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The novel coronavirus pandemic has been chosen by senior editors of Kyodo Information and its member or subscriber newspapers and broadcasters as the highest worldwide information story of 2020.
(1) The novel coronavirus pandemic wreaks world havoc
Docs participate in a coaching session in Tokyo on June 12, 2020, to deal with COVID-19 sufferers, corresponding to put on and take away protecting gear and perform PCR exams for the novel coronavirus. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The novel coronavirus, which was first confirmed in Wuhan, central China, on Dec. 8, 2019, has wreaked global havoc for most of 2020, with international locations world wide imposing lockdowns and border restrictions in efforts to comprise its unfold. The World Well being Group declared COVID-19, the official name of the respiratory disease brought on by the novel coronavirus, a pandemic on March 11.
(2) Biden clinches win in tight U.S. presidential race as Trump resists conceding
President-elect Joe Biden addresses the nation on the Chase Middle Nov. 7, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. (Getty/Kyodo)
Democrat Joe Biden secured his win within the Nov. Three U.S. presidential election after being licensed because the winner in Pennsylvania and different key battleground states. The variety of ballots solid by mail — which surged to the tens of thousands and thousands amid worries about in-person voting through the pandemic — led to a protracted vote counting course of, leaving the result up within the air for days after. Incumbent president Donald Trump, claiming widespread “voter fraud,” refused to concede the race and filed a number of lawsuits contesting the outcomes. Biden’s victory was affirmed through a vote on Dec. 14 by so-called electors from every of the U.S. states.
(3) China enacts sweeping nationwide safety regulation in Hong Kong
A person from Hong Kong protests towards China’s imposition of a nationwide safety regulation on Hong Kong throughout a march in Tokyo’s Shibuya space on July 12, 2020. About 300 individuals, together with these from Hong Kong, took half within the march. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
China’s parliament in June enacted a national security law in Hong Kong to crack down on actions deemed to be subversive, apparently aiming to quell protests towards the pro-Beijing authorities within the territory. The transfer, which marked a turning level in Beijing’s “one nation, two methods” coverage, drew criticism from many in the international community. In December, Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai and prominent young pro-democracy activists were indicted for violations below the brand new regulation.
(4) Black Lives Matter motion sparks solidarity in america, different international locations
Naomi Osaka is pictured sporting a “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt forward of her semifinal match on the Western and Southern Open in New York. (Kyodo)
The dying of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was allegedly murdered by police in Minneapolis in Could, sparked protests against police brutality and racial inequality throughout america below the slogan “Black Lives Matter” with related protests in international locations world wide in solidarity.
(5) United Kingdom formally leaves the European Union
A person supporting Britain’s exit from the European Union is pictured close to the Homes of Parliament in London on Jan. 31, 2020. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The UK formally left the European Union on Jan. 31 after 47 years of membership, changing into the primary nation to exit from the 28-member bloc. The 2 sides reached a landmark free trade agreement on Dec. 24 after 9 months of intense negotiations, earlier than the transition section ends on the finish of 2020.
(6) Rift between america and China deepens over financial and nationwide safety points
In response to China’s implementation of a nationwide safety regulation on Hong Kong, U.S. President Donald Trump in July signed an order to fully end the special treatment prolonged below U.S. regulation to the territory. Including additional rigidity to relations between the 2 financial giants, Trump in August ordered Chinese company ByteDance Ltd. to divest its curiosity within the U.S. operations of its fashionable video-sharing app TikTok. In September, the 2 international locations traded jabs over the coronavirus pandemic at a digital assembly of world leaders on the United Nations headquarters.
(7) U.N. nuclear ban treaty ratified, to take impact in January
Highschool college students pose for a photograph in entrance of the Peace Statue at Peace Park in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 25, 2020, after the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by 50 international locations, paving the best way for its entry into power on Jan. 22. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The United Nations introduced in October that 50 countries had ratified a U.N. treaty banning nuclear weapons, paving the best way for its entry into power on Jan. 22, 2021. The transfer was praised by anti-nuclear activists however opposed by america and different nuclear powers. Japan, the one nation to have suffered the devastation of atomic bombings, determined to not signal the treaty in consideration of its safety ties with america. However survivors of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki together with others have called for the Japanese government to ratify the pact.
(8) U.Ok, U.S. start rollout of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine
Packing containers containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are ready to be shipped on the Pfizer World Provide Kalamazoo manufacturing plant on Dec. 13, 2020, in Portage, Michigan. (Pool/Getty/Kyodo)
The United Kingdom and United States in December permitted and commenced administering a COVID-19 vaccine collectively developed by U.S. pharmaceutical large Pfizer Inc. and German associate BioNTech SE. Well being care staff and residents of nursing properties are to be inoculated first.
(9) Harris makes historical past as first feminine, first black and first Asian American to be elected U.S. vice chairman
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speaks on stage on the Chase Middle earlier than President-elect Joe Biden’s tackle to the nation Nov. 7, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. (Getty/Kyodo)
Sen. Kamala Harris, 56, made historical past after changing into the first woman, first black person and the first person of Asian descent to be elected to the U.S. vice presidency. Born in Oakland, California, her father immigrated to america from Jamaica to check economics and her mom got here from India whereas working towards changing into a breast most cancers researcher.
(10) Israel, Arab states normalize diplomatic ties below U.S.-brokered deal
U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd R), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd L), United Arab Emirates International Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Bahrain International Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani (L) attend a signing ceremony for the agreements on “normalization of relations” reached between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain on the White Home in Washington on Sept. 15, 2020. (Photograph by The White Home/Tia Dufour/Handout/Anadolu Company/Getty/Kyodo)
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump mediated efforts to bring Arab states and Israel together to counter Iran’s affect, with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco signing the settlement as of December. However the Palestinians, who oppose the deal, have repeatedly urged Arab governments to not normalize relations with Israel till a peace settlement establishing an impartial Palestinian state is reached.
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