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In this article we will do a month by month breakdown of the year 2020 as we look back and reflect on everything that's happened in this crazy year. Then we'll look ahead to the new and thrilling events, activities, and more put in place for 2021 and everything you can get excited about!
JANUARY:
-The Australian Wildfires: Said to be one of the worst wildfires in the world, the Australian wildfires, which destroyed over 18 million hectares of Australia, 5,900 buildings, and over 2,800 homes, not mention all the wildlife, such as the koalas, that sadly did not make it through the fires. The fires started in late July of 2019 and didn't end until late March of 2020.
-Major General Qassem Soleimani was killed on January 3rd, 2020, by a U.S. drone strike near the Baghdad International Airport. Many reports deemed this death an "assassination" and conflict quickly arose between the United States and Iran.
-On January 8th, 176 people onboard Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 from Tehran to Kyiv were killed in a crash when the plane was shot down due to the tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
-The Taal volcano in the Philippines erupted on January 12th, completely killing the tourist area and reducing the island into a dead and gray area. The eruption raised an Alert Level 4 and killed wildlife and affected many families.
-In Wuhan, China, Coronavirus (COVID-19) broke out, causing panic, confusion, and lots of death. By the end of January there were only around 200 deaths, however as we've seen, this virus ended up becoming a worldwide pandemic, killing over 1.77 million people.
-On January 26th, basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were both killed in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
FEBRUARY:
-On February 5th, President Donald Trump was wrongly* acquitted on both articles of impeachment. These articles were for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, respectively. While still considered impeached by the House, he has been acquitted by the Senate. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified against Trump, was soon fired for "insubordination" on February 8th.
-Also on February 8th, the first American citizen died of the coronavirus in Wuhan. This death was announced hours after two flights evacuated U.S. citizens from Wuhan.
-On February 14th (Valentine's Day), three people were shot in an Atlanta restaurant owned by Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Kandi Burruss. Burruss was present during the shooting. Luckily, nobody died and all injuries were not life-threatening.
-On February 18th, the Boy Scouts of America filed for Title 11 bankruptcy. The organization is facing many liabilities as many sexual assault cases are on their way to court.
-Also on February 18th, it was revealed that over 206 million gallons of sewage had made its way into Fort Lauderdale's water supplies for over two and a half months! The city was charged with a $1.8 million dollar fine that must be paid by the end of March.
-On February 26th, a mass shooting in Milwaukee killed five people . The suspect, a disgruntled employee at Molson Coors, was taken into custody.
MARCH:
-On March 1st, 33 Turkish soldiers were killed after a Syrian airstrike. The strike has led to heightened tensions between the two countries, who were only days away from withdrawing troops.
-On March 4th, Japan announced visitors from China and South Korea would have to quarantine due to the ongoing Coronavirus. A visit from China's president was delayed, but Japan announced that the Olympics were still on track. The same day, Australia banned visitors from South Korea.
-On March 5th, Italy announced the shutdown of all schools for a few weeks in response to the Coronavirus. All sporting events were unattended for the month and 107 people have died from Coronavirus so far in Italy. Iran later announced the temporary release of 54,000 prisoners in an attempt to curb the issue.
-As of March 6th, the total number of Coronavirus cases worldwide topped 100,000.
-Also on March 6th, two suicide bombers deployed bombs near the U.S. embassy in Tunisia. One policeman died during the attack and four others were injured, as well as one civilian.
-Also on March 6th, over 30 people died after a gunfire attack on a ceremony in Kabul. Top Afghan officials were in attendance, but were unharmed. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
-On March 9th, Ireland announced the cancellation of all Saint Patrick's Day parades in response to Coronavirus.
-On March 12th, Uganda restricted travel from countries affected by Coronavirus.
-As of March 13th, Italy is still under complete lockdown.
-On March 14th, Spanish cases were announced to be up to 1,500 in the last 24 hours.
