World 2020 Timeline

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Showing 75 events on this page. Use search or category filters to narrow the year.
Jun
24
Politics / Government

Second Libyan Civil War, Central Libya offensive (2020) The speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh Issa, asks Egypt to intervene in Libya

Second Libyan Civil War, Central Libya offensive (2020) The speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh Issa, asks Egypt to intervene in Libya if the armed forces of the Government of National Accord attempt to capture the city of Sirte. (Al Jazeera)

Jun
25
Politics / Government

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti cancels his trip to the United States where talks between Kosovo and Serbia were to be held, after his country's President H

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti cancels his trip to the United States where talks between Kosovo and Serbia were to be held, after his country's President Hashim Thaçi is indicted by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office on war crimes charges. Thaçi also canceled his trip to mediate with Serbia after learning of the indictment the day prior. (AP News)

Jun
25
Politics / Government

War crimes in the Kosovo War Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti cancels his trip to the United States where talks between Kosovo and Serbia were to be held, af

War crimes in the Kosovo War Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti cancels his trip to the United States where talks between Kosovo and Serbia were to be held, after his country's President Hashim Thaçi is indicted by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office on war crimes charges. Thaçi also canceled his trip to mediate with Serbia after learning of the indictment the day prior. (AP News)

Jun
25
Politics / Government

2020 Russian constitutional referendum After having been postponed once due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting about potential amendments to the Constitution of R

2020 Russian constitutional referendum After having been postponed once due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting about potential amendments to the Constitution of Russia kicks off. The result of the referendum might, amongst other changes, prolong the mandate of President Vladimir Putin. Voting continues until the 1st of July. (DW)

Jun
25
Politics / Government

After having been postponed once due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting about potential amendments to the Constitution of Russia kicks off.

After having been postponed once due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting about potential amendments to the Constitution of Russia kicks off. The result of the referendum might, amongst other changes, prolong the mandate of President Vladimir Putin. Voting continues until the 1st of July. (DW)

Jun
26
Politics / Government

War in Afghanistan, Afghan peace process The government and the Taliban agree to start intra-Afghan talks by mid-July after the issue of releasing the "most dan

War in Afghanistan, Afghan peace process The government and the Taliban agree to start intra-Afghan talks by mid-July after the issue of releasing the "most dangerous" Taliban prisoners has been solved, according to a government spokesman. The group did not comment on the announcement. (Al Arabiya) The United States Intelligence Community claims that Russia offered Taliban-affiliated groups bounties to kill American soldiers. (The New York Times)

Jun
27
Politics / Government

Libyan Civil War, Wagner Group Libya's international-recognized government, the Government of National Accord, calls for the United States and the European Unio

Libyan Civil War, Wagner Group Libya's international-recognized government, the Government of National Accord, calls for the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions on individuals and "mercenaries", after its National Oil Corporation stated that Russian mercenaries and other foreign actors had forced their way into the Sharara oilfield. (Al Jazeera)

Jun
27
Politics / Government

Libya's international-recognized government, the Government of National Accord, calls for the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions on indivi

Libya's international-recognized government, the Government of National Accord, calls for the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions on individuals and "mercenaries", after its National Oil Corporation stated that Russian mercenaries and other foreign actors had forced their way into the Sharara oilfield. (Al Jazeera)

Jun
28
Politics / Government

2020 Polish presidential election Voters in Poland head to the polls to elect their next president.

2020 Polish presidential election Voters in Poland head to the polls to elect their next president. The election had to be postponed once due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (DW) Incumbent president Andrzej Duda wins the first round of voting. He will face Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski in a second-round runoff. (BBC News)

Jun
28
Politics / Government

Second Libyan Civil War, Libya–Sudan relations Sudan says it has detained 122 of its nationals, including eight children, who were heading to neighboring Libya

Second Libyan Civil War, Libya–Sudan relations Sudan says it has detained 122 of its nationals, including eight children, who were heading to neighboring Libya to fight as "mercenaries". Sudanese Foreign Minister Asma Mohamed Abdalla says, "We cannot get involved in a conflict in any neighboring country." (Arab News)

Jun
29
Politics / Government

Iran issues an arrest warrant against U.S.

Iran issues an arrest warrant against U.S. President Donald Trump and asks Interpol for help. Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr accuses Trump and 30 others of "murder and terrorism charges" for the killing of Qasem Soleimani in January. Interpol refuses the request. (Al Jazeera)

Jun
30
Politics / Government

Belgium–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations In a letter to President Felix Tshisekedi, King Philippe of Belgium addresses the atrocities in the Congo Fre

Belgium–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations In a letter to President Felix Tshisekedi, King Philippe of Belgium addresses the atrocities in the Congo Free State under the rule of King Leopold II: "I would like to express my deepest regrets for the wounds of the past, the pain of today, which is rekindled by the discrimination all too present in our society." (The Guardian)

Jun
30
Politics / Government

In a letter to President Felix Tshisekedi, King Philippe of Belgium addresses the atrocities in the Congo Free State under the rule of King Leopold II: "I would

In a letter to President Felix Tshisekedi, King Philippe of Belgium addresses the atrocities in the Congo Free State under the rule of King Leopold II: "I would like to express my deepest regrets for the wounds of the past, the pain of today, which is rekindled by the discrimination all too present in our society." (The Guardian)

Jun
30
Politics / Government

India–Pakistan relations; 2020 Pakistan Stock Exchange attack Prime Minister Imran Khan says "There is no doubt that India is behind the attack" on the Pakistan

India–Pakistan relations; 2020 Pakistan Stock Exchange attack Prime Minister Imran Khan says "There is no doubt that India is behind the attack" on the Pakistan Stock Exchange yesterday. India rebuffs the accusation and says it had nothing to do with the assault. (Reuters)

Jun
30
Politics / Government

Latvia bans seven channels belonging to Russian state-run news network RT, claiming it was trying to present the country as a failed state.

