January 13: United States
The United States says it will reestablish its diplomatic relations with Myanmar after the country released over 650 prisoners, including its most prominent political dissidents. Releasing political prisoners has been one of the main conditions of the western countries to lift sanctions imposed on Myanmar.
January 24: United States
The United States President Barack Obama gives his third State of the Union speech, which sets the administration’s agenda for the upcoming year as well as President Obama’s reelection campaign. He reiterates the importance of an economy that benefits society as a whole, proposing to extend the payroll tax cut, making college more affordable, and making people who earn more than $1 million a year pay a minimum effective tax rate of at least 30 percent in income taxes. He also proposes tax reforms that would keep U.S. companies from moving overseas.
February 15: United States
China’s Vice President Xi Jinping pays an official visit to the United States, meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, the Senate and House of Representatives leaders, as well as business leaders. Xi, who is expected to become China’s next president, says China is ready to cooperate on Iran, North Korea, and counter-terrorism, but is also calling on the U.S. to recognize Taiwan and Tibet as part of China.
February 23: United States
United States President Barack Obama apologizes to the Afghan people for the burning of copies of the Koran by U.S. soldiers which has caused violent anti-American protests across Afghanistan. U.S. soldiers believed that Taliban prisoners were using the books as a secret message system.
February 29: United States
Following the negotiations between North Korea and the United States, North Korea agrees to suspend its work on enriching uranium and tests of nuclear and long-range missiles. In exchange, the country expects to receive 240,000 tons of food aid.
March 11: United States
US Army Sergant Robert Bales goes on an armed rampage in Afghanistan’s Panjwai district of Kandahar, killing 16 Afghan civilians. The killing that comes right after an incident of burning copies of the Koran by the US soldiers causes anger among the Afghan people and heightening tensions between both countries.
March 28: United States
The United States suspends food aid to North Korea. The U.S. says that North Korea has broken an agreement by announcing its plans to launch a new rocket.
April 15: North America
The leaders of North American and Latin American countries conclude a two-day Sixth Summit of the Americas that has been held in Cartagena, Colombia. Cuba has been excluded from the Americas summits. The purpose of these summits is to foster discussion of a variety of issues affecting the western hemisphere. This year’s topics focused on Cuba’s inclusion in future summits (supported by all states except for the United States and Canada), the legalization of drugs to fight the War on Drugs, and Argentina’s claims over the Falkland Islands. There is no final declaration of the summit due to the U.S.’s veto over Cuba’s future participation. The Seventh Summit of the Americas in 2015 is scheduled to take place in Panama.
May 15: United States
The free-trade agreement between the United States and Colombia comes into effect five years after it was signed. The deal will allow a flow of variety of goods between the two countries without import tariffs and is expected to boost investment. Colombia has been one of the U.S.’s staunchest allies in the region.
May 13: Mexico
Violence between drug cartels in Mexico continues as the police find 49 mutilated bodies by a roadside in Monterrey in the north of the country. The massacre is blamed on fighting for drug smuggling routes. It is estimated that since 2006, about 50,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence.
May 19: United States
Blind Chinese civil rights activist Chen Guangcheng and his family arrive in the United States to start their new lives. After escaping from house arrest and hiding in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for a couple of days, Chen caused a brief diplomatic row between China and the United States. The self-taught lawyer, Chen worked on human rights issues in rural China, speaking especially against the one-child policy and forced abortions. In the U.S., he has been offered a special fellowship to study law at New York University.
June 5: United States
Senior al-Qaeda commander, Abu Yahya al-Libi, who is believed to be second-in-command after Osama bin Laden’s death, is killed in Pakistan’s northern region of Waziristan in a U.S. drone strike. The attack causes anger in Pakistan and raises accusations that the U.S. has violated Pakistan’s sovereignty. Al-Libi’s death is a significant blow to the organization’s operations.
June 15: United States
The United States President Barack Obama issues an executive order that ends deportations of illegal immigrants under the age of 30 who have arrived in the U.S. when under the age of 16 and have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least five years. The new decree affects more than 800,000 people, but does not lead to citizenship.