-Soon after, on the 15th, after the first lady tested positive for Coronavirus, Spain went on complete lockdown. This was after nearly 8,000 cases and 288 confirmed deaths.
-On March 20th, the weekly Algeria anti-government protests were called off due to Coronavirus. March 20th also proved to be on of Italy's deadliest days with 627 deaths. Italy released military troops to enforce the lockdown.
-March 22nd brought claims from Tokyo that the Olympics would continue as normal, however Australia and Canada both announced they would not send athletes unless the Olympics were postponed.
-On March 23rd, citizens in India went on lockdown and Nigeria announced its first COVID-related death. The IOC also announced the delay of the Olympics until Summer 2021.
-On March 24th, Prince Charles tested positive for Coronavirus and nearly a quarter of the world's population was announced to be under quarantine.
-March 26th brought news of water and soap shortages in Rebel-help Syria, and experts speculated that the territory would be infected soon.
-On March 28th, Italy surpassed 10,000 fatalities and Sweden announced no lockdowns and a continuation of life as normal. North Korea launched an unidentified projectile off the coast of Japan. This launch is the sixth in the last month.
-On March 31st, Russia debuted new laws that could lead up to 7 years in prison for breaking quarantine rules.
APRIL:
-On April 2nd, many countries adopted code words for victims of domestic abuse who are locked at home with their abusers. Also, anger rose in Japan after the Prime Minister announced he would supply each household with two reusable masks. He was widely mocked for not properly responding to the issue. Kenya released 5,000 petty offender prisoners and held court cases via Skype. Spain announced it had surpassed 10,000 deaths. South Africa announced it will begin to house the homeless in empty sports stadiums.
-April 3rd marked over 1 million cases worldwide of Coronavirus and over 53,000 deaths.
-On April 6th China lifted the lockdown as tourists flocked to specific locations. India began turning its trains into hospitals. Spain's Coronavirus deaths began lowering and thousands of Venezuelan refugees returned home as Colombia went on lockdown. Also, in Israel, the elections moved forward with growing unity despite some tensions.
-April 9th marked the day that the Saudi Arabian coalition fighting rebels in Yemen declared a two-week ceasefire in response to Coronavirus.
-April 10th was the day China's government released a draft of a law outlining which animals can be farmed and eaten. This law was in response to rumors that the Coronavirus culminated in China's wet market, where animal meat is kept with little standards and restrictions.
-On April 11th, the Prime Minister of India extended the lockdown for four days and Brazil reported over 1,000 deaths and 20,000 cases. This announcement came after the President ignored the advice of his government and challenged COVID restrictions.
-April 12th brought the escape of several imprisoned ISIS members in Syria. The search for the escaped member is still ongoing.
-April 13th was the day Putin announced the spike of cases, including 2,550 new cases in the span of 24 hours.
-On April 14th (my birthday!), France ordered Amazon to only deliver essentials to protect delivery drivers.
-April 15th was when Putin admitted he is feeling less confident as Russia continues to face more problems due to Coronavirus. Denmark allowed children under the age of 11 to return to school. South Korea held their parliamentary elections despite the Coronavirus crisis.
-On April 16th, the Brazilian President fired his health minister.
-On April 17th, Wuhan officials edited the Coronavirus numbers, showing a 50% increase in deaths than what had previously been recorded.
-April 18th brough the announcement of 20,000 more deaths in Spain. The worldwide shortage of ventilators was highlighted as it was reported that South Sudan, with a population of 12 million people, only had 4 ventilators and 24 ICU beds. Also, nearly 400 Rohingya refugees lost at sea were rescued.
-Socially distanced protests took place in Israel on April 19th.
-On April 20th, Ghana announced that two cities would no longer be on lockdown. The UK announced it will use the blood of Coronavirus survivors to treat others with the disease. This is an ongoing study in the UK. The President of Brazil joined protestors protesting the lockdown restrictions.
