KUWAIT, Dec 31 (KUNA) -- The world witnessed many events in numerous areas in 2023. The following are the main events:
International Relations:
Jan 1: Sweden took the rotating presidency of the European Union Council for a six-month period.
Jan 6: The US and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to launch a Task Force on the Promotion of Human Rights and International Labor Standards in Supply Chains.
Jan 10: The Two Chinese Embassies in Japan and South Korea suspended visa issuance for both countries' citizens, as a retaliation to the restrictions imposed by Tokyo and Seoul on Chinese travelers over COVID-19 spread.
Jan 10: EU and NATO signed the third Joint Declaration to deepen and strengthen their strategic partnership.
Jan 12: Turkiye summoned Sweden ambassador to Ankara and informed him of its rejection of the propaganda of supporters of the "PKK" organization in Stockholm that targeted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Jan 13: The US and Japan signed an agreement that will build on decades of cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space.
Jan 16: India and the UK agreed to boost cooperation on bilateral, regional and global issues within the framework of the 15th consultations between them.
Jan 17: The US imposed visa restrictions on 25 individuals from Belarus for their alleged involvement in undermining democracy in their country.
Jan 17: The Russian Federation imposed new sanctions on more European officials, banning them from entering Russian territory.
Jan 19: Romania returns its ambassador to his position in Vienna, after a dispute between the two countries.
Jan 19: France and Spain signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation to deepen cooperation between the two countries.
Jan 20: Turkiye summoned Sweden ambassador to Ankara and condemned in the strongest terms of his country's authorities allowing burning a copy of the Holy Quran in front of Ankara embassy in Stockholm.
Jan 23: Russia announced it ordered Estonian Ambassador to leave the country and decided to downgrade diplomatic representation with it.
Jan 24: Turkiye summoned the Dutch ambassador to Ankara to protest against the attack on the Holy Quran in The Hague.
Jan 27: Turkiye summoned Danish ambassador to Ankara to protest against the permission to attack the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Copenhagen.
Feb 1: Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the appointment of Louis Bono as the United States new senior advisor for Caucasus negotiations.
Feb 1: The EU has released EUR 43 million (USD 46 million) in humanitarian aid for Myanmar and Rohingya refugees ' and their host communities in Bangladesh Feb 1: The Treaty between the Italian Republic and the French Republic for Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation, known as the Quirinal Treaty, officially enters into force.
Feb 2: Austria expelled four Russian diplomats based in Vienna, engaged in acts incompatible with their diplomatic status.
Feb 3: The EU hold first summit Ukraine and since the start of the special Russian operation in Ukraine, to discuss its continuous support for Kyiv.
Feb 3: China said that the unmanned Chinese "airship" that was spotted over US airspace s for meteorological research, stressing that it entered the US "by force majeure".
Feb 4: The Pentagon detected another Chinese spy balloon, hovering over Latin America. Feb 4: Austrian and Slovakia agreed to put an end to the internal border controls.
Feb 4: US military shot down the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean.
Feb 7: Greece and UK signed a new defense and security agreement, targeting closer collaboration to benefit each country's military.
Feb 9: The US and UK imposed sanctions against seven Russian members of Trickbot, a notorious hacking group based in Russia.
Feb 10: South Korea announced its first independent sanctions on North Korea in response to Pyongyang's cryptocurrency theft and other illicit cyber activities.
Feb 12: Canada shot down an unidentified flying object that violated Canadian airspace.
Feb 14: EU Council adopted a decision authorizing EU member states to ratify the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).
Feb 15: Ukraine decided not to take part in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly winter session, to be held in Vienna, due to Russian parliamentary delegation participation.
Feb 16: Russia expelled four Austrian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move.
Feb 16: UK announced the launch of a new fund in cooperation with non-governmental organizations to support humanitarian work in the African Sahel region, and allocated an initial budget of GBP 33 million (around USD 40 million).
Feb 20: EU added 32 individuals and 2 entities in Iran to its new sanctions list.
Feb 21: Italy begun supplying electrical equipment to Ukraine to help ensure stable access to electricity for three million people in areas affected by bombing.
Feb 22: The International Federation of Journalists suspended Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) membership, due to Russia's formation of RUJ branches in annexed Ukrainian territories.
Feb 23: European Commission decided to suspend the use of TikTok application on its corporate devices and on personal devices enrolled in the Commission mobile device service.
Feb 25: India and Germany agreed on boosting security and defense cooperation.
Feb 25: EU imposed additional sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Russian Wagner Group in view of the international dimension and gravity of the group's activities.
Feb 27: US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it is providing more than USD 126 million in additional food assistance to the people of Kenya.
March 9: EU Council gave the green light on visa-free travel for holders of passports issued by Kosovo.
March 10: India and the US agreed to enhance cooperation in several trade and investment areas.
March 10: India and Australian agreed to boost cooperation in fields of security, defense, trade and investment.
March 10: The UK announced new funding of GBP 5.26 million for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
March 12: Saudi Arabia and Iran reached an agreement to resume diplomatic relations between them and re-open their embassies.
