Review of 2021 (part 2)

In July 2021, a Cuban hip hop dance group was in the news. Datway mixed local dance styles with hip-hop. Cuba got internet access recently and the group became famous online.

As the dance world was on fire in Cuba, temperatures across North America rose.

"It was like 90 degrees at midnight or some – or 80 degrees or something – it was crazy."

Western Europe had extreme floods. Meanwhile, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos were flying into space to start space tourism.

Jeff Bezos: "We’re going to build a road to space, so that our kids and their kids can build the future. And we need to do that. We need to do that to solve the problems here on Earth."

The Olympics took place in Japan in August 2021. But people had to watch it from home.

Takako: "I'm Japanese and because of the Covid, I couldn't go back to Japan. That's why I went to see the Olympic Games on a big screen in the UK."

Greece opened its first underwater museum. And tourists were happy for the new experience.

Hans Jurgen Fercher: "It makes it special and unique that it’s a combination of diving and archaeological diving. It’s diving into history."

In September, pop group Abba spoke about their new album and tour. Fans were excited.

Hakan: "I’m knocked out! ABBA is back! ABBA is back! ABBA are avatars!"

In the US, people remembered the 9/11 attacks and the 2977 people who died. It's been 20 years since the attacks. George W Bush was the president then.

George W Bush: "In the weeks and months following the 9/11 attacks, I was proud to lead an amazing, resilient, united people."

Freedom was the main topic in the news from September to October. Haitian refugees tried to pass through Mexico. Britney Spears got her freedom. And Little Amal walked 2000 kilometres from Syria to the UK to remember child refugees.

Jude Law: "It just seemed the most brilliant way to celebrate, try and raise awareness and share with the people who have taken a similar path to little Amal."

In November, the environment was the focus. There were many meetings around the world like COP26 in Scotland. Greta Thunberg joined many protesters there. They wanted governments to act faster.

Jenny Rise: "A lot of politicians are scared of the power of this movement and that we can achieve something."

2021 has ended and we're making changes. In South Korea, robots are helping teachers in classes. Barbados has become a republic. And in Sweden, people are making gingerbread houses and getting interested in architecture.

Sara Sandell : "So it's a lot of things that go with architecture and the design but also it's fun and everybody loves gingerbread houses!"

What will happen in 2022? View Less