The year is going to end and there are certain things that kept us hooked, engaged, entertained and even a bit sad in this year. Let’s talk about the international events that happened in this year
Reflecting on the year 2023, it becomes evident that the year was marked by a mix of triumphs and challenges across the globe. The year 2023 was filled with significant developments, from geopolitical conflicts to groundbreaking space exploration achievements. Here are some of the key events that shaped the narrative.
Hollywood experienced a major upheaval in 2023 when writers went on strike in May. Their main concerns were placing limits on the use of generative AI in movies and a wage increase. The strike gained momentum in July when actors joined, voicing worries about potential misuse of AI to replicate their voices and appearances. The resulting work stoppage, the most significant since the 1960s, caused significant delays in various shows and films.
The space race took center stage in 2023, when India made headlines by becoming the first nation to successfully land an unmanned craft on the Moon's south pole in August. Several countries are competing for lunar exploration milestones, and the renewed interest in space exploration promises exciting prospects for the future. This achievement comes just days after a Russian lunar vehicle crashed into the lunar surface.
Billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022 after some ups and downs and changed its name to "X." In July 2023, Musk renamed Twitter as "X" and changed its logo. This came after some changes in the website and Twitter accounts.
One of the most shocking incident happened in this year is disappearence of submersible named Titan on June 18, 2023, carrying five people. It happened in international waters in the North Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Communication was lost 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive to the wreck site.
On February 6, a devastating earthquake hit southeast Turkey, considered one of the worst in a hundred years. The tremor, with a magnitude of 7.8, flattened entire cities and tragically claimed over 56,000 lives. The reach of the disaster was felt beyond borders, as nearly 6,000 people lost their lives in Syria. Heartbreaking images, such as a father mourning his 15-year-old daughter and a newborn being rescued from the rubble, vividly depicted the human suffering caused by this calamity.
As a result of his "Like Crazy" single in April, Jimin, a member of BTS, became the first Korean solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100. A year later, BTS member Jungkook secured the No. 1 spot with "Seven."
In a leap forward for space tourism, Virgin Galactic successfully conducted its first space tourism flight in August. Three ticket holders, including a mother-daughter duo and an Olympian, were launched into space aboard the VSS Unity from New Mexico. The commercialization of space travel has been achieved, with hundreds of people eagerly awaiting the opportunity to fly again in the future.
Record-Breaking Global Temperatures
In November 2022 to October 2023, Earth experienced its hottest 12-month period on record. According to Climate Central, temperatures rose by 1.3 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, approaching the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold set by the Paris Agreement of 2015. Scientists and environmentalists are concerned about this alarming trend, underscoring the importance of global climate change action.
Overall, 2023 was a year of highs and lows, some good things happened along with some not-so-good things. Let’s look forward to 2024 with renewed hope, joy and faith.