March 13: Russia agreed to extend Black Sea grain deal for 60 days.
March 13: The EU decided to prolong sanctions targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for another six months.
March 14: The US called in the Russian ambassador in Washington after two Russian aircrafts intercepted a US surveillance aircraft during flying in international airspace over the Black Sea.
March 15: The US imposed sanctions on three individuals who pose a threat to the law, regional stability, and democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
March 15: The US announced more than USD 331 million in new humanitarian aid for Ethiopia, to provide life-saving support to those displaced and affected by conflict, drought and food insecurity.
March 16: The US announced USD 150 million in humanitarian aid to countries in West and Central Africa and the Sahel region including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
March 16: UK banned social media app TikTok from work phones and computers used by ministers and civil employees for security reasons.
March 17: The International Criminal Court in the Hague issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
March 17: The US announced more than USD 140 million in additional humanitarian assistance and more than USD 31 million in development assistance to respond to the needs of vulnerable Venezuelans.
March 17: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Ankara's approval of Finland's joining NATO.
March 17: Japan expanded its sanctions on North Korea in response to Pyongyang's test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile.
March 19: EU High Representative Josep Borrell announced that the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have agreed on how to implement an EU-mediated deal to normalize their relations.
March 20: UK banned far-right Danish politician Rasmus Paludan from entering its territory after he declared intention to burn a copy of the Holy Quran in the country.
March 23: The European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Interior Affairs endorsed a short-stay visa freedom agreement with Kosovo.
March 24: The US Justice Department announced arresting the founder of one of the World's largest hacker forums and disruption of forum's operation.
March 24: The US sanctioned three entities and nine Belarussian individuals and identified one presidential aircraft as blocked property.
March 27: Hungary ratified Finland's membership of NATO.
March 29: British King Charles III arrived in the German capital Berlin for his first foreign visit since assuming the throne.
March 30: The US sanctioned one individual of Slovakian nationality for attempting to facilitate arms deals between Russia and North Korea.
April 6: Iran and Saudi Arabia agree in the Chinese capital Beijing to officially resume diplomatic relations and enhance economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
April 11: Germany announced that it had given Chad's ambassador to Germany, Mariam Moussa, 48 hours to leave German territory, in response to the Chadian government's request for German Ambassador Jan Christian Gordon Kricke to leave the Chadian capital N'Djamena.
April 17: Britain summons Russia's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrey Kelin, following Moscow court ruling that a prominent dissident has been imprisoned on charges including high treason.
April 20: The European Commission announces its agreement to allow Kosovo citizens to travel to EU countries without a visa, starting in January 2024.
April 22: The Russian Federation decides to expel more than 20 German diplomats in response to a similar move from Berlin against Russian diplomats.
April 26: Austria rejects Slovenia's request to open the common border between the two countries.
April 26: Russia expels 10 Norwegian diplomats from its territory considering them persona non grata, in response to a similar Norwegian action against Russian diplomats.
April 28: Britain and Croatia signed a joint declaration to enhance cooperation between their countries in the fields of security, trade, immigration and climate change.
July 2: Iran refrained from sending a new ambassador to Sweden in protest over the burning a copy of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm.
July 3: European Commission announced that the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine started its operations in the Hague, the Netherlands.
July 5: German Parliament (Bundestag) gave the green light to buy 60 military aircrafts to transport soldiers.
July 6: Russia expelled nine Finnish diplomats in retaliation for a similar move by Finland.
July 6: UK unveiled new sanctions regime for Iranian individuals and entities.
July 6: Iran summoned the British charge d'affaires Elizabeth Marsh of the British Embassy in Tehran over the interventionist remarks made by the UK authorities.
July 7: US provided cluster munitions to Ukraine in an additional military aid package of USD 800 million.
July 7: US announced launching the Global Coalition to combat Synthetic Drugs threats.
July 7: India and the UK renewed strategic partnership and boost security cooperation.
July 7: EU reached a provisional deal with European Parliament to speed up ammunition production to support Ukraine.
July 7: US President Joe Biden announced that the US has "safely destroyed" the final munition in the nation's stockpile of chemical weapons.
July 7: Belgium adopted Integrated Strategy for the Sahel Region.
July 17: UK imposed 14 new sanctions against Russia in response to the latter's attempts to destroy Ukrainian national identity, after the deportation of Ukrainian children.
July 19: US announced USD 1.3 billion additional assistance aid for Ukraine.
July 20: EU imposed sanctions against 18 individuals and 5 entities due to serious human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ukraine and Russia.
July 20: US imposed new sanctions on 120 individuals and entities over violating the imposed sanctions on Russia.
July 20: UK imposed new sanctions on individuals and companies linked to Russia's Military group (Wagner) and its activities in Mali, the Central African Republic and Sudan.
July 24: EU allocated EUR 10 million (USD 11 million) in humanitarian aid to Chad, to help the country cope with the needs of the large number of people fleeing from the conflict in neighboring Sudan.