-April 24th was when it was announced that various countries would begin testing people-tracking wristbands to ensure that citizens were following the restrictions.
-New Zealand claimed the "elimination" of Coronavirus as its numbers dropped to single digits on April 27th. South Korea also announced that Kim Jong Un is "alive and well" after speculation that he was in a vegetative state or even dead after heart surgery. There is still no word from North Korea.
-On April 28th an investigation was opened into Brazil's President after being accused of seeking to interfere with police investigations.
-On April 29th German researchers announced the first human trials of a vaccine with the U.S. company Pfizer.
-April 30th was the day that over two dozen hospitals in Russia went on lockdown as the doctors fell ill with Coronavirus. Case numbers surpassed 100,000.
MAY:
-On May 1st, the governor of New Mexico declared a State of Emergency due to Coronavirus.
-May 2nd brought the FDA approved use of the Ebola drug, remdesivir, to combat Coronavirus.
-On May 4th (Star Wars Day), a highly venomous and invasive hornet species, dubbed "Murder Hornets" were spotted in the U.S. The hornets, who originated in Asia, were spotted in Washington state, The hornets are longer than two inches, and can kill a human if stung more than once. Also, May 4th was the day the Santa Cruz hospital in California received an anonymous donation of $1 million dollars.
-May 8th brought an IRA announcement for receiving their stimulus payments online. Unfortunately, a glitch left many without their money.
-May 9th revealed that various staff of the White House tested positive for Coronavirus, including Mike Pence's aid and Trump's personal valet.
-On May 11th, two teams of Doctors Without Borders were dispatched to New Mexico to help treat and teach the Native Americans how to deal with COVID. Also, in Texas, during a gathering to watch fireworks, gunshots rang out and injured five people.
-May 12th was the day the Broadway League announced the cancellation of all New York Broadway shows until September 6th.
-On May 13th, Twitter announced it will allow all employees to work from home forever due to the success of working from home during Coronavirus.
-On May 16th, New York City shut down all its subway systems for the first time in its 115-year history. President Donald Trump also fired Steve Linick, the State Department Inspector General. Linick had been investigating Mike Pompeo for abuse of power while in office.
-May 17th brought yet another shooting, this time at a memorial in Louisiana. 13 people were injured and chaos continued to reign even after police arrived at the scene.
-On May 18th, California announced a new relief bill for undocumented immigrants. The bill allows undocumented immigrants to apply for financial relief during the pandemic.
-May 23rd was the day the number of deaths in the U.S. reached closer to 100,000 as various areas of the U.S. began to open back up.
-May 24th brought President Trump's travel ban against Brazil.
-May 26th marked the start of the Black Lives Matter movement as hundreds of people gathered at an intersection in Minneapolis where George Floyd died. Four police officers were fired after the incident.
-On May 30th Trump announced he is cutting ties with the World Health Organization (WHO) claiming they are a "puppet of China". He stated that WHO needs to hold China accountable for Coronavirus. A protest in Detroit led to a shot fired, which killed one protestor.
-By May 31st, Black Lives Matter protests erupted all over America. Curfews were employed by the National Guard, however protests continued. Riots and looting were products of these otherwise peaceful protests. Some buildings were also set on fire.
JUNE:
-On June 2nd, Nigeria reopened churches, mosques, and hotels amid the pandemic. Requirements to wear masks and wash hands are still in place.
-June 3rd marked Brazil and Mexico's announcements to begin Phase 1 of reopening. Sweden also defended its decision to forgo lockdown.
-June 5th was the day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from Canada took a knee during Black Lives Matter protests there.
-On June 6th, the WHO announced that everyone should wear masks in public. India officially passed Italy, becoming the country with the sixth-highest number of Coronavirus cases, which includes 236,657 cases and 6,649 deaths. U.S. protestors entered their 12th consecutive day of protests for Black Lives Matter and Europe and Australia participated as well. A court overturned the ruling that protests are illegal due to COVID, as over 10,000 people protested for justice in Sydney.
