Though the Wildcats have been out of school for twelve weeks, news doesn’t stop for summer.  Take a look at 2014’s top ten summer stories.

10. #YesAllWomen

Though it began as a social media campaign promoting gender equality and feminism, this twitter hashtag took the internet by storm as women from around the globe shared their personal experiences with harassment and discrimination. The discussion sparked controversy as some claimed that it was popularizing ‘sexual entitlement’, however, the overall impact the campaign made was positive.

9. Malaysian Airlines

298 people onboard Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 were killed when the plane was shot down by pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine.  This is the second major tragedy involving Malaysian Airlines since Flight 370 vanished on March 8, and both the company and government have been heavily criticized in response to these disasters.

8. Chinese ethnic riots

Racial tensions increased this summer as constant rioting in western China between the Chinese and Muslim Uighurs left more than 150 dead. The police eventually stopped the rioting, and Chinese authorities announced that, following their trials, any found responsible for causing the riots will be executed.

7. Nigerian kidnappings

219 Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants remain missing after they were taken from their school in April.  Initially 276 girls were taken, but 57 managed to escape their captors.  Boko Haram, a radical Islamic group, has killed thousands in the north, which is mostly populated by Muslims.

6. Robin Williams

Award winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died of apparent suicide on August 11 at the age of 63 after struggling with depression and alcohol addiction. After establishing his career as a standup comedian in San Francisco, he is credited with heading the city’s comedy renaissance.   Widely recognized as both a comedian and a spokesperson for humor, he is regarded as an inspiration for both the entertainment industry and the everyday person.

5. FIFA World Cup

The international football competition bringing teams from around the world to Brazil ended with victory for Germany’s team.  The final match between Germany and Argentina ended with a score of 1-0. The single goal scored by Mario Götze was enough to give the Germans their fourth World Cup title.

4. Ferguson, Missouri

After Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, some peaceful protesters demanding the officer’s arrest turned violent. Chaos ensued as a group of rioters threw Molotov cocktails. The police responded by shooting tear gas into the crowd. During the commotion, several shops were broken into and robbed. The escalation of violence prompted President Obama to advocate for peace between the police and the people and the state government to bring in the National Guard.

3. Fighting on the Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip, a Detroit-sized area on the border of Egypt, has become the center of a violent conflict between Israel and Palestine.  Officially owned by the Palestinian Authority, this land has been governed by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group. Hamas rejects the existence of Israel as a country, and tensions between the two groups have constantly been on high. Violence began when three Israeli teenagers (one with American citizenship) were killed on the West Bank. Violence has only escalated since.

2. Ebola virus

Ebola, an incredibly dangerous viral disease with no known cure, has been spreading since March in western Africa. So far more than 2600 people have been infected and more than1400 people have died as a result of the disease. Ebola is incredibly deadly, as up to 90% of those infected with the disease do not survive. However, the experimental drug known as ZMapp helped some infected recover, giving hope to those infected with the disease.

1. ISIS

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, is a terrorist group that is taking the Middle East by storm, has gained international attention. In a five-minute video released by ISIS , captive American journalist James Foley was brutally beheaded, sparking outrage. This outrage, however, was not complete, as many ISIS reporters praised the journalists’ violent death and voiced their support for the terrorist group. Officials hope that the evidence in the video could help identify the masked killer and provide insight about kidnapping cell, which is still holding another American reporter captive.