapt to achieve them. I hope for another year that is just as eventful, although perhaps with some happier headlines. Thank You for reading this and I wish you a warm, although belated, Happy New Year.