-On June 10th, at least 81 people died after a suspected Boko Haram attack in northeast Nigeria. 7 people from the village were kidnapped.
-June 12th brought Lebanese citizens to the streets for anti-government protests, which quickly became violent. In Yemen, crises continue as it continues to deal with its civil war and three pandemics, which include COVID, a mosquito virus, and a cholera outbreak. In addition, famine is now facing the country.
-An area in Beijing was put under lockdown on June 13th after another COVID outbreak, the first in 50 days.
-On June 15th, tensions between China and India rose after violent clashes in the Himalayas. 20 Indian soldiers died in the clash and some Chinese soldiers died as well, though figures haven't been released.
-June 25th was the day the WHO reported the first rise in COVID cases in Europe since reopening. Court in Brazil ruled that the President is required to wear a mask in public.
-On June 27th, parts of Delhi, India were placed on alert after locusts swarmed a suburban area.
-June 29th was the day shots were fired at a Pakistani stock exchange in Karachi, killing 5 people. The four attackers have been killed and the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.
-On June 30th, China passed a controversial national security law. This law also affects Hong Kong. The four laws laid out by the bill are secession, subversion against the central Chinese government, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security.
JULY:
-On July 2nd, The Honduras President was released from the hospital after a sixteen-day stay due to Coronavirus. Many hospitals in Honduras are collapsing due to the overwhelming number of cases.
-The CDC reported that hundreds of thousands could die from COVID in Latin America on July 3rd. So far, 121,000 people have died in Latin America but the CDC predicts that number could be increased by 300,000 in October. Bars and restaurants reopened in Brazil.
-On July 4th, England reopened bars and pubs after four months of quarantine. Thousands flocked to beaches without masks, and officials worry about increasing cases. 200,000 people in Northern Spain were put on lockdown after a COVID spike.
-Two Americans face hefty fines after breaking Canada's Coronavirus laws on July 5th. They did not quarantine for the required 14 days before entering the country or traveling elsewhere.
-On July 6th, Australia announced that the 6.6 million residents in Victoria will isolate due to a rise of cases in Melbourne. India announced another 24,000 cases, surpassing Russia's total. Also on July 6th, CNN reported that there was a suspected case of the bubonic plague in Mongolia. The city of Bayannur is now on a Level 3 warning of plague prevention until the end of the year.
-Protests erupted in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, after a Coronavirus curfew was put in place on July 7th. The protests were peaceful at first, but soon became violent.
-On July 11th, protests began in Israel against the economic hardships they claim came from how the government handled Coronavirus. Five people died and six more were injured at a South African church after being taken hostage by gunmen.
-On July 13th, South Korea's mayor died, a week after his daughter had called authorities to report him missing. His death makes the division in South Korea even worse.
-July 14th marked the announcement of over 163 COVID vaccines in development worldwide by the WHO. Only a few have reached Phase 3 and only 23 are using humans in clinical trials.
-On July 17th, India recorded 34,956 new cases in just 24 hours, causing the country to surpass 1 million cases overall. This makes India the third nation (after Brazil and the U.S.) to hit that mark.
-Over 2,000 healthcare workers in Ghana tested positive for Coronavirus on July 18th. So far, six have died. Also, in France, a fire broke out in the Nantes Cathedral. It is currently being investigated as arson, however officials say it is not as bad as the Notre Dame fire and the roof is still in good condition.
-July 20th marked the day Oxford reported progress in developing a vaccine. The UK ordered 100 million doses. France ruled that all masks are mandatory as the cases rise. The health minister has stated that there are currently 400 or 500 clusters of the virus. A "wartime" lockdown was declared in Urumbiq, in China's Xinjiang. Also on July 20th, the UK announced it will suspend the extradition treaty with Hong Kong due to a controversial security law.
-On July 22nd, a hostage situation in Brazil ended after the President agreed to endorse a 2005 documentary on animal abuse.
