GANGNAM STYLE!
PSY, the South Korean 'K-Pop' artist and his hit single, "Gangnam Style" have taken the world by storm. With over 1 billion views on YouTube, "Gangnam Style" is currently the most watched video online, ever, surpassing Canada's own Justin Beiber. PSY also recently made headlines for anti-American comments he made at past concerts, including performing a song with lyrics about killing "Yankees" who have been torturing Iraqi captives and their families "slowly and painfully." Still, the popularity of "Gangnam Style"continues to climb.
READ: Gangnam Style hits new record
OBAMA WINS SECOND TERM
Barack Obama captured a second White Housel term, blunting a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as Americans voted for a leader they knew over over a wealthy businessman they did not. Obama, America's first black president, easily captured the 270 electoral votes needed for victory and further cemented his place in American history Tuesday with a victory, despite having led the country through its most difficult economic times since the Great Depression. The win for the Democrat also reflected Americans' suspicions about Romney, who had a history of shifting positions to keep pace with the increasingly hard-right political stands of his Republican party.
READ: President Barack Obama Wins Re-Election
NEWTOWN, CT
A mere week before the holidays, Adam Lanza, armed with several semi-automatic rifles, walks into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, murdering 27 people. Twenty of them, children under the age of 10. In what is seen as one of the deadliest mass murders in US history, the outcry for gun control has resurfaced from the American public. The NRA has kept its silence. The President has announced reforms to US school systems aimed at keeping children safe.
READ: The Newtown Massacre
HURRICANE SANDY
The "Frankenstorm", as predicted by meteorologists, slammed into the United States with enough force to kill dozens of people across numerous states and force the evacuation of millions from their homes. An 'emergency state' was declared for most of the North Eastern seaboard and not even Toronto was spared from Sandy's devastating winds.
READ: Hurricane Sandy
AURORA, CO
On July 20, 24-year-old James Holmes walked into a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado, shooting 71 people during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises. Twelve victims died. Police apprehended the suspect in the movie theatre's parking lot shortly after. It was also discovered that Holmes had booby-trapped his apartment with explosives and various chemicals.
READ: Police Say 71 People Were Shot in Colorado, 12 Fatally
BINDERS FULL OF WOMEN
This year saw one of the most polarizing and controversial US Presidential campaigns in recent history. Not surprisingly, the Presidential debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney featured firey barrages of facts and fiction designed to weaken each opponent in the eyes of undecided voters. When advocating efforts to hire more female employees as the Govenor of Massachusetts, Romney coined the phrase, "binders full of women," which received instant sarastic rebuttle on social media websites.
READ: Obama and Romney Square Off in Heated Debate
EATON CENTRE SHOOTING
Pandemonium erupted at the largest shopping mall in downtown Toronto Saturday after a shooter let off a string of bullets in a food court packed with weekend shoppers. The hail of bullets killed a 25-year-old man, injured seven other people and sparked a frenzied mass exodus of the sprawling multi-level shopping centre around 6:30 p.m. The shooting appears to have been a targeted one that left innocent bystanders caught in the middle, including a 13-year-old boy who was shot in the head. Christopher Husbands, a 23-year-old man already under house arrest for a sexual assault charge, turned himself into Police soon after.
READ: 1 Dead 7 Injured in Eaton Centre Shooting
THE END OF THE WORLD
What's another year without a doomsday theory? December 21, 2012 is years in the making, and is even propped up with a major motion picture ("2012" starring John Cusack). The date is alleged to coincide with the end of the Mayan Calendar, suggesting the world will come to an end (hence no need to continue a calendar after that date). NASA, as well as many reputable scientists, have debunked the apocalypse. However this has not stopped people all over the world from preparing to embrace the end with their families, friends, or artillery.
READ: How to prepare for doomsday, whether or not it occurs next Friday
"I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE!"
The Costa Concordia ran aground off the tiny island of Giglio near the coast of Tuscany, tearing a 50-metre gash in its hull and sending in a rush of water. The evacuation took over six hours resulting in the death of 30 passengers. The Captain, Francesco Schettino, now faces numerous charges, including manslaughter, abandoning incapacitated passengers and failing to communicate with maritime authorities. The shipwreck disaster has been compared to the 1912 sinking of the Titanic in that officers and cruise ship officials were largely dumbstruck with the circumstances that befell them.