July 26: Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen announced he would resign and hand position to his son.
July 28: EU imposed sanctions on nine individuals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda over serious human rights violations and abuses in Congo.
July 29: France suspended all development aid and budget support to Niger over military coup on President Bazoum.
July 29: US offered USD 345 million worth of military aid to Taiwan in a step that may aggravate jitters between the US and China.
Aug 1: US launches a new Bureau of Global Heath Security and Diplomacy, aimed at international cooperation to help improve global health and counter infectious diseases.
Aug 1: Heads of the Rome-based UN food and agriculture agencies called for greater investments in South Sudan to avoid a catastrophic food crisis.
Aug 1: Italy arranged a special evacuation flight to repatriate nationals from Niger's Capital Niamey, as its embassy continues its political efforts with the military council.
Aug 1: France announced preparations to evacuate its citizens from Niger, after the military coup.
Aug 2: The first group of British nationals have been evacuated from Niger, after the military coup.
Aug 2: Italy ruled out any military intervention in Niger and stressed that the Italian forces and the West military units are at the airport.
Aug 2: China refused US accusation of "forced labor" in China's autonomous region Xinjiang.
Aug 2: France accused Russia of threatening global food security, after Moscow attacked a key Ukrainian port across the Danube River, which inflicted damage on grain storage facilities.
Aug 2: Italy evacuated a group of Italians and others from Niger.
Aug 3: EU banned exporting aviation and space technology to Belarus as part of a new package of sanctions that also included 38 citizens and three companies.
Aug 3: Paris completed evacuating French nationals and foreign nationals from Niger.
Aug 3: US decreased the number of non-emergency personnel and family members from Niger.
Aug 7: A group of 50 immigrants arrived to the UK and were transferred to the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland Port.
Aug 9: UK and Turkiye agreed on a new partnership to enhance cooperation on tackling the illegal movement of migrants, and keep both countries safer.
Aug 10: ECOWAS bloc in West Africa has ordered the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger, after the military coup.
Aug 10: Washington confirmed that the five Americans detained in Iran had been released and placed under house arrest.
Aug 11:UK transfer immigrants from the Bibby Stockholm barge due to water contamination.
Aug 11: World Food Program (WFP) successfully delivered first food assistance to West Darfur four months after Sudan conflict started.
Aug 13: Greek coast guard rescued 48 immigrants from rudderless boat near Lesbos Island.
Aug 15: US hosted tripartite summit at camp David, alongside Japan and South Korea.
Aug 16: The new US ambassador to Niger will travel to the capital Niamey to perform her duties but does not plan to provide her credentials to the leaders of the coup that toppled President Bazoum.
Aug 16: ECOWAS Defense Ministers held an emergency meeting in the Ghanaian capital Accra to discuss military intervention aimed at ending the Niger coup.
Aug 17: US Treasury Dept. designated two Syria-based armed militias and three members of the groups' leadership structures, in connection with serious human rights abuses in Afrin northern Syria.
Aug 18: Russia barred 54 British citizens from entering the country, in response to the UK's sanctions against its citizens and enterprises.
Aug 18: Russia has banned entry to several Moldovan officials following Moldova's "unfriendly" decision to expel 22 Russian diplomats.
Aug 18: US, Japan, S. Korea agreed in Camp David to "inaugurate a new era of trilateral partnership."
Aug 19: Mali and Burkina Faso dispatched warplanes to Niger in response to a potential armed intervention by ECOWAS.
Aug 21: US State Department has approved the potential sale and related equipment to Poland in a deal valued at up to USD 12 billion.
Aug 21: ECOWAS rejected a proposal by Niger's military junta to hold elections within three years.
Aug 24: Singapore and Qatar signed five memoranda of understanding (MOU) to cooperate in areas of social development and family, education, water-related research, enterprise digitalization and innovation, and commercial partnerships.
Aug 24: The BRICS announced that six countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Argentine, Iran and Ethiopia will join the bloc as full members in January next year.
Aug 26: India and EU agreed to deepen commercial and economic partnership during the Third India-EU High Level Dialogue on Trade and Investment held in New Delhi.
Aug 28: India and Bangladesh agreed to boost defense ties following the fifth Annual Defense Dialogue held in Dhaka.
Aug 30: Malaysia rejected a new Chinese map that claims waters off Malaysia's coast in the South China Sea.
Aug 30: US urged citizens in the Caribbean country Haiti to leave "as soon as possible" citing security and infrastructure challenges, as escalating violence has left thousands displaced and sent homicides soaring.
Aug 31: France summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of Iran, on the grounds of Iran closing the French Institute for Research in Iran (IFRI), despite France's full compliance with Iran's unilateral decision to close the institute in January 2023.
Sept 1: South Korea and Japan expanded sanctions against North Korea, following Pyongyang's attempted missiles launch.
Sept 7: UNESCO granted temporary enhanced protection to twenty cultural sites in Ukraine.
