21st century

== Events ==
{{For timeline}}

===[[2000s]]===
[[File:Second Congo War Africa map en.png|thumb|Belligerents of the [[Second Congo War]]]]
[[File:George-W-Bush.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[George W. Bush]], the 43rd [[president of the United States]], from 2001 to 2009]]
[[File:National Park Service 9-11 Statue of Liberty and WTC fire.jpg|thumb|right|[[September 11 attacks]]]]
[[File:Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Sumiit 15 May 2006 (3).jpg|thumb|[[Angela Merkel]] and [[José Manuel Barroso]]]]
[[File:Obama and Medvedev sign Prague Treaty 2010.jpeg|thumb|[[Barack Obama]], the first [[African-American]] [[President of the United States|president]] of the [[United States]], and Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] after signing the [[New START|Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty]]]]
* 1998–2003 – The [[Second Congo War]] continued into the early 21st century. A 1999 ceasefire quickly broke down and a UN peacekeeping mission, [[MONUC]], was unable to control the fighting. Troops from [[Rwanda]] and [[Uganda]] continued to support rebel groups against the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] and rifts also grew between Rwanda and Uganda as they accused each other of supporting rival rebel groups as well. [[Laurent Kabila]], president of the DRC, was assassinated in January 2001 and his son, [[Joseph Kabila]], took power. Throughout 2002 steps were made towards peace and Rwanda and Uganda both removed their troops from the country. On [[December 17]], 2002, a massive treaty officially ended the war. However, the DRC only holds power in less than half of the country, with most of the eastern and northern portions still controlled by rebel groups, where there is still significant infighting. In addition, Rwanda still supports anti-DRC rebels and anti-Rwandan rebels continue to operate from the DRC. The war killed an estimated 3.9 million people, displaced nearly 5.5 million, and led to a widespread and ongoing famine that continues to result in deaths. Severe human rights violations continue to be reported.<ref>{{cite web|date=2007-05-01|title=Mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo: An ongoing crisis|url=https://www.rescue.org/report/mortality-democratic-republic-congo-ongoing-crisis|access-date=2021-03-30|website=International Rescue Committee (IRC)|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417081129/https://www.rescue.org/report/mortality-democratic-republic-congo-ongoing-crisis|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2000–2005 – The [[Second Intifada]], a major Palestinian uprising against [[Israel]], is estimated to have led to the deaths of approximately 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

====2001====
* [[January 20]]: [[George W. Bush]] is [[First inauguration of George W. Bush|inaugurated]] as the 43rd president of the United States. He is the second president from the [[Bush family]], after [[George H. W. Bush|his father]].
* [[April 1]] – The [[Netherlands]] becomes the first country in the world to legalize [[same-sex marriage]].
* [[May 13]] – Conservative media magnate [[Silvio Berlusconi]] wins the [[2001 Italian general election|general election]] in Italy, becoming the country's [[Prime Minister of Italy|Prime Minister]]. Berlusconi would go on to dominate Italian politics for the rest of the decade.
* [[June 1]] – The [[Nepalese royal massacre]] occurs at a house on the grounds of the [[Narayanhity Palace|Narayanhity Royal Palace]], the residence of the Nepalese monarchy. Ten members of the family were killed during a party or monthly reunion dinner of the royal family in the house. The dead included [[Birendra of Nepal|King Birendra of Nepal]] and [[Queen Aishwarya of Nepal|Queen Aishwarya]].
* [[July 20]] – [[July 22|22]] – More than 200,000 [[Anti-globalization movement|anti-globalization protesters]] march in [[Genoa]], during the [[27th G8 summit]]. Two demonstrators are killed by the [[Italian police]]. On [[July 21]], a group of [[Carabinieri]] [[2001 Raid on Armando Diaz|attacked the school Armando Diaz]], critically injuring many peaceful protesters. 
* [[September 11]] – [[September 11 attacks]] – Nineteen [[al-Qaeda]] terrorists [[Hijackers in the September 11 attacks|hijack]] four [[commercial airliner]]s and [[September 11 attacks|crash two of them]] into the [[World Trade Center (1973-2001)|World Trade Center]], one into [[the Pentagon]] and one into a field in [[Shanksville, Pennsylvania]], of the United States on 11 September, killing nearly 3,000 people. The president [[George W. Bush]] subsequently declares the [[War on Terror]].
* [[December 11]] – After 15 years of negotiations, the [[People's Republic of China]] becomes a member of the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO).
* 2001–2014 – The [[Northern Alliance]] and [[NATO]]-led [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]] [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|invades]] [[Afghanistan]] on [[Operation Enduring Freedom|October 7, 2001]], and overthrows the Al-Qaeda-supportive [[Taliban]] government. Troops remained to install a democratic government, fight a slowly escalating insurgency, and to hunt for Al-Qaeda leader [[Osama bin Laden]] who would be [[Death of Osama bin Laden|killed]] by [[SEAL Team Six|American troops]] nearly 10 years later, on [[May 2]], 2011. On [[December 24]], 2014, NATO forces officially ended combat operations in Afghanistan, but forces remained until [[August 30]], 2021, followed by a quick withdrawal of all troops.

====2002====
* [[January 1]]
** The [[Treaty on Open Skies|Open Skies]] mutual [[surveillance]] treaty, initially signed in [[1992]], officially enters into force.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/russia-conduct-observation-flight-over-us-under-open-skies-treaty-1742081|title=Russia To Conduct Observation Flight Over US Under Open Skies Treaty|last=Bora|first=Kukil|date=2014-12-08|newspaper=International Business Times|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref>
** The [[Euro]] is the official currency introduced in the [[Eurozone]] countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/1/newsid_4044000/4044891.stm|title=Celebrations as euro hits the streets|date=2002-01-01|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref> The former currencies of all the countries that use the Euro ceased to be legal tender on February 28.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2002/html/pr020228.en.html|title=The euro becomes the sole legal tender in all euro area countries|date=2002-02-28|website=European Central Bank|language=en|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref>
* [[January 6]] – ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' publishes results of an investigation leading to the [[Sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston|criminal prosecutions]] of five Roman Catholic priests and bringing widespread attention to the [[Catholic Church sexual abuse cases|sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Church allowed abuse by priest for years|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/special-reports/2002/01/06/church-allowed-abuse-priest-for-years/cSHfGkTIrAT25qKGvBuDNM/story.html |first1=Matt |last1=Carroll |first2=Sacha |last2=Pfeiffer |first3=Michael |last3=Rezendes |first4=Walter V. |last4=Robinson |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=2002-01-06 |access-date=2023-03-12}}</ref>
* [[January 17]] – [[Mount Nyiragongo]] erupts in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], displacing an estimated 400,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Case study – volcanic eruption in a developing country: Mt Nyiragongo – Volcanoes and volcanic eruptions – Edexcel – GCSE Geography Revision – Edexcel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpf9mnb/revision/7 |website=BBC Bitesize |access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref>
* [[January 18]] – The [[Sierra Leone Civil War]] comes to a conclusion with the defeat of the [[Revolutionary United Front]] by government forces.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blackpast.org/gah/sierra-leone-civil-war-1991-2002|title=The Sierra Leone Civil War (1991–2002) {{!}} The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed|last=Momodu|first=Samuel|website=Black Past|date=January 16, 2017|language=en|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref>
* [[February 6]] – [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] of the [[Commonwealth realms]] celebrates her [[Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Golden Jubilee]], marking 50 years since her accession to the thrones of the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/queen-helps-cbc-tv-mark-50th-anniversary-1.323865|title=Queen helps CBC TV mark 50th anniversary|date=2002-10-11|website=CBC|access-date=2016-06-04}}</ref>
* [[February 8]] – [[February 24|24]] – The [[2002 Winter Olympics]] are held in [[Salt Lake City, Utah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/salt-lake-city-2002|title=Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics – results & video highlights|date=2016-10-13|website=International Olympic Committee|access-date=2016-12-10}}</ref>
* [[February 12]] – The [[trial of Slobodan Milošević]], the former president of [[Serbia and Montenegro|Yugoslavia]], begins at the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] in [[The Hague]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/11/opinion/the-trial-of-slobodan-milosevic.html|title=The Trial of Slobodan Milosevic|date=2002-02-11|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref>
* [[February 14]] – The [[State of Bahrain]] is declared a [[constitutional monarchy]] and becomes the [[Kingdom of Bahrain]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-02-15 |title=Bahrain now a monarchy |url=https://www.deseret.com/2002/2/15/19637636/bahrain-now-a-monarchy |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>
* [[February 19]] – [[NASA]]'s ''[[2001 Mars Odyssey]]'' [[space probe]] begins to map the surface of [[Mars]] using its thermal emission imaging system.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/2009/02/feb-19-2002-odyssey-turns-its-cameras-on-mars/|title=Odyssey Turns Its Cameras on Mars|last=Long|first=Tony|date=2002-01-19|newspaper=Wired|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref>
* [[February 20]] – [[2002 El Ayyat railway accident]]: A train fire in [[El Ayyat]], Egypt kills at least 370 people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2002 |title=Horror on Egypt fire train |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/africa/02/20/egypt.train/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=CNN}}</ref>
* [[February 22]]
** [[UNITA]] guerrilla leader [[Jonas Savimbi]] is killed in clashes against government troops led by [[President of Angola|Angolan President]] [[José Eduardo dos Santos]] in [[Moxico Province]], [[Angola]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1839252.stm|title=Savimbi 'died with gun in hand'|date=2002-02-25|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=2016-06-04}}</ref>
** The government of Sri Lanka and the [[Tamil Tigers]] agree to a ceasefire, temporarily ending the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dugger |first=Celia W. |date=2002-02-22 |title=Sri Lanka and Rebels Sign Cease-Fire Agreement |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/22/international/sri-lanka-and-rebels-sign-ceasefire-agreement.html |access-date=2022-12-11 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> It would last until the resumption of hostilities in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sirilal |first=Ranga |date=2008-01-02 |title=Sri Lanka ends ceasefire with Tamil Tigers |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-31216020080102 |access-date=2022-12-11}}</ref>
* [[February 27]] – A mob [[Godhra train burning|attacks]] a train near [[Godhra]], India, killing approximately 59 people.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2021-02-16 |title=Godhra train burning case accused held after 19 years |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/godhra-train-burning-case-accused-held-after-19-years/article33853611.ece |access-date=2022-12-11 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The state of Gujarat breaks out into [[2002 Gujarat riots|riots]], including the [[Gulbarg Society massacre]] on February 28 that kills approximately 69 people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghosh |first=Sohini |date=2022-07-01 |title=Gulberg Society case: 69 dead, 30 missing, all those convicted out on bail |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/gulberg-society-case-69-dead-30-missing-all-those-convicted-out-on-bail-8003685/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
* [[May 20]] – After a long period of [[Indonesian occupation of East Timor|occupation by Indonesia]], [[East Timor]]'s independence is recognized by [[Portugal]] and the [[United Nations|UN]].
* [[July 1]] – The [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC) is established.
* [[September 10]] – [[Switzerland]], a [[neutral country]], becomes a member of the [[United Nations]].
* [[October 12]] – [[Jemaah Islamiyah]], a violent Islamist group, claims responsibility for the [[2002 Bali bombings|detonation of three bombs]] in the tourist district of [[Kuta]] on the [[Indonesia]]n island of [[Bali]]. The attack killed 202 people and left 209 people injured.
* [[November 15]] – [[Hu Jintao]] becomes the [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]], making him the [[paramount leader]] of [[China]] after [[Jiang Zemin]].

====2003====
* 2003–present – In February 2003, a conflict in [[Darfur]], [[Sudan]] begins and escalates into [[War in Darfur|full-scale war]]. By 2008 it was believed that up to 400,000 people had been killed and over 2.5 million displaced. In 2005, the ICC decided that Darfur war criminals would be tried, and on [[July 14]], 2008, Sudanese president [[Omar al-Bashir]] was charged with 5 accounts of [[crimes against humanity]] and 2 accounts of war crimes, even though the ICC had no power to enforce such charges.
* 2003–2010 – The [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|U.S.-led coalition]] [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invades]] [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] on [[March 20]], 2003, and overthrows the government of [[Saddam Hussein]] (who is executed by the Iraqi government on December 30, 2006). Coalition troops remain in the country to install a democratic government and fight an escalating insurgency. In addition to an insurgency against the American presence, Iraq also suffered from a [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|civil war]] for several years. The war was soon seen as the central front of the War on Terror by many governments, despite growing international dissatisfaction with the war. The [[Casualties of the Iraq War|total death toll]] has been estimated at near 150,000 but these estimations are highly disputed, with one highly disputed study guessing even over 1 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://antiwar.com/casualties/|title=Estimated casualties in Iraq|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-date=7 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007084135/http://antiwar.com/casualties/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the U.S.-led coalition initiated a [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|troop surge]] in 2007, casualty numbers have decreased significantly. Combat ended, at least officially, in August 2010.
* 2003–2005 – A series of [[nonviolence|nonviolent]] [[revolution]]s known as the [[colour revolution]]s overthrow governments in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Ukraine]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], and [[Lebanon]].
* [[December]] – Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]] announces that Libya would voluntarily eliminate all [[Libya and weapons of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]].

====2004====
* [[March 11]] – [[2004 Madrid train bombings|Ten explosions occur]] at the [[Cercanías Madrid|Cercanías]] commuter train system of [[Madrid]], [[Spain]], killing 191 people and injuring around 2,000.
* [[May 1]] – The [[European Union]] [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|expands]] by 10 countries (including eight former communist countries, plus [[Malta]] and [[Cyprus]]).
* [[June 5]] – Former U.S. president [[Ronald Reagan]] [[Death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan|dies]] at the age of 93, after suffering nearly a decade from [[Alzheimer's disease]].
* [[September 1]] – A group of Chechen rebels [[Beslan school siege|invade a school in Beslan]], keeping thousands of hostages during three days. A series of shootings and bombings kills 334 people and injured 750.
* [[November 11]] – [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] leader and Chairman of the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] [[Yasser Arafat]] dies in France, at the age of 75, from hemorrhagic stroke.
* [[November 18]] – [[Massachusetts]] becomes the first [[U.S. state]] to [[Goodridge v. Department of Public Health|legalize]] [[same-sex marriage]].
* [[December 26]] – [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]] leaves 227,898 dead.

