2022 CE

Protests in Aktobe during a period of unrest in Kazakhstan; The most powerful volcanic eruption of the 21st century occurs when Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano erupts; Protestors on Keshavarz Boulevard against the Iranian government associated with the death of Mahsa Amini; The state funeral of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe following his assassination; The 2022 Winter Olympics are held in Beijing, China; The 2022 FIFA World Cup is held in Qatar and is won by Argentina; Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a new phase of the Russo-Ukrainian war, which has been going on since 2014; The state funeral procession of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom.

In the 2020s, the 21st century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

February 4 – China and Russia issue a joint statement opposing further NATO expansion, expressing "serious concerns" about the AUKUS security pact, and pledging to cooperate with each other on a range of issues.source
February 21 – February 24 – Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a decree declaring the Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic as independent from Ukraine, and, despite international condemnation and sanctions, launched the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine; at dawn on 24 February missiles strike Kyiv. Ukraine severs diplomatic relations with Russia, followed by the Federated States of Micronesia on 25 February.source
22 February – Syria voices support for Russia's recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as independent states.Syria source
March 11 – Gabriel Boric is sworn in as President of Chile. He becomes the youngest head of state in the nation's history and the first to be born during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.source
28 March–The foreign ministers of Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the United States Secretary of State, meet in Sde Boker, Israel, and agree to hold regular meetings about regional security and commit to further expanding economic and diplomatic cooperation.Bahrain source
April 7 – The UN votes by 93–24 to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, with 58 countries abstaining.source
April 11 – The National Assembly of Pakistan elects leader of the opposition Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister of Pakistan, after Imran Khan is removed from office following a motion of no confidence two days prior.source
April 19 – The East Timorese people vote in the second round of the presidential election between José Ramos-Horta and incumbent Francisco Guterres.East Timor source
May 21 – 2022 Australian federal election: The Labor party, led by Anthony Albanese, defeats the Liberal-National Coalition government led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Albanese is sworn in as Prime Minister two days later.source
June 19 – The second round of the 2022 legislative election is held in France, resulting in a hung parliament, with President Macron's coalition losing its majority in the National Assembly. A newly-formed coalition of left-wing parties, led by far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon, makes significant gains. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally also makes historic gains, increasing its number of MPs tenfold and becoming the largest opposition party in Parliament. Two weeks later, Macron's government is reshuffled, continuing as a minority administration.source
24 June - Bulgaria lifts its veto against North Macedonia's bid to join the European Union.North Macedonia source
July 1 – Yair Lapid succeeds Naftali Bennett as Prime Minister of Israel, while Bennett succeeds Lapid as Alternate Prime Minister of Israel; this arrangement had been created after the 2021 Israeli legislative election, in which no party won an outright majority.source
July 7 – After revelations over his appointment of Chris Pincher as Deputy Chief Whip triggered a series of resignations from his government, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces his intention to resign, triggering the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.source
July 21 – The Parliament of Sri Lanka elects Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as President of Sri Lanka, following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid protests over the ongoing economic crisis.source
August 4 – The Prime Minister of Peru, Aníbal Torres, resigns following multiple criminal investigations against the President of Peru, Pedro Castillo.source
August 17 – Turkey and Israel agree to restore full diplomatic relations after a period of tensions.source
September 6 – Liz Truss is appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after winning the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.source
8 September – The parliament of Solomon Islands votes to delay the next general election amid objections by opposition parties, who accuse Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of a "power grab".Solomon Islands source
September 11 – The 2022 Swedish general election is held to elect all 349 seats of the Riksdag. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson resigns after her centre-left bloc narrowly loses to a bloc of right-wing parties, 176 seats to 173; Andersson is succeeded as prime minister by Ulf Kristersson in October.source
September 25 – The 2022 Italian general election is held to elect all 400 seats of the Chamber of Deputies and 200 seats of the Senate of the Republic (reduced from 630 and 215 respectively according to the outcome of the 2020 constitutional referendum). Observers commented that the results shifted the geopolitics of the European Union, following far-right gains in France, Spain, and Sweden. It was also noted that the election outcome would mark Italy's most right-wing government since 1945.source
September 27 – Russian occupation authorities in Ukraine claim that their annexation referendums show an overwhelming support for the annexation by Russia of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People's Republic, and parts of Kherson Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast. However, the voting is widely dismissed as a sham referendum.source
13 October – 2022 Vanuatuan general election: Vanuatuans vote for the members of their parliament in a snap election.Vanuatu source
October 16–October 23 – The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is held. Xi Jinping is elected as General Secretary by the Central Committee, beginning a third term as the paramount leader of China.source
October 25 – Rishi Sunak becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, following the resignation of Liz Truss the previous week resulting in a 50-day tenure, making him the first person of colour to become the prime minister.source
October 30 – 2022 Brazilian general election: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeats incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff election after neither candidate secured a majority in the first round of voting. Lula da Silva is the first president elected three times, and also the oldest one, at 77.source
November 1 – 2022 Israeli legislative election: A bloc of right-wing and far-right political parties led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wins a 64-seat majority (out of 120), allowing him to be sworn in as Prime Minister of Israel for a third time in December.source
November 2–November 3 – Tigray War: The Ethiopian government and the TPLF agree to a formal cessation of hostilities, signing a peace agreement in Pretoria, South Africa.source
November 19 – The 2022 Malaysian general election results in a hung parliament, which is the first in the country's history. Long-time opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is appointed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Abdullah as prime minister five days later to break the political deadlock and form a unity government.source
28 November – The Malawi government purportedly signed a US$6.8 billion grant agreement with the Belgium-registered Bridgin Foundation, promising infrastructure and development projects, sparking immediate controversy over its legitimacy.Malawi source
December 7 – The Congress of Peru removes President Pedro Castillo from office and arrests him after he tries to dissolve Congress in a self-coup attempt. Vice President Dina Boluarte becomes the first female President of Peru.source
December 17 – Leo Varadkar succeeds Micheál Martin as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, as part of a rotation agreement made in 2020.source
23 December – Zambia officially abolishes capital punishment.Zambia source

