In 2012, several significant global events occurred across politics, culture, and disasters: Political and Global Events:

• Barack Obama was reelected President of the United States, defeating Mitt Romney in the November election

• Vladimir Putin was elected President of Russia again in March

• The President of Mali was ousted in a coup d'état in March, leading to political instability

• The Central African Republic saw a government overthrow by the Séléka rebel coalition in December, sparking a civil war

• Egypt experienced violent protests over President Morsi’s constitutional declaration in December

• The U.S. state of Washington legalized cannabis for personal use, the first modern jurisdiction to do so

• North Korea successfully launched the Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 2 satellite in December

Disasters and Tragedies:

• The Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster occurred in January, killing 32 people after the ship struck rocks off Italy

• The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut in December resulted in 26 deaths, the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history

• A munitions dump explosion in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, killed at least 250 people in March

• Tornadoes struck the U.S. Midwest in March, causing significant damage and loss of life

• Hurricane Sandy hit the U.S. East Coast in late October, causing widespread destruction

• An overcrowded boat capsized off Somalia in December, drowning at least 55 people

Cultural and Social Highlights:

• The 2012 Summer Olympics were held in London, celebrated worldwide

• Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee was marked in the UK

• The Encyclopædia Britannica discontinued its print edition after 246 years in March

• Psy’s “Gangnam Style” became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views in December, a viral cultural phenomenon

• The documentary "Kony 2012" went viral on YouTube, raising awareness about a Ugandan warlord

• The Avengers movie premiered, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year

Scientific and Environmental Notes:

• A massive solar storm narrowly missed Earth in July, which could have caused significant damage

• The UN Climate Change Conference extended the Kyoto Protocol until 2020 in December

Cultural Shifts:

• 2012 is noted as a year marking significant cultural and psychological shifts, including the rise of "wokeness" and political polarization, setting the stage for future social dynamics

These events collectively made 2012 a year of notable political change, cultural milestones, and tragic disasters worldwide