The novel coronavirus pandemic has been selected by senior editors of Kyodo News and its member or subscriber newspapers and broadcasters as the top international news story of 2020.
(1) The novel coronavirus pandemic wreaks global havoc
The novel coronavirus, which was first confirmed in Wuhan, central China, on Dec. 8, 2019, has wreaked global havoc for most of 2020, with countries around the world imposing lockdowns and border restrictions in efforts to contain its spread. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19, the official name of the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, a pandemic on March 11.
(2) Biden clinches win in tight U.S. presidential race as Trump resists conceding
Democrat Joe Biden secured his win in the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election after being certified as the winner in Pennsylvania and other key battleground states. The number of ballots cast by mail -- which surged to the tens of millions amid worries about in-person voting during the pandemic -- led to a protracted vote counting process, leaving the outcome up in the air for days after. Incumbent president Donald Trump, claiming widespread "voter fraud," refused to concede the race and filed several lawsuits contesting the results. Biden's victory was affirmed through a vote on Dec. 14 by so-called electors from each of the U.S. states.
(3) China enacts sweeping national security law in Hong Kong
China's parliament in June enacted a national security law in Hong Kong to crack down on activities deemed to be subversive, apparently aiming to quell protests against the pro-Beijing government in the territory. The move, which marked a turning point in Beijing's "one country, two systems" policy, 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 under the new law.
(4) Black Lives Matter movement sparks solidarity in the United States, other countries
The death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was allegedly murdered by police in Minneapolis in May, sparked protests against police brutality and racial inequality across the United States under the slogan "Black Lives Matter" with similar protests in countries around the world in solidarity.
(5) United Kingdom formally leaves the European Union
The United Kingdom formally left the European Union on Jan. 31 after 47 years of membership, becoming the first country to exit from the 28-member bloc. The two sides reached a landmark free trade agreement on Dec. 24 after nine months of intense negotiations, before the transition phase ends at the end of 2020.
(6) Rift between the United States and China deepens over economic and national security issues
In response to China's implementation of a national security law on Hong Kong, U.S. President Donald Trump in July signed an order to fully end the special treatment extended under U.S. law to the territory. Adding further tension to relations between the two economic giants, Trump in August ordered Chinese company ByteDance Ltd. to divest its interest in the U.S. operations of its popular video-sharing app TikTok. In September, the two countries traded jabs over the coronavirus pandemic at a virtual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations headquarters.
(7) U.N. nuclear ban treaty ratified, to take effect in January
The United Nations announced in October that 50 countries had ratified a U.N. treaty banning nuclear weapons, paving the way for its entry into force on Jan. 22, 2021. The move was praised by anti-nuclear activists but opposed by the United States and other nuclear powers. Japan, the only country to have suffered the devastation of atomic bombings, decided not to sign the treaty in consideration of its security ties with the United States. But survivors of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki along with others have called for the Japanese government to ratify the pact.
(8) U.K, U.S. begin rollout of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine
The United Kingdom and United States in December approved and began administering a COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and German partner BioNTech SE. Health care workers and residents of nursing homes are to be inoculated first.
(9) Harris makes history as first female, first black and first Asian American to be elected U.S. vice president
Sen. Kamala Harris, 56, made history after becoming 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 the United States from Jamaica to study economics and her mother came from India while working toward becoming a breast cancer researcher.
(10) Israel, Arab states normalize diplomatic ties under U.S.-brokered deal
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump mediated efforts to bring Arab states and Israel together to counter Iran's influence, with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco signing the agreement as of December. But the Palestinians, who oppose the deal, have repeatedly urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached.
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