2020 at a Glimpse: Part 1

Part 1

(January-June)

We have finally reached a point where we are going to farewell this year and welcome the New Year 2021. Now if we look back to this year, we should actually proud of ourselves that we have passed this year and we are still together. Even after so many hurdles, and the pandemic we managed to face every difficulty and are ready to welcome another year. I must say this was a very hard journey. So, in this article, we are giving you all a glimpse of 2020 news which managed to be the headlines and shook India.

January

USA forces killed Soleimani

On 3rd January Pentagon confirmed that US forces killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, nearly sparking a global tension that might have lead to WWIII.

Soleimani was a 62-year-old Iranian Superhead of military operations of elite Quds Force. He was killed by an American airstrike at Baghdad airport (Iraq), alongside local militants of Iran. To take revenge for the General Major’s death, Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles targeted towards US military bases on Iraq. Although there was no loss of life in the counterattacks, this was considered as a sudden spurt in geopolitical tension in West Asia and affected the entire world including India.

Coronavirus in China

In January China first declared 3 death due to Covid-19.

February

Covid-19 reached the USA

First American died due to coronavirus on 8th February 2020, whereas in China, the death toll due to Covid-19 reached 2715, and positive cases climbed to approximately 80 thousand.

Delhi Riots

The nation’s capital Delhi witnessed four days of riots, with the death toll of 35 people, and over 200 people injured, including 50 police persons. This was one of the deadliest riots in Delhi. Riots started in the North-East region of Delhi. On the night of 22nd February, protestors blocked the road in protest against CAA. On 23rd February a local political leader called for a counter-protest and clearing the protestors. The riots allegedly started after the speech of the political leader. The violence started between the people who supported and the people who were against the CAA and continued for three days and nights. In this riot, the Delhi Police head constable died. There were widespread damages to houses, markets, and private property due to arson, looting, and burning.

The US President’s India visit

On 24th February 2020, India organized the "Namaste Trump” mega-event in Ahmedabad. Trump with his high-level delegations arrived for his first-ever diplomatic visit to India. India and the US signed a $3 billion Defense deal.

March

Coronavirus outbreak In India

On 2nd March ministry of Health confirmed the first positive case in Telangana, India. World Health Organization declared Covid-19 as Pandemic following the Modi Government had suspended all visas t India. On the 14th of March, the central government has declared this outbreak in India as a “notified disaster” under the State Disaster Response Fund. US President Donald Trump declared a National Emergency over the spread of coronavirus in the USA.

Justice to Nirbhaya

Finally, after 7 years of Nirbhay’s incident, the 4 culprits were hanged on 20th March 2020 in the Tihar Jail.

Janta Curfew

On 22nd March entire country witnessed a successful Janta Curfew after the appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the citizens to voluntarily stay indoors to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Indian Railway suspended all its passenger train services from the night of 22nd March. All domestic commercial airlines were also suspended from the 23rd of March.

Italy was badly impacted by this virus with approximately 5500 death in March. Tokyo Olympic 2020 game was postponed due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the world.

March Lockdown

On 24th March, PM Modi announced a country-wide lockdown from midnight to decrease the rate of spread of coronavirus. The following day the stock market crashed. With a total of 1091 positive cases and 25 deaths confirmed in March. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced a 1.7 lakh crore fiscal stimulus package to help migrants and the Indians below the poverty line.

April

Covid-19 Update

The central government had extended the lockdown till the 3rd of May. Total positive cases increased to 33050 in India. The supreme court of India had ordered private medical labs across India to not charge the patients for the Covid test.

The demise of Irrfan Khan

On 29th April actor Irrfan Khan lost his battle against a rare form of cancer and passed away.

The demise of Rishi Kapoor

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away on 30th April at the age of 67 due to cancer.

May

George Floyd Protest

The USA experienced mass riots between May 26th of June 8th after the death of George Floyd by the local police in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Arson, vandalism, and looting were caused $1–2 billion in insured damages nationally—the highest recorded damage from civil disorder in U.S. history.

Amphan Hits India

Super cyclone Amphan hits West Bengal with a speed of 110-120 kmph leads to the death of over 10 people and costing 13 billion dollars in damages according to CNN.

June

New Zealand free from Corona

New Zealand became the first country to declare Covid-19 free nation and remove all the social and physical restrictions except border security.

Galwan Valley Clash

After 1970, for the first time on 17th June 2020, there was a clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers near LAC in Galwan Valley in Ladakh. 20 Indian were soldiers martyred, leading to a rise in the nationalist movement against China. The Indian government had banned 59 Chinese apps including Tiktok.

Protest in Hong Kong

Hong Kong people started a mass protest when China imposed new security law in Hong Kong on 30th June 2020. This law is considered as the end of Hong Kong. After this law, Hong Kong is no longer semi-autonomous and came under the mainland’s authoritarian Communist Party System.

Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan

Prime Minister launched Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan in 6 states to counter the job loss of poor people due to Covid-19. Rs 65454 distributed over 42 crores poor Under Garib Kalyan Package. The government had also extended Ayushman Bharat Yojana to the migrant workers.

Sushant Singh Rajput committed suicide

On 14th June 2020, famous Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his apartment. The report said that he committed suicide but the facts are still to be uncovered as it was suicide or planned murder. But this incident shook Bollywood and the whole nation.

Click here to read "2020 at a Glimpses. Part 2."

By Aditya Verma