READ: Canadians Aboard Evacuated Cruise Ship Safe in Italy
BLOCKBUSTER TRADE DEAL
In November, the Miami Marlins finalized a trade with the Blue Jays that sees the Toronto Team acquiring some A-class talent. The $170M trade (one of the largest in the history of Major League Baseball) could put the Jays in a playoff spot in 2013, which many Toronto fans are eager and excited about. The trade was finalized only after MLB Commissioner Bud Selig decided not to block it.
READ: Blue Jays Mega-Trade Finalized
TICKLE ME ACCUSED
Kevin Clash, the voice behind the most famous puppet in the world, Elmo, was accused by several individuals of having illicit and illegal sexual affairs with them when they were under the legal age. Kevin Clash has since resigned from his role as Elmo to focus his attention on his accusers. Sesame Street's official statement indicates that, "Kevin's personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned. This is a sad day for Sesame Street."
READ: Kevin Clash Resigns Amid New Allegations
HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN
On November 26, in a decision handed down by a judge, Rob Ford was kicked out of office. The decision came out of a conflict of interest case that started when Ford was a city councillor and had solicited donations for his Football Foundation using City of Toronto letterhead, breaching the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Mayor Ford has been allowed to keep his seat in office until his appeal in early 2013. Most suspect he will lose his appeal and that his days are numbered.
READ: Rob Ford - Decision Day
McGUINTY RESIGNS
In the fall Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty surprised political observers by announcing he has prorogued the legislature and will step down as party leader. McGuinty made the surprise announcements to an emergency meeting of the Liberal caucus after his government faced a second contempt motion over two cancelled power plants. McGuinty told the caucus the Liberals have made some mistakes in government, but got the big things right in education, health care and the environment.
READ: Premier McGuinty Resigns
MARINELAND ABUSE
Not everyone loves MarineLand. It was revealed this summer by numerous ex-staffers that MarineLand animals suffer tremendous abuse due to neglect and inhospitable living environments. MarineLand has denied the accusations however this has not stopped more than 80,000 Ontarians from signing a petition demanding an official investigation from the Province.
READ: Investigation Finds Animal Suffering at MarineLand
THE DAY PRO HOCKEY DIED
When the moment of truth arrived, the NHL and NHL Players' Association were nowhere near the bargaining table. The sides remained so far apart in negotiations that no last-ditch attempt was even made before the league entered its fourth work stoppage in 20 years. Instead, the collective bargaining agreement quietly expired at midnight on September 16 and the NHL locked out its players. The lockout continues to this day, with no end in sight. So far 625 games have been cancelled.
READ: NHL lockout begins
KHADR RELEASED
A decade after 15-year-old Omar Khadr was pulled near death from the rubble of a bombed-out compound in Afghanistan, the Canadian citizen set foot on Canadian soil on September 29 after an American military flight from the notorious prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Under a plea agreement, Khadr was eligible to return to Canada a year ago to serve out the remainder of an eight-year sentence for war crimes handed down by a much maligned military commission in October 2010. He is currently serving his sentence in a maximum-security facility in eastern Ontario.
READ: Omar Khadr back in Canada
WHERE'S THE BEEF?
XL Foods was temporarily closed on September 27, 2012, by order of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency due to E. coli being discovered in processed meat originating from the plant. According the CFIA testing practices in place at the plant were not stringent enough to protect consumers from the E. coli contamination. Over a dozen people in multiple provinces were sickened by the tainted beef.
READ: Food Inspection Agency to do 'detailed assessment' of XL Foods
REAL MEN DON'T RAPE
A west-end community mobilized this summer, putting pressure on Toronto Police to make an arrest in a string of sex assaults near Christie Pits. In total, 14 women were sexually assaulted by the same individual, a minor, who was later arrested during a sting operation. Critics have argued that police did little to protect members of the community while feminist groups claimed these sex assaults are part of a much larger systemic problem amongst Canadian youth.
READ: Cries of 'Stop Rape Now!" echo through the Annex
A TRUDEAU RUNS AGAIN
In an effort to reign in control of the Federal Liberals and prove that the spirit of the party is still alive, Justin Trudeau, son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, announced his bid to run for leader of the party. He told supporters that the Liberals need to prove that the party has learned from the past and is now 100% focused on the future. Can Trudeau reconnect the Liberal Party with ordinary Canadian citizens? We will have to wait until April...
