10 big world events of 2012

The year 2012 was an eventful one. There was civil war throughout the year in Syria, while in Egypt, Islamist president Mohammed Morsi faced protests. In China, President Hu retired to give way to a younger leadership, France rejected Sarkozy, and Vladimir Putin returned as Russian president for the third time. Across the world, everybody heard and jived to Gangnam style.Here is the list of top 10 events of 20121. Syria neck deep in civil war The entire year was wasted in Syria in a bloody ongoing civil war with no end in sight. With estimated death toll rising above 40,000, President Bashar al-Assad's bloody struggle to cling to power symbolised the sharp end of the Arab Spring. Worries intensified that the conflict might spread to Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey – which asked Nato to deploy Patriot missile defences along its border. Elsewhere the Arab revolutions proceeded less violently or not at all. By year's end Egypt and Jordan were showing renewed signs of instability. In Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other Gulf monarchies, the lid on the pressure cooker was still screwed down tight.2. Iran and its nuclear programmesIran and its suspect nuclear programme topped 2012's heap of unresolved diplomatic problems – and 2013's things-to-do list. If Binyamin Netanyahu wins Israel's January polls and Tehran continues to up its uranium enrichment totals, the spectre of military confrontation will loom large again, as it did for much of 2012.3. Hu, Wen bow out; Xi took overChinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao bowed out of the top leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China on November 14,2012 after a 10-year stint in power, as the Party's key Congress wrapped up its meeting after electing a new set of younger leaders including Xi Jinping, widely tipped as the new boss.4. Obama won a second term as US PresidentAfter many scares and a disastrous first TV debate, Barack Obama has been re-elected as the President to the second term in the White House beating Republican challenger Mitt Romney in November 2012. Barack Obama prevailed despite lingering dissatisfaction with the economy and a well-funded challenge by Mr Romney. Obama created history again by defying undercurrent over a slow economic recovery to beat Romney.5. Hollande Ousts Sarkozy in French Presidential ElectionFrançois Hollande defeated President Nicolas Sarkozy in May 2012, becoming the first Socialist elected president of France since François Mitterrand. Hollande campaigned on a gentler and more inclusive France, but his victory has been seen as a challenge to the German-dominated vision of economic austerity as a way out of the euro crisis.6. Putin elected president of Russia for third time Russia's patented system of “managed democracy” (where you have an election but the result is decided in advance) worked well again for Vladimir Putin, who swapped the prime minister's job for a return to the presidency.7. PSY's Gangnam style becomes most watchedFor the first time in history a South Korean pop product – Psy's Gangnam Style obtained global applause. It shows the enduring popularity of the self-deprecating video that features Park Jae-sang's giddy up-style dance moves. The video has been available on YouTube since July 15, averaging more than 200 million views per month.8. Former IMF Chief Strauss Khan settles with New York hotel maid In 2011 he had been accused of two rapes. In March 2012, Strauss-Kahn came under investigation in France over his alleged involvement in a prostitution ring. The allegations relate to his supposed involvement in hiring prostitutes for sex parties at hotels in Lille, Paris and Washington. On 2 October 2012, a French prosecutor announced that they will not continue the investigation of Strauss-Kahn's connection to a possible gang rape in Washington, D.C. As the year came to a close, Strauss Khan settled the sexual assault issue after paying compensation to a New York hotel maid.9. Afghanistan: escaping the quagmire As diminishing coalition of Western governments still involved in the 11-year war in Afghanistan are desperate to get out, Washington preaches staying the course through gritted teeth until the end of 2014, at which point Afghan government forces will ostensibly have the numbers, the training, the equipment and the will to take over the fight against the Taliban. While Washington insists 2014 is a hard deadline for withdrawal, there's little optimism that NATO forces will leave behind a stable Afghanistan. No surprise, then, that the Administration is currently in negotiations with Kabul over keeping a residual force in Afghanistan well after the departure date.10. North Korea launches rocket North Korea has launched a long-range rocket that it said put a satellite in space, drawing condemnation from the US and the UN Security Council.After closed consultations on Wednesday the Security Council said in a brief statement that the launch violated UN resolutions adopted after North Korea's nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 and a ban on “any launch using ballistic missile technology”.