As 2014 draws to its close, this blog looks back on the year that was. In memory of the innocent millions affected by these events.

The Caffe` Latte`

YEAR IN REVIEW

2014

THE TRAGEDIES

* The Ebola Virus 

* Malaysian airlines Flight 370 vanishes

 * The abduction of Nigerian schoolgirls and women

 * The Korean ferry disaster claims the lives of hundreds, mostly school students

* The rise of ISIS and a new conflict as strikes commence

* Thousands die in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas

 * Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 is shot down, killing all on board

* The blatant injustice dealt to African-Americans by US police

* Acts of terrorism  all over the world (including Sydney, Australia)
* Australia passes excessive anti-privacy laws

TELEVISION & MOVIES

Film highlights of 2014: 

'Jersey Boys', 

'Pride', 

'Gone Girl', 

'The Theory Of Everything', 

'The Imitation Game', 

'Selma' 

'Exodus: Gods and Kings'.

* Oscar Pistorius trial
* Late night TV welcomes Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers while bidding farewell to Craig Ferguson

 * US TV cancels "Dallas" and "Hostages". "True Blood" ends after 6 seasons

* "24" returns

IN MEMORIAM

* Visionary Australian Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam

* Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman ('Capote')

* Actor Mickey Rooney ('Andy Hardy')

* Boxer Ruben Carter (subject of Bob Dylan's "Hurricane" and Denzel Washington film)

* Actor/ comedian Robin Williams ('Dead Poets Society')

* Actress Lauren Bacall ('Key Largo')

* Actor / director Richard Attenborough ('The Great Escape')

* Comedienne / actress Joan Rivers ("The Late Show With Joan Rivers")

* Film director Mike Nichols ('The Graduate')

R.I.P. IN MUSIC

* DJ/ voice actor Casey Kasem (host of  radio show"American Top 40")

* American songwriter Pete Seeger ("We Shall Overcome")

*  Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers ("Wake Up Little Susie")

* DJ/ producer Frankie Knuckles (the 'Godfather of House music')
* Songwriter Gerry Goffin ("You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman")

* Rik Mayall from the TV series "The Young Ones" ("Living Doll")

* Devo's guitarist/ keyboardist Bob Casale ("Whip It")

* R&B musician Bobby Womack ("Across 110th Street")

* Drummer Tommy Ramone  (The Ramones)

* Blues guitarist Johnny Winter

* The Crusaders' Joe Sample ("Street Life")

* Cream bassist Jack Bruce ("White Room")

* Jazz musician Acker Bilk  ("Stranger on the Shore")

* Austrian Eurovision Song Contest winner 1966 Udo Jurgens ("Merci, Cherie")

* Blues vocalist Joe Cocker ("With A Little Help From My Friends")

* Sugarhill Gang's Henry Jackson ("Rappers Delight")

* Sax player Raphael Ravenscroft ("Baker Street")

THE HIGHS

* The Umbrella Protests in Hong Kong against repressive China
* Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Russia

* Malala Yousafzai is a joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prise

* Germany wins the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

* Rosetta spacecraft lands on comet

Let us hope that 2015 will be a safer and better year for all of us. In the words of one of the beloved characters portrayed by Robin Williams in his films, "carpe diem"!