READ: Justin Trudeau Heads West on Canadian Tour
A COMMUNITY TORN APART
Two people were trapped in a labyrinth of twisted metal and heavy concrete slabs as crews worked around the clock to stabilize the scene of a roof collapse at a mall in the northern Ontario city of Elliot Lake on June 24. Both victims of the collapse died before rescuers could reach them, causing an outpouring of rage and disgust from the local community, with the general consensus that the government acted too slow and that the property owners are guilty of manslaughter and negligence.
READ: At least two trapped under mall rubble
TIFF 2012
The red carpet was rolled out yet again at the annual film festival, welcoming the biggest names from Hollywood right into our own backyards! TIFF is the most important film festival in the world because the productions screened here open up the "Oscar Season" for nominations. In addition to that many prospective buyers come to the city, studios included, to bid on Oscar-worthy films. The festival continues to generate much business for the local economy.
READ: TIFF 2012
PQ WINS A MINORITY
Pauline Marois led her party to victory in Quebec over Jean Charest and the Liberals on September 4. Most suspected the Liberals would lose amid student anger over planned tuition increases and claims Charest hasn't done enough to tackle corruption in the construction industry. Marois' ultimate goal through her party is to achieve sovereignty for Quebec. Parti Quebecois' victory rally was unfortunately disrupted by a fanatic shooting a staffworker at the venue.
READ: PQ Wins Quebec Election
PQ VICTORY SHOOTING
"What's going on?" an obviously concerned Pauline Marois said to one of her provincial police bodyguards as he plucked her by the elbow from her moment of triumph and whisked her from the stage at her victory rally. What should have been an historic moment in Quebec, the election of its first female premier, was tainted Tuesday night as an angry year of discontent reached its nadir. A gunman, 62-year-old Richard Henry Bain, attempted to force his way into the rally. When he was denied entrance he fired shots, killing Denis Blanchette, a staff member of the venue. Reports are that Bain was shouting about an English-speaking Quebec.
READ: One Killed in Shooting During Marois' Acceptance Speech in Quebec
LUKA ROCCO MAGNOTTA
Luka Magnotta made headlines around the world as the 'Canadian Psycho' when it was discovered that he was responsible for killing, dismembering and mailing the body parts of Jun Lin to federal offices in Ottawa. Magnotta fled Montreal to Paris, where InterPol later tracked him to Germany. Magnotta was arrested while reading about himself in an Internet cafe, a behavioural flaw that police believed would ultimately lead to his capture. This behavioural flaw was determined from his vein attempt to publicize the murder and dismemberment online via video sharing websites.
READ: Magnotta Arrested in Germany
UNION STATION FLOODS
A contractor at the busy transit hub is re-constructing a large sewer as part of a revitalization project. As part of that work an existing sewer was removed and pumps put in place to install maintenance holes. It didn't prove to be effective because during heavy rains water and sewage overflowed, pouring through the station.
READ: What Caused Flooding at Union Station?
ARGOS WIN THE GREY CUP
The stars surely aligned for this one: Finally, a Toronto pro-sports team won a championship game -- and not just any game -- but the 100th Grey Cup, and right on home soil where it all began a century ago. The Argonauts beat the Calgary Stampeders 35-22 at a sold out game.
READ: The 100th Grey Cup
NO BELL-ASTRAL DEAL
In what was to be the largest acquisition of its kind in Canada, Bell's $3 billion bid to buy Astral Media properties was denied by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission on the basis that competition in the marketplace would be severely diminished, and that any such acquisition would be bad for Canadians. Bell and Astral are currently arranging another version of the acquisition deal that may see certain properties sold off before resubmitting to the CRTC.
READ: Bell Asks Feds to Step in on CRTC Decision
PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST
MPPs at Queen's Park have voted 82-15 in favour of imposing a contract on teachers and support staff who don't have a deal with the province yet, which includes a two-year wage freeze and the end of banked sick days. Education Minister Laurel Broten successfully passed her bill 115 in the legislature on September 11 amid threats that teachers' unions will take the province to court. Since the bill has passed several school districts have staged one-day strikes.
READ: Teachers Bill Passes
BULLIED BUS MONITOR
Remember the story of Karen Klein? She is the 68 year old school bus monitor in New York who was featured in a YouTube video, being bullied relentlessly by four elementary school students. Klein was in Toronto on September 11, picking up a cheque worth more than $700,000. The money was raised by a Toronto man who solicited donations from worldwide supporters who were outraged by how vile Klein was treated by the youngsters.