Sept 7: Britain announced it would rejoin the EU's Horizon science research programme, ending a two-year post-Brexit standoff with the EU over science funding.
Sept 8: US government seized nearly one million barrels of Iranian crude oil allegedly bound for China, in violation of US imposed sanctions.
Sept 8: Indian and French Naval forces conducted second phase of the 21st edition of naval exercise Varuna-23 in the Arabian Sea.
Sept 9: India and several countries launched development initiatives including Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor and the Global Biofuels Alliance during G20 summit in New Delhi.
Sept 10: EU welcomed the accession of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20.
Sept 10: US and Vietnam signed an amended bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Sept 11: India and Saudi Arabia signed eight agreements to cement bilateral cooperation, and more than 20 MoU's.
Sept 12: Italy activated Civil Protection Mechanism to support Libya, in the wake of devastating floods caused by Daniel hurricane that hit eastern Libya.
Sept 13: US and Bahrain signed Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement, to strengthen the strategic partnership.
Sept 13: China appointed first ambassador to Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
Sept 13: Italy's Defense Ministry announced dispatching field reconnaissance teams in preparation to send the Italian armed forces to help flood-swept areas in eastern Libya.
Sept 13: EU activated Civil Protection Mechanism to support Libya, in the aftermath of the devastating floods that left thousands of casualties.
Sept 14: US expanded sanctions related to Russia's military operation in Ukraine to include elites and entities specializing in Russia's military and technological industries and financial sector as well as non-Russian individuals and entities based outside Russia.
Sept 14: France provided emergency medical aid to Libya, in the aftermath of the devastating floods caused by Daniel hurricane.
Sept 14: US appointed former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to serve as the new US special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery.
Sept 14: Italian Red Cross delivered first batch of relief aid and materials to flood-swept areas in eastern Libya.
Sept 16: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed the Charter Establishing the Alliance of Sahel States (Alliance of Sahel States) as a structure to coordinate their efforts in "collective and joint defense, economic cooperation and mutual assistance for the benefit of their people.
Sept 17: UK banned its retired officers from participating in training rival countries' armies without official permission.
Sept 18: Five Americans detained in Iran have been freed and landed in Doha in route to their home country as part of a prisoner swap deal between Washington and Tehran.
Sept 18: Russia announced its withdrawal from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and claimed that the responsibility for the cooperation's collapse lies solely with the council's western members.
Sept 18: EU approved law to exchange digital information in terrorism cases with European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust).
Sept 19: India and Malaysia agreed to further deepen defense cooperation at the 12th Malaysia-India Defense Cooperation Committee meeting held in New Delhi.
Sept 19: Transitional government in Niger announced taking part in the high-level meetings of the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
Sept 19: EU Ministers Council appointed Bulgarian Iliana Ivanova as new EU Commissioner for innovation and research.
Sept 20: Leaders of the UN member states pledged, in a political declaration, to prevent a repeat of the devastating health and socioeconomic crises caused by COVID-19 and shore up the world's ability to head off another pandemic.
Sept 21: Talks on disarmament began between Azerbaijani officials and members of the Armenian community in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Sept 21: US extended protection to Afghans in its territory for 18 months.
Sept 22: European Parliament announced adding 15 extra seats in its 2024-2029 configuration, making the total to 720 MEPs.
Sept 23: Niger's military council accused UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of "obstructing" the West African nation's full participation at the UN's annual meeting of world leader.
Sept 23: UN Member States have adopted the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on the Fight Against Tuberculosis.
Sept 24: France announced withdrawing its ambassador from Niger followed by the French military contingent by the end of this year.
Sept 25: Nigerien government banned French aircrafts from entering its' airspace, following France's decision to withdraw its ambassador and forces stationed there.
Sept 26: US announced that it had recognized the Pacific nations of Cook Islands and Niue, establishing diplomatic relations with both countries.
Sept 26: More than 28,000 people took refuge in Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh, since local forces surrendered to Azerbaijan.
Sept 27: US confirmed the return of American soldier Travis King who was detained in North Korea.
Sept 27: Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 42,875 people, who entered Turkiye irregularly, were deported between June 1 and Sept 22.
Sept 28: Armenia announced that the number of Armenians who took refuge there from the Nagorno-Karabakh region has exceeded 74,000.
Sept 28: US and Japan agreed to enhance alliance between them.
Sept 28: Eleven countries have been newly elected to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the 2023-2024 period, among of which is Algeria.
Oct 5: France announced military disengagement with Niger.
Oct 6: Britain announced the arrival of 200 soldiers to work in NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
Oct 9: EU approved new regulations that would make renewable energy account for 42.5 percent of energy consumption by 2030.
Oct 9: Sudan and Iran resumed diplomatic relations after seven years hiatus.
Oct 9: Spain opposed EC announcement of suspension of aid for the Palestinians, and OXFAM said EC decision unacceptable.
Oct 10: Belgium said it would not suspend aid for Palestinians, and EU asserts non-suspension of aid, while Turkiye suspended flights to Israel.
