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10 Most Notable Events That Happened in 2022
Ending the year on a reflective note we have decided to compile a list of 10 strange and notable events that happened in 2022.
In a few hours time, the entire world will be venturing into a new year, leaving “2022” behind for good. Unlike in 2021, we were able to recuperate from the effect of Covid-19, this year. The global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued, and the year saw the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the reopening of international borders. However, some notable and bizarre events also took place in 2022, for example, we saw the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the World Cup in Qatar, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Ending the year on a reflective note we have decided to compile a list of 10 strange and notable events that happened in 2022.
1. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine is the most significant world event that took place in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, on the 24th of February 2022. The Invasion is the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II and has caused the displacement of 15.7 million Ukrainians. It has also resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and has received widespread international condemnation. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the invasion and demanding a full withdrawal of Russian forces. The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to suspend military operations and the Council of Europe expelled Russia. Over 1,000 companies have pulled out of Russia and Belarus in response to the invasion.
2. Elon Musk takes over Twitter
Elon Musk Twitter acquisition is also one of the notable events that took place in 2022. He initiated the acquisition on April 14, 2022, and concluded it on October 27, 2022, for $44 billion after a legal battle. The eccentric business tycoon took control of Twitter on October 28 after firing its top executives, CEO Parag Agarwal, CFO Ned Segal, and head of legal policy, trust, and safety, Vijaya Gadde. He has since proposed several reforms to Twitter and laid off half of the company’s workforce. Hundreds of employees also resigned from the company after Musk issued an ultimatum demanding they commit to “extremely hardcore” work.
3. Queen Elizabeth II passes Away
Another notable event that took place in 2022 is the death of the former Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II, and the succession of King Charles as the King of England. The Late Queen who is the longest-reigning British monarch, died of old age on the 8th of September at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. The United Kingdom observed a national mourning period of 10 days. The Queen’s lying in the state took place in Westminster Hall from 14 to 19 September, during which time an estimated 250,000 people queued to pay their respects. The Queen’s eldest Child King Charles, the former Prince of Wales, was anointed as King and was officially known as King Charles III. He was the oldest and longest-serving heir apparent in British history.
4. Rishi Sunak becomes British Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak May Become UK’s PM
The United Kingdom probably had the most dramatic “2022” following the loss of its Queen and having three Prime Ministers in one year. The drama started with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigning on July 7 after facing a string of scandals. Liz Truss was named the new Conservative leader but resigned from the Office after 44 days following an economic crisis, the shortest-ever tenure for a British leader. Sunak took over the mantle from Truss after he won the Conservative Party leadership race unopposed. He was sworn in on October 25 becoming the UK’s first Prime Minister of Indian origin and first leader of color.
5. Iranians protests against hijab mandate
Protests have been raging across Iran since September 16, when the country’s notorious morality police killed Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, in custody for not wearing her hijab properly. Iranian women and girls have taken to the streets defiantly removing their headscarves in an unprecedented challenge to the country’s clerical leadership. The Iranian Government in a bid to quell the protests sentenced some of the protesters to death. The Oslo-based monitor Iran Human Rights on December 19 says Iran’s security forces have killed at least 469 people in the protests while at least 14,000 people have been arrested, according to the UN. The protestors earned a victory when Iran disbanded its morality police in early December.
6. The world population crosses 8 billion
The world population touched 8 billion on November 15, with India being the largest contributor to the milestone, according to the United Nations (UN). India added 177 million to the final score and is expected to surpass China as the world’s most populous nation in 2023. China’s contribution to the next billion in the global population is projected to be in the negative, says the UN. It took the world 11 years to add one billion people to the population, with growth gradually slowing down. According to the UN, it could take 15 years to reach nine billion, and it does not expect the figure to reach 10 billion by 2080.
7. U.S. Supreme Court delegalizes Abortion.
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade case, ending nearly 50 years of constitutional protections for abortion. The court’s controversial but expected ruling gives individual states the power to set their own abortion laws without concern of running afoul of Roe, which had permitted abortions during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. The ruling has however received condemnation from supporters of abortion rights. Following the ruling, abortion bans are brought in by Republicans in 16 US states, home to 26.5 million women.
8. The first successful pig-to-human heart transplant
10 days into the new year, we witnessed the first successful pig-to-human heart transplant. The transplantation was performed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine USA. According to the National Library of Medicine, the genetically modified pig heart was successfully transplanted into David Bennett. a 57-year-old man in the end stage of heart disease. David was able to move about freely in the absence of cardiopulmonary bypass assistance after the experimental surgery. But his condition began deteriorating, and he died on March 9, 2022, two months after the transplant surgery.
9. Monkeypox outbreak
2022 also witnessed an outbreak of monkeypox, an infectious viral disease that can occur in humans and some other animals. The initial cluster of cases was found in the United Kingdom, where the first case was detected in London on 6 May 2022. On 16 May, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed four new cases. From 18 May onwards, cases were reported from an increasing number of countries and regions, predominantly in Europe and in the Americas but also in Asia, Africa, and in Oceania. The outbreak marks the first time monkeypox has spread widely outside Central and West Africa.
10. 2022 World Cup
The 2022 World cup held in Qatar is one of the most significant events that took place in 2022. The tournament began with a series of controversies. Some fans boycott the tournament in Qatar over concerns about human rights and the high number of deaths among migrant workers involved in constructing eight new stadiums. The decision by the conservative Islamic kingdom to ban alcohol from stadiums also leaves a bitter taste but as the tournament progresses, attention shifts to the on-pitch drama. In an extraordinary finale, Lionel Messi clinches the title that had eluded one of the greatest players of all time, leading Argentina to victory against France in a penalty shootout triumph after an epic match ends 3-3.
Key Takeaways
- Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine is the most significant world event that took place in 2022.
- The United Kingdom probably had the most dramatic “2022” following the loss of its Queen and having three Prime Ministers in one year.
- 10 days into the new year, we witnessed the first successful pig-to-human heart transplant.
Read More:
- 10 Strange Events That Occurred In 2021
- Roe v. Wade: 10 Countries Where Abortion is Completely Legal
- Elon Musk explains why he purchase Twitter