Conflict & Security

January 6 – The CSTO deploys a "peacekeeping" mission in Kazakhstan, including Russian paratroopers, following a request by Kazakh president Tokayev.source
8 February – Armed terrorists attack W National Park in the North of Benin. Of the eight people killed, five were park rangers, one was their French instructor, another a soldier, and the last an official. Ten people were injured.Benin source
14 February – The flag of Mauritius is raised on the British-controlled Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean for the first time in history. Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth describes the event as a "historic moment", saying that it was time for the United Kingdom to cede control of the archipelago.Mauritius source
February 24 – The Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 fall sharply in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Oil prices exceed $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014.United States source
March 2 – The International Criminal Court begins an investigation into possible war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.source
2 March – Paraguay voted on a United Nations resolution condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.Paraguay source
March 3 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russia is condemned by world leaders following an attack by its troops on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – the largest in Europe – which led to a fire at the site.source
March 4 – Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: An Afghan man on behalf of the Islamic State – Khorasan Province commits a suicide attack at a Shia mosque in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, killing 63 people.source
March 9 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russia is condemned by world leaders following an air strike in Mariupol that destroys a hospital including a maternity and children's ward.source
March 16 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: A Russian airstrike on the Mariupol Theatre in Mariupol kills an estimated 600 civilians sheltering inside.source
March 24 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: NATO announces that four new battlegroups totaling 40,000 troops will be deployed in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, along with enhanced readiness for potential chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.source
March 27 – The M23 offensive begins in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.source
April 3 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: As Russia's forces retreat from areas near Kyiv, it is accused by Ukraine of war crimes, amid mounting evidence of indiscriminate civilian killings, including the Bucha massacre.source
April 8 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russia is condemned by world leaders following a missile attack on Kramatorsk train station, which kills 59 civilians trying to evacuate, including seven children.source
April 14 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: The Russian flagship Moskva becomes the largest warship to be sunk in action since World War II. Ukraine claims to have struck it with Neptune anti-ship missiles, while Russia claims it sank during stormy weather after an onboard fire.source
May 16 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: The Siege of Mariupol ends in a Russian victory as Ukrainian troops are evacuated from Mariupol.source
May 28 – Spanish club Real Madrid beat English club Liverpool 1–0 to win the UEFA Champions League final played at the Stade de France in Paris, France.source
June 19 – The second round of the 2022 Colombian presidential election is held, and former guerrilla fighter for the 19th of April Movement and incumbent senator, Gustavo Petro, defeats businessman and former mayor of Bucaramanga, Rodolfo Hernández Suárez.source
June 24 – The United States' Supreme Court rules in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that America's constitution does not confer a right to abortion. In response, mass protests against the decision form across the US as well as in France, the UK and Canada.source
2 July - Protests erupt in the capital Skopje over the French proposal to unblock EU accession talks with North Macedonia.North Macedonia source
July 22 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russia and Ukraine sign the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement brokered by Turkey and the United Nations to facilitate the shipment of grain exports and reduce soaring global food prices.source
22 July - Israel attacked government military positions near Damascus, killing three Syrian government soldiers and wounding seven others.Syria source
August 5 – August 7 – Israel launches airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, killing Islamic Jihad military leader Tayseer Jabari. Both parties agree to a ceasefire after three days of skirmish.source
August 9 – August 18: Guyana at the 2021 Islamic Solidarity GamesGuyana source
September 2 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: The G7 economies agree to impose a price cap on Russian petroleum exports.source
September 12 – September 2022 Armenia–Azerbaijan clashes: Azerbaijan attacks Armenian positions near the cities of Vardenis, Goris, Sotk and Jermuk, and occupies certain areas of its territory along the Armenia–Azerbaijan border. Over the next few days, more than 100 Armenian soldiers are killed in the clashes, while Azerbaijan acknowledges 71 fatalities among its forces.source
September 16 – Protests erupt in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country's "morality police".source
October 1 – A fatal human crush occurs during an association football match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia, killing 135 people and injuring more than 500.source
October 8 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: An explosion occurs on the Crimean Bridge connecting Crimea and Russia, killing three and causing a partial collapse of the only road bridge between the Crimean Peninsula and the Russian mainland. Two days later, retaliatory missile strikes are conducted by Russia across Ukraine, the most widespread since the start of the invasion, notably including attacks on Kyiv.source
October 29 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: In response to an alleged Ukrainian drone attack against the Black Sea Fleet, Russia suspends its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.source
November 11 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: Ukrainian forces recapture Kherson, the only regional capital to be taken by Russia since the start of the war.source
2021–22 Djibouti Premier LeagueDjibouti source
2022 Vanuatuan general electionVanuatu source

