The world has seen a series of unwieldy and unprecedented news events in 2022. It was a year that captured surprising and historically significant moments, sparking skepticism and wonder hope. However, there are days that bring joy and pride. From Russia’s war in Ukraine to the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, here are some notable stories of the year. The year started off calmly, as the world slowly began to emerge from its prolonged pandemic-induced hibernation. However, in keeping with this modern fragility, an all-out war broke out in Ukraine in February when Russia invaded the country, ending and reversing the course of many people’s lives, including including civilians and children. Photographer Evgeniy Maloletka captured one of the most vivid images of the war for the AP, showing a pale-faced pregnant woman, clutching her lower abdomen, being carried on a stretcher shortly after a The bomb was dropped on a maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine The unnamed woman and her baby died a few days later. This image has become a symbol of one of the many crimes committed by Russia during the war in Ukraine. The attack on March 9, just 13 days after the war began, was one of the most devastating days of the conflict that has lasted to this day. In June, the United States again saw a school shooting, this time in Uvalde, Texas. Uvalde Leader-News photographer Pete Luna captured the chaos outside the school as young elementary school students ran for safety while the gunman remained inside. And on September 8, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, sending shockwaves through the world. The 96-year-old monarch has worked with 15 British prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss. She died two days after inviting Truss to form a new government. The Queen’s funeral drew tens of thousands of people to pay tribute to the 70-year-old king, unprecedented in its 70-year history. This is also the year of firsts. The United States has seen the confirmation of the country’s first black female Supreme Court female judge, Ketanji Brown Jackson. At the Winter Olympics, American Erin Jackson became the first black woman to win an individual medal in speed skating. And history was made with the first all-female referee team at a men’s World Cup. Another notable moment this year was the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that guaranteed the federal constitutional right to abortion in the United States states. The court’s decision this year sparked protests by abortion rights activists and street celebrations by anti-abortion groups, further ideologically dividing a the country was already divided. these moments unravel, the Earth continues to warm, melt and split the ice sheets while much of the Northern Hemisphere faces a historic drought that dries up the land, depletes the currents rivers and caused mass crop failures. Above Earth, the James Webb Space Telescope captured stunning images of space in superb, sharp detail. On the other end of the news strip was the weird moment at this year’s Oscars when Will Smith slaps Chris Rock in the middle of the show because he was annoyed by what the comedian had to say about his wife. This moment was witnessed by millions of people around the globe live on television. This summer, many sports fans cheered for Aaron Judge as he broke Yankee teammate Roger Maris’ home run record in a single season, a remarkable feat. Interwoven with these important news events are daily life snapshots that remind the world of the beautiful, tranquil — and sometimes hilarious — moments in and out of everyone’s lives. People. And behind all of this year’s top photos is the hard work of photojournalists. Many of them continue to document wars and conflicts, far from the safety of their homes. It is through their perseverance and dedication that these images are brought to light, opening the door to the world and helping us to understand the world through photography. This is CNN Digital’s “2022: Year in Picture”.
