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30 major national and international figures in the news in 2009
Demonstrate knowledge of thirty major national and international figures in the news over the past year -
1 Barack Obama (International)
He became the first African-American to hold this Office and the 44th President of the USA and set a record attendance for an event held in Washington D.C. -
3 Nadya Suleman - mother of Octuplets (International)
This mother surprised Californian doctors in only the second known delivery of 8 live babies. She delivered 6 boys and 2 girls. The 8th baby was a surprise as there had only been seven fetuses detected in scans. -
2 Pope Benedict ХV1 Head of the catholic church (International)
Vatican for the first time turns to You tube to reach more people. Its done so it can reach a larger variety of people so they can find a response “to their spiritual yearning”. -
4 Johanna Sigurdardottir Prime minister of Iceland
She will lead an interim government until April elections. She is the first female to hold the prime minister in that country. Sigurdardottir is a member of Iceland’s Social democratic party; the previous PM was more conservative. -
5 Antonie Dixon (National)
was a convicted New Zealand thief and murderer. His most notorious crimes were committed in an 11-hour spree of violence in 2003 in which he completely or partially severed the hands or arms of two women with a Samurai sword, shot a man dead with a sub-machine gun and kidnapped another man. He later beat and attempted to gouge the eye of a fellow prison inmate and pulled a weapon on his own lawyer. He died in prison of apparently self-inflicted injuries. -
6 Josef Fritzl ( International)
After a four-day trial in the town of St Polten, Fritzl is found guilty of the murder by negligence of his grandson Michael, as well as the incest, enslavement, rape, coercion and false imprisonment of his daughter Elizabeth and is sentenced to life imprisonment. -
7 Helen Clark - ex NZ primeminister (International)
The former NZ Prime Minister Miss Clark is to be named the new UN development program. The UNDP administrator job is the third highest ranking member of the UN and will be the highest international post held by any New Zealander since Mike Moore (ex-labour PM) was director general of the world trade Org. -
8 Susan Boyle - singer (International)
Susan Boyle set the world on fire after she took the stage on Britain’s Got talent. The crowd murmured and were readying themselves for a likely abysmal performance from a self-delusional joke of a woman. Instead she lifted hearts and incited tears and received a standing ovation when she walked off stage after singing “I dreamed a dream” from les miserables. Her performance was simply unbelievable. -
10 Phil Goff (Labour party leader) National
He believes the Anti-Smacking law doesn’t need to be amended or revoked. This is somewhat perplexing after he said on TV1 news that it “shouldn’t be a criminal offence”. Now he denies change of heart on the whole issue of the anti smacking law. -
9 Ban Ki Moon (UN Secretary General) - International
He met with NZ Prime Minister John Key in Bangkok to discuss the political travesties in Fiji. This is done after Fijis armed Forces Chief returned to power a day after President Iloilo suspended the constitution and fired the Judges (who Declared Military Government illegal).so all these Radical Movements have now Become International Concern. -
11 Mel Gibson Hollywood actor/director (International)
His wife of 28 years filed the divorce papers, seeking a joint custody of their minor child, Thomas. What else was surprising was that his Lawyer claimed the couple had officially been divorced since august 2006. This followed the notorious roadside incident in which he made Anti semtic remarks. -
12 John Key (New Zealand Prime Minister) National
He’s keen to explore China trade opportunities after the political chaos of Thailand. His first Bilateral visit since taking office. -
13 Murray McCully (New Zealand’s Foreign Minister) - National
He criticizes The UN of propping up Fiji's Military regime by using troubled troops for Peacekeeping operations. He believes the Regime has stripped the citizens of rights and has shut down Freedom of speech. -
14 Kevin Rudd Australian Prime Minister - International
He counters opposition suggestions that his Government is soft on People smuggling: “People smugglers are the vilest form of human life.” So now we know where he stands on the topic. -
15 Bill English (New Zealand’s Finance Minister)
He’s doing his best to address the Economic Problem in a statistical manner. He predicts a tough Budget over the next month with a speech painting a bleak picture of the economy saying that it won’t improve until fully until 2012. This would see promised tax cuts dropped . -
16 David Shearer Potential Labour Party president (National)
As nine members seek to fight for Helen Clarks former seat as Party President, Shearer is the most likely. Basically he has the credentials and is the former advisor of Phil Goff. -
17 Michael Laws - Wanganui Mayor (National)