Oct 15: Rallies in Spain and Brussels in support of the Palestinians and rejection of the Israeli occupation aggression.
Oct 17: Malaysia withdrew from Frankfurt book fair because of its bias to the Israeli occupation.
Oct 18: UNSC failed to pass a draft resolution regarding Israeli occupation aggression.
Oct 23: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a protocol over Sweden NATO's membership.
Nov 7: Britain and Poland signed a USD 4.9 billion defense industries agreement.
Nov 11: massive demonstrations in European cities against the Israeli occupation aggression on Gaza.
Nov 20: EU agreed to refer the situation in Palestine to ICC.
Nov 21: UN said 40 trucks loaded with aid entered Gaza Strip.
Dec 5: Britain and Rwanda signed a partnership agreement to organize immigration and economic development.
Dec 12: UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, immediate release of hostages and delivery of aid.
Dec 13: Iran waived visa on 32 countries including Kuwait.
Dec 16: Britain lowered flags at half-mast to mourn late Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Dec 17: Pakistan announced mourning and lowering of flag at half-mast after death of Kuwait Amir.
Dec 18: UN lowered flag at half-mast to mourn late Kuwaiti Amir.
Dec 23: The ruling military council in Niger said the last French soldier left the country.
Natural Disasters:
Jan 4: Japan announced it would further tighten COVID-19 precautionary measures to all travelers from mainland China, amid a recent surge in coronavirus infections in China.
Jan 5: the US affirmed two people dead in winter storm that lashed California with torrential rains and fierce winds.
Jan 9: The US pledged USD 100 million to support Pakistan's efforts in recovering from the 2022 devastating floods.
Jan 9: European Commission announced EUR 500 million (USD 535 million) plan to support the reconstruction of Pakistan from 2022 devastating floods
Jan 15: Philippines affirmed 27 people dead due to torrential rainfalls and flash floods that swept across the southern and central islands.
Jan 19: Afghanistan stated that 70 people died due to severe winter conditions across the country
Feb 6: A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye, following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit earlier, leaving more than 45 thousand people dead.
Feb 6: The EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre is coordinating the deployment of rescue teams from Europe, in the aftermath of the destructive earthquake.
Feb 6: Russia announced sending rescue teams to Turkiye to provide aid in the aftermath of the destructive earthquake.
Feb 6: The US offers aid to victims of Turkiye and Syria earthquake.
Feb 7: Germany started sending humanitarian aid and rescue teams to quake-affected areas.
Feb 7: Spain announced sending a field hospital to Turkey to help rescue the wounded after the devastating earthquake that struck several areas in the country.
Feb 8: India started sending search and rescue teams as well as medical assistance to Turkiye and Syria after the devastating earthquake that struck both countries.
Feb 11: Pakistan announced the arrival of an additional aid plane to Adana airport, Turkiye.
Feb 15: The UK announced new overseas funding worth GBP 25 million (around USD 30 million) to support quake-affected people in Turkiye and Syria.
Feb 27: Turkiye affirmed one person killed and 103 others were injured over the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Malatya province.
March 7: Five people dead due to the floods that struck Johor's southern state of Malaysia and several other states.
March 15: Five dead and five others missing due to floods caused by torrential rains that hit two Turkish provinces.
March 19: A total of 14 people were killed in an earthquake that struck coastal region of Ecuador and northern Peru.
March 25: A deadly tornado outbreak and strong thunderstorms swept across Mississippi, killing at least 24 people.
April 1: Spain announces the registration of nearly 100 forest fires in northern Spain, destroying thousands of hectares, blocking roads, and evacuating hundreds from their homes, as suspected it was intentional.
April 1: Around 20 dead as a result of hurricanes and storms that swept states in the south and the American Midwest.
May 18: The government of the Emilia-Romagna region in central Italy announced the death of 13 people due to heavy rains and hurricanes that hit the region.
May 23: The United States announces offering of about USD 17 million in additional humanitarian assistance to respond to humanitarian needs following the devastating impact of Cyclone Mocha that struck the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar, affecting more than five million people.
May 24: The United States announced offering of about USD 524 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to address the crisis caused by consecutive severe droughts in the Horn of Africa.
May 25: The European Commission announced providing emergency humanitarian aid of 2.5 million euros (USD 2.7 million) to meet the needs of those affected by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar and Bangladesh.
May 27: Pakistan announces that nine people were killed and 25 others were injured in an avalanche northern Pakistan.
June 6: USAID announces the providing of USD 16.4 million to support Pakistani communities affected by severe floods that claimed the lives of more than 1,391 people last year.
June 8: The World Health Organization announces the signing of a new strategic agreement with the aim of strengthening cooperation with the Global Fund to Fight Tuberculosis, Malaria and AIDS.
June 8: Local authorities in New York announced unprecedented levels of air pollution in the city due to the continuing fires Forests in Canada.
June 9: Japan announces that it will provide emergency humanitarian aid worth USD 5 million to Ukraine following the collapse of the Kakhovka dam.