-On July 23rd, China offered a $1 billion loan to the Caribbean and Latin America to help them secure vaccines.
-CNN reported on July 25th that cases in the Middle East and Northern Africa are rising. Attacks in northern Nigeria left dozens dead. The government believes them to be attacks carried out by militant groups, and have been ongoing since January, however a rise in violence has been noted.
-On July 29th, new research suggested that bats had been carrying the Coronavirus, capable of infecting humans, for decades, and that it was inevitable that it would spread at some point. Bolivian lawmakers are fighting to have the health ministry recognize a toxic cleaning agent as a COVID cure (don't ask me why). Luckily, health officials have warned that it is, in fact, deadly.
-On July 30th, Russia announced its plans to have a vaccine in two weeks, as the country strives to be the first to develop it, with a hopeful approval date of August 10th.
-Brazil's President stated that he had "mold in his lungs" after his wife tested positive for COVID on July 31st. Vietnam recorded its first two COVID deaths.
AUGUST:
-On August 3rd, the Apple Fire in California counties Riverside and San Bernardino spread over 20,000 acres and is only 5% contained. More than 2,000 responders are attempting to fight the fire.
-Hurricane Isaias made landfall in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on August 4th. Over 2.8 million homes and businesses lost power and the storm has already killed many people. The hurricane is categorized as a Category 1.
-On August 10th, monsoon rains triggered landslides in India's Kerala. 43 people have been found dead and rescuers fear even more are buried.
-Hurricane-level winds wreaked havoc on Iowa on August 14th, leaving at least 160,000 people without power and millions of acres of farmland have been destroyed.
-The governor of California declared a State of Emergency on August 18th due to the heat wave worsening fires. More than two dozen fires are burning across the state and 145,000 acres have been burned.
-By August 23rd, more than 560 wildfires burned 1 million acres in California. Due to the pandemic, firefighters are in short supply. Trump declared a major disaster in California and released federal aid to help fight the fires.
-At least 12 people died on August 24th as intense storms hit the Caribbean and southern U.S. states. The storms, Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura, caused high winds, rough waters, and heavy rains in Puerto Rico. The storm is predicted to hit Texas and Louisiana, and President Trump issued a disaster declaration for Louisiana as many began to evacuate.
-On August 26th, thousands of people were told to evacuate Texas and Louisiana as the now Hurricane Laura headed towards those areas.
-On August 29th, hundreds of thousands in the U.S. were left without power as Hurricane Laura made landfall. The power outages lasted for the next few months, which became dangerous as temperatures in those areas reached the 100s (F).
SEPTEMBER:
-On September 1st, the New York Mayor announced he would be postponing the start date for schools due to COVID, which were scheduled to begin on September 10th. Protests for Black Lives Matter started again after police fatally shot another black man.
-The U.S. announced it would not join the WHO in the international search for a COVID vaccine on September 2nd.
-On September 4th, Gettysburg College announced an all-school quarantine when 300 tests came back positive on campus. Protests in Rochester entered their second night after another fatal encounter between police and a black man. 11 people were arrested soon after these protests became violent.
-On September 5th, President Trump banned racial sensitivity training in federal agencies, claiming it was "divisive, anti-American propaganda". Over 1000 people gathered at San Francisco beach for a celebration, despite the health regulations. The beach was closed soon after and participants were chastised for taking part.
-On September 6th, at least 50 protestors were arrested in Portland as the city entered its 100th consecutive night of protests.
-September 7th was the day Northeastern University announced the dismissal of 11 students who failed to follow the rules put in place against COVID.
-On September 9th, Los Angeles County changed the status of trick-or-treating from banned to "not recommended". A book was also published by Bob Woodward containing 18 interviews with Donald Trump. Allegedly, Trump told Woodward how deadly the virus was before it even hit America, which Trump claimed he hid to avoid public panic.
-Trump held his first indoor rally on September 13th, which received much negative feedback due to the violation of COVID restrictions.