Exploration & Expansion

4 January – A search continues for 14 people missing at sea in the Solomon Islands, after their boat failed to reach the Shortland Islands. Efforts were called off yesterday due to bad weather.Solomon Islands source
16 May – Yemen Airways operates its first commercial flight from Sanaa since 2016 under the U.N.-brokered truce.Yemen source
30 August – The first ship carrying grain from Ukraine arrives in Djibouti.Djibouti source
10 October – Moldova confirms that Russian Navy warships in the Black Sea fired cruise missiles through its airspace to strike targets inside Ukraine. The Russian ambassador is subsequently summoned by Moldovan authorities to explain the violation.Moldova source
24–26 October – The 2022 African Tourism Leadership Forum is held in Gaborone.Botswana source
November 15 – The 2022 G20 Bali summit in Bali, Indonesia takes place.source
28 December – Two border crossings with Serbia are closed after protesters in Serbia block them to support the ethnic Serbs mounting barricades in northern Kosovo, refusing to recognize the country's independence.Kosovo source
Niger at the 2021 Islamic Solidarity GamesNiger source
Sierra Leone at the 2022 Commonwealth GamesSierra Leone source

Religion & Belief

January 1 – France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Slovenian presidency.source
January 5 – A nationwide state of emergency is declared in Kazakhstan in response to the 2022 Kazakh unrest. The cabinet of prime minister Askar Mamin resigns, while president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev removes former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, widely regarded as being the real power in the country, from his position as Chairman of the Security Council of Kazakhstan.source
7 January — "Khanim Fatimeyi-Zahra" mosque in Yeni Günəşli settlement of Suraxanı district was put into use after reconstructionAzerbaijan source
11 January – Patriarch Porfirije, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, tests positive for COVID-19.Serbia source
13 March – The Transitional Military Council of Chad meets with 44 different armed rebel and opposition groups, including the Front for Change and Concord in Chad, Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad, and the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development in Doha, Qatar for peace talks. The President of Chad, Mahamat Déby, hopes that the talks will be the first step towards agreeing on a new constitution and holding free elections.Chad source
March 19 – The apostolic constitution Praedicate evangelium, reforming the Roman Curia, is promulgated by Pope Francis, coming into force on 5 June.source
July 1 – the Czech Republic takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the French presidency.source
19 August – Police in Nicaragua confirm that they have arrested an anti-Ortega Roman Catholic bishop in Managua and warned against further "provocative and destabilizing" activities amongst the clergy.Nicaragua source
8 September – Accession of Charles III as King of Belize following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.Belize source
14 September – A memorial church service takes place at the Saint Barnabas Anglican Cathedral on to celebrate the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II.Solomon Islands source
September 19 – The state funeral of Elizabeth II is held in Westminster Abbey, London. Her coffin is then taken by procession to Windsor Castle for burial with her husband, parents and sister in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. The funeral is speculated to be the most watched television event in world history.source
2 October – A state memorial service for Elizabeth II, Queen of the Bahamas, takes place at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau.Bahamas source
Controversies of Hassan Sheikh MohamudSomalia source

