The Headlines In 2014: Review Of The Year

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The past 12 months have seen some major news events. Sky News looks back at some of the stories that have been most popular with our digital audience over the period.

JANUARY

:: Weather

As January began, the subject on the minds of the vast majority of the UK was the weather, as heavy rain that had begun at the start of winter caused flooding in several parts of the country.

Hundreds of flood warnings were put in place as the ground surrounding rivers and low-lying areas became submerged and coastal regions were threatened by tidal surges caused by storms sweeping over Britain.

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Gallery: How Well Have You Been Following The News In 2014?

Q1: The hotly anticipated iPhone 6 was released in September 2014. What was the unexpected 'glitch' found on the model?

A: The phone bent when worn in tight trousers

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Q2: What did the Hong Kong protests held by pro-democracy activists also become known as?

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Q3: Where did Benedict Cumberbatch announce his forthcoming marriage to Sophie Hunter?

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:: Michael Schumacher

One of the most popular stories of early January was the condition of Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher who was left in a coma after hitting a rock while skiing in Meribel.

The former driver was critical for some time, but gradually made progress and later in the year was able to leave hospital and go home.

:: Mikaeel Kular

A huge search in Edinburgh for missing three-year-old Mikaeel Kular turned into a police investigation when his body was found. His mother was later charged with and then convicted of his killing.

FEBRUARY

:: Floods

In February, the weather continued to dominate the headlines as climate change was blamed for what was becoming one of the wettest winters on record.

Hundreds of homes went underwater around the Thames as the river burst its banks and the Environment Agency and the government blamed each other for a lack of flood protection.

:: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Hollywood was shocked by the death of Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who was found dead at the age of 46 in his Manhattan apartment from a heroin overdose.

:: Neknomination

People in Britain and Ireland were warned about the dangers of a new online drinking game called Neknomination after a number of deaths.

MARCH

:: MH370

March saw the start of a very bad period for Malaysia Airlines when one of its planes, flight MH370, disappeared from radar screens and was thought to have come down in the Indian Ocean.

Furious relatives hit out as an international effort combed the seas for clues about where the jet could have gone, but its eventual resting place remains a mystery and the world is still wondering how a jet with 239 passengers on board could have vanished.

:: Ukraine

Another of the biggest stories of the year stepped up a gear when Russia sent troops into Crimea, leading the way to the peninsula's annexation after a controversial referendum.

The events caused a diplomatic stand-off that led to claims that Russia was ready to invade Ukraine when it pushed troops up to the country's eastern border where fighting later broke out between soldiers and pro-Russian separatists.

:: Pistorius trial

The trial of the century got under way in Pretoria, South Africa, when Paralympics star Oscar Pistorius was tried for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he had shot dead the year before.

APRIL

:: Russian jets

As tensions in Ukraine increased, the RAF was forced to chase away a pair of Russian jets which were spotted off the coast of Scotland.

:: Peaches Geldof

The shock death of Peaches Geldof left her family and friends devastated but also confused as it was initially unexplained. It was only later revealed that heroin was likely to have contributed to her death.

:: Ann Maguire

Much-loved teacher Ann Maguire was stabbed to death in the classroom while giving a lesson at a school in Leeds. One of her pupils, Will Cornick, who was 15 at the time, was later convicted of her murder and jailed for life.

MAY

:: Cat saves boy

Another of the most-viewed videos of the year was the hero cat which ploughed into a vicious dog that was attacking a four-year-old boy outside his home, saving the youngster from serious injury.

:: Beyonce's sister

CCTV footage emerged that appeared to show Beyonce Knowles' sister Solange physically attacking Beyonce's husband Jay-Z in a lift. All three later released a statement saying they had "moved forward" and that the pair had apologised to each other.

:: UKIP election result

UKIP's rise was underlined when Nigel Farage told the main three parties he would "see them in Westminster" following a surge in the party's support that resulted in it making significant gains in local elections.

JUNE

:: Rik Mayall

The entertainment world paid tribute to comic "genius" Rick Mayall, one of the founders of the alternative comedy movement, after he died at his home aged 56.

JULY

:: MH17

Despite claims it was not active in the conflict engulfing eastern Ukraine, Russia had questions to answer when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot out of the sky above the war torn region, killing 298 people.

As evidence mounted that Russia was transferring troops and equipment across the border into the areas around Luhansk and Donetsk, calls mounted for tougher sanctions to be levied on the Moscow regime of President Vladimir Putin.

:: Rolf Harris jailed

A two month trial came to an end when entertainer and TV personality Rolf Harris, 84, was jailed for five years, nine months, for sexually abusing four girls and young women.

:: World Cup

The most awaited sports event of the calendar may have started with riots and endured a biting controversy in the middle, but it ended with a party that only a Brazilian World Cup could have hosted after Germany beat Argentina in the final.

AUGUST

:: Robin Williams

President Barack Obama led the tributes for comedian and film star Robin Williams, who committed suicide at his home in California.

:: Cliff Richard

Live TV coverage of a police raid on the empty home of pop star Sir Cliff Richard - who was in Portugal at the time - sparked controversy, forcing a later apology from the South Yorkshire force as others leapt to his defence.

:: James Foley

The civil war in Syria, which had been ongoing for more than three years, regained its place at the head of the news bulletins when Islamic State militants beheaded the first of five Western hostages it had been holding captive.

US journalist James Foley was murdered by a militant who became known as Jihadi John because of his apparent English accent. The murders of American journalist Steven Sotloff, and British aid worker David Haines came in the months following.

SEPTEMBER

:: Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius was released on bail after being convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, prompting her parents to say that the verdict was "not justice" for their daughter. The athlete was later jailed for five years at the end of the seven month trial.

:: Joan Rivers

One of the American comedy circuit's most outrageous yet successful performers died a week after undergoing a medical procedure aged 81.

:: Scottish Referendum

The future of Great Britain looked as if it was on a knife edge as Scotland went to the polls to decide whether it should stay part of the UK or go independent. In the end, by some margin, it voted to stay.

OCTOBER

:: Ebola

Another story that had been getting a lot of coverage for many months, the massive outbreak of Ebola became the heightened focus of attention as the US discovered its first case and the United Nations said it was at risk of being overwhelmed.

:: Alan Henning

Taxi driver turned aid worker Alan Henning became the fourth hostage to die at the hands of IS militants, prompting a wave of outrage. Later the extremist group murdered US aid worker Peter Kassig.

NOVEMBER

:: Rosetta probe

A spacecraft launched in 2004 caught up with a comet travelling at more than 34,000mph after travelling more than four billion miles. It then successfully sent down another craft to land on the surface of the celestial body and sent back data about what it found.

:: Phil Hughes

Australia's cricket captain was left in tears after the death of his teammate Phillip Hughes, who died after being hit on the head by a ball during a match.

DECEMBER

:: Sydney siege

Seventeen people were taken hostage in a cafe in Sydney by an armed man who ordered an Islamic flag to be displayed at the window. The gunman Man Haron Monis was later killed along with two hostages as police went in to carry out a rescue after shooting was heard.

:: Pakistan school attack

Militants killed 141 people, including at least 132 children, in an attack on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan.

:: Gorge deaths

A police hunt for a mother who went missing from a hospital with her newborn baby ended in tragedy when the woman and her four-day-old were found in the Avon Gorge, below Clifton, Bristol.

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