For a year that has seemed to go by so fast, there have been many important events. Some have been positive, and just as many have been negative and tragic. The following are some notable world events by month: 

January 

All five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China stated that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” 

The first successful heart transplant from a pig to a human was completed. 

The total amount of COVID-19 cases worldwide surpassed 300 million. 

Tropical Storm Ana made landfall in Africa and killed 115 people. 

February
Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, a leader of the Islamic State died by suicide when U.S. Special Forces entered his compound in Syria. 

The Winter Olympics were held in Beijing, China. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR) and Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) were independent states and were not a part of Ukraine. 

Putin began an invasion of Ukraine on the pretext that Russian Forces are only there to conduct peacekeeping operations in support of the LPR and DPR.  

Russia began its siege of Mariupol. 

Many sanctions were placed on Russia worldwide, crippling its economy. 

On the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Stock Market crashed and dropped 39 percent. Russia entered a new chapter of its ever long financial crisis. 

The Russian Ruble dropped to an all-time low on Feb. 27, being worth just 0.009 of the U.S. Dollar 

The International Panel on Climate Change released a statement stating that many impacts are on the verge of becoming irreversible. 

March 

Many sporting bodies such as FIFA, FINA, World Athletics, International Olympic Committee and many more sanctioned Russia by banning Russian teams from participating in future events. Due to this, many events such as the Russian Grand Prix and the Russian Football Team’s FIFA playoffs were cancelled. 

Russia seized its first city within Ukraine, the coastal city of Kherson. 

The 2022 Paralympics were held in Beijing, China. 

The United States sanctioned Russia by stating that the U.S. will no longer buy Russian oil. 

China Eastern Airlines flight 5735 crashed in China and killed all 133 souls onboard. Although the investigation is still ongoing, it is believed that it was intentionally crashed in an act of a murder-suicide. 

The International Criminal Court began an investigation into possible war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine after it was reported that Ukraine was experiencing mass civilian casualties. 

Expo 2020 Dubai, which was postponed to late 2021 and early 2022 due to COVID-19 ended. 

The Bucha Massacre took place in Ukraine with mass murders, rapes and looting allegedly committed by Russian Forces. Photographic and video evidence later emerges of this massacre, as well as images of Russia excavating a mass grave in an effort to hide their actions. 

April 

The United Nations had a vote to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council. The vote passed 93-24. 

The Russian Black Sea Fleet Flagship, the Moskva guided missile cruiser was sunk during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. The Moskva was the largest military vessel to be sunk in combat since World War II. 

The Battle of Donbas began during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

May 

The Monkeypox virus outbreak began. 

The World Health Organization later held an emergency meeting discussing the Monkeypox virus outbreak. 

The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 was held in Turin, Italy. The contest was won by the Ukrainian rap group Kalush. 

The siege of Mariupol ended in a Russian victory. 

June 

At least 1,163 people were killed when an earthquake struck the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

NATO held a summit primarily on the subject of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

July 

The European Women’s Football Championship was held in England. 

The 2022 World Games were held in Birmingham, Georgia. 

The World Health Organization declared the Monkeypox virus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. 

Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan, was assassinated. 

A record heatwave wreaked havoc across Europe with temperatures soaring to 109 degrees Fahrenheit.  

August 

Nancy Pelosi prepared to visit Taiwan, a disputed country that China states is not independent. China threatens the United States with retaliatory measures if Pelosi does visit Taiwan. 

Pelosi visited Taiwan, and no immediate military response from mainland China occurred. 

In response to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China held its largest ever military exercise in the waters and airspace around Taiwan. 

Pakistan declared a climate catastrophe as result of floods that leave upwards of 1,700 people dead. 

September 

The United Nations released a report on the Chinese internment camps in which Uyghur Muslims are held without will, citing possible human rights violations. 

Boris Johnson resigned from his position as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 

Liz Truss of the conservative party was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 

Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. 

Queen Elizabeth II’s son, Charles III took the throne as the new Head of the Commonwealth. 

Due to the death of Mahsa Amini, large scale protests took place and have continued to take place across Iran.  

NASA’s DART, a planetary defense test mission, crashed into an asteroid in an effort to hit it off of its course. 

Vladimir Putin declared that the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are a part of the Russian Federation. 

October 

OPEC announced that they will cut production of up to 2 million barrels of oil per day. 

Xi Jingping was elected and begins his third term as the leader of China. 

Liz Truss resigned from her position as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after serving just 44 days in office. 

Following the resignation of Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 

Elon Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter in which he paid 44 billion dollars for. 

At least 158 people were killed during a crowd crush at a Halloween festival in Seoul, South Korea. 

A pedestrian suspension bridge collapsed in India and left at least 141 people dead. 

November 

The world population surpassed 8 billion. 

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces recaptured the city of Kherson. 

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) was held in Glasgow. 

NASA launched the Artemis I mission 

Protests against China’s zero COVID-19 policy escalated after an apartment fire in which the victims could not escape due to strict COVID-19 regulations. 

The 2022 FIFA World Cup began in Qatar. 

December 

A breakthrough of nuclear fusion was achieved when the National Ignition Facility successfully tests and achieves nuclear fusion.