Economy & Finance

January 1 – The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the largest free trade area in the world, comes into effect for Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.source
January 2 – The United States cuts off Ethiopia, Guinea and Mali from the African Growth and Opportunity Act trade preference program citing their human rights abuses and anti-democratic actions.Guinea source
February 26 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: The EU, US, and their allies commit to removing Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system, as well as imposing measures on the Russian Central Bank and further restrictions on Russian elites. These and other sanctions fuel a financial crisis in Russia.source
February 28 – 2022 Russian financial crisis: In an unprecedented move, Switzerland, Monaco, Singapore and South Korea impose unilateral sanctions over Russia including the introduction of export controls and asset freezes.source
March 8 – The US and UK announce a ban on Russian oil, while the EU announces a two-thirds reduction in its demand for Russian gas.source
March 15 – Puerto Rican government-debt crisis: Puerto Rico exits out of bankruptcy after completing the largest public debt restructuring in U.S. history.Puerto Rico source
25 March – The U.S. State Department cancels meetings with the Taliban leadership in Doha, Qatar, dealing with the Afghan economy, in response to the Taliban barring high-school girls from returning to school.Qatar source
April 8 – Global food prices increase to their highest level since the UN's Food Price Index began in 1990, with commodities such as wheat rising by nearly 20% as a result of the Ukraine crisis.source
April 25 – Elon Musk reaches an agreement to acquire the social media network Twitter (which he later rebrands as X) for US$44 billion, which later closes in October.source
May 27 – Fiji announces that it will become the 14th member of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in order to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific. This comes amid a visit by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to Kiribati.source
27 May – Fiji announces that it will become the 14th member of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity in order to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific. This comes amid a visit by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to Kiribati.Fiji source
July 21 – The European Central Bank raises its key interest rate for the first time in more than 11 years, from minus 0.5 per cent to zero, with plans for further increases later in the year.source
Senegal experienced high inflation especially in food and fuel prices which increased the cost of living.Senegal source
25 September – Uzbekistan suspends the use of Russia's card payment system Mir. The move was supposedly warranted by the need "to carry out the necessary technical procedures" and was not related to sanctions.Uzbekistan source
4 October – Bermuda is removed from the European Union's tax haven blacklist,Bermuda source
19 October – Belarus says that it is unable to pay off its debt because of international sanctions imposed due to its role in the Russo-Ukrainian War.Belarus source
November 6–November 18 – The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) on climate change mitigation takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.source
November 11 – The cryptocurrency exchange FTX, once valued at $18 billion, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, in a collapse that affects the cryptocurrency environment.source
December 2 – The G7 and Australia join the EU in imposing a cap of $60 a barrel on Russian crude oil, designed to "prevent Russia from profiting from its war of aggression against Ukraine."source

Technology & Infrastructure

1 February–The Tanzanite Bridge is officially openedTanzania source
April 27 – The European Union accuses Russia of blackmail after gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria are halted by energy giant Gazprom.source
27 April – Dutch impact investor Oikocredit invests $1.4 million in solar mini-grid provider Weziza to implement a long-awaited rural electrification project.Benin source
April 30 – The Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway, located in Cebu, Philippines, is officially opened as the longest bridge in the country.source
6 June – Latvia bans all Russia-based TV media outlets that threaten "the territorial integrity and independence of another country", referring to the Russo-Ukrainian War. The measure will last until Russia de-occupies Crimea and ends its warfare against Ukraine.Latvia source
23 June – U.S. sportswear retailer Nike and networking firm Cisco announce that they are permanently ending their operations in Russia and Belarus.Belarus source
12 July – Protesters in Panama continue blocking streets and railways, mainly in Chiriquí and Veraguas Provinces, rejecting the concession by president Laurentino Cortizo of freezing fuel prices.Panama source
23 September - Bhutan reopens, scrapping COVID-19 related restrictions.Bhutan source
September 26 – The Nord Stream pipeline sabotage occurs by an unknown perpetrator off the coast of Bornholm, Denmark with explosions on two pipelines leaving them inoperable.source
October 9 – The Deir Ammar and Zahrani power stations shut down in Lebanon after running out of diesel fuel, leaving the entire country without electricity. According to a government official, power is not expected to be restored for several days.Lebanon source
October 28 – Elon Musk completes his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter.source
October 30 – The collapse of a suspension bridge in Gujarat, India, leaves at least 135 dead.source
December 5 – The National Ignition Facility achieves fusion ignition, a major milestone in the development of nuclear fusion power.source
Smokovac - Mateševo section of the Princess Xenia motorway completed.Montenegro source