-On September 18th, the Supreme Court announced that former Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had passed away from cancer. Her death raised concerns that Trump would attempt to fill the Court seat before the elections.
-On September 22nd, the House reached a budget agreement to avoid a shutdown.
-By September 23rd, the U.S. death toll passed 200,000. Dr. Fauci warned that these numbers would likely only increase during the colder months. Also on the 23rd, Louisville declared a state of emergency ahead of the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case.
-On September 24th, the court decision was released, abdicating all officers involved in the shooting but one. BLM protests escalated, as many think that more officers were not held accountable for their actions. A suspect shot two police officers during a protest, injuring both.
-On September 25th, it was reported that Trump plans to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to take the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg's spot on the Supreme Court.
-On September 27th, a Maryland man was sentenced to one year in jail for violating COVID party restrictions.
-September 29th was the first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
-On September 30th, Disney announced it will need to cut 28,000 jobs due to the pandemic.
OCTOBER:
-On October 2nd, Nigerian scientists reportedly developed a cheaper and faster testing method for Coronavirus. The French government announced that the situation in Paris was worsening, resulting in a lockdown in the capital city.
-Lebanon's PM-designate resigned from office on October 3rd after a political stalemate within the cabinet.
-October 4th brought news of rising cases in Europe again. The UK reported 12,872 new cases in the last 24 hours. France reported 16,069 new cases in the last 24 hours (leading to the shutdown of bars in Paris) and Poland reported 2,367 new cases in the last 24 hours.
-On October 7th, protestors and vigilante groups violently clashed in Kyrgyzstan. These protests came after the opposition leader was elected President and freed from prison.
-Protests in Nigeria broke out on October 8th after tensions due to rising police brutality rose. Many Nigerian celebrities are joining these protests online.
-Kim-Jong-Un announced that North Korea is Coronavirus-free on October 10th, however this has yet to be fact-checked by officials. Also, the country of Kyrgyzstan declared a state of emergency and troops were deployed after gunshots, fights, and more violence broke out across the country.
-Cases continued to soar in Europe on October 12th, and it was reported that 9 million people in China are to be tested for COVID after 12 people tested positive in Qingdao.
-On October 13th, it was reported that at least 10 people had died from police brutality. Since the protests, the SARS unit (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) has been disabled.
-A Dutch woman died after catching COVID for the second time on October 14th, the first case of death from reinfection.
-On October 16th, the WHO warned that European Coronavirus death tolls could be five times worse than what we saw in April. Also on October 16th, pro-democracy protests in Thailand entered their third night and two men were arrested for allegedly attacking Queen Suthida's motorcade.
-It was reported that Belgium is at risk of being overwhelmed by Coronavirus cases on October 19th. It was also announced that the Czech Republic may soon face a whole country lockdown. The German government also announced a $488 million investment for updating ventilation systems in public buildings.
-On October 21st, protests in Nigeria entered their third week.
-On October 22nd, the death toll from the Nigerian protests was said to have risen to 56. A prison was set on fire in Lagos and warehouses containing food and medical supplies are said to have been ransacked.
-On October 23rd, French President Macron said that the virus is here to stay until the end of the summer after the country surpassed 1 million cases. Also on the 23rd, Trump announced that Sudan and Israel have agreed to normalize relations. Finally, an abortion ruling in Poland led to even more nationwide protests.
-Wales announced a second national lockdown on October 26th, with Scotland and Ireland expected to follow suit.
-From October 26th through the 31st, Italy, Portugal, France, and Germany all announced new COVID restrictions.
-On October 31st, main opposition parties in Tanzania demanded another election after declaring the previous one fraudulent. Mass protests have been called, and reportedly the U.S. received news that the election was indeed tampered with.
NOVEMBER:
-Tanzania's main opposition leader was arrested amongst protests regarding the election on November 1st. Also, Belarus protests against Alexander Lukashenko and over 200 protestors were arrested.