June 10: 25 people were killed and 145 others were injured due to heavy rains in northern Pakistan.
June 17: US President Joe Biden directs the Pentagon to provide technological support which enables Canada to monitor new forest fires and extinguish them faster.
June 22: American authorities announce the death of four people and the injury of dozens as a result of a hurricane hit areas in the state of Texas in the southern United States.
June 23: Two people were killed and about 500,000 people were affected by floods that swept the state of Assam, northeastern India.
June 26: Pakistan announces that at least 20 people have been killed and 70 others injured in rain-related accidents in the Punjab province, eastern Pakistan.
July 6: At least 21 people dead and 46 wounded due to heavy rains that hit Punjab eastern Pakistan.
July 13: A total of 206 dead due to heavy rains that hit India.
July 18: Torrential rains in South Korea leave at least 41 dead.
July 19: Pakistan affirmed 11 dead and 17 wounded in two separate incidents due to heavy rains.
July 20: At least 16 people were killed in Maharashtra, India, due to landslides caused by the floods and seasonal rains.
July 24: At least 31 people were killed and 74 others injured and 41 were reported missing due to heavy rains causing heavy floods and landslides across Afghanistan.
July 25: At least five people were killed in the forest fires in Greece.
July 26: Sixteen deaths and more than one million affected by hurricane and associated monsoons that hit northern Philippines.
July 26: Five people were killed as a result of storms and fires that swept Italian cities.
Aug 1: Iran has announced that Wednesday and Thursday will be public holidays because of "unprecedented heat."
Aug 1: A total of 11 people have died and 27 others remain missing during rainstorms in Beijing.
Aug 2: Beijing has recorded its heaviest rainfall over the past few days since 140 years ago.
Aug 3: At least two people dead and 64 others injured in Typhoon Khanun that hit Japan's southwestern Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures for a second straight day.
Aug 9: At least 33 people have died and 18 others remain missing after heavy rains drenched Beijing recently.
Aug 10: An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude jolted the eastern Turkish city of Yesilyurt in Malatya province.
Aug 10: Twenty-two sustained mild injuries in the earthquake that hit Malatya, Turkiye.
Aug 10: US President Jos Biden declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires beginning on August 8, 2023, and continuing.
Aug 13: The death toll from the Maui wildfires jumped to at least 93, making it the deadliest US wildfire in a century.
Aug 14: India announced that the number of victims of monsoon rains has risen to 257 people.
Aug 15: Maui wildfires death toll rose to 99 deaths.
Aug 16: Maui wildfires death toll rose to 106 deaths.
Aug 17: Frankfurt Airport halted a large number of international and local flights due to heavy rains that caused floods inside the airport.
Aug 18: Indian Government announced that at least 2,038 people have died due to floods, lightning and landslides, in addition to thousands of injuries.
Aug 19: A forest fire on the Canary Islands of Tenerife has destroyed over 5,000 hectares and caused the evacuation of thousands of people.
Aug 19: US President Joe Biden authorized an increase in funding for emergency work undertaken in the State of Hawaii as a result of wildfires beginning more than a week ago.
Aug 21: The Canary Islands wildfire continued advancing, destroying about 13,000 hectares of forest and farms, and 13,000 people were evacuated.
Aug 29: An earthquake of 7.1-magnitude hit the coasts of Indonesia's Bali and Lombok islands.
Aug 30: Hurricane Idalia has slammed Florida's Big Bend at dangerous Category 3 strength, inflicting deadly storm surge and catastrophic winds not seen in that Gulf Coast area in 125 years.
Aug 30: Florida officials have confirmed two deaths from Hurricane Idalia.
Aug 30: Four people dead and 48 others missing, after rainstorms hit southwest China's Sichuan Province earlier this month.
Aug 31: US President Joe Biden declared that an emergency exists in the State of South Carolina and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Idalia.
Sept 4: One person and severe material damage in various areas in the Dana storm that struck Spain.
Sept 5: Two people have been confirmed dead in the flash floods in Kucukcekmece and Basaksehir districts of the European part of Istanbul city.
Sept 8: Deaths from the floods that hit Istanbul and northwest Turkiye had increased to eight.
Sept 13: Indian health authorities braced to contain the spread of Nipah virus as two deaths and four infections were confirmed from Southern Indian state of Kerala.
Sept 15: The first nine cases of the Eris variant of coronavirus have been detected in Turkiye.
Sept 15: Heavy rains and storms that hit various regions of Spain have caused floods and serious material damage without casualties.
Sept 29: A state of emergency has been declared in New York City as strong storms bring flash flooding.
Oct 6: Twenty-five people killed and 143 missing in flash floods in northwest India.
Oct 8: Up to 2,053 people killed and 9,240 injured in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in western Afghanistan.
Oct 11: A similar earthquake struck western Afghanistan killed more than 2,000 people.
Oct 29: Twenty-seven people killed and four missing in a cyclone in Mexico.