Science & Discovery

24 January – The High Court of Botswana upholds the exclusive license of Fresh Standard to cultivate cannabis, ruling that it was improperly withdrawn.Botswana source
February 9 – The biggest breakthrough in fusion energy since 1997 is reported at the Joint European Torus in Oxford, the UK, with 59 megajoules produced over five seconds (11 megawatts of power), more than double the previous record.source
17 February – Panama-flagged car carrier MV Felicity Ace is abandoned approximately 90 nautical miles southwest of the Azores following a severe fire on board. The ship's entire 22-man crew safely evacuates using lifeboats.Panama source
February 27 – European nations ban Russian flights in their airspace.source
February 28 – The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases the second part of its Sixth Assessment Report on climate change. It concludes that many impacts are on the verge of becoming "irreversible".source
March 1 – World Athletics bans both Russia and Belarus from competing in all of its events.source
April 4 – The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases the third and final part of its Sixth Assessment Report on climate change, warning that greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030, in order to limit global warming to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F).source
April 6 – The first known dinosaur fossil linked to the very day of the Chicxulub impact is reported by palaeontologists.source
April 20 – A European Southern Observatory team announce the discovery of micronovae, a new type of exploding star.source
April 22 – The Large Hadron Collider recommences full operations, three years after being shut down for upgrades.source
April 25 – A rocket is fired from Lebanon into Matzuva, Israel. Israel responds by firing at targets in Lebanon.Lebanon source
May 12 – The Event Horizon Telescope collaboration reveals its first image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way.source
1 June – Taiwan imposes an export ban of all modern computer chips to Russia and Belarus, as well as any technology and equipment used to manufacture them.Belarus source
5 June – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cancels his scheduled visit to Serbia after neighbouring states in the Balkans refuse to let Lavrov's plane use their airspace.Serbia source
July 11 – The first operational image from the James Webb Space Telescope, showing the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, is revealed to the public.source
23 August – Three new Cyber laws come into effect; the Computer Crime and Cyber Crime Act, 2022, the Data Protection Act, 2022, and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2022.Eswatini source
November 16 – NASA launches Artemis 1, the first uncrewed mission of its Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket ever to reach orbit. The onboard Orion capsule orbits the Moon before returning to Earth, as a demonstration of planned human missions.source
November 30 – OpenAI releases ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot able to answer questions and write essays.source
December 19 – At the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), nearly 200 countries agree a landmark deal to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030.source
Sudan at the 2021 Islamic Solidarity GamesSudan source
Tanzania at the 2022 Commonwealth GamesTanzania source

Health & Medicine

1 January–Bahrain authorizes the emergency use of Pfizer's anti-viral oral drug Paxlovid for adults over the age of 18 years.Bahrain source
January 7 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of COVID-19 cases exceeds 300 million worldwide.source
January 10 – The first successful heart transplant from a pig to a human patient occurs in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.source
14 January - Bhutan reports its first 14 cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in people who travelled abroad.Bhutan source
January 16 – World No. 1 tennis champion Novak Djokovic is deported from Australia following a high-profile legal case regarding his COVID-19 vaccination status, preventing his participation in the 2022 Australian Open.source
22 January – Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa announces a three-day lockdown in response to ten positive COVID-19 passengers from a repatriation flight.Samoa source
January 28 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of vaccinations administered worldwide exceeds 10 billion.source
2 February – Tonga enters a nationwide lockdown after the country reported its first locally transmitted COVID-19 cases.Tonga source
March 2 – The United Nations reports that over a million refugees have now fled from Ukraine to other countries.source
March 7 – COVID-19 pandemic: The global death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 6 million.source
24 March – The World Health Organization announces that a polio vaccination campaign will begin in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia.Malawi source
March 31 – Expo 2020 closes in Dubai after a 6-month run; originally scheduled for 10 April 2021, it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.source
April 13 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases exceeds 500 million worldwide.source
May 6 – 2022 monkeypox outbreak: An outbreak of monkeypox begins when the first monkeypox virus case is reported in London, the United Kingdom.source
May 20 – 2022 monkeypox outbreak: The World Health Organization (WHO) holds an emergency meeting to discuss the spread of monkeypox in nearly a dozen countries, as the number of reported cases reaches 100.source
22 May - Oman announces that it will repeal all COVID-19 restrictions, including its mask mandate.Oman source
7 June - The Bahamas report their first suspected cases of monkeypox.Bahamas source
22 July – Bermuda reports its first case of monkeypox.Bermuda source
July 23 – The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the recent monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, as the number of reported cases exceeds 17,000 in 75 countries.source
September 1 – The UN releases a report stating that the Chinese government's Xinjiang internment camps and treatment of Uyghurs may constitute crimes against humanity.source
November 15 – The world population reaches approximately 8 billion.source
December 7 – After substantial protests against China's Zero-COVID policies, the Chinese government eases on its COVID restrictions.source

