News in 2020
Here are some of the major news stories from 2020:
Global Pandemic
- The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, spread globally, infecting millions and causing thousands of deaths.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic in March 2020.
- Governments around the world implemented various measures to slow the spread of the virus, including lockdowns, travel restrictions, and vaccination efforts.
Politics and Elections
- The 2020 United States presidential election was held in November, with Joe Biden defeating incumbent President Donald Trump.
- The UK held a general election in December, with the Conservative Party winning a majority of seats.
- The European Union held parliamentary elections in May, with the European People's Party and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats emerging as the largest groups.
Business and Economy
- The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global economy, with many countries experiencing recessions or slowdowns.
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by over 30% in February and March, but recovered somewhat by the end of the year.
- The US-China trade war continued, with both sides imposing tariffs on each other's goods.
Science and Technology
- NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars in February, marking the beginning of a new era of exploration on the Red Planet.
- The first commercial flights of the Boeing 737 MAX resumed in December, after a 20-month grounding following two fatal crashes.
- The European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover landed on Mars in March, searching for signs of life.
Entertainment and Culture
- The 92nd Academy Awards were held in February, with "Parasite" becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture.
- The 62nd Grammy Awards were held in January, with Billie Eilish winning six awards, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year.
- The 2020 Summer Olympics were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disasters and Natural Events
- The Australian bushfires burned for months, killing hundreds of people and millions of animals.
- The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in natural disasters, including floods, wildfires, and hurricanes.
- The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most active on record, with 30 named storms.
Other notable events
- The Hong Kong protests continued, with pro-democracy activists demanding greater autonomy from China.
- The Iran-US conflict escalated, with the US killing top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in January.
- The 2020 Summer Tour of the Tour de France was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are just a few of the many news stories from 2020. It was a year marked by significant global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, and social unrest.