2022 in review: Russia war to COP27, top events that shaped the world

Russia Invades Ukraine

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In February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, from the north in an attempt to overthrow President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government. In the months following, artillery bombardment and street fighting continued, with Russia seizing multiple cities.

UK’s political crisis

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After a slew of scandals in his term spanning three years, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned from office in July. Johnson was succeeded by Liz Truss, who took over the office in September.

But after 45 days in the office, she resigned, becoming the shortest-serving PM in UK history. Her budgetary plans, at the centre of which were tax cut plans, had crashed the markets, making her lose the confidence of almost all her own MPs.

In the days that followed, Rishi Sunak took over as Britain’s 57th prime minister and vowed to fix the mistakes made by his predecessor, Liz Truss.

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In April, protests began in the nation following a sharp rise in food and fuel costs. Thousands demanded the resignation of now-ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The people faced long power cuts daily and shortages of basics, including fuel and food. Sri Lanka’s doctors said they were nearly out of life-saving medicines.

Rajapaksa’s government was being blamed for the chronic mismanagement of the country’s finances. In July, protestors stormed Rajapaksa’s home, pushing him to flee the nation before resigning from office.

Uprising mounts again in Iran

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In September, 22-year-old Iranian girl Mahsa Amini died after being detained for allegedly violating Iran’s laws requiring women to wear a headscarf. Authorities said she died of illness, but her family claimed she fell into a coma after being mistreated by the police. Sources said the police beat Amini with a baton and banged her head against a vehicle. At her funeral on September 17 in Saqez, women protested by ripping off their hijabs. Protests sparked by her demise have since roped in ethnic minorities and even school children. Thousands of women since then have been showing solidarity by cutting their hair and burning their hijabs in public.

Now, the unrest has spread beyond a women’s right to a movement that is calling for an end to theocratic rule. The protests are now the most broadly supported movement in Iran in over four decades.

Chinese President Xi Jinping starts record third term in power

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In October, Chinese President Xi Jinping was handed a historic third term in office.

He became the first leader of the ruling Communist Party after party founder Mao Zedong to get a third term in power.

This came as China’s economy was running out of steam after decades of high growth. Many expect Xi’s third term may see China revert to more old-school economic management, focusing on shoring up the heavy industry and continuing a crackdown on big tech.