June 17: United States
Suicide bombers from Boko Haram militant group attack three churches in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, killing at least 50 people and injuring many others. The bombings spark revenge riots. Boko Haram is a violent militant Islamist group based in the predominantly Muslim north of the country that seeks to establish the sharia law throughout Nigeria. It is believed that the group has ties to al-Qaeda. Since 2009, the group has carried out a number of fatal attacks, causing sectarian clashes in which more than 600 people have died. (June 21): The United States designates three members of Nigeria’s Islamist group, Boko Haram, as terrorists. (June 23): Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, sacks his defense minister and national security adviser saying his government needs a new approach to fighting militants.
June 25: United States
The United States Supreme Court strikes three provisions of the Arizona Immigration Law judging that they violate the U.S. constitution. It upholds, however, the fourth provision, which requires immigration status checks during law enforcement stops or arrests.
July 1: Mexico
Enrique Pena Nieto from the Institutional Revolutionary party (PRI) defeats Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and wins Mexico’s presidential elections. Obrador refuses to concede victory, accusing his opponent of fraud. Nieto’s win ends 12 years of rule of the rightwing National Action Party (PAN). Nieto vows to tackle drug trafficking by adopting a different strategy. He announces he would create special paramilitary police squads to fight drug cartels alongside the military. He also promises to focus on strengthening the economy.
July 3: United States
Pakistan agrees to reopen the supply corridor for the NATO-led forces stationed in Afghanistan after the United States apology for killing two dozens of Pakistani soldiers in an air strike on the Pakistani-Afghan border last November. The route is crucial as the U.S. plans to pull its troops out of Afghanistan by 2014. Also, both sides hope the move will improve the Pakistani-U.S. strained relations.
July 12: United States
The United States lifts some restrictions for U.S. companies to do business in Myanmar. The move is in support of the recent democratic changes in the country and the release of political prisoners. The U.S. is also sending its ambassador to Myanmar, the first after 22 years. Other countries, including the European Union, have already lifted some economic restrictions on the country.
July 20: United States
A 24-year old former graduate student, James Holmes, opens fire in a movie theater during a midnight showing of the new Batman film in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 people and wounding 58. Holmes is armed with three guns: semi-automatic rifle, an assault rifle, and a handgun. All weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition were bought legally. The tragedy renews the controversial debate around gun control in the United States, and whether civilians should owe assault rifles such as AK-47.
September 2: United States
The United States temporarily suspends training for new Afghan local police recruits after a series of deadly attacks on NATO troops by Afghan police and soldiers suspected to have ties with the Taliban. The local police are used to improve security in the country’s remote areas. The U.S. plans to improve the vetting process for new recruits.
September 7: Canada
Canada breaks off diplomatic relations with Iran after Iran’s continued support for troubled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and over its insistence to continue its nuclear program and failure to comply with the United Nations inspectors. Canada also designates Iran as a country that sponsors terrorism.
September 12: United States
The United States Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three other embassy employees are killed after armed protesters storm the consulate in Benghazi. The violent protests were sparked by a U.S.-produced anti-Islamic low budget film that appeared on the internet. It is suspected that the raid is carried out by a militia known as the Ansar al-Sharia.
October 7: Mexico
Heriberto Lazcano, the leader of the Zetas drug cartel in Mexico, is killed in a shootout with the country’s marines. The Zetas is one of the powerful drug organizations controlling drug-trafficking in north-eastern part of the country and is infamous for mass killings.
November 6: United States
Despite lingering high unemployment and slow economic growth, U.S. President Barack Obama defeats his Republican contender Mitt Romney and wins a second term in office. Democrats strenghten their majority in the Senate and the Republicans keep control over the House of Representatives.
November 18: United States
U.S. President Barack Obama pays an official visit to South East Asian countries. In Thailand, he meets with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and King Bhumibol. In Myanmar, he meets with President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He also gives a speech at Rangoon University. This first visit to Myanmar by a U.S. president is meant to show support for the country’s reforms.
December 12: United States
The United States officially recognizes Syria’s opposition coalition, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, as the representative of all people of Syria. The coalition is formed mostly by Sunni Muslims who are a majority in Syria. Great Britain, Turkey, France, and the Gulf states have already recognized the coalition.
December 14: United States
A man armed with assault weapons kills 20 children and six adults in a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It is said to be one of the worst-ever school shootings. The shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007 killed 32 people. The incident renews the fiery debate on gun control in the U.S. The U.S. had 13 mass shootings in just 2012.