The world in
What happened in 2016?
9 events across 6 world regions, each with its sources.
East Asia
- AlphaGo versus Lee Sedol
In March 2016, Google DeepMind's Go program AlphaGo played a five-game match against top Korean professional Lee Sedol in Seoul. AlphaGo won four to one, marking a milestone in AI's mastery of complex board games, comparable to Deep Blue's chess victory over Garry Kasparov in 1997.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Establishment of Yambaru National ParkYambaru National Park was established in 2016 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It encompasses the forested Yambaru region at the northern end of Okinawa Island, including land and marine areas, to protect its unique ecosystem.
West Asia
- Outbreak of the Syrian Civil War
In March 2011, large-scale anti-government protests demanding democratic reforms broke out in Syria as part of the Arab Spring. The Assad regime's lethal crackdown led to the formation of armed opposition groups, turning the uprising into a civil war. The conflict lasted nearly 14 years until the regime's fall in December 2024.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt
On July 15, 2016, a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces calling itself the "Peace at Home Council" attempted to overthrow President Erdoğan. The coup was defeated by loyalist forces and civilians. The plotters cited erosion of secularism and democratic rule as reasons. Erdoğan accused the US-based Gülen movement of orchestrating the attempt, a claim Gülen denied. The failed coup caused at least 265 deaths and thousands of injuries.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
North America
- War on Terror begins
The United States launched the global War on Terror in 2001, following the September 11 attacks, a military campaign spanning multiple theaters.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- 2016 United States presidential election
On November 8, 2016, the United States held its 58th presidential election. Republican candidate Donald Trump defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president. Trump's victory was widely seen as one of the greatest political upsets in American history.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
North Africa
- Brexit referendum
On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom and Gibraltar held a referendum on whether to remain in the European Union. A majority voted to leave, triggering the UK's withdrawal process.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Europe
- Outbreak of the War in Donbas
In April 2014, Russian-backed paramilitaries launched an uprising in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, seizing territory and declaring independent states, prompting a military response from the Ukrainian government. This phase of the Russo-Ukrainian war, fought as a hybrid conflict, lasted until it was subsumed by the full-scale invasion in 2022.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Central Asian steppe
- Launch of the Belt and Road Initiative
In 2013, the Chinese government launched the Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure and economic development strategy to connect Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond. The initiative comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, evoking the historic trade routes. It has since involved agreements with numerous countries and organizations for global connectivity projects.
SourcesWikipedia ↗