Latvia bans seven channels belonging to Russian state-run news network RT, claiming it was trying to present the country as a failed state. Dmitry Kiselyov, head of the separate Russian state-run news agency Rossiya Segodnya, dismisses the claim and accuses the Latvian government of Russophobia in its ruling. (AP News)

Jun
30
Politics / Government

Latvia–Russia relations Latvia bans seven channels belonging to Russian state-run news network RT, claiming it was trying to present the country as a failed sta

Latvia–Russia relations Latvia bans seven channels belonging to Russian state-run news network RT, claiming it was trying to present the country as a failed state. Dmitry Kiselyov, head of the separate Russian state-run news agency Rossiya Segodnya, dismisses the claim and accuses the Latvian government of Russophobia in its ruling. (AP News)

Jun
30
Politics / Government

Reactions to the George Floyd protests The Premier League reaffirms its support of the Black Lives Matter movement, saying it was not political but moral suppor

Reactions to the George Floyd protests The Premier League reaffirms its support of the Black Lives Matter movement, saying it was not political but moral support and that it was "aware of the risk posed by groups that seek to hijack popular causes and campaigns". It comes after one group, UKBLM, received widespread criticism for calling for the dismantling of capitalism, and tweeted "Free Palestine". (Reuters)

Jun
30
Politics / Government

The Premier League reaffirms its support of the Black Lives Matter movement, saying it was not political but moral support and that it was "aware of the risk po

The Premier League reaffirms its support of the Black Lives Matter movement, saying it was not political but moral support and that it was "aware of the risk posed by groups that seek to hijack popular causes and campaigns". It comes after one group, UKBLM, received widespread criticism for calling for the dismantling of capitalism, and tweeted "Free Palestine". (Reuters)

Jun
30
Politics / Government

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer orders the "partial dissolution" of the country's elite Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) special forces command o

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer orders the "partial dissolution" of the country's elite Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) special forces command over its suspected ties to the far-right. The KSK also has a "toxic leadership culture", according to the Defence Minister. (BBC News)

Jul
02
Politics / Government

COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics David Clark resigns as New Zealand's Minister of Health after security mistakes at

COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics David Clark resigns as New Zealand's Minister of Health after security mistakes at quarantine facilities just days after the country had been declared free of COVID-19. Clark also received strong criticism for personally breaching lockdown rules twice. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had refused calls to sack the minister. (Reuters)

Jul
02
Politics / Government

David Clark resigns as New Zealand's Minister of Health after security mistakes at quarantine facilities just days after the country had been declared free of C

David Clark resigns as New Zealand's Minister of Health after security mistakes at quarantine facilities just days after the country had been declared free of COVID-19. Clark also received strong criticism for personally breaching lockdown rules twice. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had refused calls to sack the minister. (Reuters)

Jul
03
Politics / Government

2020 Polish presidential election, Germany–Poland relations Polish president Andrzej Duda accuses Germany of meddling in the country's presidential election aft

2020 Polish presidential election, Germany–Poland relations Polish president Andrzej Duda accuses Germany of meddling in the country's presidential election after the tabloid Fakt, owned by German publisher Axel Springer, reported yesterday that he pardoned a man convicted of pedophilia. (Reuters)

Jul
03
Politics / Government

COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tests positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tests positive for COVID-19. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia surpasses 200,000 cases after reporting 4,193 infections in the past 24 hours while the death toll jumps to 1,802. (Al Arabiya)

Jul
04
Politics / Government

List of monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests Black Lives Matter protesters tear down the Statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore

List of monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests Black Lives Matter protesters tear down the Statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore, Maryland, and throw it into the city's Inner Harbor. Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott had previously called for the statue to be removed. (CNN)

Jul
05
Politics / Government

2020 Dominican Republic general election After having been postponed once due to the COVID-19 pandemic, general elections are held in the Dominican Republic.

2020 Dominican Republic general election After having been postponed once due to the COVID-19 pandemic, general elections are held in the Dominican Republic. The electorate can vote for the new members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies as well as the country's next president. (BBC News) Conservative candidate and opposition leader Luis Abinader is proclaimed the winner, ending 16 years of centre-left rule. (BBC News)

Jul
05
Politics / Government

Second Libyan Civil War The Government of National Accord (GNA) warns of a "response in the right place and at the right time" after a "foreign air force" bombe

Second Libyan Civil War The Government of National Accord (GNA) warns of a "response in the right place and at the right time" after a "foreign air force" bombed the Al-Watiya Air Base in an overnight air raid, according to the GNA's Deputy Defence Minister Salah al-Namrush. Al-Namrush did not specify which foreign air force was behind the raid, which is believed to have targeted a Turkish anti-aircraft missile system. (Al Jazeera)

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