====2005====
* [[January 1]] – Jeanna Giese becomes the first person to ever survive [[rabies]] without a vaccination.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Razner|first=Sarah|title=15 years after she survived rabies, Jeanna Giese seeks to save others from it|url=https://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/2019/09/12/fond-du-lac-rabies-survivor-jeanna-giese-seeks-save-others-virus/2284305001/|access-date=2021-01-14|website=The Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419180124/https://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/2019/09/12/fond-du-lac-rabies-survivor-jeanna-giese-seeks-save-others-virus/2284305001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lite|first=Jordan|title=Medical Mystery: Only One Person Has Survived Rabies without Vaccine—But How?|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/jeanna-giese-rabies-survivor/|access-date=2021-01-14|website=Scientific American|language=en|archive-date=December 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210131741/http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=jeanna-giese-rabies-survivor|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 5]] – [[Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris]], the most massive known [[dwarf planet]] in the [[Solar System]], is discovered by a team led by [[Michael E. Brown]] using images originally taken on October 21, 2003, at the [[Palomar Observatory]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://solarviews.com/eng/eris.htm|title=Dwarf Planet Eris|last=Hamilton|first=Calvin J.|website=Solar Views|access-date=July 3, 2016|archive-date=August 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814052034/http://solarviews.com/eng/eris.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 12]] – [[Deep Impact (spacecraft)|''Deep Impact'']] is launched from [[Cape Canaveral]] with the purpose of studying the [[comet]] [[Tempel 1]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4162869.stm|title=Comet probe Deep Impact launches|publisher=BBC|date=2005-01-12|access-date=2009-10-14|archive-date=December 13, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213152505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4162869.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 14]] – The [[Huygens (spacecraft)|''Huygens'' spacecraft]] lands on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], the largest moon of [[Saturn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/huygens_descent_comm_050114.html|title=Touchdown on Titan: Huygens Probe Hits its Mark|website=[[Space.com]]|access-date=2009-10-14|date=2005-01-14|first1=Tariq |last1=Malik |first2=Peter |last2=de Selding| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091010053614/http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/huygens_descent_comm_050114.html| archive-date=October 10, 2009| url-status= live}}</ref>
* [[January 20]]: The most intense [[solar particle event]] in recorded history is observed.<ref>{{cite web |title=A New Kind of Solar Storm |url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/10jun_newstorm |website=NASA Science |access-date=1 January 2021 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126014020/https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/10jun_newstorm/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[April 19]] – After the death of [[Pope John Paul II]] on [[April 2]], [[Joseph Ratzinger]] of Germany is [[2005 papal conclave|elected]] as Pope Benedict XVI.
* [[July 7]] – Four Islamic extremist [[suicide bomb]]ers [[7 July 2005 London bombings|set off three bombs in London]]; 56 people are killed, including the four suicide bombers.
* [[November 22]] – [[Angela Merkel]] becomes the first elected female [[Chancellor of Germany]].

====2006====
* [[July 12]] – [[Hezbollah]] crosses the border of [[Lebanon]] and captures two Israeli soldiers. Israel [[2006 Lebanon War|responds]] by sending troops across the border and bombing Hezbollah strongholds, while Hezbollah fires missiles on towns in northern Israel, approximately 6 each day. At the end of the war 1,200 Lebanese civilians, 500 Hezbollah fighters, 44 Israeli civilians and 121 Israeli soldiers die. A ceasefire is signed on [[August 14]], after which Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon.
* [[October 9]] – [[North Korea]] conducts its [[2006 North Korean nuclear test|first nuclear test]].<ref>{{cite news |title=US confirms nuclear claim |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=15 October 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/world/asia/17koreacnd.html |first1=John |last1=O'Neil |first2=Norimitsu |last2=Onishi |access-date=21 February 2017 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121110555/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/world/asia/17koreacnd.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This was preceded by years of political wrangling with the U.S. over the status of [[North Korea and weapons of mass destruction|their nuclear program]].

====2007====
* [[January 1]] – [[Bulgaria]] and [[Romania]] [[2007 enlargement of the European Union|join]] the [[European Union]].
* [[January 9]] – Apple CEO [[Steve Jobs]] introduces the original [[iPhone (1st generation)|iPhone]] at a Macworld keynote in [[San Francisco]], starting the new era of smartphones with this invention.
* [[January 25]] – A [[Fatah–Hamas conflict|civil war]] escalates in the [[Gaza Strip]] throughout June, which would result in the [[Hamas]] driving most [[Fatah]]-loyal forces out from the Strip. In reaction, Palestinian president [[Mahmoud Abbas]] dismisses Hamas Prime Minister [[Ismail Haniyeh]] and dissolves the Hamas-ruled parliament. Scattered conflict continues.
* [[January 31]] – Boston faces a [[2007 Boston Mooninite panic|hoax bomb scare]], as a result of [[LED]] placards of [[List of Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters#Ignignokt and Err|Ignignokt and Err]] from [[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]] being mistaken as an [[improvised explosive device]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://wgbhnews.org/post/mooninite-invasion-boston-6-years-later | title=GBH News | access-date=2022-09-15 | archive-date=2014-07-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140731012118/http://wgbhnews.org/post/mooninite-invasion-boston-6-years-later | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[July 25]] – [[Pratibha Patil]] becomes the first woman to be elected [[President of India]].
* [[December 13]] – 27 EU member states sign the [[Treaty of Lisbon]], with the treaty coming into effect on [[December 1]], 2009.
* 2007–2008 – [[2007-08 Kenyan crisis|Crisis]] follows the [[2007 Kenyan presidential election|Kenyan presidential election of 2007]], leading to the formation of a coalition government, with [[Mwai Kibaki]] as president and [[Raila Odinga]] as prime minister.

====2008====
* [[January 1]] – [[Cyprus]] and [[Malta]] adopt the [[euro]] currency.<ref name="vgEan">[http://www.euractiv.com/en/euro/cyprus-malta-set-join-eurozone-2008/article-163836 Cyprus and Malta set to join eurozone in 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130041939/http://www.euractiv.com/en/euro/cyprus-malta-set-join-eurozone-2008/article-163836 |date=January 30, 2009}}, EurActiv</ref><ref name="qxkbC">[http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198764121.53/ Akrotiri and Dhekelia adopt the euro], EUbusiness ([[ISO 4217]] code: VEF). {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706103838/http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1198764121.53/ |date=July 6, 2009}}</ref>
* [[January 14]] -; At 19:04:39 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], the uncrewed [[MESSENGER]] [[space probe]] is at its closest approach during its first flyby of the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]].<ref name="45JNK">{{cite web
  | url          = http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/mer_flyby1.html
  | title        = Mercury Flyby 1
  | access-date  = 2008-01-12
  | publisher    = [[Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory]]
  | url-status   = dead
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516045507/http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/mer_flyby1.html
  | archive-date = May 16, 2008
  }}</ref>
* [[January 21]]
**Stock markets around the world plunge amid growing fears of a U.S. [[recession|Great Recession]], fueled by the 2007 [[subprime mortgage crisis]].<ref name="UdyTv">{{Cite news
  | author1      = Landler, Mark
  | author2      = Timmons, Heather
  | url          = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/business/22stox-web.html
  | title        = Stocks Plunge Worldwide on Fears of a U.S. Recession
  | date         = January 21, 2008
  | work         = The New York Times
  | access-date  = November 21, 2008
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211195300/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/business/22stox-web.html
  | archive-date = December 11, 2008
  | url-status   = live
  }}</ref>
**[[Online activist]] group [[Anonymous (hacker group)|Anonymous]] initiates [[Project Chanology]], after a [[News leak|leaked interview]] of [[Tom Cruise]] by the [[Church of Scientology]] is published on [[YouTube]], and the Church of Scientology issued a [[DMCA takedown|"copyright infringement" claim]]. In response, Anonymous sympathizers took to the streets to [[protest]] outside the church (after February 10), while the church's websites and centres were getting [[DoS attacks]], [[Prank call|phone line nukes]], and [[black faxes]].<ref name="sx8F7">{{Cite web|date=2011-05-10|title=Hackers Declare War on Scientology – Science News {{!}} Science & Technology {{!}} Technology News - FOXNews.com|website=[[Fox News]]|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,325586,00.html|access-date=2021-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510074500/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,325586,00.html|archive-date=May 10, 2011}}</ref><ref name="vOwe0">{{Cite web
  | date         = 2008-03-23
  | title        = From The Magazine : Radar Online : Scientology is under attack from a faceless cabal of online activists. Has America's most controversial religion finally met its match?
  | url          = http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/03/scientology_anonymous_protests_tom_cruise_01.php
  | access-date  = 2021-03-12
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080323063402/http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazine/2008/03/scientology_anonymous_protests_tom_cruise_01.php
  | archive-date = March 23, 2008
  }}</ref><ref name="phLJJ">{{Cite web
  | date        = 2012-09-21
  | title       = "Anonymous" threatens to "dismantle" Church of Scientology via intern…
  | url        = http://apcmag.com/anonymous_threatens_to_dismantle_church_of_scientology_via_internet.htm
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120921005702/http://apcmag.com/anonymous_threatens_to_dismantle_church_of_scientology_via_internet.htm
  | url-status  = dead
  | archive-date = 2012-09-21
  | access-date = 2021-03-12
  | website     = archive.ph
  }}</ref><ref name="waVoL">{{Cite web|date=2008-08-21|title=Hacker Group Declares War On Scientology – News Story – KNBC {{!}} Los Angeles|url=http://www.knbc.com/news/15132759/detail.html|access-date=2021-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821132355/http://www.knbc.com/news/15132759/detail.html|archive-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref><ref name="muTyR">{{Cite news
  | last        = MAR
  | title       = Online group declares war on Scientology
  | newspaper   = National Post
  | language    = en-CA
  | url        = http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20080128145858/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=261308
  | url-status  = dead
  | archive-date = 2008-01-28
  | access-date = 2021-03-12
  | issn        = 1486-8008
  }}</ref><ref name="LwGGz">{{Cite magazine
  | title       = War Breaks Out Between Hackers and Scientology – There Can Be Only One
  | language    = en-us
  | magazine        = Wired
  | url         = https://www.wired.com/2008/01/anonymous-attac/
  | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211014/https://www.wired.com/2008/01/anonymous-attac/
  | archive-date=2021-10-14  
  | access-date = 2021-03-12
  | issn        = 1059-1028
  }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="LqoSy">{{Cite web|date=2008-07-05|title=Anonymous Versus Scientology: Cyber Criminals or Vigilante Justice? {{!}} The Legality|url=http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22|access-date=2021-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705202321/http://www.thelegality.com/archives/22|archive-date=July 5, 2008}}</ref><ref name="yECdo">{{Cite web
  | date         = 2008-03-28
  | title        = Group Lines Road To Protest Church Of Scientology – Orlando News Story – WKMG Orlando
  | url          = http://www.local6.com/news/15205679/detail.html
  | access-date  = 2021-03-12
  | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080328184704/http://www.local6.com/news/15205679/detail.html
  | archive-date = March 28, 2008
  }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=December 2022}}
* [[February 16]] – [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|Kosovo unilaterally declares independence]] from [[Serbia]]. Serbia refuses to recognize it and considers Kosovo as part of its territory.
* [[February 18]] – [[WikiLeaks]] releases [[allegations]] of [[Tax evasion|illegal activities]] carried out by the [[Cayman Islands]] branch of [[Swiss banking]] corporation [[Julius Baer Group|Julius Baer]]; a subsequent [[Bank Julius Baer v. WikiLeaks|lawsuit against WikiLeaks]] prompts a [[Web domain|temporary suspension]] of the website, but uproar about violations of [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|freedom of speech]] causes WikiLeaks to be brought back online.<ref name="UHHp2">{{Cite magazine
  | title       = Cayman Islands Bank Gets Wikileaks Taken Offline in U.S. – Updated with Links
  | language    = en-us
  | magazine        = Wired
  | url         = https://www.wired.com/2008/02/cayman-island-b/
  | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211014/https://www.wired.com/2008/02/cayman-island-b/
  | archive-date=2021-10-14  
  | access-date = 2021-03-09
  | issn        = 1059-1028
  }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="L7ZF1">{{Cite news
  | last        = Gollner
  | first       = Philipp
  | date        = 2008-02-29
  | title       = Judge reverses ruling in Julius Baer leak case
  | language    = en
  | work        = Reuters
  | url         = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baer-idUSN2927431720080229
  | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211014/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baer-idUSN2927431720080229
  |  archive-date=2021-10-14  
  | access-date = 2021-03-09
  }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* [[August 1]] – [[August 12|12]] – [[Russo-Georgian War|An armed conflict]] is fought between [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and the [[Russian Federation]] together with [[Ossetians|Ossetian]] and [[Abkhazians|Abkhazian]] separatists on the other. Russia officially [[International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia|recognizes]] independence of [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]].
* [[November 4]] – [[Barack Obama]] is [[2008 United States presidential election|elected]] as the first African-American [[president of the United States]]. He is sworn into office in [[January 20]], 2009.

