Five Months Into 2020: A Lookback

Today is June 1, 2020, meaning that 2020 is already five months in. Yes, believe it or not, we are already almost halfway through the year 2020. So many things happened in 2020, and so, I thought I might use today’s post to recap what has happened in 2020 so far.

January

• Irani general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike. On January 2, under the orders of President Trump, the Irani general was killed by the U.S. military in a drone strike.
• As bushfires swept through southern Australia, a (third) state of emergency was called in New South Wales. Starting in late 2019, raging bushfires have burned millions of acres of land in Australia, killing many and leaving a trail of destruction.
• The novel coronavirus outbreak broke out in Wuhan, China. Beginning in early January, the coronavirus broke out in Wuhan, China, quickly spreading to other parts of the world and becoming a global pandemic.
• Prince Harry and Meghan step down as royals. On January 8, the pair announced that they would step down from their position in the British Royal Family.
• Iran declares the Dept. of Defense as a terrorist organization and launches several ballistic missiles at U.S. Armed Forces facilities in Iraq. A day after declaring the DoD as a terrorist organization in response to the assassination of Soleimani, on January 8, ballistic missiles were launched onto U.S. facilities.
• Ukraine Int’l Airlines flight 752 crashes, killing all 176 onboard. The plane crashed in Tehran, Iran while taking off on January 8. American, Canadian, British, and Iraqi forces say it was accidentally caused by an Iranian antiaircraft missile, while Iran says it was a mechanical failure.
• Pro-independence Taiwanese president wins reelection. Taiwanese President Tsai-Ing Wen, from the Democratic Progressive Party, wins her reelection bid on January 11 by more than 20% over the more pro-China party, Kuomintang, and the DPP keeps their majority in Taiwan’s legislature.
• President Trump’s impeachment trial begins. He was impeached for “abuse of power” and “obstruction of Congress.” Trump is later acquitted by Congress.
• On January 20, the coronavirus pandemic reaches the United States. The first American coronavirus case is recorded on January 20 near Seattle. By this point, the pandemic had spread to places like South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, and more. Wuhan, China is locked down on January 23.
• NBA player Kobe Bryant is killed when his helicopter crashes in California. On January 26, Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and 7 others were killed after the helicopter they were on crashed while flying in foggy weather.
• The United Kingdom leaves the European Union. After years of talks, the U.K. finally left the European Union on January 31 at 23:00 GMT. 

February

• Iowa caucus results are delayed due to problems with the use of a mobile app for reporting. On February 5, the first 2020 caucus became disastrous after numerous delays. Significant irregularities are reported,
• Trump acquitted on both articles of impeachment by the Senate. The Republican-held Senate acquits President Trump on both articles of impeachment, with 1 Republican from Utah and most Democrats voting guilty on February 5.
• 3,700 people are quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship after 10 passengers test positive for the coronavirus. In Japan, the cruise ship is quarantined for almost a month in the Yokohama port. The quarantine was criticized by many infectious disease experts. A total of 700 passengers are diagnosed with the virus.
• Murder of Ahmaud Arbery. On February 23, an unarmed 25-year-old African American man was fatally shot while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia.
• Harvey Weinstein is found guilty of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act. On February 24, Harvey Weinstein, a former Hollywood producer, was found guilty of the above charges.
• First American coronavirus death in Seattle.  On February 29, with 87,000+ global cases and 70 American cases, a man in Seattle dies of the coronavirus.
• Throughout the month, coronavirus cases continue to grow exponentially in countries all across the world. Many countries record their first coronavirus cases and deaths in February.

March

• Tornadoes rip through Nashville, Tennessee, killing 25. On March 2-3, three tornadoes hit downtown Nashville and surrounding areas. The state declares a state of emergency.
• On Super Tuesday, Joe Biden wins a majority of votes. On March 3, Super Tuesday elections are held in 14 states, with Joe Biden winning a majority in the Democratic primaries. By now, the main two nominees left are Biden and Bernie Sanders.
• On March 9, the DJI drops 1,800 points. Due to the coronavirus and oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, the Dow Jones Industrial Average drops 1,800 points upon opening. Futures fell 1,300 points, the most ever in a single day. This was the first of many major losses in Wall St.
• Italy becomes the first country to declare a nationwide lockdown. On March 10, Italy becomes the first country to enter a nationwide lockdown after 10,149 cases were recorded there.
• The coronavirus is declared as a pandemic. On March 11, the World Health Organization finally declares the virus a pandemic. By then, over 121,000 cases and 4,300 deaths have been recorded. On the same day, the DJI plummets 1,400 points and enters a bear market.
• “Black Thursday.” On March 12, all 3 major U.S. indexes plummet 7%, resulting in a 15-minute trade halt. The DJI falls by 10%, the largest one-day percentage drop since 1987. All three indexes closed 9% down. 
• National Emergency declared by President Trump. The president declares a national emergency due to the coronavirus in response to the coronavirus, allowing up to $50 billion of federal aid money.
• Fed slashes benchmark rates by 1% and the stock market crashes. The Fed cut benchmark rates by a whole percentage point on March 15, resulting in a major stock market crash the next trading day, March 16. S&P futures fall 5% and the DJI closes 2,997 points (12.9%) lower. Asian and European markets open with huge losses too.
• Schools close in 37 states, SF orders shelter-in-place, and many states ban gatherings. In response to the pandemic, with 4,459 American cases across 49 states, many states start taking drastic action by March 16. MLB suspends season until further notice too. The U.S. passes 10,000 cases on March 19. Dept. of State warns citizens not to travel abroad.
• 3.3 million Americans file for unemployment on the week ending March 21. This is the first time ever that more than a million Americans file for unemployment.
• Tokyo 2020 Olympics suspended until 2021. The IOC announced on March 24 that the Olympics would be postponed a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• The U.S. becomes the country with the most coronavirus cases in the world. On March 26, the U.S., with 1,200 deaths and 83,907 cases, becomes the country with the most cases in the world.
• President Trump signs a $2 billion stimulus relief bill. On March 27, the president signs the largest stimulus relief package to date. 

