was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2012th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 12th year of the 3rd millennium, the 12th year of the 21st century, and the 3rd year of the 2010s decade.
2012 was designated as:
International Year of Cooperatives
International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
January 7 – A hot air balloon crashes near Carterton, New Zealand, killing all 11 people on board.
January 10 – A bombing in Khyber Agency, Pakistan, kills at least 30 people and 78 others injured.
January 12 – Violent protests occur in Bucharest, Romania, as two- day -old demonstrations continue against President Traian Băsescu's economic austerity measures. Clashes are reported in numerous Romanian cities between protesters and law enforcement officers.
January 13 – The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia sinks off the coast of Italy due to the captain Francesco Schettino's negligence and irresponsibility. There are 32 confirmed deaths.
January 19 – The Hong Kong -based file- sharing website Megaupload is shut down by the FBI.
January 23 – Iran – European Union relations: the European Union adopts an embargo against Iran in protest of its continued effort to enrich uranium.
February 6 – The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II marks the 60th anniversary of her accession to the thrones of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and the 60th anniversary of her becoming Head of the Commonwealth.
February 19 – Iran suspends oil exports to Britain and France, following sanctions put in place by the European Union and the United States in January.