Nov 4: up to 138 people killed and 166 injured in a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in western Nepal.
Nov 25: Health authorities in Burkina Faso announced death of 356 people due to dengue fever between October and November.
Dec 19: Chinese authorities said 116 people killed in a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck northwest of China.
Manmade Disasters:
Jan 15: Russia said that three Russian soldiers were killed and 15 others injured when a munitions depot exploded in Belgorod region.
Jan 15: A passenger plane crashed carrying 68 passengers and four crew members near Nepal's Pokhara international airport, leaving no survivors.
Jan 28: Indian Air Force announced the death of one pilot after two fighter aircraft were involved in an accident during a routine operational training mission.
Jan 29: Ten students died when their boat capsized in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
Jan 29: A total 41 people died as a passenger coach fell into a ravine in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
Jan 31: A total of 14 people were killed and several others injured, as a massive fire broke out in a multi-storied building in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand in North India.
Feb 20: 14 people were killed and 64 injured after a passenger bus capsized in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province.
March 1: A head-on train collision in the city of Larissa in central Greece resulted in the death of 38 people.
March 7: Two Italian Air Force pilots were killed when a mid-air collision occurred during training exercises near an air base east of the capital Rome.
March 9: Three Spanish workers have been killed due to a potash mine collapse in Barcelona.
March 12: Eight people died and several others missing after two "smuggling" boats capsized near the shore of Black's Beach in San Diego County, California.
March 30: Two US Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Kentucky during a training mission, killing 9 soldiers.
April 15: India announced that 12 people were killed and 27 injured when a passenger bus fell into a deep ravine in the Raigad district of western Maharashtra state.
April 15: Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor died in a road accident in the capital Islamabad.
April 22: Spain announces the death of two people and the injury of 10 others in a fire that broke out in a restaurant in a famous neighborhood at the capital, Madrid.
April 28: Indonesia announces the death of 11 people when a boat capsized off the eastern coast of Sumatra island.
April 30: India announces that nine people were killed and dozens injured in a gas leak accident in Ludhiana, Punjab state, northern India.
May 1: Spain announces the death of Moroccan woman and the injury of 25 other women in a bus carrying seasonal workers from Morocco, southwest Spain.
May 7: India announces the death of 18 people, in addition of other missing in boat capsized in Malappuram district, Kerala state, south India.
May 15: Spain announces the death of one person and the injury of 24 others with minor injuries in fire that broke out at San Carlos Hospital in the capital, Madrid.
May 16: Nine people were killed and others were injured in an explosion in a fireworks factory in West Bengal.
June 3: India announces the death of 288 people and the injury of 650 others in a three-train collision eastern India.
June 26: India announces killing of 12 people and seven others injured in bus accident collided eastern India.
July 11: Nepal affirmed six people dead due to helicopter crash.
July 19: Indian authorities announced that at least 15 people died after getting electric shock at in Uttarakhand's Chamoli in India.
July 23: One person was killed and another injured in the partial collapse of a bridge in Patras, Greece.
July 24: An overloaded passenger boat capsized off Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing at least 15 people.
July 29: India affirmed eight deaths due to an explosion in fireworks factory in Tamil Nadu.
Aug 1: At least 17 workers were killed and three others injured following a crane crash at a bridge construction site in India.
Aug 6: At least 30 people lost their lives while around 70 were injured as eight coaches of a train derailed in Pakistan's southern Sindh province.
Aug 7: An explosion at a port in northwest Turkiye injured at least 12 people.
Aug 9: Forty-one immigrants, including three children, have died after their boat capsized and sank in the Strait of Sicily.
Aug 9: A massive explosion hit an optical-mechanical factory outside Moscow in the town of Sergiyev Posad injuring 35 people, four of them in critical care, reported Russia's TASS News Agency.
Aug 11: UN successfully completed the transfer of oil from the FSO Safer supertanker off Yemen's Red Sea coast, preventing the immediate threat of a massive spill.
Aug 12: Six people died after a boat carrying immigrants sank in the English Channel.
Aug 15: At least 35 people died and 80 others were injured when an explosion occurred in a gas station in the southern Russian region of Dagestan, according to TASS news agency.
Aug 17: Ten people have been killed after a small private aircraft crashed on a highway on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Aug 20: At least 18 passengers killed and 11 injured in a fatal accident, when their bus collided with a pick-up van, on a motorway in Punjab province of Pakistan.
Aug 23: At least 17 laborers were killed when a railway bridge being built collapsed, in India.
Aug 26: Nine people died and 20 others were injured after a fire broke out in a stationary train carriage in the southern Indian city of Madurai, in Tamil Nadu state.
Aug 27: Three US Marines have been killed and five others seriously wounded after an Osprey aircraft crashed during military exercises in Australia.
Aug 27: At least eight people were killed and five others injured in massive blast in firecracker factory in West Bengal's Duttapukur, according to Indian media.
Aug 29: At least three people died when a helicopter from Russia's Federal Security Service crashed in the Chelyabinsk region in the Far East of the country.
