The 10 world events that marked 2023

Wars, natural disasters and presidential elections around the world have been the most important events that have marked the world in 2023. With less than two weeks to go until 2024, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) has conducted an analysis of these events, which will certainly continue to occur next year.

1. The war between Israel and Hamas

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas It took years, but it finally escalated on October 7, when members of this group infiltrated southern Israel from the Gaza Strip and attacked border towns and the open-air music festival Supernova.

According to the latest official figures, approximately 1,140 people, mostly civilians of all ages, have been killed on Israeli soil in this unprecedented attack since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

In answer, the government of Israel pledged to ‘destroy’ Hamas, an organization considered “terrorist” by Israel, the United States and the European Union, and the army responded with heavy bombing. On October 27, Israeli forces began a ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip.

In 74 days of conflict, The Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has left more than 19,000 deadsaid the Health Ministry of Hamas, which administers this Palestinian territory.

2. The counter-offensive in Ukraine

The invasion of Russia in Ukraine It started in February 2022, but shows no signs of ending anytime soon. In 2023, the attacks between the two countries continued with a counter-offensive in Ukraine, in an attempt to recapture areas occupied by Moscow.

This operation clashed with the solid defenses erected by Russia and caused disappointment among Western powers allied with Ukraine.

Participation also increased this year paramilitary group Wagnerdirected by Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, in June these fighters rose up against Vladimir Putin’s regime but gave up their intentions. Two months later, Prigozhin died in a plane crash, raising suspicions of Kremlin involvement in his death.

In the United States, the White House warned in December that it only has money for another aid package for Ukraine because Congress is blocking more aid.

3. Javier Milei as the new president of Argentina

The ultra-liberal politician, Javier Mileiwas positioned as president of Argentina on December 10, after months of a controversial campaign.

He advocated this during the campaign dollarization of the economythe oppression of the Central Bank and put forward very controversial ideas such as deregulation of arms sales or a “market solution” for organ donation.

Moreover, he defended “chainsaw” cuts in government spending and the elimination of transport and energy subsidies, with the aim of reducing the budget deficit.

After he accepted his mandate, he indicated that Its priority is controlling inflation.

4. Lula da Silva’s return to power in Brazil

Lula da Silvawho was chairman of Brazil between 2003 and 2011, he took over the country’s leadership again this year.

The left-wing politician returned with the promising to bring “Brazil back” to the international stage and unite its more than 200 million inhabitants in his third term as president, after the government of the far right Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022).

His term began with an attempted coup on January 8, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court, destroying furniture and works of art and calling in vain for intervention.

Bolsonaro was convicted of abuse of political power, banning him from holding public office for eight years.

5. Earthquakes in Türkiye, Syria and Morocco

In the southeast of Turkiye and part of the north of Syriahundreds of thousands of residents attended one of the deadliest earthquakes of the past hundred years.

It happened last February 6, with a magnitude 7.8 shockfollowed by another nine hours later, which At least 56,000 people were killed, of which almost 6,000 on the Syrian side.

Images of the catastrophe went around the world: a father holding the hand of his 15-year-old daughter, buried under the rubble in Turkey, or a newborn baby miraculously rescued in Syria, with the umbilical cord still connected to his deceased mother.

Another deadly earthquake was recorded on September 8 Morocco, when a violent earthquake with a magnitude estimated between 6.8 and 7 struck the Marrakech region. Nearly 3,000 people were killed and more than 5,600 were injured.

6. Strikes in Hollywood

The screenwriters union and the actors union of Hollywood They went on strike this year when their contract expired demand better working conditions from major studios.

The strikes started in May for the screenwriters and in July for the actors. They ended in September and November respectively agreements for salary improvements and restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence.

Production of American films and series was paralyzed for almost six months by the protest, which cost the country’s economy at least $6 billion.

7. Rising temperatures and forest fires

From June to October, the world struck monthly temperature records for that period of the yearAccording to Europe’s Copernicus Observatory, which predicted that 2023 will “almost certainly” surpass the annual record set in 2016 and be the “warmest” year on record.

These high temperatures are accompanied by droughts that cause famines, devastating fires or hurricanes of unusual strength.

Entire regions Canada They were driven away by flames and smoke, with more than 18 million hectares burned. Lahaina, a resort town in Hawaii, was destroyed by fire. And in GreeceAt least 26 people died in these fires.

A COP28 climate conference in Dubai concluded in December with a historic agreement for a gradual phase-out of fossil energies that cause global warming.

8. The space race to the moon

More than fifty years after American astronaut Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, Earth’s natural satellite is once again the goal of several countriesas China, India And Russia.

On August 23, India managed a unmanned shipChandrayaan-3, in an area previously unexplored, near the satellite’s south pole.

American NASA has the rocket Starshipdeveloped by SpaceX from Elon Musk, for his Artemis missions, which want to take astronauts to the moon in 2025.

9. The forced kiss

Spain were declared champions of the Women’s World Cup in Sydney, but the success was tarnished by the federation’s president Luis Rubialeswho kissed the attacker on the mouth during the festivities Jenni Hermosowhich caused international outrage.

The footballer reported one “sexist, inappropriate and without any form of consent” actbut Rubiales described it as a “consensual” kiss before resigning on September 10.

Accused of “sexual assault” by the legal system, Rubiales was suspended by FIFA for three years of all activities related to football.

10. The offensive in Nagorno Karabakh

On September 19, Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno Karabakha separatist area with an Armenian majority that Baku and Yerevan had disputed for more than thirty years.

This mountainous enclave, which is backed by Armenia unilaterally declared its independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union, it was the scene of two wars between these former Soviet republics in the Caucasus (1988-1994 and 2020).

Within 24 hours, the area’s authorities capitulated, abandoned by Yerevan. The operation was almost over 600 dead and 120,000 displaced residents towards Armenia.

The republic will dissolve on January 1, 2024. And in mid-November, at the request of Armenia, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered that Azerbaijan allow a “safe” return of the residents of Nagorno Karabakh. (JO)