April

• Global coronavirus cases hit 1 million. Cases grow exponentially worldwide.
• U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson contracts coronavirus and is admitted to hospital. 10 days after contracting the virus, Johnson is admitted to hospital on April 5 and is moved to the ICU at one point.
• Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders suspends his presidential campaign on April 8, leaving Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for the 2020 presidential election.
• The U.S. becomes the country with the most coronavirus deaths in the world. On April 11, with 20,071 deaths, the U.S. surpasses Italy with the most number of coronavirus deaths.
• The U.S. suspends World Health Organization funding. President Trump suspends funding to the WHO, pending an investigation of its relationship with China, on April 14.
• Nova Scotia shootings. On April 19, a gunman kills over 17 people in Nova Scotia, Canada, the deadliest rampage in Canadian history,
• Oil prices crash. U.S. oil prices see a historic low, dropping over 300% to -$37.63 per barrel due to the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia on April 20.
• 15% of the workforce is unemployed. On the week ending April 23, 4.4 million Americans filed for unemployment, with over 26.4 million filings since mid-March, representing 15% of the workforce.

May

• Murderers of Ahmaud Arbery are arrested. 74 days after the incident, on May 6, the 2 perpetrators are arrested for murder and aggravated assault. The fact that they were only arrested after 74 days prompted debate over racial profiling in America.
• 15 pro-democracy activists arrested in Hong Kong. After months of protests in 2019, fifteen pro-democracy activists were arrested for their activities in 2019 on May 19, drawing international condemnation.
• Dam collapses in Michigan. The Edenville Dam in Michigan collapsed on May 19 after days of heavy rainfall, prompting evacuations downstream. A state of emergency is declared.
• National security law announced by China for Hong Kong. On May 21, China announced that it would implement a security law in Hong Kong, bypassing legislation and effectively diminishing Hong Kong’s autonomy. Thousands protest in Hong Kong on May 24 against the proposed law.
• George Floyd is killed, triggering mass protests across America. After a police officer knelt on his neck, George Floyd, an African American, died in Minneapolis, triggering widespread public outrage, resulting in mass violent protests, riots, looting, and destruction for numerous days, continuing on until now.
• Hong Kong declared no longer autonomous from China by the Dept. of State. Sec. of State Mike Pompeo told Congress that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China, a week after the announcement of the national security law. He also declares that Hong Kong no longer meets its designation for trade under the U.S.–Hong Kong Policy Act.
• Mass protests take place in Minneapolis. On May 27, rioting, looting, and arson take place in Minneapolis take place in response to the killing of George Floyd days ago. On May 28, protesters set a police station in Minneapolis on fire.
• U.S. coronavirus death toll exceeds 100,000. The U.S. passed this grim milestone on May 28.
• Boston Marathon canceled. The cancellation was announced on May 28, the first time in 123 years that the marathon will not be run. It had been postponed to September 14 previously.
• President Trump announces new measures against China. With U.S.-China tensions heating up, the president announced a series of new measures against China, including the cessation of WHO funding, the expelling of Chinese students with close ties to the Chinese military, performing checks on listed Chinese companies, and canceling Hong Kong’s special treatment with the U.S., on May 29.
• The police officer responsible for Floyd’s death arrested amid mass protests across the country. The officer has been charged with third-degree murder and arrested on May 29. Violent protests erupt across 30+ U.S. cities. Rioting, looting, arson, and vandalism occur. Hundreds are arrested across the country. On May 30, many cities impose curfews. The National Guard is deployed in many cities on May 30 and 31 to defuse the situation, as protests and riots continue overnight and into June.

 As the pandemic continues to kill thousands and violent protests erupt across over 30 cities in America over Floyd’s killing and U.S.-China tensions continuing to sour, it’s difficult to know what more 2020 has in store for us. One thing that’s for sure though, is that this year is looking to be a grim one. Did we miss any major events? What are your predictions for the rest of the year? Let us know in the comments down below.