The year 2020 was a tumultuous one for the world, with major events and crises dominating the news cycle. From the COVID-19 pandemic to environmental disasters and political turmoil, here is a quick recap of some of the top news stories that made headlines around the world.
COVID-19 Pandemic: The year began with news of a mysterious virus outbreak in Wuhan, China, which soon spread rapidly across the globe. By March, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Governments around the world scrambled to implement emergency measures to slow the spread of the virus, such as lockdowns and travel restrictions. As of January 2021, over 85 million cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed worldwide, with over 1.8 million deaths.
Black Lives Matter Protests: Following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Americans across the country took to the streets in protest. The movement quickly gained global attention, with protests in support of Black Lives Matter taking place in cities around the world, including London, Paris, Nairobi, and Tokyo.
US Presidential Election: The US presidential election was one of the most divisive in recent history, with incumbent President Donald Trump going head-to-head with Democratic challenger Joe Biden. After a hard-fought campaign and a closely-contested vote count, Biden was ultimately declared the winner, becoming the 46th president of the United States.
Brexit: After years of uncertainty, the United Kingdom finally left the European Union on January 31, 2020. The move was met with celebration by some in the UK, who had campaigned for Brexit for years, but was also met with concern and skepticism by many who feared the economic impact of leaving the EU.
Wildfires and Climate Change: 2020 was a particularly devastating year for wildfires, with blazes burning across California, Australia, and the Amazon rainforest, among other areas. The fires were fueled in part by climate change, which experts warn is causing more frequent and more intense natural disasters around the world.
Beirut Explosion: A massive explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, on August 4, 2020, killed over 200 people and caused widespread damage. The explosion was caused by the ignition of a cache of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive material that had been stored in the port for years.
China-India Border Dispute: The long-simmering border dispute between China and India came to a dangerous head in 2020, with skirmishes and clashes taking place along the border between the two countries. In June, tensions escalated dramatically, with a deadly clash that left dozens of Indian and Chinese soldiers dead.
As the world continues to grapple with the fallout of these and other major events from 2020, it remains to be seen what the future will hold. But one thing is certain: the Canadian News Today cycle will continue to be shaped by crises, conflicts, and challenges for years to come.