With a whole new year ahead of us, we are anxious to see what the next few months have in store for us. But until then, we would like to take a look back at what 2013 has brought. Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 6 most talked about events in 2013. Admittedly, ranking events according to the interest they generated is hardly an objective endeavor, but we have a feeling you won’t disagree with our picks.
Public Domain Image: Public Domain
Curious to see which were 2013’s milestones and important moments? Let’s take a look at the countdown.
No. 6: Margaret Thatcher, Paul Walker, and Nelson Mandela
2013 was a year when numerous influential faces left us and the world gathered to mourn their loss. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher passed away in April after a stroke; Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and worldwide famous anti-apartheid revolutionary passed away at age 95, while Fast and Furious star Paul Walker died in a tragic car crash. We’d also like to take a minute and pay a tribute to best-selling author Tom Clancy, racecar driver Sean Edwards, boxing champion Ken Norton, soccer player Christian Benitez, singer Bernie Nolan, actor James Gandolfini, former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and broadcasting legend David Coleman, who all passed away in 2013.
No. 5: The Boston Marathon
On April 15, 2013, the Boston Marathon began after a moment of silence held in the memory of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. Little did anyone know that a new tragedy will strike that very day. 4 hours into the race, 2 consecutive bombs went off near the finish line, killing 3 and injuring 264 spectators. The event shocked people around the world and immediately caught the attention of international media.
No. 4: Miley Cyrus
Following her performance at the MTV Movie Awards in August 2013, Miley Cyrus generated more headlines than ever before in her career. Admittedly, not for the very best of reasons, but publicity is still publicity. The former child-actor, who wore a bear leotard and performed semi-erotic moves on the scene outraged many, amused a few, and left us all wondering what happened to the young and innocent Hannah Montana.
No. 3: Typhoon Haiyan
In November 2013, the world took a moment of silence to mourn those who have passed away during Typhoon Haiyan. The deadly cyclone devastated large portions of Southeast Asia, killing over 6,000 people in the Philippines alone. According to the United Nations, more than 11 million people across Asia were affected by the storm, many of them being left homeless.
No. 2: Pope Francis
The current head of Catholics worldwide caught the attention of the media and the public since his election date, in March 2013. The thing that most intrigued and enchanted his audience was the Pope’s humble demeanor and his choice not to wear lavish apparel, as his predecessors had before him. Pope Francis gained immediate respect and admiration and was even named Person of the Year by both The Advocate and Time magazines.
No. 1: The Royal Baby
Few events in 2013 received as many headlines as the birth of the Royal Baby, Prince George of Cambridge, son of Kate and William. The happy event caught the interest of international media since December 2012, when it was first announced that the Duchess was carrying. For months on end, TV stations, newspapers, and magazines battled it out to come up with the latest news and photos on the matter. Countless retailers around the world joined in the frenzy and released their royal baby clothing and apparel lines.