READ: Bullied Woman Picks Up Cheque
DANZIG STREET
Toronto was shaken in mid-July when a reckless exchange of bullets at a crowded outdoor party killed two young people in what the city's Police Chief described as an unprecedented episode of gun violence. Twenty-three people, including a 22-month old infant, were shot after two men who got into a confrontation opened fire into a crowd of more than 200 people at an outdoor barbecue in the city's east end, on Danzig Street. The innocent victims killed were 14-year-old Shyanne Charles and 23-year-old Joshua Yasay. Police blame the violence on two Toronto gangs settling a score. Since the summer, two suspects have been arrested: One, a minor, and the other, 18-year-old Shaquan 'Bam Bam' Mesquito.
READ: Police identify Victims of Scarborough Shooting
DARWIN THE IKEA MONKEY
Darwin made worldwide headlines in early December when he let himself out of his owner's car at wandered into a north Toronto Ikea. Wearing a small shearling coat, Darwin's photo was shared by social media users around the planet and quickly became the subject of numerous parodies and jokes. The real story, however, is no joke. As it remains, Darwin's owner, Yasmin Nakhuda, a lawyer, was charged with possession of an exotic animal. Darwin was taken into the custody of a primate sanctuary where he remains until his owner can appeal the charges.
READ: Darwin the monkey being sent to Ontario primate sanctuary
JUSTICE FOR TORI
On May 11 the most-watched Canadian trial of the past decade came to an end: Michael Rafferty was found guilty by jury of plotting, kidnapping, raping and murdering 8-year-old Tori Stafford. Though the conviction will not bring Tori back, it did provide closure for her family who relentlessly pressed for the truth throughout the trial process.
READ: The Michael Rafferty Trial
COLD CASE SOLVED
Police searched for Mariam Makhniashvili across the country and eventually found her body less than an hour away from where she was last seen. A case that baffled authorities for two and a half years came to a grim resolution on March 9 as Toronto police announced that remains found in the city's north end were those of the missing teen, who was killed in an apparent fall from a highway overpass.
READ: Human Remains Belong to Missing Teen Mariam Makniashvili
STOLEN CHILDHOODS
Disgraced former junior hockey coach Graham James has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually abusing two of his players. The sentence was handed down in a Winnipeg courtroom on March 20. The judge made James stand up in the prisoner's box to hear his fate: He showed no emotion. James is guilty of abusing NHL star Theo Fleury in the late 1980s and 1990s, amongst other victims.
READ: Graham James Sentenced to 2 Years in Jail for Sexual Assault
RACIAL TENSIONS BOIL OVER
On February 26, George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, in an alleged instance of self-defense. The resulting lack of arrest by Florida Police led millions of Americans to march in support of the victim, revealing deep racial tensions that still divide the United States. Zimmerman eventually turned himself into authorities pleading not guilty. Zimmerman's trial date is set for June 2013.
READ: Zimmerman to plead not guilty
CONRAD BLACK RELEASED
Conrad Black was been spotted at his home in Toronto, just hours after being released from a prison in Florida. Reporters spotted the former media baron being greeted by wife Barbara Amiel and walking through the door of his Bridle Path home. Since then, Black has been trying to get his Lordship and Order of Canada reinstated.
READ: Conrad Black Has Arrived Home in Toronto
SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE
Scientists in Europe have found evidence of the Higgs Boson particle. One of the two independent teams at the world's biggest atom smasher says it has found strong evidence of the subatomic particle that looks like the one believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape. Nicknamed 'the God particle' because it is believed to exist in an invisible field created by the Big Bang nearly 14 billion years ago.
READ: Scientists May Have Found "God Particle"
RED PLANET ROVER
At $2.5 billion, the most high-tech Mars rover ever built has landed on the red planet. It's the most ambitious and priciest Mars mission yet and for the next two years the rover will drill into rocks and scoop up soil. Many space enthusiasts were excited this past summer as some of the most stunning colour photos of Mars were beamed back to Earth.
READ: Mars Rover Lands Safely
THE FINAL FRONTIER
Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon as commander of the Apollo 11 mission died at age 82 on August 25. Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the Moon July 20, 1969. He radioed back to Earth one of the most historic quotes ever said in the history of our civilization, "One small small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong's footprints will forever remain on the surface of the Moon.