Crime & Justice

February 15 – Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández is arrested in Tegucigalpa after the U.S. requested his extradition on charges of drug trafficking.Honduras source
29 April – A high court in Malawi convicts five people of killing an albino man and seven more people of selling the man's body parts. The body parts are desired by some local residents, who believe that they can bring luck and wealth.Malawi source
May 18 – Around 200 anti-government militants block a road in Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan, which links the country to China. Some of the militants, armed with firearms and petrol bombs, later ambush a security convoy on the same road. Eight militants and one officer are killed, while 13 officers are injured and more than 70 militants are arrested. The Tajik interior ministry later say the attack was an attempt to "destabilise the social and political situation" in the region.Tajikistan source
May 21 – An elderly Italian couple and their son are kidnapped by jihadists in Southern Mali. A Togolese citizen is also reported to have been kidnapped along with the Italians, but authorities say that they are unable to confirm if this is true.Mali source
May 24 – Uvalde school shooting: 18-year-old Salvador Ramos fatally shoots 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School.source
June 6 – Orlando Jorge Mera, the Environmental Minister for the Dominican Republic and son of former President Salvador Jorge Blanco, is shot dead in his office. The perpetrator was identified by a presidential spokesman as Miguel Cruz, a childhood friend of the minister. He was later taken into custody.Dominican Republic source
August 12 – Indian-born British-American novelist Salman Rushdie is stabbed multiple times as he is about to give a public lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York, United States.source
October 12–October 13 – 2022 Bratislava shooting, killing 3 (including the perpetrator) and injuring one. The shooting occurred outside of a gay bar in Bratislava known as Tepláreň. Two people (excluding the perpetrator) died as a result of the shooting. Juraj Vankulič, a non-binary person, and Matúš Horváth, a bisexual man. The perpetrator (Juraj Krajčík) was found dead due to a self-inflicted gunshot the morning after the attack.source
October 29 – A double car bombing by al-Shabaab in Mogadishu, Somalia kills at least 121 people and injures around 300.source
12 December – Bahamian authorities arrest FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and begin the process of extraditing him to the United States.Bahamas source
15 December – Police in Zambia arrest a truck driver alleged to have transported 27 Ethiopian migrants found dead on the outskirts of Lusaka on Sunday. The bodies were dumped in a farm.Zambia source
21 December - Four soldiers are arrested after an alleged coup attempt the previous day.Gambia source

Disasters & Accidents

January 2 – Abdalla Hamdok resigns as Prime Minister of Sudan amid deadly protests.source
March 5 – Researchers in the Antarctic find Endurance, one of the greatest ever undiscovered shipwrecks, which sank in 1915 during Ernest Shackleton's exploration.source
17 March – Panama's maritime authority states that Russia has attacked three Panamanian-flagged civil vessels in the Black Sea since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, causing one of the ships to sink. No deaths have been reported.Panama source
March 21 – China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 crashes in Guangxi, China, killing all 133 people on board.source
5 April – Latvia closes the Russian consulates in Daugavpils and Liepāja.Latvia source
April 20 – A small plane crashes into a street in Port-au-Prince, killing six people.Haiti source
May 12 – Eleven people die and thirty-one others are rescued after a boat capsizes off the coast of Puerto Rico near Desecheo Island.Puerto Rico source
June 8 – 2022 South Khorasan train derailment: In Iran, a passenger train derailed travelling from Tabas to Yazd crashed into an excavator and derailed, killing 18 and injuring 87.source
June 27 – 53 migrants from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador are found dead in a tractor trailer in San Antonio, Texas, United States.source
July 12 – Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was cremated at Kirigaya Funeral Hall in Tokyo.Japan source
August 9 - Matanzas oil storage facility explosion: Firefighters in Cuba bring a catastrophic fire at an oil terminal in Matanzas under control after it burned out of control for five consecutive days, destroying 40% of the country's main fuel storage facility and causing widespread blackouts.Cuba source
4 September – A Syrian Air Force helicopter crashes in Hama, Syria, killing all of the people on board.Syria source
September 26 – NASA's DART crashes into the asteroid Dimorphos in a first test of potential planetary defense.source
October 5 – OPEC+ imposes a production cut of up to 2 million barrels per day.source
23 October – A fire, spread by strong winds, occurs on the slopes of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro.Tanzania source
December 21–December 26 – A major winter storm hits the northern United States and southern Canada. Killing at least 91 people, the storm also severely disrupts North American air traffic, with Southwest Airlines alone canceling more than half of its schedule.source
29 December – Eighteen children die in Uzbekistan after drinking a cough syrup manufactured by Indian drug maker Marion Biotech.Uzbekistan source