====2009====
[[File:Reporter and Crowd outside UCLA - MJ Death.jpg|thumb|Reporter covering the [[death of Michael Jackson]] outside [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center|UCLA Medical Center]] in Los Angeles]]
* [[June 13]] – [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests|Protests erupt]] in [[Iran]], following the [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests|presidential election]] against [[President of Iran|Iranian President]] [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]].
* [[June 25]] – American pop star [[Michael Jackson]] dies at the age of 50. His [[Death of Michael Jackson|death]] triggers an outpouring of worldwide grief; online reactions to the event cripple several major websites and services, as the abundance of people accessing the [[uniform resource locator|web addresses]] pushes [[internet traffic]] to unprecedented and historic levels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/|title=Jackson dies, almost takes Internet with him|website=[[CNN]]|date=June 26, 2009|access-date=January 30, 2024|archive-date=December 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225202917/https://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===[[2010s]]===
[[File:Julia Gillard 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Julia Gillard]] was sworn in as the first female [[Prime Minister of Australia]] in 2010.]]
[[File:White House celebrations, May 2 2011.jpg|thumb|Americans celebrating the [[death of Osama bin Laden]] in front of the [[White House]]]]
[[File:Światowe Dni Młodzieży - 28559360556.jpg|thumb|[[Pope Francis]] in Poland]]
[[File:Euromaidan Kiev 2014-01-23 11-04.JPG|thumb|[[Ukraine]], [[Euromaidan]], people protesting in favor of [[Ukraine–European Union relations|Ukraine's European way]].]] [[File:2016-05-09. День Победы в Донецке 093.jpg|thumb|Pro-Russian separatists in [[Donetsk]], Ukraine]]
[[File:Slovenska vojska pri reševanju migrantske situacije z več zmogljivostmi 01.jpg|thumb|[[2015 European migrant crisis]]]]
[[File:After coup nightly demonstartion of president Erdogan supporters. Istanbul, Turkey, Eastern Europe and Western Asia. 22 July,2016.jpg|thumb|Turkish anti-[[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt|coup]] rally in support of President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]], 22 July 2016]]
[[File:Donald Trump swearing in ceremony.jpg|thumb|[[Inauguration of Donald Trump]]]]
[[File:Xi_Jinping_2019.jpg|thumb|upright|China's [[Xi Jinping]] has been the [[Paramount leader]] since 2018]]
[[File:March For Our Lives Parkland 2018.jpg|thumb|Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, parents, and others march in the [[March for Our Lives]] protest in [[Parkland, Florida]], in 2018]]
[[File:Whiteguard Volunteers HELP KERALA FLOOD 2018.jpg|thumb|[[2018 Kerala floods]], [[India]]]]
[[File:NotreDame20190415QuaideMontebello (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Notre-Dame fire]]]]

==== 2010 ====
* [[February 25]] – [[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]] becomes the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
* [[April 10]] – [[President of Poland|Polish President]] [[Lech Kaczyński]] dies in an [[2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash|airplane crash]] near the city of [[Smolensk]], Russia, along with his wife and 94 other people on board.
* [[June 11]] – [[July 11]] – [[South Africa]] becomes the first country in [[Africa]] to host the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup]].
* [[June 24]] – [[Julia Gillard]] becomes the first female [[Prime Minister of Australia]].
* [[October 3]] – [[Dilma Rousseff]] is [[2010 Brazilian presidential election|elected]] as the first female [[president of Brazil]]. She serves as the president until [[Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff|her impeachment]] and removal from office on [[August 31]], 2016.
* [[November 13]] – [[Burma|Burmese]] opposition leader and [[Nobel Peace Prize|1991 Nobel Peace Prize]] laureate [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] is released from house arrest, after being incarcerated since 1989.
* [[December 17]] – The [[Arab Spring]], a [[revolutionary wave]], begins [[Tunisian Revolution|in Tunisia]], and eventually spreads across the [[Middle East]] and the [[Arab world]], with widespread [[protest]]s, [[Demonstration (protest)|demonstration]]s, [[riot]]s and [[civil war]]s for [[free elections]] and [[human rights]].

==== 2011 ====
* [[March 11]] – The [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]] and subsequent [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]] in [[Japan]] leave 15,899 dead.
* [[April 29]] – An estimated two billion people watch the [[Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton|wedding]] of [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge]] and [[Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge|Catherine Middleton]] at [[Westminster Abbey]] in London.
* [[May 2]] – [[Al-Qaeda]] leader [[Osama bin Laden]], the mastermind behind the [[Planning of the September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]], is [[Death of Osama bin Laden|killed in a raid]] at [[Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad|his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan]] by the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team 6 (DEVGRU).
* [[July 10]] – Britain's largest [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid newspaper]], the ''[[News of the World]]'', shuts down after 168 years in print due to the [[News International phone hacking scandal|2009 phone hacking scandal]].
* [[July 14]] – [[South Sudan]], following the [[2011 South Sudanese independence referendum|January 2011 independence referendum]], becomes a member of the [[United Nations]].
* [[July 22]] – [[Anders Behring Breivik]] perpetrates two [[2011 Norway attacks|terrorist attacks]] in [[Norway]], the first being a bombing targeting government buildings in central [[Oslo]], the second being a mass shooting at a youth camp on the island of [[Utøya]]. It was the deadliest attack in Norway since the [[World War II|Second World War]], with 77 people killed and 319 injuries.
* [[September 17]] – The [[Occupy movement]], an international protest movement against [[Social inequality|social]] and [[economic inequality]], takes shape. It is partially inspired by the Arab Spring and is one of the first significant global protest movements to occur in the age of [[social media]].
* [[October 20]] – Deposed dictator [[Muammar Gaddafi]] is [[Death of Muammar Gaddafi|captured and killed]] by the [[National Liberation Army (Libya)|National Liberation Army of Libya]], during the [[Libyan Civil War (2011)|Libyan Civil War]].
* [[November 16]] – Italy's long-term Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]] [[Resignation of Silvio Berlusconi|resigns]] amid public protests, financial crisis and [[Silvio Berlusconi prostitution trial|sexual scandals]].
* [[December 15]] – The [[Iraq War]] is formally declared over.
* [[December 17]] – [[Kim Jong-il]], [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|supreme leader of North Korea]], [[Death and state funeral of Kim Jong-il|dies]]. He is succeeded by his son [[Kim Jong-un]].

====2012====
* [[September 11]] – [[September 12|12]] – In [[Benghazi]], Libya, [[2012 Benghazi attack|an attack]] is coordinated against two United States government facilities, by members of the Islamic militant group [[Ansar al-Sharia]].
* [[November 15]] – [[Xi Jinping]] becomes the [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]], making him the [[paramount leader]] of [[China]] after [[Hu Jintao]].
* [[December 10]] – [[Séléka]] rebels seize power in the [[Central African Republic]], ousting the President and government and beginning a [[Central African Republic Civil War (2012–present)|civil war]].
* [[December 19]] – [[Park Geun-hye]] is [[2012 South Korean presidential election|elected]] [[President of South Korea]], the first woman to hold the position.

====2013====
* [[January 11]] – [[France]] [[Operation Serval|intervenes with its army]] in the [[Northern Mali conflict]], defeating the Islamists who had taken control of the country.
* [[February 28]] – [[Pope Benedict XVI]] resigns, becoming the first pope to do so since 1415. Benedict takes the title [[pope emeritus]]. At the subsequent [[Papal conclave, 2013|papal conclave]], Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina is elected pope on [[March 13]], becoming the first Latin American pope. Bergoglio takes the name of [[Pope Francis]].
* [[March 5]] – President of Venezuela [[Hugo Chávez]] dies due to prostate cancer and is succeeded by [[Nicolás Maduro]].
* [[March 21]] – Convicted Kurdish leader [[Abdullah Ocalan]] puts an end to the armed revolt against [[Turkey]].
* [[April 8]] – [[United Kingdom|British]] politician and first female [[Prime Minister of the UK]] [[Margaret Thatcher]] [[Death and funeral of Margaret Thatcher|dies]] at the age of 87, from a stroke.
* [[July 1]] – [[Croatia]] becomes the [[2013 enlargement of the European Union|28th]] [[Member state of the European Union|member]] of the [[European Union]].
* [[September 14]] – [[Syria]] avoids an American intervention on its soil during the [[Syrian Civil War]], accepting to [[Destruction of Syria's chemical weapons|destroy]] all [[Syria and weapons of mass destruction|chemical weapons stocks owned]].
* [[November]] – [[China]] declares an "[[Air Defense Identification Zone (East China Sea)|Air Defense Identification Zone]]" in the [[East China Sea]], including over the [[Senkaku Islands]], a group of islands [[Senkaku Islands dispute|held by Japan, but claimed by both Japan and China]], and the [[Socotra Rock]], claimed by both China and South Korea.
* [[December 5]] – [[South Africa]]n political and civil leader [[Nelson Mandela]] dies at the age of 95, from natural causes.
* [[December 15]] – The [[South Sudanese Civil War]] breaks out.
* [[Iran]] allows international inspections on its nuclear policy in exchange of the removal of the sanctions and the right to produce a small amount of low-grade enriched uranium, thus marking an apparent new policy towards the [[United Nations]] under [[Hassan Rohani]]'s presidency.
* 2013–2014 – A [[2013–2014 Thai political crisis|political crisis in Thailand]] breaks out and the government declares [[martial law]].

====2014====
* [[February 22]] – Pro-Russian [[President of Ukraine]] [[Viktor Yanukovich]] is ousted amidst the [[Euromaidan]] revolution. The [[Russian Federation]] [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexes]] [[Crimea]] in response, and a "low intensity" [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]] breaks out between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed separatists.
* [[May 26]] – [[Narendra Modi]] becomes 14th Prime Minister of [[India]], winning a clear majority in the election.
* [[July 8]] – [[August 26]] – In [[Israel]], [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict|tensions]] rise again between [[Hamas]] in the [[Gaza Strip]] and the State of Israel. Hamas fire hundreds of missiles into civilian cities in Israel, and the IDF retaliates and conducts airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for more than a month, with high casualties on both sides.
* [[July 17]] – [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]], a civilian commercial aircraft, is shot down in pro-Russian separatist-controlled territory in Eastern Ukraine.
* [[September 18]] – [[Scotland]] votes to remain [[Countries of the United Kingdom|part]] of the [[United Kingdom]] during the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]].
* [[September]]–[[October]] – During the [[Syrian civil war]], the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] rises and seizes territories in northern [[Iraq]] and Syria, near the border with Turkey. The [[United States]] [[Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve|lead a coalition]] of more than 30 countries [[Military intervention against ISIL|to destroy ISIL]]. Meanwhile, [[Russia]] [[Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition|leads its own coalition]], along with Syria, Iraq and Iran, and [[Russian military intervention in Syria|Russia's military action begins]] on [[September 30]], 2015.
* [[October 31]] – In [[Burkina Faso]], President [[Blaise Compaoré]] resigns amidst widespread protests, ending 27 years of leadership.
* [[December 17]] – United States President [[Barack Obama]] and Cuban President [[Raúl Castro]] announce the beginning of [[United States–Cuban Thaw|a process of normalizing relations]] between Cuba and the United States, ending a 54-year stretch of hostility between the two nations. Meanwhile, on [[July 20]], 2015, with [[Cuba–United States relations|full diplomatic relations]], the embassies of both countries are opened after five decades.

==== 2015 ====
* [[January 7]] – Two gunmen, brothers Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, commit [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|a mass murder]] at the offices of ''[[Charlie Hebdo]]'' in [[Paris]], killing 12 people. Following the attack, about two million people, including more than 40 world leaders, met in Paris for a [[Republican marches|rally of national unity]], and 3.7 million people joined demonstrations across the country. The phrase ''[[Je suis Charlie]]'' became a common slogan of support at the rallies and in social media.
* [[March 6]] – [[NASA]]'s ''[[Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn]]'' probe enters orbit around [[Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres]], becoming the first spacecraft to visit a [[dwarf planet]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/march/nasa-spacecraft-becomes-first-to-orbit-a-dwarf-planet/index.html |title=NASA Spacecraft Becomes First to Orbit a Dwarf Planet |work=NASA |date=March 6, 2015 |access-date=2 August 2023 |archive-date=17 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417141458/http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/march/nasa-spacecraft-becomes-first-to-orbit-a-dwarf-planet/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31754586 |title=Nasa's Dawn probe achieves orbit around Ceres |work=BBC |date=March 6, 2015}}</ref>
* [[March 23]] – [[Singapore]]an politician and the 1st [[Prime Minister of Singapore]] [[Lee Kuan Yew]] [[Death and state funeral of Lee Kuan Yew|dies]] at the age of 91.
* [[April 2]] – 148 people are killed, the majority students, in a [[Garissa University College attack|mass shooting]] at the [[Garissa University College]] in [[Kenya]], perpetrated by the militant terrorist organization [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|al-Shabaab]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/04/world/africa/kenyan-students-describe-shabab-attack-on-garissa-university-college.html |work=The New York Times |first=Jeffrey |last=Gettleman |title=Come Out and Live, Shabab Told Kenya Students. It Was a Lie |date=April 3, 2015 |access-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613221407/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/04/world/africa/kenyan-students-describe-shabab-attack-on-garissa-university-college.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[April 25]] – [[April 2015 Nepal earthquake|A magnitude 7.8 earthquake]] strikes [[Nepal]] and causes 8,857 deaths<ref>{{cite news |title=Nepal earthquake: Hundreds die, many feared trapped |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32461019 |date=April 25, 2015 |work=BBC News |access-date=June 21, 2018 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629132532/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32461019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-04-26|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-nepal-quake-aftershock-20150426-story.html|title=Nepal earthquake death toll tops 3,200|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=2015-04-26|first=Bhrikuti|last=Rai|archive-date=March 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327103019/https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-nepal-quake-aftershock-20150426-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in Nepal, 130 in [[India]],<ref name="ht52">{{cite news |work=Hindustan Times |date=April 25, 2015 |access-date=April 25, 2015 |title=Nepal earthquake: 52 dead, hundreds injured in India, huge damage in bordering areas |url=http://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/earthquake-spells-destruction-in-india-20-feared-dead-houses-damaged/article1-1340918.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150426005807/http://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/earthquake-spells-destruction-in-india-20-feared-dead-houses-damaged/article1-1340918.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref> 27 in [[China]]<ref name="KSL">{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |publisher=KSL |date=April 25, 2015 |access-date=April 25, 2015 |title=Nepal quake: Hundreds dead, history crumbles, Everest shaken |url=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=34379730 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163904/https://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=34379730 |url-status=live }}</ref> and 4 in [[Bangladesh]]<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|last1=Stanglin|first1=Doug|title=Hundreds dead as 7.8 magnitude quake rocks Nepal|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/04/25/nepal-earthquake/26354073|access-date=April 25, 2015|agency=USA Today|archive-date=April 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425133937/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/04/25/nepal-earthquake/26354073/|url-status=live}}</ref> with a total of 9,018 deaths.
* [[April 29]] – The [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) declares that [[rubella]] has been eradicated from the [[Americas]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32523300 |title=Rubella (German measles) eradicated from Americas |work=BBC |date=April 29, 2015 |access-date=June 21, 2018 |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623233030/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32523300 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[June 26]] – The [[Supreme Court of the United States]] determines that [[same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry]] in a landmark case ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges]]''.
* [[July 14]] – [[Iran]] and the [[P5+1]] (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US + Germany) agree on final provisions of [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] in regards to the latter's [[Nuclear program of Iran|nuclear program]].
* [[October]] – The [[Chinese Communist Party]] announces the end of the [[one-child policy]] after 35 years.
* [[November 13]] – [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]] claims responsibility of the [[November 2015 Paris attacks]], which killed 137 and left 416 injured.
* [[November 24]] – [[Turkey]] [[2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown|shoots down]] a Russian [[Sukhoi Su-24M]] attack aircraft. This is the first case of a [[Member states of NATO|NATO member]] destroying a Russian aircraft since the [[attack on the Sui-ho Dam]] (during the [[Korean War]]).
* [[November 30]] – [[December 12]] – During the [[2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference|UN summit on Climate Change]], 193 nations [[Paris Agreement|agree]] to reduce carbon emissions starting in 2020.
* During the [[2015 European migrant crisis]], around 1.3 million people, most notably [[refugees]] of the wars in [[Syrian civil war|Syria]], [[War in Iraq (2013–2017)|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]], flee to Europe to claim [[Right of asylum|asylum]], leading to considerable political upheaval in the [[European Union]]. [[Germany]] ultimately takes in the majority of the asylum seekers.

