The Biggest News Stories Of 2021

As 2021 comes to an end, we look back at some of the year's biggest stories. From the storming of the US Capitol to the fall of Kabul to Taliban, here are some of the key events that not only have a local impact but will also leave a footprint on developments in the near future. Not to forget that the Covid pandemic reared its nefarious heads in a more dangerous form in some parts of the world.

  • Storming of the US Capitol Supporters of Donald Trump laid a siege on the US Capitol on January 6 following his defeat to Joe Biden in the US Presidential elections 2020. At the time of the attack, a joint session of the Congress was being held inside the Capitol to validate the results of the elections.
    Storming of the US Capitol Supporters of Donald Trump laid a siege on the US Capitol on January 6 following his defeat to Joe Biden in the US Presidential elections 2020. At the time of the attack, a joint session of the Congress was being held inside the Capitol to validate the results of the elections.
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  • Myanmar coup In a dramatic move that took the world and people in Myanmar by surprise, the powerful military seized control of the Southeast Asian country in a coup on the morning of February 1. The junta declared that the 2020 general election, which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide, was invalid. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the chief of the Tatmadaw, announced a year-long state of emergency. He would later name himself as prime minister.
    Myanmar coup In a dramatic move that took the world and people in Myanmar by surprise, the powerful military seized control of the Southeast Asian country in a coup on the morning of February 1. The junta declared that the 2020 general election, which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide, was invalid. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the chief of the Tatmadaw, announced a year-long state of emergency. He would later name himself as prime minister.
  • COVAX vaccine campaign begins A batch of 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Ghana under COVAX, the global vaccination campaign aimed at an equitable allocation of vaccines around the world. COVAX aims to deliver 2 billion doses by the end of 2021.
    COVAX vaccine campaign begins A batch of 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Ghana under COVAX, the global vaccination campaign aimed at an equitable allocation of vaccines around the world. COVAX aims to deliver 2 billion doses by the end of 2021.
  • Cargo ship gets stuck in Suez Canal A 400-metre-long cargo ship named Ever Given ran aground in the narrow Suez Canal on 23 March. The ship remained stuck for six days before it could be freed, leading to a "traffic jam" of over 400 ships at either end of the canal. The blockage had a domino effect on international trade. According to a report, USD 9.6 billion of trade was held up along the waterway each day of the blockage.
    Cargo ship gets stuck in Suez Canal A 400-metre-long cargo ship named Ever Given ran aground in the narrow Suez Canal on 23 March. The ship remained stuck for six days before it could be freed, leading to a "traffic jam" of over 400 ships at either end of the canal. The blockage had a domino effect on international trade. According to a report, USD 9.6 billion of trade was held up along the waterway each day of the blockage.
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  • Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, dies Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed away in Windsor Castle, England, just weeks shy of his 100th birthday. Prince Philip was the oldest male member of the British royal family and the longest-serving royal consort in British history at the time of his death.
    Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, dies Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed away in Windsor Castle, England, just weeks shy of his 100th birthday. Prince Philip was the oldest male member of the British royal family and the longest-serving royal consort in British history at the time of his death.
  • Kabul falls to Taliban A week after US forces began their withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, the Taliban seized control of the country's capital. What followed were scenes of chaos and confusion, as thousands of Afghans crowded the airport desperate to leave the country.
    Kabul falls to Taliban A week after US forces began their withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, the Taliban seized control of the country's capital. What followed were scenes of chaos and confusion, as thousands of Afghans crowded the airport desperate to leave the country.
  • China sends astronauts to Tiangong Space Station for the first time Three Chinese astronauts were lifted off on a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan satellite launch centre in the Gobi desert for the Tiangong Space Station that is being constructed in space by China around 380 km above Earth. The three astronauts entered the space station's core module Tianhe and gave a military salute to observers on the ground.
    China sends astronauts to Tiangong Space Station for the first time Three Chinese astronauts were lifted off on a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan satellite launch centre in the Gobi desert for the Tiangong Space Station that is being constructed in space by China around 380 km above Earth. The three astronauts entered the space station's core module Tianhe and gave a military salute to observers on the ground.
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  • Blue Origin takes Jeff Bezos, three others to space Blue Origin, the spaceflight company founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, scripted history on its first crewed mission by taking the billionaire and three others into suborbital space. Accompanying Bezos was his brother, Mark, making the duo the first brothers to reach space.
    Blue Origin takes Jeff Bezos, three others to space Blue Origin, the spaceflight company founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, scripted history on its first crewed mission by taking the billionaire and three others into suborbital space. Accompanying Bezos was his brother, Mark, making the duo the first brothers to reach space.
  • Tokyo Olympics held after delay of one-year The 2020 Olympics were held after a delay of one year in Tokyo, Japan. The summer Olympics - earlier scheduled from 24 July to 9 August 2020 - were delayed because of the pandemic. It was the first time in history that the Olympic Games were rescheduled.
    Tokyo Olympics held after delay of one-year The 2020 Olympics were held after a delay of one year in Tokyo, Japan. The summer Olympics - earlier scheduled from 24 July to 9 August 2020 - were delayed because of the pandemic. It was the first time in history that the Olympic Games were rescheduled.
  • El Salvador accepts Bitcoin as legal tender El Salvador became the first in the world to accept a cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, as legal tender. President Nayib Bukele had earlier said that the acceptance of Bitcoin would boost investment and allow expat Salvadorans to remit money more effectively.
    El Salvador accepts Bitcoin as legal tender El Salvador became the first in the world to accept a cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, as legal tender. President Nayib Bukele had earlier said that the acceptance of Bitcoin would boost investment and allow expat Salvadorans to remit money more effectively.
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