Climate & Environment

14 January – 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption and tsunami: The Hunga Tonga, an undersea volcano, erupts, sending ash and steam 20 kilometers into the air. The government of Tonga issues a tsunami warning and advises people in all islands of Tonga to avoid the coasts.Tonga source
January 15 – A large eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai, a submarine volcano in Tonga, triggers tsunami warnings in Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United States.source
16 January – Satellite imagery of Hunga Tonga shows that most of the volcanic island was destroyed by the eruption.Tonga source
20 January – Mia Mottley and her Barbados Labour Party government are re-elected for a second term in a landslide, winning all 30 seats.Barbados source
January 23 – Tropical Storm Ana kills 115 people in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique, days after a series of floods killed 11 people in Madagascar.source
February 5 – Cyclone Batsirai kills a total of 123 people across Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion two weeks after Tropical Storm Ana killed 115 people in the same region.source
6 February – Cyclone Batsirai, a category 4 cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson scale, kills at least 10 people and displaces more than 48,000 after making landfall in Madagascar.Madagascar source
31 March – Micronesian president David Panuelo urges Solomon Islands to not sign a security pact with China, citing "grave security concerns" and arguing that the Pacific islands would be "the epicenter of major confrontation" between major powers.Solomon Islands source
13 April – A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits the Papua New Guinean island of New Britain.Papua New Guinea source
May 9 – 2022 Philippine presidential election: Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte are elected the 17th President and 15th Vice President of the Philippines in a landslide victory.source
May 9 – Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as a result of massive protests against his government across the country. He is succeeded by Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister three days later.source
June 22 – A 6.2 earthquake strikes the Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing at least 1,163 people.source
July 2 – Tropical Storm Bonnie: One person is reported missing as Tropical Storm Bonnie makes landfall in South America.Trinidad and Tobago source
July 19 – 2022 European heat waves: A series of severe heatwaves from July to August hit Europe, causing at least 53,000 deaths and additionally causing major wildfires, travel disruption, and record high temperatures in many countries.source
July 27 – A 7.0 earthquake strikes the island of Luzon in the Philippines killing 11 people and injuring over 600.source
18 August – An explosion destroyed a barge at Southwest Bay on the island of Malekula.Vanuatu source
August 28 – 2022 Pakistan floods: Pakistan declares a "climate catastrophe" and appeals for international assistance, as the death toll from recent flooding in the country exceeds 1,000, the world's deadliest flood since 2017. Several nations, alongside the UN, pledge millions in funding for aid.source
September 5 – A 6.8 earthquake strikes Luding County in Sichuan province, China, killing 117 and injuring 424.source
September 14–September 25 – The Atlantic hurricane Fiona hits Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Lucayan Archipelago, Bermuda, and Eastern Canada.source
21 September – Hurricane Fiona reached Category 4 as it moved from the Turks and Caicos Islands toward Bermuda.Bermuda source
September 27–September 30 – Hurricane Ian impacts Cuba and the United States, causing catastrophic damage to both nations, killing at least 157 people, 16 missing, and leaving millions without power, including the entire nation of Cuba.source
November 21 – A 5.6 earthquake strikes near Cianjur in West Java, Indonesia, killing 635 people and injuring 7,700 more.source