-On November 2nd, 10 students were shot and killed at Kabul University, however the Taliban have claimed that they are not responsible for the attack. In Vienna, gunmen attacked bars and restaurants as citizens enjoyed their last night out before COVID curfews took place. 4 people died and 22 were injured.
-On November 6th, Italy announced newer COVID restrictions after the country tallied its highest numbers in 24 hours. France was reported to have the highest infection rate in Europe. Finally, Germany and Greece's case numbers steadily continue to rise, while both countries close schools.
-On November 8th, scientists at Pfizer and BioNTech announced that the new Coronavirus vaccine stops 90% of cases. Over 43,500 people received the vaccine in six countries and so far no safety concerns have been announced. Also, Bolivia's new President, Luis Arce was inaugurated. His Presidency brings power back to the socialists.
-Raids were carried out in Ethiopia by Tigrayan youths on November 9th, killing hundreds.
-On November 12th, the EU agreed to buy 300 million doses of the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech.
-India warned of a rise in cases on November 13th, as people left their homes to begin Diwali celebrations. Microsoft stated that hackers from Russia and North Korea are attempting to hack Coronavirus vaccine organizations.
-On November 11th, foreign diplomats that attended a Remembrance Day ceremony stated that an improvised explosive device went off, injuring dozens of people.
-On November 14th, rebellious leaders from Ethiopia's Tigray area launched missiles at Eritrea's capital, Asmara. These areas are now entering their twelfth day of conflict as hundreds of people are left dead and over 200,000 refugees are flocking to Sudan.
-Violent protests broke out across Peru on November 15th after the interim President resigned and the impeachment of former President, Martin Vizcarra. 2 people were left dead and 94 were injured.
-November 17th brought news of the situation in Russia being actually much worse than it appears, as the morgues and hospitals fill up.
-On November 18th, CNN reported on Mexico City's vaccine progress, which already includes a moving assembly line said to produce millions of vaccines by 2021. Protests in Bangkok erupted after Thai officials attempted to make two amendments to the constitution. Protestors are fighting against the monarchy in Thailand and believe that the government is becoming too militaristic.
-Mexico surpassed 100,000 COVID deaths on November 20th, making it the fourth country to surpass this grim milestone. Toronto also moved back into lockdown as the cases began to climb again.
-On November 23rd, drugmaker AstraZeneca announced a 70% effectiveness with their vaccine, however the team has decided more research should be done before distribution. Toronto also entered its second lockdown.
-November 25th brought an announcement from the WHO that Europe was the highest contributor to COVID cases in the last week. Europe accounted for 44% of cases and 49% of deaths. Ethiopia also reported at least 600 civilians were killed due to their ethnicity. Over 25 people were killed in protests in Uganda, sparked by the arrest of a popular music star turned presidential candidate.
-The Prime Minister of Ethiopia tweeted on November 28th that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces had taken over the Tigrayan capital and that federal police will continue to round up members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front. Meanwhile, thousands took to the streets in France to protest new security laws prohibiting the filming of police. It is believed that a black man was beaten in Paris and tear gas was used on the protestors. Finally, some BLM protests emerged in Brazil after a black man was beaten in a market.
-8 inmates died and 50 more were left wounded in a Coronavirus prison riot in Sri Lanka on November 30th. It was also announced that the NHS COVID-19 app will now allow payment for those isolating. Finally, Canada announced it will be spending $77 billion to kick-start the economy as a Coronavirus relief measure and in France, there was a promise to change some of the security laws that were put in place.
DECEMBER:
-On December 2nd, the UK officially approved the Pfizer vaccine, which is now 95% effective. Also, in Iran, it is being discovered that the death of a top nuclear scientist in late November was actually an assassination carried out by Israel.
-Russia began its vaccination program in Moscow on December 5th with its own vaccine, Sputnik V. It is still undergoing mass testing. Argentina also passed a new tax law to help wealthy residents pay for more medical supplies.