====2016====
* [[June 5]] – [[Hillary Clinton]] becomes the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s nominee for president of the United States, making her the first woman to be nominated for president by a major party.
* [[June 12]] – In [[Orlando, Florida]], [[Omar Mateen]], a 29-year-old security guard, kills 49 people and wounds 53 others in a [[Orlando nightclub shooting|terrorist attack]] inside [[Pulse (nightclub)|Pulse]], a gay nightclub.
* [[June 23]] – The [[United Kingdom]] votes to [[Brexit|leave the European Union]] in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|June 2016 membership referendum]].
* [[July 15]] – [[July 16|16]] – A [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt|coup d'état]] is attempted in Turkey against state institutions, including but not limited to the government and President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]]. The attempt is carried out by a faction within the [[Turkish Armed Forces]] that organized themselves as the [[Peace at Home Council]].
* [[September 2]] – 1st President of Uzbekistan [[Islam Karimov]] dies at age of 78, after 25 years in office.
* [[November 8]] – [[Donald Trump]] is [[2016 United States presidential election|elected]] as the 45th president of the United States, defeating [[Hillary Clinton]].
* [[December 19]]: [[Andrei Karlov]], the [[List of ambassadors of Russia to Turkey|Russian Ambassador to Turkey]], is [[Assassination of Andrei Karlov|killed]] by Turkish police officer Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş.
* [[Cuba]]n political and revolutionary leader [[Fidel Castro]] [[Death and state funeral of Fidel Castro|dies]] at the age of 90.
* Former [[President of Israel]] and [[Nobel Peace Prize|1994 Nobel Peace Prize]] laureate [[Shimon Peres]] dies at the age of 93, from a massive stroke.
* [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]], the [[List of longest-reigning monarchs|longest-reigning]] [[Thailand|Thai]] monarch dies at the age of 88, from a long illness.

====2017====
* [[January 21]] – [[January 22|22]] – In opposition to [[Inauguration of Donald Trump|Donald Trump's inauguration]], millions of people in the US and worldwide join the [[2017 Women's March|Women's March]].
* [[January 27]] – U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] signs an [[Executive Order 13769|executive order]] restricting travel and immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. This order was blocked by the [[U.S. federal courts]]; a second, related order issued by Trump was also blocked by the federal courts. The block of second order was partially removed, by the Supreme Court, in June. The Supreme Court stated they would reconsider the order in October.
* [[April 6]] – In response to a suspected [[Khan Shaykhun chemical attack|chemical weapons attack]] on a rebel-held town, the U.S. military launches [[2017 Shayrat missile strike|59 Tomahawk cruise missiles]] at [[Shayrat Airbase]] in Syria.
* [[May 23]] – Philippine President [[Rodrigo Duterte]] declares [[Proclamation No. 216|martial law]] in [[Mindanao]], following an [[Siege of Marawi|attack in Marawi]] by the [[Maute group]]. This would last until [[October 23]].
* [[August 17]] – [[August 18|18]] – In the [[2017 Barcelona attacks]], a terrorist drives into more than 100 people in [[Barcelona]], [[Spain]], killing 13 and injuring many.
* [[October 27]] – [[Catalan declaration of independence|Catalonia declares independence]] from [[Spain]],<ref>{{cite news |date=27 October 2017 |title=Catalonia declares independence from Spain as political crisis deepens |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/27/europe/catalonia-independence-spain/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=27 October 2017 |archive-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106105733/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/27/europe/catalonia-independence-spain/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but the declaration is not recognized by the Spanish government or any other sovereign nation.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 October 2017 |title=Catalans declare independence as Madrid imposes direct rule |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41780116 |work=BBC |access-date=27 October 2017 |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204112602/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41780116 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== 2018 ====
* [[February 6]] – [[SpaceX]] successfully conducts its maiden flight of its most powerful rocket to date, the [[Falcon Heavy]], from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|LC39A]] at [[John F. Kennedy Space Center]] in [[Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42969020|title=Elon Musk's Falcon Heavy rocket launches successfully|work=BBC News |date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018}}</ref>
* [[February 9]] – [[February 25|25]] – The [[2018 Winter Olympics]] are held in [[Pyeongchang County|Pyeongchang]], [[South Korea]].<ref name="olympic1">{{cite web|title=Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics – Next Winter Olympic Games in Korea|url=http://www.olympic.org/pyeongchang-2018-winter-olympics|publisher=Olympic.org|access-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref>
* [[February 10]] – [[Kay Goldsworthy]] becomes the first female [[archbishop]] in the [[Anglican Communion]] on her installation in the [[Anglican Diocese of Perth]], [[Western Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2017/08/first-female-archbishop-elected-in-australia.aspx|title=First female Archbishop elected in Australia|website=Anglicannews.org|date=2017-08-30|access-date=2017-09-05}}</ref>
* [[March 19]] – [[Paula-Mae Weekes]] becomes the first female [[President of Trinidad and Tobago|President]] of Trinidad and Tobago.
* [[March 24]] – In over 900 cities internationally, people participate in demonstrations against gun violence and mass shootings, calling for stronger gun control in the [[March for Our Lives]], which was a student-led demonstration in response to the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]] in [[Parkland, Florida]], that took place in [[February 14]].
* [[May 9]] – The opposition-led [[Pakatan Harapan]] coalition, led by former [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister]] [[Mahathir Mohamad]], secures a [[2018 Malaysian general election|parliamentary majority]] in the [[Parliament of Malaysia|Malaysian Parliament]], ending the 61-year rule of the [[Barisan Nasional]] coalition in [[Malaysia]] since [[Independence Day (Malaysia)|independence]] in 1957.
* [[May 19]] – The [[Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle|wedding]] of [[Prince Harry]] and [[Meghan Markle]] is held at [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle|St George's Chapel]], [[England]], with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion.
* [[June 12]] – President [[Donald Trump]] and [[North Korea]]n leader [[Kim Jong-un]] attend a [[2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit|summit]] in [[Singapore]], the first meeting between the leaders of the two countries.
* [[October 28]] – [[Jair Bolsonaro]] is [[2018 Brazilian general election|elected]] as the 38th president of [[Brazil]], after having been stabbed during the election campaign and undergone three surgeries.
* The [[National People's Congress]] of [[China]] approves a [[Constitution of the People's Republic of China|constitutional change]] removing [[term limits]] for its [[List of national leaders of the People's Republic of China|leaders]], granting [[Xi Jinping]] the status of "[[President for life|leader for life]]". Xi is the [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]] ([[paramount leader|de facto leader]]).

====2019====
* [[January 10]] – [[Venezuela]] enters a [[2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis|presidential crisis]] after the disputed results of the [[2018 Venezuelan presidential election]] leads to [[Juan Guaidó]] being declared the acting president, disputing [[Nicolás Maduro]].
* [[February 27]] – [[February 28|28]] – President [[Donald Trump]] and North Korean leader [[Kim Jong-un]] meet for the [[2019 North Korea–United States Hanoi Summit]] in [[Vietnam]].
* [[March 15]]:
** The [[Christchurch mosque shootings]]: Australian terrorist Brenton Harrison Tarrant kills 51 people and injures 40 at two mosques in New Zealand.
** Over 2 million people in [[Hong Kong]] [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests|protest]] against [[Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019|proposed legislation]] regarding [[extradition]] to China.
* [[March 23]] – Most of the territory formerly held by the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]] in Syria [[Battle of Baghuz Fawqani|collapses]] amidst the [[Syrian Civil War]]. After years of global [[International military intervention against ISIL|push back]], the extremist group transitions from a [[proto-state]] into an [[Eastern Syria insurgency (2017–present)|insurgency]] as it retains offshoots and influence in regions across the globe.
* [[April 11]]:
** [[WikiLeaks]] co-founder [[Julian Assange]] is [[Indictment and arrest of Julian Assange|arrested]] after seven years in [[Embassy of Ecuador, London|Ecuador's embassy]] in London.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47891737|title=Julian Assange: Wikileaks co-founder arrested in London|date=April 11, 2019|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/11/julian-assange-arrested-at-ecuadorian-embassy-wikileaks|title=Julian Assange arrested at Ecuadorian embassy|date=April 11, 2019|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref>
** Amid [[2018–19 Sudanese protests|mass protests]], [[Omar al-Bashir]] is deposed as [[President of Sudan]] in [[2019 Sudanese coup d'état|a coup d'état]], after nearly 30 years in office.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-47891470|title=Sudan military says it has seized power|date=April 11, 2019|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref>
* [[April 15]] – During [[Holy Week]], a major [[Notre-Dame fire|fire]] engulfs [[Notre-Dame de Paris|Notre-Dame Cathedral]] in Paris, resulting in the roof and main spire collapsing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/15/notre-dame-fire-paris-france-cathedral|title=Notre Dame fire: major incident at historic Paris landmark|date=April 15, 2019|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=April 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47941794|title=Notre-Dame cathedral: Firefighters tackle blaze in Paris|date=April 15, 2019|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=April 15, 2019}}</ref>
* [[April 21]] – [[2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings|A series of Islamist bomb attacks]] occur at eight locations in [[Sri Lanka]], including three churches, four hotels and one housing complex in [[Colombo]], on [[Easter|Easter Sunday]], leaving 259 people dead and over 500 injured. It is the deadliest terrorist attack in the country since the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]] ended in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/scores-hurt-in-sri-lanka-easter-church-bombings-20190421-p51fyn.html |title=Hundreds killed, 450 injured as explosions rock Catholic churches during Easter mass |date= April 22, 2019|website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date= April 22, 2019}}</ref>
* [[April 28]] – [[Victor Vescovo]] achieves the deepest dive of any human in history, as he reaches [[Challenger Deep]] within the [[Mariana Trench]], at a depth of 10,928&nbsp;m (35,853&nbsp;ft).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fivedeeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FDE-Challenger-Release-FINAL-5132019.pdf|title=Deepest Submarine Dive in History, Five Deeps Expedition Conquers Challenger Deep|date=May 13, 2019|access-date=May 13, 2019|publisher=Five Deeps}}</ref>
* [[April 30]] – [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] [[Akihito]] of [[Japan]] [[2019 Japanese imperial transition|abdicates]] from his [[Chrysanthemum Throne|throne]], the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in almost two centuries. The abdication ends the [[Heisei]] [[Japanese era names|era of Japan]] and ushers in the [[Reiwa|Reiwa era]] with new emperor [[Naruhito]] ascending to the throne on [[May 1]].
* [[July 16]] – The [[European Parliament]] elects [[Ursula von der Leyen]] as the new [[president of the European Commission]].
* [[December 10]] – [[Sanna Marin]], at the age of 34, becomes the world's youngest serving prime minister after being selected to lead [[Finland]]'s [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]].
* [[December 18]] – President [[Donald Trump]] is [[First impeachment of Donald Trump|impeached]] by the [[United States House of Representatives]].
* [[December 31]] – The first known case of [[COVID-19]] is reported in [[Wuhan]], [[China]]; the disease would rapidly proliferate into a [[COVID-19 pandemic|global pandemic]] throughout the next three months.<ref name="Novel Coronavirus—China">{{cite web |title=WHO {{!}} Novel Coronavirus—China |url=https://www.who.int/csr/don/12-january-2020-novel-coronavirus-china/en/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114185815/https://www.who.int/csr/don/12-january-2020-novel-coronavirus-china/en/ |archive-date=14 January 2020 |website=WHO |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="5days">{{cite web|title=Covid-19: Five days that shaped the outbreak|first=Jane|last=McMullen|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-55756452|date=25 January 2021|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126021655/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-55756452|url-status=live}}</ref>

