Top 10 Breaking News Stories of 2022 (So Far)
#10: The Inflation Surge
Top 10 Breaking News Stories of 2022
2022 saw more U.S. citizens leave home, be it to return to work, reunite with loved ones, or watch “Top Gun: Maverick” on the big screen. Unfortunately, going out came with the revelation that gas prices reached a national high of $5 per gallon on average. The recent inflation surge doesn’t end with the astronomical cost of gasoline. Between May 2021 and May 2022, housing prices rose 5.5%, food prices rose 11.9%, and energy prices rose 34.6% in the U.S. In June 2022, it was reported that world inflation rose 6.7%, two times the average from 2010 to 2020. Reasons for this surge can be attributed to growing consumer demand, higher production costs, and - of course - the pandemic’s effects.
#9: The Rise of Omicron
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Speaking of COVID, certain conditions have improved since 2020, but that doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. The Omicron variant has been the most consistent reminder throughout 2022. First discovered in South Africa on November 24, 2021, Omicron became the main strain in the U.S. by late-March 2022. While easier to spread than the Delta variant, some would argue that Omicron is at least less severe than its predecessors. Being so contagious, though, Omicron has reportedly caused more deaths and hospitalizations than Delta in some places. Being fully vaccinated does help, but every time it appears COVID might be behind us, reality pulls us back in. Summer 2022 has proven especially rough, with experts pointing to Omicron and its subvariants amid rising COVID cases.
#8: Boris Johnson Resigns
Boris Johnson might not be the 21st century’s most controversial politician. Between the Owen Paterson scandal and “Partygate,” though, Johnson’s nearly three years as U.K. prime minister have been like his hairdo: messy to say the least. The sexual misconduct accusations involving Chris Pincher, who Johnson appointed, may’ve been the straw that broke the camel’s back. In July 2022, minutes after Johnson admitted that he knew about Pincher’s misconduct allegations, fellow conservatives Rishi Sunak (rishy SOO-nack) and Sajid Javid (SAH-jid JAH-vid /sajjid javvid) resigned. By July 7, almost 60 members of Johnson’s government resigned. Amid what’s been described as a “mutiny,” Johnson announced his resignation after two days of refusing to step down. Johnson says that he won’t endorse anybody for his replacement, fearing his support would “damage” their chances.
#7: The Death of Shinzo Abe
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From one prime minister to another, Shinzo Abe held the position in Japan from 2006-2007 and again from 2012-2020, serving the office longer than anybody in the country’s history. Although some would describe him as “divisive,” Abe’s followers praised his foreign and economic policies. They were deeply saddened and shocked on July 8, 2022, when the former prime minister was assassinated while speaking at a Liberal Democratic Party event. Shot from behind with an improvised firearm, Abe was transported via helicopter to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead at age 67. Suspected shooter Tetsuya Yamagami (TETSOO-ya ya-MAWGA-me) claims that his mother went bankrupt after making significant dominations to the Unification Church. Yamagami allegedly shot Abe under the impression that he would spread the church’s impact.
#6: Elon Musk Buys Twitter (Then Again, Maybe Not)
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Elon Musk is the driving force behind Tesla, SpaceX, and the Boring Company. In 2022, he almost added Twitter to that lineup. Already having a large stake in the social media company, Musk made a $43 billion bid on April 14. An extra billion was later added to the offer, which the board accepted on April 25. Whereas some believed Musk would champion “free speech,” others argued that it’d become even easier to spread hate, especially given some of Musk’s past controversial tweets. Although the deal seemed inevitable, Musk pulled out on July 8, citing the company’s stance on spambots. Twitter plans to pursue legal action. As for Musk, there’s always Mars.
#5: Robb Elementary School
The events that took place in Uvalde (you-VAL-dee), Texas on May 24, 2022 made headlines for months afterwards. This was largely due to the ages of those involved, the delayed response by the police, and the number of lives lost. In the aftermath, those in favor of stricter gun laws pointed out that few other countries have such high rates of gun violence, while opponents focused instead on mental health issues. According to the not for profit corporation the Gun Violence Archive, the Robb Elementary incident was roughly the 200th mass shooting in the United States since the beginning of 2022. In its wake, President Joe Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. But, while a majority of Americans support the legislation, most believe it will make little difference, with critics arguing that it doesn't go far enough.
#4: Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill
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On March 28, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the “Florida Parental Rights in Education Act,” which went into effect on July 1. Colloquially referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, this controversial law prohibits the discusssion of sexual orientation, gender identity, and other LGBTQ+ topics in public schools for grades kindergarten to 3. In addition to student walkouts, the bill triggered protests from Disney employees, with the company eventually taking a stance against the law. This wasn’t 2022’s only attack on LGBTQ+ rights: earlier in the year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to regard medical treatment for trans youth as abuse.
#3: Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard
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From O. J. Simpson to Michael Jackson, we’ve endured some unpredictable celebrity court cases throughout the decades. Depp v. Heard ranks among the most notable due to its high-profile figures, serious subject matter, and several bizarre turns. After weeks of testimony regarding alleged abuse on each side, the jury found Depp and Heard both liable. However, Depp came out on top, with Heard ordered to pay $10,350,000. $2 million in damages were awarded to Heard, who continues to fight the verdict. Is Depp due for a comeback? Will mistreated men become a larger part of the #MeToo conversation or is the movement in jeopardy? Can we please stop talking about the bed turd? These are just some questions that the case has raised.
#2: Roe v. Wade Overturned
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For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade guaranteed the legal right to terminate a pregnancy within the first two trimesters, or up to fetal viability. In 2017, Neil M. Gorsuch (sitch) recognized Roe v. Wade as the “law of the land.” In 2018, Brett Kavanaugh called Roe v. Wade an “important precedent.” In 2022, the Supreme Court decided 5-4 to overturn this ruling, with immediate consequences. As of writing, abortion is banned in 8 states while 36 states have restrictions depending on the point in pregnancy. The Supreme Court likely won’t stop with Roe v. Wade, as Clarence Thomas aims to “reconsider” other landmark cases that could affect contraception and same-sex marriage. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few other news stories that rocked the world in 2022. Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock So, Um… Should Rock Host the Oscars in 2023? The North American Drought Continues The U.S. West Faces its Worst Dry Spell in 1,200 Years Netflix Subscription Drop At Least They Still Have “Stranger Things”... For Now January 6 Hearings The Country’s Most Infamous Day of 2021 Still Haunts Us in 2022
#1: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
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While the conflict between Russia and Ukraine can be traced back even further, tensions reached their boiling point in 2022. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a “special military operation,” striking Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv (https://youtu.be/cE1f6GUvG5Y?t=8). In Russia, journalists have been threatened for referring to the crisis as a “war” and “invasion.” There’s no mistaking what Putin has done, however. Ukraine continues to fight with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy being praised for his bravery and communication skills. With the invasion ongoing, Europe is suffering its largest refugee crisis since the 1940s. Putin’s actions haven’t only affected Europe, but the rest of the world as well. Circling back to our #10 entry, the invasion has also increased inflation, leading to higher prices for wheat, corn, and oil.
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