-On December 7th, CNN reported on the hardships Kenya is facing, including a lack of ICU beds and a lot of deaths from a lack of response. Venezuelans have also been reported to be taking care of themselves at home as the hospitals are left with little and no room. Also, in India, over 300 people were hospitalized due to a mysterious illness that has killed one person. Symptoms include seizures, nausea, and unconsciousness. All patients have tested negative for Coronavirus and mosquito-born illnesses. The same day, protests broke out that have now reached their 12th day.
-December 9th brought reactions from two UK healthcare workers in response to the vaccine, and Pfizer issued a warning that people with severe allergies should not receive the vaccine. Experts also warned that richer countries are hoarding the vaccine, which could lead to bigger problems for poorer countries.
-At least 7 people were killed during violent protests in Iraq on December 11th due to not receiving salaries during the pandemic. Protestors continue to set government buildings on fire.
-On December 14th, the Netherlands announced a five-week lockdown to quell Christmas travel spreads and the UK also announced a lockdown, to omit travel restrictions for the three days of Christmas. Also, the Lebanese President was charged with neglect for the Belarus blast as he allegedly received prior warnings and did nothing to prevent it.
-France lifted lockdowns in time for Christmas on December 15th, however there is still a nationwide curfew and all ski resorts are closed. Shutdowns in Germany will continue through Christmas. Travel in Spain and Austria is still allowed, but gatherings have been limited.
-On December 16th, South Korea announced a large rise in numbers and the country may be facing its first lockdown. The United Nations warned that about 2.3 million children are still being cut off from aid in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
-Brazil announced plans to begin vaccinations early next year on December 19th and at least 9 people died in Turkey after a ventilator blast in the COVID wing of a hospital. Nigeria announced that 344 Nigerian schoolboys were rescued after being kidnapped by terrorist group, Boko Haram.
-On December 21st, Ontario announced it will shutdown the day after Christmas and various countries placed a travel ban on the UK after a mutant of the disease was found in certain regions.
-On December 23rd, Taiwan announced its first local COVID case in 255 days. Three police officers were killed in France after responding to a domestic violence call in Lyons. They were all shot upon entry of the house.
-On December 24th, 7 people were killed in a Boko Haram attack in Nigeria, where a church was also burned down.
-Brazil announced it won't start vaccinations until February or March on December 26th. Japan also announced it will ban foreign nationals from entering the country until the end of January after a new COVID variant was discovered. Canada has also detected this new variant. Also, a shooting in Berlin left four people injured, as police believe it was a shooting between two rival crime gangs.
Whew! That was a lot of crazy events that happened this year. After such a violent and sad year, what are some things we can look forward to in 2021? Here are few things to make you excited about the new year:
-The long-anticipated FRIENDS reunion.
-New shows like WandaVision, Loki, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier coming to Disney +.
-The COVID vaccine rollout.
-A number of big blockbuster releases have been pushed back to 2021, and this time, maybe we'll have a chance to see them on the big screen!
-The postponed Olympics, set to take place in Summer 2021.
-The blood moon happening on May 26th, 2021.
-The Mars landing happening on February 18th, 2021.
-Highly anticipated games to be released along with the new PS5.
-There are rumors that Hamilton will kick off a Broadway return on the 4th of July!
And there will be many more new and exciting things happening in 2021, so let's keep positive minds as we move forward!
Thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog! This article took two whole days to write so thank you for taking the time to read it! I hope you all had wonderful holidays and a Happy New Year to look forward to. I will add the link I used to write this article, as well as some links to help some of the issues you saw that happened this year, such as helping the children in Tigray to get relief and much more. Feel free to drop me a comment at the bottom of my blog and have a wonderful rest of your 2020!
-Loreleixx
*This is simply my opinion, so please do not feel offended.
Links to charities to help specific issues featured in this article:
Links I used to help me write this article:
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