Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, central banks raising interest rates, the global population reaching 8 billion, and the World Cup in Qatar are among the top stand-out international events selected by Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in 2022.

1.     Russia conducts special military operation in Ukraine

Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24. The serious conflict shows no sign of ending, pushing relations between Russia and the West into a new spiral of confrontation. The conflict and retaliatory sanctions between Russia and the West have impacted global security and politics, pushing gas prices up to a 14-year high, and causing many countries to face food shortages and rising costs of goods from March until the last month of the year. 

A house burned by shells during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in Severodonetsk, Donbass region on April 6, 2022. Photo: AFP/VNA

2.     Many central banks hike interest rates 

The US Federal Reserve (Fed) on March 16 approved its first interest rate increase in more than three years. In 2022, Fed raised interest rates for seven times to a range of 4.25-4.5%. On July 21, the European Central Bank (ECB) also raised interest rates for the first time in 11 years and then increased the rates thrice more in the year. The adjustments by Fed, the ECB and many other central banks aimed to control inflation and keep financial markets stable, but put some economies at risk of recession. 

US stocks are constantly fluctuating by the FED's interest rate hike. Photo: Xinhua/VNA

3.     The world copes with COVID-19 and monkeypox

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over due to the Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus which continues to spread through many countries. On July 23, WHO declared the escalating global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The epidemics continued to cause concern and normal activities have yet to be fully restored globally. 

On July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency for monkeypox when more than 18,000 cases were in 78 countries, most of which are in Europe. Photo: AFP/VNA

4.     The Communist Party of China successfully holds 20^th National Congress

The Communist Party of China (CPC) successfully held its 20th National Congress in Beijing from October 16-22. Xi Jinping was re-elected as Party General Secretary for the third consecutive term. The congress approved adjustments to the Party statutes, and set out strategic tasks for the next five years and beyond, towards the successful implementation of the Second Centenary Goal of building a comprehensively modern socialist country by 2049.  

 The opening ceremony of the 20^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China took place solemnly in Beijing, on October 16, 2022. Photo: Xinhua/VNA

5.     UK experiences successive political changes

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned on July 7. His replacement Liz Truss also quit her post just 45 days into the job, making her the shortest-serving PM in the country’s history. 42-year-old Rishi Sunak, who took office on October 25, is the youngest British PM in more than 200 years.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96 after her 70-year reign. Prince Charles becomes King Charles III.  

  42-year-old Rishi Sunak, who took office on October 25, is the youngest British PM in more than 200 years. Photo: AFP/VNA

6.     Agreement on “loss and damage” fund reached at COP27

At the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt on November 20, countries reached a breakthrough agreement on a compensation fund for developing nations suffering impact of climate change. The event was of great significance in the context of climate change causing more severe consequences on humans and the environment.  

 Waste covered on the Yamuna River in New Delhi, India, July 5, 2022. Photo: AFP/VNA

7.     World population reaches 8 billion

Baby girl Venice Mabansag born in Tondo, Manila, on November 15 was considered the symbolic eighth billion person in the world. The hallmark created a development impulse while posing challenges to the world regarding the environment, the ecosystem, natural resources, food security and water resources security. 

Vinice Mabansag, a baby girl born in Manila, the Philippines is being considered as the symbolic eighth billion person in the world. Photo: Manila Bulletin/VNA

8.     Stampedes in RoK, Indonesia

At least 158 people died in a stampede during Halloween festivities in Seoul's Itaewon nightlife district on October 29. Earlier, another at a soccer match in Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang (Indonesia) on October 1 left more than 130 people dead and hundreds injured. The two disasters within a month raised the alarm of safety at crowd gatherings after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Rescuers move the victim's body at the stampede during the Halloween festival at Itaewon, in Seoul, South Korea, on the evening of October 29, 2022. Photo: AFP/VNA

9.  NASA reports smashing success with asteroid redirection test

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test successfully changed the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos after the NASA spacecraft intentionally slammed into the space rock on September 26, according to the agency. This marks humanity’s first success in purposely changing the motion of a celestial object and the first full-scale demonstration of asteroid deflection technology.   

These images, from the Hubble Space Telescope on the left and the James Webb Space Telescope on the right, show observations of the Didymos-Dimorphos system several hours after NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) intentionally impacted the moonlet asteroid on September 16, 2022. Photo: AFP/VNA

10.  World Cup 2022 in Qatar with special points

For the first time, a men’s football FIFA world cup was held at the end of the year (mid-season), in an Arab country, with female referees, using semi-automated offside technology, the FIFA Player app that made tracking data available to every participant in the game, and a football data ecosystem.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball, becoming the first player in the history of the tournament to have won the award twice. Morocco made history as the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal./. 

Argentina is crowned the 2022 World Cup champion on December 18, 2022, ending the 36-year wait for the glory. This is also the third time "La Albiceleste" has won the FIFA World Cup (Photo: AFP/VNA)