===[[2020s]]===
[[File:George Floyd Miami Protest, June 7, 2020 17.jpg|thumb|[[George Floyd protests]] in Miami during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in June 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Did Floyd Protests Lead to a Virus Surge? Here's What We Know |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/nyregion/nyc-coronavirus-protests.html |work=The New York Times |date=1 July 2020 |access-date=8 July 2020 |archive-date=18 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218060527/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/nyregion/nyc-coronavirus-protests.html |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
[[File:Joe Biden presidential portrait.jpg|thumb|[[Joe Biden]], the 46th and current [[president of the United States]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Biden Wins Presidency, According To AP, Edging Trump In Turbulent Race|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/11/07/928803493/biden-wins-presidency-according-to-ap-edging-trump-in-turbulent-race|access-date=2020-11-07|newspaper=NPR|date=7 November 2020|language=en|last1=Detrow|first1=Scott|last2=Khalid|first2=Asma|archive-date=25 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225155245/https://www.npr.org/2020/11/07/928803493/biden-wins-presidency-according-to-ap-edging-trump-in-turbulent-race|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
[[File:2021 storming of the United States Capitol 09 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[January 6 United States Capitol attack]]]]
[[File:Taliban Humvee in Kabul, August 2021 (cropped).png|thumb|[[Fall of Kabul (2021)|Fall of Kabul]]]]
[[File:Destruction of Russian tanks by Ukrainian troops in Mariupol (4).jpg|thumb|[[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]]]]
[[File:20220908-Buckingham Palace Elizabeth II death reactions (07).jpg|thumb|Crowds at [[Buckingham Palace]] following the [[death of Elizabeth II]]]]
[[File:Corpo de Bento XVI em câmara ardente.(2).png|thumb|[[Death and funeral of Pope Benedict XVI]]]]
[[File:Invasão do prédio do Congresso Nacional (52616674782).jpg|thumb|[[2023 Brazilian Congress attack]]]]
[[File:Collage of 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.jpg|thumb|[[2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake]]]]
[[File:3003 West Tasman Drive entrance 2, Santa Clara, California.jpg|thumb|[[Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank]]]]
[[File:2023 Coronation Balcony.jpg|thumb|[[Coronation of Charles III and Camilla]]]]
[[File:Prigozhin rebellion Rostov tank with flowers in the muzzle June 24.jpg|thumb|[[Wagner Group rebellion]]]]
[[File:Buildings in Gaza Strip being levelled by Israeli missiles (cropped).png|thumb |[[2023 Israel–Hamas war]]]]

====2020====
* [[January 3]] – A U.S. [[Assassination of Qasem Soleimani|drone strike]] at [[Baghdad International Airport]] kills [[Iran]]ian general [[Qasem Soleimani]] and Iraqi paramilitary leader [[Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis]]. Five days later, Iran carries out [[Operation Martyr Soleimani|retaliatory missile strikes]] on U.S. bases in [[Iraq]], while [[Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752]] is shot down by the [[IRGC]] after being mistaken for an American cruise missile.
* [[January 2]] – The [[Royal Australian Air Force]] and [[Royal Australian Navy|Navy]] are deployed to [[New South Wales]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] to assist mass evacuation efforts amidst the [[2019–20 Australian bushfire season]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Military moves in to help mass evacuation from Australian bushfires|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-wildfires-jan1-1.5412274|access-date=November 15, 2020|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223165119/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-wildfires-jan1-1.5412274|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Marnie |first1=O'Neill |title=Half a billion animals perish in bushfires |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/half-a-billion-animals-perish-in-bushfires/news-story/b316adb4f3af7b1c8464cf186ab9f52c |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=News.com.au |date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103031916/https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/half-a-billion-animals-perish-in-bushfires/news-story/b316adb4f3af7b1c8464cf186ab9f52c |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 3]] –  A United States [[Assassination of Qasem Soleimani|drone strike]] at [[Baghdad International Airport]] kills ten people, including the intended target, Iranian general [[Qasem Soleimani]], and Iraqi paramilitary leader [[Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-militia-official-killed-us-iran-tensions-1480181|title=Iraq Militia Officials, Iran's QUDS Force Head Killed in U.S. Drone Strike|last1=O'Connor|first1=Tom|last2=Laporta|first2=James|date=January 2, 2020|work=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103030530/https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-militia-official-killed-us-iran-tensions-1480181|archive-date=January 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 5]] 
** [[Second Libyan Civil War]]: President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] announces the [[Turkish military intervention in the Second Libyan Civil War|deployment]] of Turkish troops to Libya on behalf of the [[United Nations]]-backed [[Government of National Accord]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/turkish-troops-deploy-to-libya-to-prop-up-embattled-government|title=Turkish troops deploy to Libya to prop up embattled government|date=January 5, 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106000833/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/turkish-troops-deploy-to-libya-to-prop-up-embattled-government|archive-date=January 6, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[2019–20 Croatian presidential election]]: The second round of voting is held and [[Zoran Milanović]] of the [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia]] defeats [[incumbent]] [[President of Croatia|president]] [[Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 6, 2020 |title=Croatia elects centre-left challenger Zoran Milanovic as president |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51006754 |access-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408145737/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51006754 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 8]]
**[[Iran]] [[Operation Martyr Soleimani|launches ballistic missiles]] at two [[Iraq]]i military bases hosting [[American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present)|U.S. soldiers]], injuring over 100 personnel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.trust.org/item/20200117170342-xr08c|title=Pentagon denies trying to underplay injuries from Iran attack|agency=Reuters|date=January 17, 2020|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118042701/http://news.trust.org/item/20200117170342-xr08c|archive-date=January 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
**[[Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752]] is shot down by Iranian forces shortly after takeoff from [[Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport]], killing all 176 people on board.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 8, 2020 |title=Boeing 737 plane crashes in Iran |url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108104442/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 9]]
** A rare, [[circumbinary planet]] called [[TOI 1338|TOI 1338-b]] is discovered.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/york-teen-discovers-planet-interning-nasa/story?id=68169897 |title=New York teen discovers new planet while interning with NASA |first=Ivan |last=Pereira |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110164740/https://abcnews.go.com/US/york-teen-discovers-planet-interning-nasa/story?id=68169897 |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |work=ABC News |date=January 9, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[Islamic State in the Greater Sahara]] militants [[Battle of Chinagodrar|assault]] a [[Niger]]ien military base in [[Chinagodrar, Niger|Chinagodrar]], killing at least 89 [[Niger Armed Forces|Nigerien soldiers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-security/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-niger-army-base-attack-idUSKBN1ZD1ZZ|work=Reuters|title=Islamic State claims responsibility for Niger army base attack|date=January 14, 2020|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115034731/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-security/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-niger-army-base-attack-idUSKBN1ZD1ZZ|archive-date=January 15, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 10]] – [[Haitham bin Tariq]] succeeds [[Qaboos bin Said]] as the [[Sultan of Oman]].<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50902476|title = Sultan Qaboos of Oman dies aged 79|date = January 11, 2020|access-date = January 11, 2020|work = [[BBC News]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200115183138/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50902476|archive-date = January 15, 2020|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Oman's new ruler Haitham bin Tariq takes oath: newspapers |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oman-sultan-successor-media/omans-new-ruler-haitham-bin-tariq-takes-oath-newspapers-idUSKCN1ZA078 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |work=Reuters |date=January 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111063255/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oman-sultan-successor-media/omans-new-ruler-haitham-bin-tariq-takes-oath-newspapers-idUSKCN1ZA078 |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 11]] – [[2020 Taiwanese presidential election|Presidential]] and [[2020 Taiwanese legislative election|legislative elections]] are held in [[Taiwan]]. [[Incumbent]] [[President of the Republic of China|president]] [[Tsai Ing-wen]] is reelected and the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] wins a majority of 67 out of 113 seats in the [[Legislative Yuan]].<ref>{{cite web |date=January 11, 2020 |title=Taiwan election: Tsai Ing-Wen wins landslide in rebuke to China |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/taiwan-re-elects-tsai-ing-wen-as-president-in-clear-message-to-china |access-date=February 28, 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203042957/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/taiwan-re-elects-tsai-ing-wen-as-president-in-clear-message-to-china |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 11, 2020 |title=Taiwan opposition candidate admits defeat in presidential election |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-opposition-idUSKBN1ZA0HJ |access-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122200159/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-opposition-idUSKBN1ZA0HJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vote.nccu.edu.tw/engcec/B202000E.PDF |title=Election Result By Parties Votes For The 10th Regional Legislators Elections (National Level Public Officials Election-Taiwan, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128114956/https://vote.nccu.edu.tw/engcec/B202000E.PDF |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref>
* [[January 31]] – The [[United Kingdom]] becomes the first member state to [[Brexit|leave]] the [[European Union]].
* [[March]] – Beginning of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|worldwide pandemic]] of [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]], the virus which causes [[COVID-19]]. [[Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic|Widespread economic disruption]], including a [[2020 stock market crash|stock market crash]], occurred during the pandemic.
* [[April 6]] – The [[United States]] designates the [[Russian Imperial Movement]] as a [[Terrorism in Russia|terrorist]] organization and imposes sanctions on its leaders; it is the first [[White supremacy|white supremacist]] group the U.S. has [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist|designated]] as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 6, 2020|title=In a first, US slaps sanctions on Russian white supremacists|url=https://apnews.com/4f5dfda48d9f13876af828757c85d852|access-date=June 3, 2020|website=AP NEWS}}</ref>
* [[May 26]] – [[George Floyd protests|Protests]] break out following the [[murder of George Floyd]] across [[List of George Floyd protests in the United States|hundreds of cities in the United States]] and even smaller ones [[List of George Floyd protests outside the United States|outside the US]]. [[Derek Chauvin]], the officer responsible for Floyd's murder, would ultimately be [[State v. Chauvin|convicted]] on two counts of murder and one of manslaughter in the wake of the protests.
* [[June 30]] – [[China]] passes the controversial [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|Hong Kong national security law]], allowing China to crack down on opposition to Beijing at home or abroad.
* [[August 11]] – [[Kamala Harris]] becomes the Democratic Party's nominee for vice-president of the United States, making her the first [[African Americans|African-American]], the first [[Asian Americans|Asian-American]] and the third female vice presidential running mate on a major party ticket.
* [[August 18]] – A mutiny in a military base by soldiers of the [[Malian Armed Forces]] develops into [[2020 Malian coup d'état|a coup d'état]]. [[President of Mali|President]] [[Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta]] and [[Prime Minister of Mali|Prime Minister]] [[Boubou Cissé]], among other senior governmental and military officers, are forced to resign.
* [[September 4]] – [[Kosovo–Serbia relations|Kosovo and Serbia]] announce that they will [[2020 Kosovo–Serbia agreement|normalize economic relations]].
* [[November 3]] – [[Joe Biden]] is [[2020 United States presidential election|elected]] as the 46th president of the United States, and [[Kamala Harris]] is elected as vice-president. Biden is the oldest person elected to a first term.
* [[November 15]]: [[President of Kyrgyzstan]] [[Sooronbay Jeenbekov]] resigns from office after weeks of [[2020 Kyrgyzstan protests|massive protests]] in the wake of the [[October 2020 Kyrgyz parliamentary election|October 2020 parliamentary election]]; opposition leader [[Sadyr Japarov]] assumes office as both the acting president and [[Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan]].
* The [[Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership|Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)]] is signed by 15 [[Asia-Pacific]] countries to form the world's largest free-trade bloc, covering a third of the world's population.
* [[Prime Minister of Sudan|Sudanese Prime Minister]] [[Abdalla Hamdok]] and [[Abdelaziz al-Hilu]], the leader of the [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North]] (SPLM–N), sign an agreement to transition [[Sudan|the country]] into a [[secular state]].
* A [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] fact-finding mission formally accuses the [[Government of Venezuela|Venezuelan government]] of [[crimes against humanity]], including cases of killings, torture, violence against political opposition and disappearances since 2014. President [[Nicolás Maduro]] and other senior Venezuelan officials are among those implicated in the charges.
* [[Israel]], [[Sudan]], [[Morocco]], the [[United Arab Emirates]] and [[Bahrain]] sign agreements to formally normalise [[International relations|diplomatic relations]].
* [[Azerbaijan]] launches a [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war|successful military campaign]] against [[Armenians|Armenian]] forces to take back the disputed [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] region. [[Turkey]] sends [[Syrian National Army|Syrian mercenaries]] to assist in this endeavor, and [[Russia]] ends the conflict by deploying peacekeepers.
* [[North Korea]] demolishes the [[Inter-Korean Liaison Office]] in [[Kaesong]], established in [[2018]] to improve relations.
* The [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon]] convicts ''[[Trial in absentia|in absentia]]'' Salim Ayyash, a senior member of [[Hezbollah]], for the 2005 [[Assassination of Rafic Hariri|assassination]] of former [[Prime Minister of Lebanon|Prime Minister]] [[Rafic Hariri]].
* [[Prime Minister of Japan|Japanese Prime Minister]] [[Shinzo Abe]], the [[List of prime ministers of Japan|longest-serving prime minister]] in the [[history of Japan]], announces his pending resignation from office, citing ill health, he was replaced by [[Yoshihide Suga]] and [[Fumio Kishida]].
* The [[Emir of Kuwait]] [[Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah|Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah]] dies at the age of 91. Crown Prince [[Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]] is named his successor.
* The [[EU]] launches legal action against the UK, accusing it of breaking international law by overriding sections of the [[Brexit]] [[Brexit withdrawal agreement|withdrawal agreement]].
* In the [[2020 New Caledonian independence referendum]], [[New Caledonia]] votes against independence from France.

