From the death of Queen Elizabeth II to Elon Musk buying Twitter, these are the stories that made headlines
2022 has come to an end. For many, it was the first post-lockdown year, which was meant to signal a shift to new opportunities and recovery.
But the conflict in Ukraine and rising inflation has placed the world on the verge of economic downfall.
However, as 2023 nears there is optimism in the air as the world pauses to reflect on the biggest news stories this year.
War in Ukraine
In the early hours of 24 February, Russian troops stormed into Ukrainian territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the offensive as a “special military operation”.
He said countries entering the conflict would be met with an “immediate” response “never faced in your history”.
At the same time, the United Nations was meeting in New York. Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations was grilled by Ukraine’s representative at the time.
In a matter of hours, air raid sirens rung across Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, as families rushed to evacuate the warzone.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky donned camouflage attire and rejected a U.S. evacuation offer. He reportedly said “I need ammunition, not a ride.”
Human rights groups have laid blame on Russia for committing alleged war crimes against citizens of Ukraine.
In September, President Putin claimed to annex four Russia-occupied areas in Ukraine’s Donetska, Luhanska, Zaporizka, and Khersonska regions.
Russian authorities purportedly held ‘referendums’ in these areas, with hastily staged ‘voting.’
On the backfoot, Mr Putin announced a partial military mobilisation’. It put 300,000 army reservists on standby as Ukraine continued to fight Russian forces on the frontlines.
Professor John Bryson from the University of Birmingham said success on the battlefield requires planning, strategy and logistics combined with a professional military.
“Russia does not have a professional military but relies on conscripts and mercenaries.”
“There is something very odd going on with Putin and his war with Ukraine.”
PROFESSOR JOHN BRYSON, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
“Putin has demonstrated that there are major problems with Russia’s military technology and capability, and this includes the all-important role logistics plays in warfare,” he said.
Death of Queen Elizabeth II
In September, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II passed away aged 96.
Days before her death, the Queen swore in his 14th British Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
“The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world. Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.”
LIZ TRUSS, THEN BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
It led to an outpouring of grief from around the world. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the late monarch as one of his “favourite people”.
As the world paid a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth, King Charles III made his ascension to the throne. Her funeral was a show of dazzling pomp and pageantry.
King Charles III became the head of state across the UK and across 14 Commonwealth realms following his mother’s death.
Covid-19 protests in China
As much of the world moved on from the grips of Covid-19, China was staying firm on its pandemic policy.
The “draconian” measures, according to Human Rights Watch, saw apartment blocks shut off as Beijing pushed ahead with its Covid-zero strategy.
After protests at Chinese universities, Beijing loosened some of its quarantine measures.
Inflation worsens
As the world begins its recovery from the pandemic, the war in Ukraine sent global shockwaves.
It led to economic uncertainty, and a stark reality that inflation remains far too high.
Global markets buckled under stress, and interest rates continued to trend upwards.
“There is considerable uncertainty about what rate will be sufficient, although there is no doubt that we have made substantial progress, raising our target range for the federal funds rate by 3.75 percentage points since March,” said Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell.
“It makes sense to moderate the pace of our rate increases as we approach the level of restraint that will be sufficient to bring inflation down,” he explained.
The financial burden and uncertainty is expected to continue into 2023 as the world nears the brink of recession.
Costa is a news producer at ticker NEWS. He has previously worked as a regional journalist at the Southern Highlands Express newspaper. He also has several years' experience in the fire and emergency services sector, where he has worked with researchers, policymakers and local communities. He has also worked at the Seven Network during their Olympic Games coverage and in the ABC Melbourne newsroom.
He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Professional), with expertise in journalism, politics and international relations. His other interests include colonial legacies in the Pacific, counter-terrorism, aviation and travel.
OpenAI launches ChatGPT agent for proactive task completion on users’ behalf, available for Pro, Plus, and Team users
In Short:
– OpenAI has launched the ChatGPT agent for autonomous computer-based tasks and enhanced user capabilities.
– Pro, Plus, and Team users gain access today, with more features rolling out for Enterprise and Education users soon.
OpenAI has launched the ChatGPT agent, an innovative model capable of performing computer-based tasks autonomously.This new feature expands upon existing capabilities, allowing users to conduct research, generate reports, and interact with external data sources and applications.
Usage Examples
The ChatGPT agent can manage tasks like reviewing calendars, preparing meals, or analysing competitors. It navigates websites and prompts users for logins when necessary.
Users can halt tasks for additional instructions and must grant permission before actions are executed. The rollout begins today for Pro, Plus, and Team users, with Pro users receiving access by the end of the day and others over the next few days.
OpenAI will extend this feature to Enterprise and Education users soon. Pro users will receive 400 messages monthly, while Plus and Team users will get 40, with options for additional credits.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to end in May 2026 amid financial concerns and speculation of political interference
In Short:
– The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026 due to financial reasons.
– Colbert’s show will not be replaced, despite strong viewership and Emmy nominations.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will conclude in May 2026.CBS confirmed the cancellation is due to financial reasons, although Democratic Senator Adam Schiff suggested potential political motives behind the decision.
Future Plans
Colbert’s show will not have a replacement. CBS stated the cancellation stems from financial challenges in the late-night landscape, asserting it is unrelated to the show’s content or performance.
Reports indicate CBS’s parent, Paramount, is negotiating an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Recently, Paramount also settled a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump regarding a CBS interview with Kamala Harris.
In response to his show’s cancellation, Colbert expressed offence and critiqued the situation on air.
Despite the cancellation, Nielsen ratings show Colbert has maintained strong viewership with over 2.4 million viewers, and his show has been nominated for another Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show.