World 2020 Timeline

All categories Politics / Government Immigration / Law / Policy Economy / Jobs / Business War / Conflict / Security Culture / Society Pop Culture / Entertainment Sports Technology / Science Health / Disasters Major Trends
Showing 75 events on this page. Use search or category filters to narrow the year.
May
19
Health / Disasters

Amid heavy flooding in the Tittabawassee River caused by three straight days of heavy rainfall, the Edenville Dam in central Michigan partially collapses, promp

Amid heavy flooding in the Tittabawassee River caused by three straight days of heavy rainfall, the Edenville Dam in central Michigan partially collapses, prompting evacuations downstream. Governor Gretchen Whitmer declares a state of emergency for Midland County and the Michigan Army National Guard has been called in to assist. (AccuWeather)

May
19
Health / Disasters

COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota Annie Glenn, widow of astronaut John Glenn and disability rights advocate, dies of COVID-1

COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota Annie Glenn, widow of astronaut John Glenn and disability rights advocate, dies of COVID-19 in a nursing home in Minnesota. (CNN) COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan becomes the fourth state in the U.S. to pass 5,000 deaths from COVID-19. The state has 5,017 reported deaths and 52,350 total cases. (MLive.com)

May
20
Politics / Government

2020 Burundian general election Citizens of Burundi head to the polls to elect their president and the members of the National Assembly.

2020 Burundian general election Citizens of Burundi head to the polls to elect their president and the members of the National Assembly. Following a campaign marred by violence, the election takes place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and a social media blackout. Regional and international election observers have been blocked from monitoring the election, raising doubts about its fairness. (DW)

May
20
Politics / Government

Citizens of Burundi head to the polls to elect their president and the members of the National Assembly.

Citizens of Burundi head to the polls to elect their president and the members of the National Assembly. Following a campaign marred by violence, the election takes place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and a social media blackout. Regional and international election observers have been blocked from monitoring the election, raising doubts about its fairness. (DW)

May
20
War / Conflict / Security

Afghan peace process Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada says his group is "committed to a landmark deal with the U.S." despite carrying out hundreds of attack

Afghan peace process Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada says his group is "committed to a landmark deal with the U.S." despite carrying out hundreds of attacks against Afghan forces since February. Akhundzada also urged the U.S. "to not afford anyone the opportunity to obstruct, delay and ultimately derail this internationally recognised bilateral agreement". (Al Jazeera)

May
20
War / Conflict / Security

Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada says his group is "committed to a landmark deal with the U.S." despite carrying out hundreds of attacks against Afghan forc

Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada says his group is "committed to a landmark deal with the U.S." despite carrying out hundreds of attacks against Afghan forces since February. Akhundzada also urged the U.S. "to not afford anyone the opportunity to obstruct, delay and ultimately derail this internationally recognised bilateral agreement". (Al Jazeera)

May
20
Immigration / Law / Policy

In a hearing conducted over Zoom, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a court in Singapore sentences a 37-year-old Malaysian man to death for a 2011 heroin transactio

In a hearing conducted over Zoom, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a court in Singapore sentences a 37-year-old Malaysian man to death for a 2011 heroin transaction. It is the first time that a death sentence has been imposed via teleconferencing in Singapore. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)

May
21
Immigration / Law / Policy

A military court in Vietnam sentences former deputy defense minister Nguyễn Văn Hiến to four years in prison for allowing three plots of land in Ho Chi Minh Cit

A military court in Vietnam sentences former deputy defense minister Nguyễn Văn Hiến to four years in prison for allowing three plots of land in Ho Chi Minh City to be illegally transferred from the Navy to private investors. He is also stripped of his Communist Party credentials. (Reuters)

May
22
Immigration / Law / Policy

2019–20 Hong Kong protests Hong Kong executive says that the newly-proposed security law will not hamper judicial independence.

2019–20 Hong Kong protests Hong Kong executive says that the newly-proposed security law will not hamper judicial independence. Many activists condemn the move; the organizer of many of last year's protests and convener of the Civil Human Rights Front Jimmy Sham says that the law is a "nuclear bomb" dropped by "the Chinese Communist Party" and calls for mass protests. Activist Joshua Wong also condemns the law and calls it a law "to silence Hongkongers". (The Standard Hong Kong)

May
22
Economy / Jobs / Business

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Coronavirus recession Europe's largest coach operator Shearings collapses into administration with 2,460 immediate job

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Coronavirus recession Europe's largest coach operator Shearings collapses into administration with 2,460 immediate job losses and thousands of holidays cancelled. (The Guardian) American car rental company Hertz files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to accumulating nearly $19 billion in debt. (CBC News)

May
22
Immigration / Law / Policy

Hong Kong executive says that the newly-proposed security law will not hamper judicial independence.