READ: Astronaut Neil Armstrong dead at 82
ORNGE SCANDAL
Ornge, the organization of emergency medical transportation vehicles was under fire this year for blatant misuse of government funding by upper management. Ousted CEO Chris Mazza says the government was fully informed about what he was doing at the taxpayer-funded organization but never told him he was veering off course. The mastermind behind Ornge was at a loss to explain what went wrong at the organization, which has been mired in controversy for months amid allegations that public money was used for personal gain.
READ: Ousted Ornge CEO Appears at Committee Hearing
CUT THE WAIST
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Councillor Doug Ford teamed up at the beginning of the year to kick off the "Cut The Waist Challenge", where they strived to shed some unwanted weight. With the Mayor weighing in at 330lbs and his brother weighing in at 275lbs, the brothers tried to slim down over the next six months while making weekly progress reports. While Doug continued the weekly weigh-ins, Rob's participation waned, and he was even caught "cheating" by visiting a Toronto KFC.
READ: Ford Brothers Launch Cut the Waist Challenge
A PRANK GONE WRONG
Will & Kate are expecting a child. The world almost blew up at the news and two DJs from an Australian radio station decided to play a prank on hospital staff where Kate Middleton was staying. The staff divulged personal information about the Duchess, which the DJs aired. The two nurses involved became the butt-end of a worldwide joke. As a result, the nurse who transfered the initial phone call killed herself. Jacintha Saldanha, a mother of two, was unable to bare the humiliation and took her own life in the hospital. The radio DJs have been suspended and the ethics of radio show prank calls have been called into question.
READ: Hospital Nurse Who Transfered Prank Call Dies in Suspected Suicide
TOPPLE A WARLORD
Social media went crazy earlier this year over the Kony 2012 campaign launched by filmmaker Jason Russell under the group 'Invisible Children'. The video tells the story of Joseph Kony, a warlord, who has been terrorizing children in Uganda, Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic for 25 years. The objective of the video is to track down Joseph Kony and have him charged with crimes against humanity. Critics of the campaign pointed out that the website asked for donations and that there were serious questions about the amount that actually goes to help these kids in need.
READ: Kony 2012 Campaign Drawing Criticism
MIDDLE EAST TRAGEDY
The Syrian uprising began in March 2011 during the Arab Spring that was sweeping the Middle East, and continues to this day. According to various sources, between 40,000 - 60,000 people have been killed in this conflict, about half which were civilians. Leaders from around the world have denounced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's actions and have asked him to step down.
READ: Prime Minister Harper says Syrian President Needs to Resign
ROYAL SCANDAL
The Duchess of Cambridge was photographed nude while vacationing in France with Prince William. The photos were published in a French gossip magazine and quickly spread online. The magazine was shut down by French authorities and European magazines were legally barred from printing or reproducing the photos. In what is a clear violation of their privacy, the Royal Family has filed a lawsuit against the magazine's publishers.
READ: French Court Will Rule Tuesday on Kate Middleton Topless Photos
BRIAN BURKE VS. JOHN MOORE
John Moore won't be expecting a Christmas Card from Maples Leaf's General Manager Brian Burke this year, and here's why: In early March the two butted heads on Moore in the Morning when John asked about how secure Burke felt in his job considering the team's poor performance last season. Burke called this, "a cheap shot." He also said, "I wish you'd tell me that off the air before you were gonna take a little swing on the way out but I guess that's what people in your line of work do."
READ: No Apologies From Burke
WHITNEY HOUSTON DIES
Earlier this year the entertainment industry lost of the most beloved artists of all time. Whitney Houston died at the age of 48 of an apparent accidental drowning in a Los Angeles hotel bathtub. Houston died just hours before her mentor and music executive Clive Davis was to hold his annual pre-Grammy concert and dinner.
READ: Whitney Houston Dies
BULLARD'S CRASH
NEWSTALK 1010 host Mike Bullard is lucky to be alive after a run in with Hummer on his beloved motorcycle: In late October Bullard collided with a Hummer that pulled out in front of him: He aimed his bike for the truck's tire, hitting it full force, causing it to explode. His motorcycle bounced back and did a 180. It was what he did next that paramedics & Peel Police say saved his life: Bullard kicked himself away from the bike & under the Hummer, grabbing on to the transmission so he wouldn't slide out the other side to potentially be hit by another car. While Mike still suffers from the incident, he has since bought a new bike.
