While most websites are looking back at 2013, City Island Images wishes to look ahead at 2014.
January
The Presidency of European Union goes to Greece.
Politicians, business bosses and celebrities attempt to save the planet at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The Chinese Year of the Horse begins. Those born in horse years are said to be sociable and energetic but also impatient.
The UN starts an international year of crystallography, of family farming and of small-island developing states.
February
Sochi on Russia’s Black Sea coast stages a wildly expensive winter Olympics.
Watch out for snow, too, at the open-air Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey.
Janet Yellen may become the first female chairman of America’s Fed.
Fans of the Fab Four celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first Number 1 hit in America with “I Want to Hold Your Hand”.
March
The carnival in Rio de Janeiro, “the greatest show on Earth”, reaches its climax.
Hollywood rolls out the red carpet for the 86th Academy Awards, seemingly the longest show on Earth.
Comet Holmes, the largest comet in the solar system in October 2007, reaches its perihelion, the point in its orbit at which it is closest to the sun.
April
Afghanistan holds a presidential election, and South Africans go to the polls.
A total lunar eclipse is visible in Australia, the Pacific and the Americas.
Nearly 40K runners in this year's Boston marathon commemorate those killed by the bombing at the race in 2013.
May
Elections to the European Parliament are held across the EU’s 28 countries. Eight ex-communist countries as well as Cyprus and Malta mark the tenth anniversary of their membership of the EU.
Colombia and Malawi elect their presidents. India elects its parliament around now.
Nerds around the world do cool stuff on Geek Pride day, their special celebration.
June
Russia hosts the G8 summit in Sochi.
All football fans’ eyes turn to Brazil as it stages the FIFA World Cup.
Scots commemorate the 700th anniversary of their victory over the English at the Battle of Bannockburn.
Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo 100 years ago, leading to war.
July
Italy takes over the EU presidency.
The Tour de France begins in, of all places, Yorkshire in England.
Glasgow holds the XX Commonwealth games.
Indonesians vote in a presidential election.
August
50th anniversary of Disney’s “Mary Poppins”.
3,500 15-18 year old athletes compete @ summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.
On the 100th anniversary of Britain declaring war on Germany, a war memorial opens on the White Cliffs of Dover commemorating 1.7m Commonwealth casualties in the two world wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45.
The Panama Canal celebrates its centenary.
September
Scotland votes in a referendum on whether to remain part of the United Kingdom.
Americans sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”, words written 200 years ago by Francis Scott Key after a victory over the British at Fort McHenry.
World leaders head back to New York for the UN General Assembly.
“Diversity Shines” is the slogan for the Asian games, held in Incheon S. Korea.
The finest golfers from Europe and America tee off at Gleneagles in Scotland in the Ryder Cup.
October
The IMF and the World Bank hold their annual meetings in Washington, DC.
Attention turns to politics in Brazil as it holds a presidential election.
Poetry lovers mark the centenary of the birth of Dylan Thomas.
The World Bridge Series takes place in Sanya, China—the first time the championship is held outside America, or Europe.
November
America holds mid-term elections.
Celebrations mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which brought down communism.
Brisbane, Australia, hosts the G20 summit.
Mexico may host Formula One Grand Prix for the first time in 22 years, if approved.
December
American troops head home as the International Security Assistance Force’s mission ends in Afghanistan.
Admirers of the explorer Ernest Shackleton look back 100 years to the departure from South Georgia of his ship Endurance on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
Environment ministers gather in Peru for the UN’s annual summit on climate change.
“The Hobbit: There and Back Again”, the third in the Tolkien film trilogy released.