JANUARY
l Syrian Crisis intensifies.
l World Health Organisation warned the mosquito-borne 
Zika Virus was likely to 
spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada 
and Chile.
l North Korea claims it has tested Hydrogen Bomb test.
l IS destroyed the oldest Christian Monastery in Iraq. 
St Elijah’s monastery had 
been a place of worship for 1,400 years.
FEBRUARY
l Pope Francis met Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in Cuban Capital of Havana in first meeting of leaders Catholic and Orthodox faiths since 1054. In a joint declaration, they called for the protection of Christians from persecution in the Middle East.

MARCH
l Thirty two people died in the three coordinated suicide bombings in Brussels, Belgium, in addition to the three bombers. In total, 340 people were injured. IS said it carried out the attacks.

APRIL
Panama Papers leak of 11.5 million files from the database of the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, shows how the rich can exploit secretive offshore tax regimes; 12 national leaders are among 143 politicians, their families and close associates using offshore tax havens. PM David Cameron’s late father is one.
l An earthquake hits Ecuador with devastating effect, claiming the lives of more than 700 people and destroying 24,000 buildings and homes.

MAY
l Egyptair Flight 804 from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Cairo International Airport, crashed into the Mediterranean, killing all 66 people on board: 56 passengers, 7 aircrew, and 3 security personnel. No survivors were found.
l Iraqi government operation against IS launched to capture the city of of Fallujah.

JUNE
Britain votes to exit from the EU after referendum which has 52 per cent in favor of leaving an 48 per cent wanting to remain.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced he will stand down, triggering Tory leadership election.
l The Syrian army and allied forces began their long-awaited North-west Aleppo offensive to cut off supply lines to Syria’s largest city.

JULY
l China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all made competing claims in disputes over the South China Sea. China was building islands and conducting naval patrols to back its claims

Latvia becomes the 35th member of OECD.
Theresa May becomes Prime Minister-elect after Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the race to succeed David Cameron as Tory leader and Prime Minister.
AUGUST
Summer Olympics 5-21 Aug in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UK finishes second in the medal table behind the USA
l Around 300 people were killed in earthquake in central Italy, 
50 miles south-east of Perugia.

SEPTEMBER
l China was reported to have sent a coded warning to the US to stay out of the South China Sea dispute after Beijing was again accused of building permanent structures on islands in the area. US President Barack Obama warned Beijing must abide by an international tribunal ruling that China’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea had no legal basis.
l Eighteen 18 Indian soldiers were killed in Kashmir by armed militants who entered an army base in the garrison town of Uri.
The attack near the de facto border between India and Pakistan in the disputed region, was one of the deadliest on an army base since militant attacks began in 1989.
North Korea conducted its biggest nuclear test.
OCTOBER
List of Nobel Prize Winners Bob Dylan is announced as winner of the award in literature.
l Hurricane Matthew, blowing in at 160mph, killed at least 1,600 people as it left a trail of destruction from the Caribbean to the United States in its wake.
l Voters in Colombia rejected a landmark peace deal with Farc rebels in a referendum, with 50.2 per cent voting against it.

NOVEMBER
l IS militants shot dead 52 people in a school in Mosul.
l Bomb and gun attacks in Thailand killed three people.

Republican candidate Donald Trump wins US Presidential Election beating Hillary Clinton, although she wins majority of popular votes/
Fidel Castro, Cuba’s leader of revolution, dies at 90
DECEMBER
l Explosions in Istanbul killed 38 people with more than 100 injured.
l An earthquake in Aceh province, Indonesia, left  almost 100 reported dead.
Rebel resistance Aleppo ends as Syrian Government and Russian allies claim victory.
l After battle for Aleppo, Turkey’s foreign minister said it had agreed with Russia a proposal for a ceasefire in Syria, despite backing opposing sides in the civil war.