====2021====
* [[January 1]] – The [[African Continental Free Trade Area]] comes into effect.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/1/after-months-of-covid-delays-african-free-trade-bloc-launches |title=After months of COVID delays, African free trade bloc launches |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=1 January 2021|access-date=3 January 2021}}</ref>
* [[January 6]] – [[2021 storming of the United States Capitol|Pro-Trump rioters storm the US Capitol]], disrupting the Congressional certification of United States President-elect [[Joe Biden]]. Trump is [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|impeached a second time]] a week later for his role in the storming, making him the first US federal official to be impeached more than once and the first president to have his [[Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump|trial]] occur after his tenure expired.
* [[January 20]] – [[Joe Biden]] and [[Kamala Harris]] are [[Inauguration of Joe Biden|inaugurated]] as the 46th and 49th [[President of the United States|President]] and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] of the United States. Harris becomes the first Black, South Asian and female Vice President.
* [[January 22]] – The [[Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]], the first legally binding international agreement comprehensively to prohibit nuclear weapons, comes into effect.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082702|title=Guterres hails entry into force of treaty banning nuclear weapons|date=22 January 2021|website=UN News|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424161740/https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082702|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 26]] – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeds 100 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 January 2021|title=COVID-19: 100 million coronavirus cases recorded worldwide – a year after virus first officially diagnosed|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-100-million-coronavirus-cases-recorded-worldwide-a-year-after-virus-first-officially-diagnosed-12191487|work=Sky News|access-date=27 January 2021|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214220316/https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-100-million-coronavirus-cases-recorded-worldwide-a-year-after-virus-first-officially-diagnosed-12191487|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 29]] – COVID-19 pandemic: The European Union invokes [[Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol]] following a row over [[COVID-19 vaccine]] supplies before reversing the decision.<ref>{{cite news |title=What is Article 16 and why did the EU make a U-turn after triggering it? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-article-16-and-why-did-the-eu-make-a-u-turn-after-triggering-it-12202915 |date=31 January 2021 |access-date=2 February 2021 |agency=Sky News |archive-date=September 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926081208/https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-article-16-and-why-did-the-eu-make-a-u-turn-after-triggering-it-12202915 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[February 1]] – A [[2021 Myanmar coup d'état|coup d'état]] in [[Myanmar]] removes [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] from power and restores [[Tatmadaw|military]] rule.<ref>{{cite web |title=Military takes control of Myanmar; Suu Kyi reported detained |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/reports-military-coup-myanmar-suu-kyi-detained-75602314 |website=ABC |access-date=1 February 2021 |date=1 February 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303001114/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/reports-military-coup-myanmar-suu-kyi-detained-75602314 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[February 18]] – [[NASA]]'s [[Mars 2020]] mission (containing the ''[[Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'' rover and ''[[Mars Helicopter Ingenuity|Ingenuity]]'' helicopter drone) lands on [[Mars]] at [[Jezero (crater)|Jezero Crater]], after seven months of travel.<ref>{{cite web|last=mars.nasa.gov|title=Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=mars.nasa.gov|language=en|archive-date=4 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604025605/https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[April 30]] – [[June 13]] – A [[2021 Meron crowd crush|crush]] during a pilgrimage on [[Lag BaOmer]], renewed violence during the [[2021 Israel-Palestine crisis]] and continuing problems with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Israel]] precede the [[2021 Israeli presidential election]]. Amidst the election, [[Naftali Bennett]] and [[Yair Lapid]] agree to a rotation government, [[Thirty-sixth government of Israel|first]] headed by Bennett, in order to oust [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] as [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]] as the month of crises is the culmination of scandals and corruption, including financial criminal charges, during Netanyahu's record long tenure.
* [[June 5]] – The [[G7]] agrees on a global [[minimum corporate tax rate]] of 15% intended to prevent [[tax avoidance]] by some of the world's biggest multinationals.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-06-05|title=G7: Rich nations back deal to tax multinationals|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-57368247|access-date=2021-06-05}}</ref>
* [[June 7]] – The ''[[Juno (spacecraft)|Juno]]'' spacecraft performs its only flyby of [[Jupiter]]'s moon [[Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]], the first flyby of the moon by any spacecraft in over 20 years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Agle |first1=D.C. |last2=Fox |first2=Karen |last3=Johnson |first3=Alana |last4=Schmid |first4=Deb |title=NASA's Juno to Get a Close Look at Jupiter's Moon Ganymede |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-s-juno-to-get-a-close-look-at-jupiter-s-moon-ganymede |website=[[NASA]] |access-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603202011/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-s-juno-to-get-a-close-look-at-jupiter-s-moon-ganymede/ |archive-date=3 June 2021 |date=3 June 2021 |quote=On Monday, June 7 [...] NASA's Juno spacecraft will come within 645 miles (1,038 kilometers) of the surface of Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede. The flyby will be the closest a spacecraft has come to the solar system's largest natural satellite since NASA's Galileo spacecraft made its penultimate close approach back on May 20, 2000. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=NASA extends Juno, turning spacecraft into an Io, Europa, and Ganymede explorer |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/nasa-extends-missions-to-jupiter-and-mars-expect-lots-of-jovian-moon-flybys/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |access-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603202029/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/nasa-extends-missions-to-jupiter-and-mars-expect-lots-of-jovian-moon-flybys/ |archive-date=3 June 2021 |date=12 January 2021 |quote=As part of a research plan submitted by Scott Bolton, Juno's principal investigator, the spacecraft will fly to within 1,000km of the surface of Ganymede... |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[July 7]] – President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, is [[Assassination of Jovenel Moïse|assassinated]] in a midnight attack by unknown mercenaries.
* [[August 15]] – The Taliban [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|regain control of Kabul]] after US forces and the [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|republican government]] flee Afghanistan, marking the end of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] after nearly 20 years.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 August 2021 |title=Afghanistan conflict: Kabul falls to Taliban as president flees |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58223231 |work=BBC News |access-date=16 August 2021 |archive-date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816071218/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58223231 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[November 30]] – [[Barbados]] becomes a republic by replacing [[Elizabeth II]] as Queen with [[Sandra Mason]] as [[President of Barbados|president]] in the role of head of state.
* [[December 25]] – [[NASA]], [[European Space Agency|ESA]], the [[Canadian Space Agency]] and the [[Space Telescope Science Institute]] launch the [[James Webb Space Telescope]], the successor of the [[Hubble Space Telescope]].

====2022====
* [[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.<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 February 2022|title=China joins Russia in opposing Nato expansion|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-60257080|access-date=7 February 2022|archive-date=7 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207051810/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-60257080|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[February 4]] – [[February 20|20]] – The [[2022 Winter Olympics]] are held in [[Beijing]], China, making it the first city ever to host both the [[Summer Olympic Games|Summer Olympics]] and [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=2022 Olympics – Next Winter Olympic Games {{!}} Beijing 2022|url=https://www.olympic.org/beijing-2022|date=May 28, 2020|website=International Olympic Committee|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-date=27 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227173804/https://www.olympic.org/beijing-2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[February 24]] – After a prolonged [[Prelude to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|military buildup]], Russia launches an [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion]] of Ukraine.
* [[June 24]] – The Supreme Court [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|rules]] that the [[Constitution of the United States]] does not confer a right to abortion, thus overruling the 1973 case ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', and its related 1992 case ''[[Planned Parenthood v. Casey]]''. [[2022–2023 abortion protests|Protests erupt across nearly every major city]] in the United States.
* [[July 8]] – Former [[Prime Minister of Japan]] [[Shinzo Abe]] is [[Assassination of Shinzo Abe|assassinated]] while giving a public speech in the city of [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], Japan.
* [[September 8]] – [[Elizabeth II]], the [[List of monarchs in Britain by length of reign|longest reigning British monarch]] and [[List of longest-reigning monarchs|longest reigning female monarch]] [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|dies]], and is succeeded by [[Charles III]], her eldest child.
* [[October 29]] – At least 158 people are killed and another 197 injured in a [[Seoul Halloween crowd crush|crowd crush]] during Halloween festivities in Seoul, South Korea.
* [[October 30]] – [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]] is [[2022 Brazilian general election|elected]] as the 39th president of [[Brazil]], after defeating incumbent [[Jair Bolsonaro]], becoming the first Brazilian president to be elected for a third term.
* [[November 24]] – Long-time [[Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)|opposition leader]] [[Anwar Ibrahim]] is appointed by [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] [[Abdullah of Pahang|Abdullah]] as [[Prime Minister of Malaysia]].
* [[December 7]] – The [[Congress of the Republic of Peru|Congress]] of [[Peru]] removes [[President of Peru|President]] [[Pedro Castillo]] from office and arrests him after he tries to dissolve congress in a [[2022 Peruvian self-coup attempt|coup attempt]], Vice President [[Dina Boluarte]] succeeds him, leading to [[Peruvian protests (2022–present)|large protests]] against Boluarte and in favor of Castillo to erupt.
* [[December 19]] – At the [[2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference|UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15)]], nearly 200 countries agree a landmark deal to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/19/cop15-historic-deal-signed-to-halt-biodiversity-loss-by-2030-aoe | title=Cop15: historic deal struck to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 | work=The Guardian |date=19 December 2022|access-date=19 December 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64019324 | title=COP15: Nations reach 'historic' deal to protect nature | work=BBC News |date=19 December 2022|access-date=19 December 2022 }}</ref>
* [[December 29]] – [[Brazil national football team|Brazilian]] [[association football|football]] legend [[Pelé]] dies at the age of 82.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazilian football legend Pele dies at age 82 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/29/brazilian-football-legend-pele-dies-aged-82 |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[December 31]] – [[Pope Benedict XVI|Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI]], who served from 2005 until his resignation in 2013, [[Death and funeral of Pope Benedict XVI|dies]] at the age of 95.