He Labels the plan to rename both Islands of New Zealand as ‘crazy’ and slams ‘political correctness’ in the process. This comes after the forthcoming referendum on whether our city should be spelt Wanganui or Whanganui. The latter Laws is entirely disparaging. -
18 Silvio Berlusconi Prime Minister of Italy (International)
After the devastating earthquake that shook Italy, Silvio wants the G8 summit in July to be switched to earthquake stricken city of L’Aquila (in a Cabinet meeting). This city is in ruins and needs a securing and work done on its infrastructure. -
19 Christiano Renaldo - Soccer Player - International
Christiano looks set to leave Manchester united after the premier league gave real Madrid permission to speak to the winger after receiving a world record bid of 80 million pounds for the transfer. -
20 Shane Bond (National)
He has finally confirmed his return to international Cricket after 18 months out of action for the black caps due to his ICL contract issues. He is a smart operator at the bowling crease and still believes he can stun the best of batsmen with his pace. Even at age 34 he feels he is the man for the job. Finally something cricket folk in NZ can smile about! -
21 Michael Jackson King of pop Music International
Michael Jackson, lifelong musician, pop singer, and superstar, dies at age 50. He is found unconscious in his home, and then rushed to a Los Angeles hospital where he is pronounced dead. The cause of death is still being investigated. Jackson was scheduled to perform in 50 sold-out concerts in London over the next year. -
22 Lindsay Lohan Hollywood actor and singer Inernational
Walking tabloid Lindsay Lohan has been sued for allegedly stealing the formulas for her line of spray-on tan products. The lady of perpetual commotion, who appears in the news on close to a daily basis, is on hot water again .The lawsuit claims Lohan and her business partner Lorit Simon copied the formula for her own brand of self-tan. -
23 Henry Allignham Oldest World War I veteran International
Henry was the oldest verified living man in the world and the oldest ever surviving veteran of the first world war, when he died today at the age of 113 years of natural causes. Being the last surviving founding member of the RAF,
He was honored for his war services and his longevity. During his long standing career he was dubbed by the queen as “One of the generation who sacrificed so much for us all” -
25 Taylor Swift MTV Awards (International)
Taylor Swift “the country cutie” picked up her first MtV awards for her best female video “you belong to me” hit. She didn’t get a chance to finish her speech, thanks to Kayne West who interrupted. The renowned rapper absolutely embarrassed her claiming that Beyonce deserved the award for her album. This goes down as one of the most humiliating moments at award ceremonies! -
26 David Tua New Zealand Boxer National
In the “fight of the Century” the slimmed down heavy weight David Tua made a devastating comeback to the ring after a two-year absence knocking out Gisbournes ‘ Shane Cameron in the Second Round. There was a lot of anticipation surrounding this fight and what was on display was not expected from most of the new Zealand Public. It was one-way hitting throughout the whole brutal episode. -
24 Patrick Swayze International
Patrick Swayze was the star of movies such as The OUtsiders, Dirty Dancing and Ghost. He died of Pancreatic Cancer at age 52. -
27 Balloon Boy International
Falcon Heene was claimed by his parents to have floated away in a homemade balloon. The event attracted worldwide attention. He was reportedly traveling at high altitude in a homemade helium balloon. After an hours long flight, National Guard helicopters and local police were already in pursuit. The balloon was found but where was the boy? Later it was found that the boy had been hiding at his house the whole time. His parents engineered all this for publicity. -
28 Bryan Tamaki (National)
Tamaki, who not long ago appointed himself bishop of the church he founded, has now gone and proclaimed himself the Church’s “spiritual founder” and designated the male members of the church as his “spiritual sons”. At the special service this evening, 700 male members swore a “covenant oath” of loyalty and obedience to Tamaki and got given a “covenant ring” to wear on their hand. -
29 Billy T James National
A new biography looks at the comedy and controversy of Billy t James’ life. In his lifetime he was dogged by accusations that his depiction of Maori was a racist one. However in the new book “the life and times of Billy T James”, he’s eulogized as the comedian who taught us to laugh at ourselves. If Billy was around he would certainly have found a lot to laugh about in the New Zealand of 2009 -
30 Andrew Greensmith - surgeon National
Andrew Greensmith, a plastic and maxillofacial surgeon, helped separate conjoined twins in Melbourne in one of the worlds most complex operations ever. The complex surgery ended two years of planning for the two girls, Krishna and Trishna. He said the operation all went smoothly but the final moment of separation (at the head) was surreal.
