Current news 2019
Here are some of the major news stories from 2019:
Politics
- The Mueller Report: In March, Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted his report on Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election and potential collusion with the Trump campaign. The report was released in redacted form in April, and it did not find evidence of collusion, but it did not exonerate President Trump on obstruction of justice charges.
- Brexit: The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union was delayed multiple times in 2019, with the original deadline of March 29 being pushed back to October 31.
- US-Iran tensions: Tensions between the US and Iran escalated in 2019, with the US imposing sanctions on Iran and Iran shooting down a US drone. The US launched airstrikes on Iranian military targets in response, but Iran did not retaliate.
Business
- WeWork IPO: WeWork, a shared workspace company, filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in January, but the company's valuation and financials were widely criticized, and the IPO was eventually delayed.
- Boeing 737 Max crisis: Boeing's 737 Max aircraft was grounded worldwide in March after two fatal crashes, and the company faced numerous lawsuits and regulatory investigations.
- Trade wars: The US and China engaged in a trade war in 2019, with both sides imposing tariffs on each other's goods. The US also imposed tariffs on goods from other countries, including the EU and Mexico.
Technology
- Huawei ban: The US government banned Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company, from doing business with US companies in May, citing national security concerns.
- 5G rollout: The rollout of 5G wireless networks began in 2019, with many countries launching commercial services.
- Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal: Facebook faced criticism in 2019 over its handling of user data, including a scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm that harvested data from millions of Facebook users.
Health
- Ebola outbreak: A new outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo was declared in June, and it was the second-largest outbreak in history.
- Measles outbreak: A measles outbreak in the US was declared in January, with over 1,000 cases reported in 2019.
- COVID-19 pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by a new coronavirus, was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and quickly spread globally, becoming a pandemic in March 2020.
Environment
- Climate change: Climate change was a major topic in 2019, with many countries experiencing extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires.
- Amazon rainforest fires: The Amazon rainforest experienced a record number of fires in 2019, with many countries and organizations criticizing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the crisis.
- Greta Thunberg: Climate activist Greta Thunberg became a global phenomenon in 2019, speaking at the UN Climate Action Summit and inspiring a global movement to take action on climate change.
Sports
- NFL season: The 2019 NFL season was marked by controversy, including a dispute between the NFL and the NFL Players Association over player safety and a series of high-profile injuries to star players.
- NBA season: The 2019 NBA season was marked by a series of trades and free agent signings, including the departure of Kevin Durant from the Golden State Warriors.
- Women's World Cup: The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was held in France and was won by the US Women's National Team, who defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the final.
Entertainment
- Avengers: Endgame: The Marvel movie Avengers: Endgame was released in April and became the highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing Avatar.
- Game of Thrones: The final season of the popular HBO show Game of Thrones was released in April and was widely criticized by fans and critics.
- Music: The music industry was marked by the release of new albums from popular artists, including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Jonas Brothers.
These are just a few of the many news stories from 2019. It was a year marked by significant events in politics, business, technology, health, environment, sports, and entertainment.