====2023====
* [[January 1]] – [[Croatia]] adopts the [[euro]] and joins the [[Schengen Area]], becoming the 20th member state of the [[Eurozone]] and the 27th member of the Schengen Area. This is the first enlargement of the Eurozone since [[Lithuania]]'s entry in [[2015]], and the first enlargement of the Schengen Area since [[Liechtenstein]]'s entry in [[2011]].<ref>{{cite web |date=July 12, 2022 |title=Croatia set to join the euro area on 1 January 2023: Council adopts final required legal acts |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/07/12/croatia-set-to-join-the-euro-area-on-1-january-2023-council-adopts-final-required-legal-acts/ |access-date=July 16, 2022 |website=European Council/Council of the European Union |archive-date=July 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725212627/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/07/12/croatia-set-to-join-the-euro-area-on-1-january-2023-council-adopts-final-required-legal-acts/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="currency">{{cite web |last=Buckley |first=Julia |title=This popular European country just got a new currency |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/croatia-joins-euro-zone-schengen/index.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=CNN |date=January 2, 2023  |archive-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103001950/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/croatia-joins-euro-zone-schengen/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 3]] – Starting from this date, many countries impose travel restrictions on travel from China due to the relaxation of [[Chinese government response to COVID-19|the country's zero-COVID policy]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-01-12 |title=COVID restrictions ramp up as international travel from China resumes |url=https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/01/12/china-resumes-international-travel-which-countries-are-introducing-new-covid-restrictions |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=euronews |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116223816/https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/01/12/china-resumes-international-travel-which-countries-are-introducing-new-covid-restrictions |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 8]] – Supporters of former [[President of Brazil|Brazilian president]] [[Jair Bolsonaro]] [[2023 Brazilian Congress attack|storm]] the Brazilian [[National Congress of Brazil|National Congress]], the [[Supreme Federal Court]] and the [[Palácio do Planalto|Presidential Palace of Planalto]].
* [[February 1]] – [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] [[quarterback]] [[Tom Brady]] announces his retirement from the [[National Football League|NFL]].
* [[February 3]]: The US announces it is tracking [[2023 Chinese balloon incident|alleged Chinese spy balloons]] over the Americas, with one drifting from Yukon to [[South Carolina]] before being shot down the next day, and a second hovering over Colombia and Brazil. This event is followed by subsequent [[List of high-altitude object events in 2023|detections and shootdowns of high-altitude objects]] elsewhere.
* [[February 6]] – Two [[2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake|earthquakes]] strike southern [[Turkey]], the first 7.8 ({{M|ww|link=y}}) in Gaziantep Province and the other 7.5 {{M|ww}} in Kahramanmaraş Province, causing widespread damage and at least 58,000 deaths in [[Turkey]] and [[Syria]], with more than 120,000 injured.<ref>{{cite news |date=2023-02-06 |title=Earthquake Kills More Than 110 People in Turkey, Syria |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-06/magnitude-7-7-earthquake-strikes-in-turkey-gfz |access-date=2023-02-06 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206014835/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-06/magnitude-7-7-earthquake-strikes-in-turkey-gfz |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=Powerful quake kills at least 360 people in Turkey, Syria |url=https://apnews.com/article/earthquake-shakes-turkey-b927808f6a5c54bdb669120faa40b7bc |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=AP NEWS |language=en |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206020324/https://apnews.com/article/earthquake-shakes-turkey-b927808f6a5c54bdb669120faa40b7bc |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[February 7]] – [[LeBron James]] breaks the [[List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders|all time NBA scoring record]], scoring 38,388 points. The record was previously held by Hall of Famer [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]].
* [[February 21]] – Vladimir Putin announces that Russia is suspending its participation in [[New START]], a nuclear arms reduction treaty with the US.
* [[February 27]] – The United Kingdom and the European Union reach a [[Windsor Framework|new agreement]] surrounding modifications to the [[Northern Ireland Protocol]].
* [[March 4]] –  UN member states agree on a legal framework for the [[High Seas Treaty]], which aims to protect 30% of the world's [[oceans]] by 2030.
* [[March 10]]:
** The [[National People's Congress]] unanimously re-elects [[Xi Jinping]] as the [[President of the People's Republic of China]] to an unprecedented third term.
** [[Iran]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] agree to resume diplomatic relations which were severed in 2016 at talks meditated by [[China]].
* [[March 17]] – The [[International Criminal Court]] issues [[Vladimir Putin arrest warrant|an arrest warrant]] for Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]], the first against a [[Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council|permanent member]] of the [[United Nations Security Council]].
* [[March 19]] – In a deal brokered by the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Swiss government]], investment bank [[UBS]] [[Acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS|agrees to buy]] [[Credit Suisse]] for {{CHF|link=yes|ISO=yes}} 3 billion ({{USD|3.2 billion}}) in an all-stock deal.
* [[March 20]] – The [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (IPCC) releases the synthesis report of its [[IPCC Sixth Assessment Report|Sixth Assessment Report]] on [[climate change]].
* [[March 23]] – [[World Athletics]], the global governing body for athletics, bans [[trans women]] who have gone through male [[puberty]] from competing in female events.
* [[March 26]]:
** [[Honduras]] switches its formal [[One China|diplomatic recognition of "China"]] from the [[Taiwan|Republic of China]] to the [[China|People's Republic of China]].
** [[2023 Israeli judicial reform protests|Large-scale spontaneous protests erupt]] across [[Israel]] in the wake of Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] firing his defence minister who spoke against the government's [[2023 Israeli judicial reform|judicial overhaul plan]].
* [[March 29]]: [[Brazil]] and [[China]] sign an agreement to trade in their own currencies, ceasing the usage of the [[United States dollar]] as an intermediary.
* [[March 30]]:
** Former U.S. president [[Donald Trump]] is [[Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York|indicted]] by a [[New York City]] [[grand jury]], the first such indictment of a former President in U.S. history.
** The [[International Court of Justice]] rules that the [[United States]] violated its [[Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights|Treaty of Amity]] with [[Iran]] when it allowed its domestic courts to freeze assets held by Iranian companies.
* [[April 4]] – [[Finland]] becomes the 31st member of [[NATO]], doubling the Western alliance's border with Russia.
* [[April 14]] – [[Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer]] (JUICE) is launched by the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) to search for life in the [[Moons of Jupiter|Jovian system]], with an expected arrival date of 2031.
* [[April 15]]:
** [[Nuclear power in Germany]] ends after the closure of the final power plants and nuclear being a power source for the country for over 50 years.
** [[2023 Sudan conflict|Fighting]] breaks out across [[Sudan]] between the [[Sudanese Armed Forces]] and the paramilitary [[Rapid Support Forces]]. The RSF captures [[Khartoum International Airport]], and the [[Presidential Palace, Khartoum|presidential palace]] in [[Khartoum]].
* [[May 1]] – San Francisco-based [[First Republic Bank]] fails and is auctioned off by the US [[Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation|FDIC]] to [[JPMorgan Chase]] for $10.7 billion The collapse surpasses March's collapse of Silicon Valley Bank to become the second largest in US history.
* [[May 5]] – [[World Health Organization]] declares end of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] global health emergency.
* [[May 6]]: The [[coronation of Charles III and Camilla]] as [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|King]] and [[List of British royal consorts|Queen]] of the [[United Kingdom]] and the other [[Commonwealth realm]]s is held in [[Westminster Abbey]], [[London]].
* [[May 7]] – [[Syria]] is readmitted into the [[Arab League]] after being suspended since [[2011]].
* [[May 9]] – A Manhattan-based federal civil jury finds that former president [[Donald Trump]] [[E. Jean Carroll litigation against Donald Trump|sexually abused and defamed writer]] [[E. Jean Carroll]] in 1996, awarding her $5 million in damages.
* [[May 12]] – The [[Title 42 expulsion]] policy expires at midnight, creating a question about whether a new immigration policy would be formed as a replacement. This comes as a surge of migrants gather at the U.S southern border.
* [[May 25]] – [[Russia]] and [[Belarus]] sign an agreement in [[Minsk]] allowing the stationing of Russian [[tactical nuclear weapon]]s on Belarusian territory.
* [[June 6]]: [[Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant|Nova Kakhovka dam]] in the [[Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast|Russian-controlled]] [[Oblasts of Ukraine|region]] of [[Kherson Oblast|Kherson]] is [[Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam|destroyed]], threatening the region with devastating floodwaters.
* [[June 8]] – Former U.S. president [[Donald Trump]] is [[Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (classified documents case)|indicted]] by [[Smith special counsel investigation|Jack Smith's special counsel]] over [[FBI investigation into Donald Trump's handling of government documents|mishandling of classified documents]] found at the [[FBI search of Mar-a-Lago]].
* [[June 12]] – [[Eritrea]] rejoins the [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development]] [[trade bloc]] after suspending its membership in 2007.
* [[June 14]]: Scientists report the creation of the first synthetic [[Human embryonic development|human embryo]] from [[stem cell]]s, without the need for [[sperm]] or [[egg]] cells.
* [[June 18]] – All five crew members of ''Titan'', a deep-sea [[submersible]] exploring the [[Wreck of the Titanic|wreck]] of the [[RMS Titanic|''Titanic'']], are killed following a [[Titan submersible implosion|catastrophic implosion of the vessel]].
* [[June 19]]: The [[United Nations General Assembly]] unanimously adopts the [[High Seas Treaty]], the first [[treaty]] aimed towards [[marine conservation]] in [[international waters]].
* [[June 23]] – The [[Wagner group]] launches a [[Wagner Group rebellion|rebellion]] against the Russian government.
* [[June 27]]:
** [[Nahel Merzouk protests|Riots]] break out across France after the [[Killing of Nahel Merzouk|murder]] of teenager of Algerian descent Nahel Merzoukh by a police officer.
** The Supreme Court rules 6–3 in ''[[Moore v. Harper]]'' against the implementation of the [[independent state legislature theory]].
* [[June 29]] – The Supreme Court rules that [[affirmative action]] in university admissions violates the [[Equal Protection Clause]] in the [[Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|14th Amendment]]. The court rules 6–3 in both ''[[Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina]]'' and ''[[Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard]]''.
* [[June 30]] – The [[United Nations Security Council]] votes unanimously to end [[MINUSMA]], its peacekeeping mission in [[Mali]].
* [[July 4]] – [[Iran]] joins the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]], becoming the organization's ninth member.
* [[July 5]] – [[Meta Platforms]] launches [[Threads (app)|Threads]] as a direct competitor to [[Twitter]].
* [[July 10]]:The [[European Commission]] and the [[U.S. government]] sign a new [[data communication]] [[Multilateral treaty|agreement]] aimed at resolving [[Legal certainty|legal uncertainties]] that European and American companies face when transferring [[personal data]].
* [[July 11]] – [[Leslie Van Houten]], a former member of the [[Manson Family]], is released on [[parole]] after serving more than fifty years in prison.
* [[July 14]] – [[SAG-AFTRA]] announces it will begin [[2023 SAG-AFTRA strike|an ongoing strike]] against the major film and TV studios in protest of low compensation, ownership of work, and [[generative AI]].
* [[August 1]]:
** Former U.S. president [[Donald Trump]] is [[Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (election obstruction case)|indicted]] for a third time by a grand jury for his [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|attempts to overturn the 2020 election]] and the subsequent [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|January 6 attack]].
** The world's [[Ocean temperature|oceans]] reach a new record high temperature of 20.96&nbsp;°C, exceeding the previous record in 2016. July is also confirmed as having been the hottest month on record for globally averaged [[Temperature measurement#Surface air temperature|surface air temperatures]] by a considerable margin (0.3&nbsp;°C).
* [[August 8]] – 13,000 acres of land are burned and 53 people are killed when a series of [[2023 Hawaii wildfires|wildfires]] break out on the island of [[Maui]] in [[Hawaii]].
* [[August 11]] – The [[United States]] recorded its highest number of [[suicide]]s in 2022, with 49,449 people taking their own lives, making it the deadliest suicide rate in the country since [[World War II]].
* [[August 14]] – Former U.S. president [[Donald Trump]] is [[Georgia election racketeering prosecution|indicted]] in [[Atlanta]] on 13 counts including [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act|racketeering]] for his attempts to overturn President Biden's [[2020 United States presidential election in Georgia|victory in Georgia]] during the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 election]]. Indictments are also announced against 18 Trump associates.
* [[August 18]] – The [[United States]], [[Japan]], and [[South Korea]] agree to sign a [[American–Japanese–Korean trilateral pact|trilateral pact]].
* [[August 23]]:
** India's [[Chandrayaan-3]] becomes the first spacecraft to land near the [[Lunar south pole|south pole]] of the [[Moon]].
** [[Wagner Group]] leader [[Yevgeny Prigozhin]] and founder [[Dmitry Utkin]] are killed when their plane [[2023 Wagner Group plane crash|crashes]] outside of Moscow, killing eight others.
* [[August 30]] – In the hours following the announcement of incumbent president [[Ali Bongo Ondimba]]'s reelection as [[President of Gabon|President]] of [[Gabon]] after the [[2023 Gabonese general election|2023 presidential election]], the [[Armed Forces of Gabon|military]] launches [[2023 Gabonese coup d'état|a successful coup d'état]] and creates the [[Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions]] to govern the country, ending the rule of the Bongo family after 56 years in power.
* [[September 2]] – The [[ISRO|Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]] successfully launches [[Aditya-L1]], India's first solar observation mission.
* [[September 8]] – [[2023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake|A 6.9 magnitude earthquake]] strikes [[Marrakesh-Safi]] province in western [[Morocco]], killing at least 2,862 people and damaging historic buildings.
* [[September 9]]:
** At the [[2023 G20 New Delhi summit|18th G20 summit]] in [[New Delhi]], the [[African Union]] is announced as the 21st permanent member of the [[G20]].
** [[Coco Gauff]] wins the [[2023 US Open – Women's singles|women's singles]] in the [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]], making her the first teenager to win the title since [[Serena Williams]] in 1999.
* [[September 10]] – [[Storm Daniel]], a [[Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone]] makes landfall in [[Libya]], killing at least 5,000 people, with Libyan authorities announcing between 10,000 and 100,000 missing. In the city of [[Derna, Libya|Derna]] in [[Libya]], two dams collapsed, resulting in a quarter of the city being destroyed.
* [[September 14]] – The [[European Central Bank]] (ECB) raises [[eurozone]] interest rates to an all-time high of 4%, amid ongoing inflationary pressures across the continent.
* [[September 15]] – The [[United Auto Workers]] (UAW) begin [[2023 United Auto Workers strike|a strike]] against the big three American automakers of [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[General Motors]], and [[Stellantis]].
* [[September 19]] – [[Azerbaijan]] launches [[2023 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes|a military offensive]] against the [[Armenia]]-backed [[Republic of Artsakh]].
* [[September 20]] – Archaeologists in [[Zambia]] find the world's oldest wooden structure, dating back to 476,000 years.
* [[September 21]] – [[Rupert Murdoch]] announces his retirement and passes his businesses on to his son [[Lachlan Murdoch|Lachlan]]. Murdoch led [[News Corp]] and [[Fox Corporation|Fox]], and formerly [[Sky Group]].
* [[September 24]]: French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] announces that France will end its military presence in Niger and will remove its ambassador from the country.
* [[September 25]]: The United States recognizes the [[Cook Islands]] and [[Niue]] as sovereign states, establishing formal relations between both Pacific island countries.
* [[September 28]] – [[President of Artsakh]] [[Samvel Shahramanyan]] signs a decree that will dissolve all [[Government of Artsakh|state institutions of Artsakh]] by 1 January 2024, bringing an end to the breakaway state.
* [[September 29]] – Sixty-year-old [[Duane Davis (gangster)|Duane Davis]], a former gang leader, is arrested and charged with the [[Murder of Tupac Shakur|1996 murder]] of famed rapper [[Tupac Shakur]].
* [[October 3]] – [[Kevin McCarthy]] is [[Removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House|ousted]] as [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] via a motion introduced by [[Matt Gaetz]], the first time that a US House speaker is removed by the body.
* [[October 7]]:
** [[Hamas]] militants launch a large-scale [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|attack]] from the [[Gaza Strip]], infiltrating southern [[Israel]] and prompting a full military response from the [[Israel Defense Forces]].
** [[2023 Herat earthquakes|A doublet earthquake]] occurs in [[Herat Province]] in [[Afghanistan]], killing 2,000 people and injuring over 9,000, with tremors felt in [[Iran]] and [[Turkmenistan]]. The earthquake is the deadliest in the country since [[May 1998 Afghanistan earthquake|1998]].
* [[October 8]] – Israel's [[Security Cabinet of Israel|Security Cabinet]] formally [[declaration of war|declares war]] for the first time since the [[Yom Kippur War]] in 1973 on [[Hamas]].
* [[October 9]] – Israel [[October 2023 Hezbollah strike|launches multiple air strikes]] on the Lebanon border, after rockets are fired by [[Hezbollah]] and attempts are made to project the group's power into Israel-occupied positions.
* [[October 15]]: [[Rite Aid]] files for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]] after losing $3.45 billion attributed to lawsuits related to the [[Opioid epidemic in the United States|opioid epidemic]].
** Twenty-one species in the United States are declared extinct by the [[US Fish and Wildlife Service]]. These are one [[mammal]], ten [[birds]], two [[fish]], and eight [[mussels]].
* [[October 17]] – [[Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion|An explosion]] occurs at the [[Al-Ahli Arab Hospital]]. Displaced Palestinians were taking refuge at the hospital, resulting in a number of fatalities and injuries.
* [[October 18]]:
** The [[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. Treasury Department]] announces an ease of certain oil, gas, and gold [[Sanctions during the Venezuelan crisis|sanctions]] on [[Venezuela]] following the [[Government of Venezuela|Venezuelan government]] and [[Opposition (politics)|opposition]]'s agreement to conduct [[Elections in Venezuela|elections]].
* [[October 21]] – [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] announces it will acquire [[Hess Corporation]] for $50 billion.
* [[October 25]]: [[Hurricane Otis]], an [[Pacific hurricane|eastern Pacific tropical cyclone]], makes landfall in [[Mexico]] near [[Acapulco]], leaving at least 48 dead. It is the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in Mexico, with the highest winds reaching 165 mph, surpassing [[Hurricane Patricia]]'s [[Meteorological history of Hurricane Patricia|landfall in 2015]].
* [[October 30]] – The [[United Auto Workers|UAW]] reaches a tentative deal with [[General Motors]] after making tentative agreements with [[Stellantis]] and [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], officially ending the strike.
* [[November 1]]:
** The first [[2023 AI Safety Summit|AI Safety Summit]] takes place in the United Kingdom, with 28 countries signing a "world first agreement" on how to manage the riskiest forms of [[artificial intelligence]].
** The [[2023 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] win the [[2023 World Series|World Series]] after defeating the [[2023 Arizona Diamondbacks season|Arizona Diamondbacks]] in five games. This is their first World Series win.
* [[November 2]]: [[FTX]] founder [[Sam Bankman-Fried]] is convicted by a jury on all seven fraud-related counts.
** [[The Beatles]] release "[[Now and Then (Beatles song)|Now and Then]]", the band's last ever song, featuring restored vocals by [[John Lennon]] (1940–1980), as well as guitar tracks by [[George Harrison]] (1943–2001).
* [[November 6]]: [[WeWork]], once the most valuable U.S. startup, files for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] with liabilities of up to $50 billion.
* [[November 9]]:
** U.S. surgeons at [[NYU Langone Health]] announce the [[Eye transplantation#2023 NYU Langone Health attempt|world's first whole eye transplant]].
** [[SAG-AFTRA]] ends its [[2023 SAG-AFTRA strike|strike]] at 12:01 a.m. PDT following a tentative deal reached the day prior.
* [[November 14]] – [[November 17|17]] – President Biden hosts the [[APEC United States 2023|APEC summit]] in San Francisco which Chinese president [[Xi Jinping]] attends, marking the first time since 2017 that Xi has set foot in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Martina |first1=Michael |last2=Brunnstrom |first2=David |date=2023-11-15 |title=China's Xi in US for high-stakes Biden summit, APEC |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/veiled-swipe-china-blinken-tells-apec-us-believes-free-region-2023-11-14/ |access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref> Both countries at the conclusion of the summit agree to re-open suspended channels of military communications and to cooperate in their fight against [[climate change]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Amy |last2=correspondent |first2=Amy Hawkins Senior China |date=2023-11-15 |title=China and US pledge to fight climate crisis ahead of Xi-Biden summit |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/14/china-xi-jinping-us-visit-joe-biden-apec |access-date=2023-11-20 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Pandas and partnership: Was Xi's US trip a success? |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231117-pandas-and-partnership-was-xi-s-us-trip-a-success |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[November 22]] – Israel and Hamas agree to a four-day ceasefire, the first pause in fighting since 7 October, during which many Israeli hostages will be released, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
* [[November 24]] – [[Somalia]] is admitted as the eighth member of the [[East African Community]], having applied for membership in 2012.
* [[November 30]] – Brazil announces it will join [[OPEC|OPEC+]] at a meeting of the organization to discuss oil output strategy in 2024. Brazil is the largest oil producer in [[South America]], producing 4.6 million barrels per day of oil and gas.
* [[December 3]]: Venezuela [[2023 Venezuelan referendum|votes]] to annex the [[Guyana–Venezuela territorial dispute|disputed territory of Essequibo]], currently under the control of neighboring [[Guyana]], and incorporate the territory into Venezuela as a new state.
* [[December 6]] – [[Google DeepMind]] releases the [[Gemini (language model)|Gemini Language Model]]. Gemini will act as a [[Foundation models|foundational model]] integrated into Google's existing tools, including [[Google Search|search]] and [[Bard (chatbot)|Bard]].
* [[December 12]] – At the [[2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference|COP28]] climate summit in [[Dubai]], a consensus is reached for countries to "transition away" from fossil fuels, the first such agreement in the conference's 30-year history.
* [[December 16]] – [[Emir of Kuwait]] [[Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]] dies at the age of 86 and is succeeded by his half-brother [[Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]].
* [[December 18]]:
** In the [[Red Sea]], one of the world's most important routes for cargo and fuel shipments, a deteriorating security situation is reported due to attacks on vessels by [[Houthi_movement|Houthi]] rebels. A number of shipping companies announce a temporary suspension of their operations, including oil giant [[BP]].
** At least 127 people are killed and at least 20 are missing in an [[2023 Jishishan earthquake|earthquake]] in northwest [[China]].
* [[December 21]]:
** The [[European Court of Justice]] rules that threats by [[FIFA]] and [[UEFA]] to sanction [[football clubs]] that wish to join the [[European Super League]] are unlawful.
** The [[2023 Prague shooting|deadliest mass shooting]] in the [[Czech Republic]]'s history occurs at a Prague university, with 15 killed and 25 others wounded.
* [[December 29]] – [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]: [[Russian Armed Forces|Russia]] [[29 December 2023 Russian strikes on Ukraine|launches]] the largest wave of [[drone warfare|drones]] and [[missile]]s on [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] cities since the start of the war in a overnight assault, killing at least 39 people and injuring at least 160 others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-aerial-attack-missiles-drones-fe3fb596cdea0035573a6a677f17070c|title=Russia launches the biggest aerial barrage of the war and kills 30 civilians, Ukraine says|website=AP News|date=December 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/29/7435141/|title=Ukraine's Interior Ministry reports 30 dead and over 160 wounded in Russian morning attack|date=December 29, 2023|website=Ukrainian Pravda}}</ref> 
* [[December 31]] – [[Margrethe II|Queen Margrethe II]] of [[Denmark]] announces [[Abdication of Margrethe II|her abdication]] effective 14 January 2024, after 52 years on the throne.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-31 |title=Princess Mary to become Queen of Denmark as monarch announces surprise abdication |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-01/denmark-queen-margrethe-announces-abdication/103276384 |access-date=2024-01-01}}</ref>

