The world has witnessed a series of unwieldy and unprecedented current events in 2022. It has been a year that has captured historically significant and surprising moments, triggering disbelief and despair. However, some days offered 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 of the notable stories of the year. The year began, quietly, as the world slowly began to emerge from a long, drawn-out pandemic hibernation. However, in keeping with the fragility of modern times, full-scale war broke out in Ukraine in February when Russia invaded the country, ending and disrupting the lives of many people, including civilians and children. Photographer Evgeniy Maloletka captured one of the most vivid images of the war for The Associated Press, showing a photo of an ashen-faced pregnant woman, holding her lower abdomen, being carried on a stretcher moments after launch of a bomb in a maternity ward in Mariupol, Ukraine. The unnamed woman and her baby died a few days later. This image has become the symbol of one of the many Russian atrocities in the war in Ukraine. The March 9 attack, just 13 days into the war, was one of the most brutal days in the conflict that continues to this day. In June, the United States again witnessed a school shooting, this time in Uvalde, Texas. Photographer Pete Luna of the Uvalde Leader-News captured the chaotic scene outside the school as young elementary students ran to safety while the shooter was still inside. And on September 8, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, sending shockwaves around the world. . The 96-year-old monarch had 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 crowds in the tens of thousands as they paid their last respects to a monarch who reigned for an unprecedented 70 years. It was also a year of firsts. The United States has seen the confirmation of the country’s first black female Supreme Court justice, 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 cancellation of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision 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 separating an already divided country. In November, Americans went to the polls, producing election results that defied polling expectations. As all of these moments unfolded, the Earth continued to warm, melt and separate glacial ice ridges while much of the Northern Hemisphere faced a historic drought that scorched the ground, dried up the rivers and triggered a massive crop failure. High above Earth, the James Webb Space Telescope has captured beautiful images of space in crisp detail. On the other end of the news spectrum, there was the bizarre moment at this year’s Oscars when Will Smith brazenly slapped Chris Rock in the middle of the show, angered by what the comedian said about his wife. The moment was seen live on television by millions around the world. This summer, many sports fans rooted for Aaron Judge as he broke fellow Yankee Roger Maris’ American League home run record in a single season, a remarkable feat. the events were snapshots of everyday life reminding the world of the beautiful, quiet — and sometimes hilarious — moments in and out of people’s lives. And behind all of this year’s best 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 thanks to their perseverance and dedication that these images see the light of day, offering a window on the world and helping us to understand it through photography.