READ: Mike Bullard lucky to be alive after motorcycle/Hummer crash
THE CITY WITH ROB AND DOUG
Just when you thought the Ford's were done with surprises, NEWSTALK 1010 gave them a weekly radio show. Rob and Doug Ford host The City on Sundays, using the show as a platform for their agendas and to inform the public on municipal conduct and policies.
READ: Ford Brothers Debut on Newstalk 1010
ROB FORD VS. DANIEL DALE
Toronto Police were again called to the Mayor's house in what was a bizarre incident involving Toronto Star Reporter Daniel Dale. Dale was near the Mayor's home researching a story about a piece of land Ford intended to buy to build a better fence. Ford decided to confront the reporter in the parkland off of his property. After a screaming match Dale dropped his cell phone and recorder and took off and Police were called. There has been a fued between the Toronto Star and the Fords, and the Mayor said at his home that, "enough is enough."
READ: Ford Clashes With Reporter
$143 PENCIL SHARPENER
Do you remember reports of TDSB maintenance staff charging $143 to install a pencil sharpener? Well the scandal that erupted over the misuse of taxpayer dollars only got worse as the summer began: Millions of dollars in errors have created an uproar over just how money is spent and how maintenance costs are approved. Where is the accountability? The scandal is still under investigation.
READ: Ministry Responds to Report TDSB Overcharged for Minor Work
LRTs ON EGLINTON
TTC Chair Karen Stintz got her way when the mid-town LRT plan was approved. City council voted 30 to 11 in favour of the master agreement with the TTC and Metrolinx, to build light rail on Sheppard East, Eglinton and Finch West and the Scarborough RT which should be complete by 2020. The project is getting $8.4-billion in provincial funding. Mayor Rob Ford couldn't resist fighting for subways one last time, telling council they were making a big mistake if they supported light rail.
READ: LRT Agreement Passed at City Council
EROTICA FOR WOMEN
The craze surrounding "50 Shades of Grey", the story of a woman seduced by a man who enters her into a lustful dom/sub agreement, has certainly taken the world by storm. Though erotica for women is nothing new, with millions of copies sold, 50 Shades has likely prompted unlikely people from picking up the book and giving it a read. NEWSTALK 1010 Reporter and book reviewer Justine Lewkowicz comments on the book below.
READ: My thoughts on Fifty Shades
FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE
'Fearless Felix' has become the first skydiver to break the sound barrier: Baumgartner floated up 39 km into the stratosphere in a capsule pulled by a massive balloon. Sitting on the edge of the capsule, Baumgartner said, "I know the whole world is watching now and I wish the world could see what I see". With that the skydiver slipped off, free-falling for more than 4 minutes. Baumgartner says that travelling that fast is hard to describe because "you don't feel it".
READ: Fearless Felix's sound-barrier breaking skydive
INNOCENCE OF MUSLIMS
An American low-budget, poorly dubbed internet movie called "Innocence of Muslims" sparked worldwide outrage and violence when it was discovered online. The film portrays the prophet Muhammad as a fraud and a womanizer. Dozens of people, including the US ambassador to Libya were killed in violent attacks and protests.
READ: Anti-Islam film sparks protest near US consulate
60 YEARS ON THE THRONE
Hundreds of enthusiastic royal-watchers have descended on London, where four days of festivities were underway to honour the Queen's ascension to the British throne 60 years ago, only the second diamond jubilee in British history.
READ: Diamond Jubilee Festivities Kick Off
SANDUSKY SENTENCED
Jerry Sandusky, maintaining his innocence, was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison in the child sexual abuse scandal that brought shame to Penn State and led to coach Joe Paterno's downfall. The 68-year-old former Penn State assistant coach was found guilty in June of 45 counts of child sexual abuse, convicted of molesting 10 boys over a 15-year period.
READ: Sandusky Sentenced To At Least 30 Years in Prison
RANDOM ATTACK
While leaving a night shift at the Delta Chelsea hotel, Nighisti Semret was randomly attacked in a cabbagetown laneway. She was stabbed multiple times and died on scene. Her attacker fled and is still unidentified and on the run. Eerie security footage shows Nighisti being stalked by her attacker.
READ: Police Identify Woman Killed in Cabbagetown
LONDON 2012
Canada was largely disappointed at the Summer Games this year, winning only one gold medal. Though the London Games themselves offered plenty for the Olympics-enthusiast. Team Canada even showed a lot of promise early in the summer, as documented by NEWSTALK 1010 reporter Justine Lewkowicz.
READ: London 2012