Aug 31: Five railway workers died after being hit by a train during overnight maintenance in northern Italy.
Sept 4: A Pakistan navy helicopter crashed in a southwestern city, killing three crew members.
Sept 12: A Russian Su-24 crashed in the southern Volgograd Oblast.
Sept 13: A fire at an apartment block in Vietnam's capital Hanoi killed 56 people and injured 37 others.
Sept 13: At least 11 people were killed and 15 others were injured when a trailer rammed into a passenger bus in Rajasthan.
Sept 18: A debris field was found and identified as the remains of an F-35 fighter jet that went missing a day earlier near Charleston, South Carolina, after its pilot ejected.
Sept 25: At least 16 people have been confirmed dead in a coal-mine fire in southwest China's Guizhou Province.
Sept 30: At least eight people killed and dozens of others injured after a bus fell into a gorge in South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Oct 3: Twenty-one people killed when a bus fell from a bridge in northern Italy.
Oct 13: Seven illegal immigrants killed and 16 injured when the bus they were had an accident in southern Germany.
Oct 15: Twelve people killed and 23 injured in a car accident in western India.
Oct 17: Eleven people killed in two explosions in two factories manufacturing fire crackers in southern India.
Oct 28: Twenty-one people killed when a mine collapsed in Kazakhstan.
Oct 29: Eight people killed and 20 injured when two passenger trains collided in southern India.
Nov 5: India closed schools in New Delhi for six days due to high pollution levels and bad air quality.
Nov 28: Indian teams rescued 41 workers trapped in under construction tunnel, ending a 17-day ordeal.
Dec 5: Eighty-five people killed in northwest of Nigeria in an air raid carried out by mistake by the Nigerian army.
Dec 15: Up to 105 people were subjected to factures in an accident in Beijing Metro.
Arms race:
Oct 1: Britain deployed fighter jets in Poland.
Oct 17: Russian lower house of parliament, Duma, approved withdrawal from a treaty that banned nuclear tests.
Nov 22: North Korea successfully launched a military satellite.
Dec 7: Singapore Defense Ministry signed an agreement with the US to purchase F-35 jets.
Dec 14: Japan, UK and Italy signed a treaty to develop a stealth fighter jet.
Deceased Individuals:
Dec 31: Former Pope Benedict XVI died at the age of 95 at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City.
Jan 24: Guatemala's former president Alvaro Colom died at the age 71.
Feb 5: Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf died after a prolonged illness at the age of 79.
June 12: Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi passed away, at the age of 86, in San Raffaele Hospital.
Sept 22: Former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has died.
Nov 30: Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at age of 100. (more)
Rewards and Achievements:
Feb 10: The Indian Space Research Organization successfully launched three small satellites on board Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) from Sriharikota in South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
March 13: The "Everything Everywhere All at Once" movie dominated the Oscars with seven wins, at the 95th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
March 26: Indian Space Research Organization launched 36 satellites, owned by British OneWeb company, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in South India.
Achievements and awards:
May 15: A team of Italian doctors succeeded in transplanting the heart of a deceased person after 20 minutes of stopping the bioactivity in surgery the first of its kind in the world.
May 21: The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that the second mission involving individual astronauts to the International Space Station had been successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
May 29: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched a second-generation satellite for navigation.
May 30: China successfully launched the Shenzhou-16 manned spacecraft with three astronauts on board to its space station on a five-month mission.
June 19: Indonesia launches the largest Indonesian communications satellite as part of a joint project with a private American company concerned with space exploration technologies, worth USD 540 million, and aims to enhance Internet services in remote areas of the Indonesian archipelago.
July 14: India launched its third mission to moon Chandrayaan-3 successfully.
July 14: Austrian initiated first worldwide operational test of a hydrogen and natural gas power plant.
July 30: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched seven satellites belonging to Singapore into intended orbits.
Aug 23: India successfully tests fired an air-to-air missile (ASTRA) from Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
Aug 23: India announced successful moon mission as Chandrayaan-3 made soft landing on the Moon's South Pole as planned.
Sept 7: Japan successfully launched an H-2A rocket carrying an X-ray astronomical satellite and a lunar probe.
Sept 11: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took action approving and authorizing for emergency use updated COVID-19 vaccines formulated to target currently more closely circulating variants.
Sept 15: A Russian spacecraft blasted off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome towards the International Space Station.
Oct 2: Indonesia announced launch of a USD 7.3 billion fast train, part of China's Belt and Road initiative.
Oct 6: UNESCO selected Rio de Janeiro the global book capital for 2025.
Oct 18: Brazil honored OPEC Secretary General Haitam Al-Ghais for his contributions in energy sector and international cooperation.
Oct 21: India successfully launched its manned mission to Space.
Oct 30: Argentina's Lionel Messi won Ballon d'Or 2023, his eighth.
Nov 9: Indonesia opened the largest floating solar power station in southeast Asia, which cost USD 100 million.
Dec 6: Iran successfully sent a capsule into orbit. (end)