Culture & Society

January 9 – February 6 – The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is held in Cameroon, with Senegal winning their first championship.source
February 4 – February 20 – The 2022 Winter Olympics are held in Beijing, China, making it the first city ever to host both the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics.source
6 February – Prime Minister James Marape tests positive for COVID-19 and returns home after attending the 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.Papua New Guinea source
February 28 – Football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions.source
March 4 – March 13 – The 2022 Winter Paralympics are held in Beijing, China, making it the first city to host both Summer Paralympics and Winter Paralympics.source
May 10–May 14 – The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 is held in Turin, Italy. The contest is won by Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra with their song "Stefania".source
18 June - 3 July: Lesotho at the 2022 Commonwealth GamesLesotho source
July 6 – July 31 – UEFA Women's Euro 2022, originally intended for 2021 but indirectly delayed due to UEFA Euro 2020 being delayed, is held in England, with the hosts winning their first major tournament since 1966.source
July 7 – July 17 – The 2022 World Games is held in Birmingham, Alabama, United States.source
15 July – 24 July: Djibouti at the 2022 World Athletics ChampionshipsDjibouti source
July 18 – IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto issued.source
July 28–August 8 – The 2022 Commonwealth Games is held in Birmingham, England.source
28 July – 8 August: Bermuda at the 2022 Commonwealth GamesBermuda source
July 29 – August 8: Guyana at the 2022 Commonwealth GamesGuyana source
August 10 – Spanish club Real Madrid beat German club Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0 to win the 2022 UEFA Super Cup played at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland.source
August 27 – September 11 – The 2022 Asia Cup is held in the United Arab Emirates, and is won by Sri Lanka.source
4 September – King Mswati III is accused of delaying national dialogue in regards to the anti-monarchy protests.Eswatini source
19 September – A national holiday is observed on the day of the funeral of Elizabeth II, Queen of the Bahamas. Governor-General Sir Cornelius A. Smith and Prime Minister Philip Davis attend the funeral of Elizabeth II.Bahamas source
19 September – A national holiday is observed on the day of the funeral of Elizabeth II, Queen of Belize. The Governor-General attends the Queen's state funeral in the United Kingdom.Belize source
September 22 – October 1 – The 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup is held in Sydney, Australia. In the final, the United States wins 83–61 against China.source
November 19–November 26 – The 2022 Central American and Caribbean Beach Games are held in Santa Marta, Colombia.source
November 20–December 18 – The 2022 FIFA World Cup is held in Qatar and won by Argentina.source
December 18 – Argentina wins the 2022 FIFA World Cup against defending champions France.source
Zambia women's national football team Qualifies for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time.Zambia source

Deaths

3 January – Silvino Adolfo Morais, 65, politician.East Timor source
February 3 – Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi is killed in Atme during a counter-terrorism raid by U.S. special forces in north-western Syria.source
12 April – Five soldiers are killed and several wounded when the army convoy struck an explosive device placed by suspected Islamist militants in Pendjari National Park, according to two military sources.Benin source
April 18 – 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine: The battle of Donbas begins, leading to the deaths of several thousand military personnel and civilians.source
24 April – Freddy Hall, 37, Bermudian footballer (Telford United, Limerick, national team)Bermuda source
May 11 – The Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is killed by the Israel Defence Forces while covering a raid in Jenin. Initially, Israel denied responsibility but later admitted to the killing and issued an apology.source
June 5 – At least 50 people are killed in a dual mass shooting-bomb attack in Owo, Nigeria.source
11 June – Hein Eersel, 100, academic administrator, chancellor of the University of Suriname (1968–1988)Suriname source
July 8 – Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe is assassinated while giving a public speech in the city of Nara, Japan.source
July 31 – Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian terrorist who became the 2nd Emir of al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden's death in 2011, is killed in an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan conducted by the United States' Central Intelligence Agency.source
August 30 – Mikhail Gorbachev, the final leader of the Soviet Union, dies at the age of 91.source
August 30 – Mikhail Gorbachev, 91, Russian politician, final general secretary of the Communist Party (1985–1991) and president of the Soviet Union (1990–1991), Nobel Prize laureate (1990).source
September 8 – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms dies at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. Her son Charles III succeeds her as King.source
September 8 – Queen Elizabeth II, 96, British monarch and head of the Commonwealth (since 1952).source
October 29 – At least 158 people are killed and another 197 injured in a crowd crush during Halloween festivities in Seoul, South Korea.source
December 29 – Pelé, 82, Brazilian footballer (Santos, national team), world champion (1958, 1962, 1970), multiple organ failure as complications from colon cancer.source
December 31 – Former Pope Benedict XVI dies at the age of 95, with his funeral being held in St. Peter's Square, presided over by Pope Francis and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.source
December 31 – Pope Benedict XVI, 95, German Roman Catholic prelate and theologian (Introduction to Christianity), pope (2005–2013), archbishop of Munich and Freising (1977–1982), cardiogenic shock from respiratory failure.source