Hong Kong executive says that the newly-proposed security law will not hamper judicial independence. Many activists condemn the move; the organizer of many of last year's protests and convener of the Civil Human Rights Front Jimmy Sham says that the law is a "nuclear bomb" dropped by "the Chinese Communist Party" and calls for mass protests. Activist Joshua Wong also condemns the law and calls it a law "to silence Hongkongers". (The Standard Hong Kong)

May
22
Health / Disasters

Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 An Airbus A320 carrying 99 people crashes in a residential area near Karachi Airport, Pakistan.

Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 An Airbus A320 carrying 99 people crashes in a residential area near Karachi Airport, Pakistan. Ninety-seven people onboard are killed; the other two survive with injuries. Another person died on the ground. Some people on the ground were also injured when the plane crashed near houses. (BBC News)

May
23
Politics / Government

War in Afghanistan, Afghan peace process The Taliban declares a three-day Eid ceasefire starting on Sunday.

War in Afghanistan, Afghan peace process The Taliban declares a three-day Eid ceasefire starting on Sunday. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid orders all attacks to cease and only use force "if any action is taken against you by the enemy". Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomes the ceasefire and orders the armed forces of Afghanistan to "comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked". (National Post) (Reuters)

May
23
Politics / Government

The Taliban declares a three-day Eid ceasefire starting on Sunday.

The Taliban declares a three-day Eid ceasefire starting on Sunday. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid orders all attacks to cease and only use force "if any action is taken against you by the enemy". Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomes the ceasefire and orders the armed forces of Afghanistan to "comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked". (National Post) (Reuters)

May
23
War / Conflict / Security

A four-alarm fire destroys a warehouse at Pier 45 at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California.

A four-alarm fire destroys a warehouse at Pier 45 at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California. More than 150 firefighters are able to contain the blaze and save both the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, a World War II Liberty ship that saw action on D-Day at Normandy Beach in northwest France; and the USS Pampanito submarine, which had six war patrols from March 1944 through early 1945 in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. (KPIX) (The Guardian)

May
23
Politics / Government

COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic Thousands of protesters, mostly supporters of the far-right party Vox, participate

COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic Thousands of protesters, mostly supporters of the far-right party Vox, participate in car protests in Madrid, Seville, Barcelona and other cities against the continuing lockdown and the national government. (BBC News)

May
24
War / Conflict / Security

Iran–Venezuela relations The first of five Iranian tankers en route to Venezuela to deliver fuel enters Venezuelan territorial waters, after being escorted by t

Iran–Venezuela relations The first of five Iranian tankers en route to Venezuela to deliver fuel enters Venezuelan territorial waters, after being escorted by the Venezuelan Air Force and Navy. Both Iran and Venezuela warned the United States not to interfere with the delivery. (BBC News)

May
24
War / Conflict / Security

Second Libyan Civil War 2019–20 Western Libya offensive Wagner Group fighters withdraw from the frontline near Tripoli, after the Libyan National Army suffers a

Second Libyan Civil War 2019–20 Western Libya offensive Wagner Group fighters withdraw from the frontline near Tripoli, after the Libyan National Army suffers a series of defeats. The mayor of Bani Walid says the Russians, who are allied to Khalifa Haftar, retreated to his town then left Bani Walid Airport on three military planes to Al Jufra Airbase, while their heavy equipment were driven there. (Reuters)

May
24
War / Conflict / Security

The first of five Iranian tankers en route to Venezuela to deliver fuel enters Venezuelan territorial waters, after being escorted by the Venezuelan Air Force a

The first of five Iranian tankers en route to Venezuela to deliver fuel enters Venezuelan territorial waters, after being escorted by the Venezuelan Air Force and Navy. Both Iran and Venezuela warned the United States not to interfere with the delivery. (BBC News)

May
24
War / Conflict / Security

2019–20 Western Libya offensive Wagner Group fighters withdraw from the frontline near Tripoli, after the Libyan National Army suffers a series of defeats.

2019–20 Western Libya offensive Wagner Group fighters withdraw from the frontline near Tripoli, after the Libyan National Army suffers a series of defeats. The mayor of Bani Walid says the Russians, who are allied to Khalifa Haftar, retreated to his town then left Bani Walid Airport on three military planes to Al Jufra Airbase, while their heavy equipment were driven there. (Reuters)

May
24
War / Conflict / Security

Wagner Group fighters withdraw from the frontline near Tripoli, after the Libyan National Army suffers a series of defeats.

Wagner Group fighters withdraw from the frontline near Tripoli, after the Libyan National Army suffers a series of defeats. The mayor of Bani Walid says the Russians, who are allied to Khalifa Haftar, retreated to his town then left Bani Walid Airport on three military planes to Al Jufra Airbase, while their heavy equipment were driven there. (Reuters)

Page navigation keeps this timeline fast on phones and slower connections.