====2024====
* [[January 1]]:
** [[Egypt]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Iran]], [[Saudi Arabia]], and the [[United Arab Emirates]] become [[BRICS]] members.
** The [[Republic of Artsakh]] is formally dissolved as [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] unifies with [[Azerbaijan]].
** A 7.5 [[Seismic magnitude scales#Mww|M<small>ww</small>]] [[2024 Noto earthquake|earthquake strikes]] the western coast of [[Japan]], killing at least 100 people and injuring 392 others. A further five are killed the next day when a [[Japan Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] aircraft carrying [[humanitarian aid]] [[2024 Haneda Airport runway collision|collides]] with a [[Japan Airlines]] passenger jet, destroying both aircraft. All 379 people aboard the passenger jet are evacuated safely.
** [[Ethiopia]] announces an agreement with [[Somaliland]] to use the port of [[Berbera]]. Ethiopia also says that it will eventually recognize Somaliland's [[Somaliland Declaration of Independence|independence]], becoming the first country to do so.
** Disney's copyright protection on [[Steamboat Willie]] and the original [[Mickey Mouse]] expires as they [[2024 in public domain|enter the public domain]].
* [[January 2]]:
** [[President of Harvard University]] [[Claudine Gay]] announces her resignation following a contentious house [[2023 United States Congress hearing on antisemitism|hearing on antisemitism]] and allegations of [[plagiarism]] in her earlier academic career.
* [[January 3]]: An Islamic State [[Kerman bombings|double bombing]] kills 89 people during a memorial event commemorating the [[assassination of Qasem Soleimani]] in [[Kerman]], Iran.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-03 |title=At least 103 dead in bomb blasts near Iran general Qasem Soleimani's tomb – state TV |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67872281 |access-date=2024-01-03}}</ref>
* [[January 8]]:
** [[Astrobotic Technology]] alongside [[NASA]] [[Peregrine Mission One|launch]] the first commercial Lunar Lander. Seven hours after launch, an anomaly prevents stable orientation due to propulsion issues, resulting in critical fuel loss and the abandonment of the moon landing.
** [[President of Ecuador|Ecuadorian President]] [[Daniel Noboa]] [[2024 conflict in Ecuador|declares]] a [[state of emergency]] following the escape of Los Choneros drug cartel leader [[José Adolfo Macías Villamar]], from prison.
* [[January 11]]:
** [[2024 Papua New Guinean unrest|Riots]] break out in [[Port Moresby]] and [[Lae]], [[Papua New Guinea]], after an alleged rounding error causes pay cuts in police officers and soldiers.
** [[Operation Prosperity Guardian|A U.S.-led coalition launches air strikes]] at Houthi militant locations in Yemen, marking a retaliation to the Houthi’s [[Red Sea crisis|attacks on ships in the Red Sea]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/11/us-strike-yemen-houthis-red-sea/ |title=U.S.-led coalition strikes Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] }}</ref>
* [[January 13]]: [[2024 Taiwanese presidential election|2024 Taiwanese Presidential Election]]: [[Lai Ching-te]] of the ruling [[Democratic Progressive Party]] wins with 40% of the votes. 
* [[January 14]]:
** [[Margrethe II]] formally [[Abdication of Margrethe II|abdicates]] as [[Queen of Denmark]] on the 52nd anniversary of her accession, with her eldest son Frederik succeeding her as [[Frederik X|King Frederik X]].
** [[2024 Comorian presidential election|2024 Comorian Presidential Election]]: Amid an opposition boycott, incumbent president [[Azali Assoumani]] wins re-election with 62.9% of the vote and only 16.3% voter turnout.
* [[January 15]]: Following a brief political crisis in the aftermath of the [[2023 Guatemalan general election|2023 elections]], [[Bernardo Arévalo]] is [[Inauguration of Bernardo Arévalo|inaugurated]] as the 52nd President of Guatemala.
* [[January 19]]: Japan becomes the fifth country to successfully [[Soft landing|soft land]] on the Moon, with its [[Smart Lander for Investigating Moon|SLIM]] mission. 
* [[January 24]]: [[2024 Korochansky Ilyushin Il-76 crash]]: A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane carrying (according to Russia) 65 Ukrainian [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]], six crew members, and three guards, crashes in Russia's [[Korochansky District]], near the [[Russia–Ukraine border|Ukrainian border]], killing everybody on board.
* [[January 26]]: 
** [[Israel–Hamas war]]: The UN's [[International Court of Justice]] rules that Israel must take all measures to prevent [[Genocide|genocidal acts in Gaza]], but stops short of ordering an immediate halt to operations.
** [[2024 Tuvaluan general election]]: [[Kausea Natano]], the incumbent Prime Minister of Tuvalu, loses reelection to Parliament. A month later, [[Feleti Teo]] was elected prime minister.
* [[January 31]]: [[Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor|Sultan of Johor Ibrahim Iskandar]] ascends to the throne as the 17th [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]] of [[Malaysia]]. 
* [[February 2]] – The US launches [[February 2024 United States airstrikes in Iraq and Syria|airstrikes]] on 85 targets in Iraq and Syria in response to a deadly [[Tower 22 drone attack|drone attack]] on a US military base.<ref>{{cite web |title=CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria|url=https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3665602/centcom-statement-on-us-strikes-in-iraq-and-syria/ |access-date=4 February 2024 |date=2 February 2024 |work=CENTCOM }}</ref>
* [[February 4]]
** [[President of Namibia]] [[Hage Geingob]] dies at the age of 82, and is succeeded by his vice-president [[Nangolo Mbumba]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petersen |first=Shelleygan |date=2024-02-04 |title=President Hage Geingob is dead |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/president-hage-geingob-is-dead/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204053823/https://www.namibian.com.na/president-hage-geingob-is-dead/ |archive-date=4 February 2024 |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=The Namibian |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-04 |title=Hage Geingob, Namibia's president, dies aged 82 after cancer treatment |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/04/hage-geingob-namibias-president-dies-aged-82-after-cancer-treatment |access-date=2024-02-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref>
** [[2024 Salvadoran general election]]: Incumbent President [[Nayib Bukele]] wins the election with over 80% of the vote, becoming the first president to be reelected in [[El Salvador]] since [[1944 Salvadoran presidential election|1944]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-05 |title=El Salvador's Bukele is already claiming a big election win, but a troubled count delays results |url=https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-nayib-bukele-president-reelection-ef04e20d901908099f4f787b841aca89 |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=After Nayib Bukele's crushing, unconstitutional victory, what next? |url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2024/02/05/after-nayib-bukeles-crushing-unconstitutional-victory-what-next |access-date=2024-02-05 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>
*[[February 6]] – Former [[President of Chile]] [[Sebastián Piñera]] [[Death and state funeral of Sebastián Piñera|dies in a helicopter crash]] at the age of 74.<ref>{{Cite web |work=BBC |title=Sebastián Piñera: Former president of Chile dies in helicopter crash|first1=Patrick|last1=Jackson|first2=Vanessa|last2=Buschschlüter |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68223520 |date=6 February 2024 |access-date=7 February 2024 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207003816/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68223520 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[February 7]] – [[2024 Azerbaijani presidential election]]: Amid an opposition boycott, President [[Ilham Aliyev]] is reelected to a fifth term.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Azerbaijan's president is likely to win election after a blitz offensive reclaimed Karabakh region |url=https://apnews.com/article/azerbaijan-election-ilham-aliyev-39a3b0811de492afdcc96e2f17b6f797 |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>
* [[February 8]] – [[2024 Pakistani general election]]: [[Independent politician|Independent]] politicians, most of whom are members of the [[PTI intra-party elections case|banned]] political party [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]], win a plurality of seats in the [[National Assembly of Pakistan|National Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imran Khan loyalists win shock victory in Pakistan election |url=https://www.ft.com/content/35a6dd5b-2924-40ad-a650-004ec6379e00 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.ft.com}}</ref>
* [[March 26]]: [[Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse]]: The container ship [[MV Dali]] strikes one of the [[Pier (architecture)|piers]] of [[Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore)|Francis Scott Key Bridge]] in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], causing [[Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse|the bridge’s collapse]] and 6 presumed deaths.