Memorable World Moments of 2012

From the sinking of the Italian cruise liner to Egypt's first free presidential vote in decades, we take a look back at some of the top international events of 2012.

From the sinking of the Italian cruise liner to Egypt's first free presidential vote in decades, we take a look back at some of the top international events of 2012.

Cruise Ship Sinks

The cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized off the coast of Italy on Jan. 13, and at least 30 people died, after Capt. Francesco Schettino allegedly did a sail-by of an island off the coast of Tuscany. He was charged with manslaughter. Travel writer Rudy Maxa and maritime lawyer Richard Alsina talk about the effects on Italy’s cruise industry. Photo: Screen Shot

Eurozone Crisis Plan

A woman wears a plastic bag over her head to symbolize suffocation, during an anti-austerity rally in Athens. The European Union met in Brussels in January and came up with a fiscal disciple deal to address the region’s financial woes. Margaret Warner presented a series of on-location reports about the crisis. Photo: John Kolesidis/Reuters

Embassies Close in Syria

A Syrian activist paints a flag to be used in a protest. American and British embassies closed in Damascus in February, citing security concerns as the civil war continued in Syria. University of Oklahoma's Joshua Landis and Steven Heydemann of the United States Institute of Peace. scrutinize the latest developments in the 11-month-old conflict. Photo: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images

Quran Burning

Protesters in Afghanistan vented their anger in February after U.S. troops were seen putting copies of the Quran in a burn pit for trash over concerns they contained extremist notes. Heidi Vogt of the Associated Press described what happened. The military promised an investigation and President Obama later apologized to Afghan President Karzai. Photo: SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images

Putin Wins in Russia

Vladimir Putin won a third term in Russia’s presidential election in March, prompting celebrations and protests over allegations of fraud. Margaret Warner reported from Russia on the country’s reaction. Photo: Alexey Druzhinin/AFP/Getty Images

Kony 2012 Goes Viral

A video about the brutality of rebel leader Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army went viral on the Internet in March, and a call-out to raise attention to his case prompted some to put up signs on the designated day. But the documentary-maker was later filmed in a naked public rant, detracting from his message. Photo: Reed Millar

Papal Visits

Pope Benedict XVI called for greater freedom for the Roman Catholic Church during a trip to Cuba in March, and had the same message of unity and tolerance when visiting Lebanon in September. Reporter Nick Miroff and author Ann Louise Bardach discuss the pope’s visit to Cuba. The only other visit there by a pope was in 1998 by John Paul II. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Democracy in Myanmar

The opposition party, led by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (pictured here), won seats in parliament in April 1 elections in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, marking another significant step in the country’s reform process. Former foreign service officer Priscilla Clapp, who served in Myanmar, discussed what the opposition’s win could mean for the country. Photo: Soe Than WIN/AFP/Getty Images

Taylor Convicted

Former Liberian leader Charles Taylor was convicted of war crimes by an international court on April 26. Eric Stover of the University of California, Berkeley, explains the ruling and what it might mean for other cases. Photo: Toussaint Kluiters/AFP/Getty Images

British Tabloid Scandal

Rupert Murdoch testified in a UK media ethics inquiry over a phone-tapping scandal by a tabloid under his News Corp. The New York Times’ John Burns discusses the public’s fascination with the story. Photo: ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images

Blind Chinese Lawyer

After alleged abuse by local authorities, blind Chinese human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng left his home country in May and entered the United States to study law. New York University law professor Jerome Cohen, who had been working with Chen since 2003, talked about his future. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

French Presidential Overhaul

In an apparent rebuke of French President Nicholas Sarkozy’s austerity measures, voters in France elected Socialist candidate Francois Hollands to the country’s top seat. The New York Times’ Elaine Sciolino, Georgetown University’s Charles Kupchan and the Globalist’s Stephan Richter explore the expected policy shifts. In this photo, Hollande speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the NATO summit in May. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages

Bomber Special Agent?

A would-be bomber of a U.S.-bound airliner in May turned out to be a Saudi man who infiltrated al-Qaida in Yemen’s ranks. NPR’s Gina Temple Raston and security consultant Philip Mudd discuss the case and other counterterrorism efforts. Pictured here are Yemeni soldiers at a base in the southern town of Loder. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Egypt Votes

Egyptians voted in their first free presidential elections in decades at the end of May. McClatchy Newspaper’s Nancy Youssef said it was an emotional moment even for the most jaded. Photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Kim Jong Un's Wife

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's wife, singer Ri Sol Ju, made the rounds in July, confirming that the secretive country’s leader did indeed marry in 2009. Photo: Reuters/KCNA

Fleeing Syria

Thousands of Syrians fled their country as government forces hammer the rebel stronghold of Aleppo in July and August. Because of diplomatic gridlock in resolving the conflict, Kofi Annan quits as U.N. envoy in early August. Photo: Photo by Murad Sezer/REUTERS

Olympic Games

The Summer Olympics are held in the UK. Jeffrey Brown goes over some of the highlights with USA Today reporter Christine Brennan. Photo: Screen Shot

Benghazi Attack

The U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked on Sept. 11 and four Americans killed including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. The assault, first thought to be the result of a spontaneous protest, was later attributed to a terrorist plan. Photo: Abdullah Doma/AFP/Getty Images

War with Iran?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly (shown here) and other comments made about Iran’s nuclear program elevated the debate in September over a possible Israeli strike on Iran. Photo: Lucas Jackson/REUTERS

Chavez Wins

Despite a strong showing by the opposition candidate and a battle with cancer, Venezuelan President Hugo won another term in his country’s elections in October. Photo: Gregorio Marrero/LatinContent/Getty Images

Peace Prize

In October, the European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts boosting the region in democracy and human rights. Photo: Flickr user TPCOM

President Obama Re-elected

After a lengthy campaign in which the U.S. economy squeezed out many foreign policy issues, President Obama was elected to a second term on Nov. 6. Photo: Jim Bourg/Reuters

Israeli-Palestinian Clash

Fighting between Israel and Hamas escalated to the brink of a possible ground war in mid-November. Al Arabiya’s Hisham Melham and the University of Haifa’s Dan Schueftan talk about what happened and what the U.S. role should be. The two sides later agree to a cease-fire. Hamas militants speak to the media in this photo. Photo: Ahmed Zakot/REUTERS

China’s New Government

The Communist Party in China chose a new slate of leaders in November. Christopher Johnson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies talks about what is known about the new government. Photo: China Daily/Reuters

Egyptian Protests

Protests erupted in Egypt once again in November after President Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood granted himself new authorities that he said would help stabilize the country’s democratic process but critics called a power grab. He later agreed to retract part of his decree, and the nation went on to approve a draft constitution backed by his party in December. Here, supporters rally for Morsi. Photo: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

Mexico’s New President

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto took office on Dec. 1. Shannon O’Neil of the Council on Foreign Relations and Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue talked about the challenges he faces, including drug trafficking and security issues. Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images