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On January 4, it was announced that veteran California firefighters will go to Australia to help fight the wildfire on the ground. The fires in Australia have killed 23 people so far, and destroyed thousands of homes. (CNN)
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On February 14, China revealed that over 1700 medics fighting the coronavirus have been infected themselves. This has created a crisis of its own in the country. Overall, 67,000 global cases of coronavirus have been documented, and the first European death from the disease occurred on February 15. The US revealed that it had its fourteenth documented case. (CNN)
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On March 31, the US announced 700 coronavirus deaths in a single day, marking the largest fatality rate in 24 hours. (CNN/BBC/Reuters)
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On April 6, firefighters attempted to put out forest fires near Chernobyl. Concerns rose as the radiation at the Chernobyl nuclear site were above normal. (CNN)
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On May 4, a highly venomous and invasive hornet species, dubbed “Murder Hornets,” have been spotted in the US. The hornets originated in Asia, but have now been spotted in Washington state. They have been killing the already dying bee population in the state. The hornets are longer than two inches, and if stung multiple times, a human can die from the sting. (CNN)
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On June 5, a Black Lives Matter memorial in Washington DC was painted so large, it can be seen from satellites in space. The mural spans two blocks, leading to the White House, and reads “Black Lives Matter.”
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On July 25, as protests in Portland continued, at least one person was stabbed during a crowded conference. On July 25, one man died and another was injured after a shooting at an Austin, Texas protest. Garrett Foster, the 28-year-old victim, allegedly approached a honking car with an AK-47.
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On August 3, the Apple Fire in California counties Riverside and San Bernardino spread over 20,000 acres and is only 5% contained. The steep and rugged terrain is making it difficult for officials to fight the fire. As of now, more than 2,000 responders are attempting to fight the fire. (CNN)
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On September 8, Hong Kong police were largely criticized after a video of them tackling a 12-year-old went viral. The video shows the young girl walking along the street before being approached by police. When she tried to run, the police tackled her to the ground and began allegedly beating her with batons. The police force has defended the officers’ actions, sparking more outrage from protesters. (CNN)
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On October 30, the US reached the highest daily coronavirus records, marking 94,000 new cases in just 24 hours
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On November 7, various news sources called the election, giving President-elect Joe Biden 279 electoral votes and President Trump 214. The results also make Vice President-elect Kamala Harris the first female VP, as well as the first African and Asian American to win the title. Trump continues to claim voter fraud and refuses to concede as various nations offer their congratulations to Biden. The House and Senate have yet to be called.
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On December 14, the electoral college officially affirmed Joe Biden’s win after gathering to submit their ballots. Despite this ruling, many Republicans are still claiming fraud, and the election battle appears to be far from over. On December 16, Senator Mitch McConnell congratulated Joe Biden and asked that no Congress members stage any stunts regarding these results. McConnell’s actions are a blow to Trump’s argument of fraud.
