The era of
Subscribe2020s
34 recaps across 5 years of the decade. Reconstructed from contemporary coverage, archives, and the public record.
2020George Floyd Murder and BLM Uprising
Floyd's death at police hands sparked the largest protest movement in U.S. history and forced a reckoning with systemic racism.
2020U.S. Assassination of Qassem Soleimani
A U.S. drone strike killed Iran's most powerful military commander in Baghdad, pushing the Middle East toward direct confrontation between superpowers.
2020WeChat Pay Becomes China's Digital Currency
WeChat's ubiquitous payment system overtook cash in China's economy and demonstrated the power of mobile-first fintech in authoritarian surveillance.
2020Beirut Port Explosion
A catastrophic ammonium nitrate blast killed over 200 people and devastated Beirut's port district, exposing decades of governmental negligence.
2020COVID-19 Pandemic Declaration
The moment the world finally stopped pretending this was containable.
20202020 United States Presidential Election
2020Hong Kong National Security Law
2020Wuhan Lockdown Initiates COVID Response
Wuhan Lockdown Initiates COVID Response
2020Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303
On this day (05/22), 6 years ago: Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 crashes in Model Colony near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 98 people.
2021Trump Second Impeachment Trial
Senate acquitted Trump of incitement over the Capitol riot, cementing Republican protection of a sitting president's actions.
2021Astroworld Festival Crowd Crush Tragedy
A crowd surge at Travis Scott's Houston festival killed 10 and sparked lawsuits over crowd management and artist responsibility.
2021Winter Olympics Host Vote
Beijing's selection as the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympics sparked unprecedented human-rights scrutiny of the Olympic process.
2021Elon Musk Becomes World's Richest
Tesla's stock surge pushed Musk past Bezos to become the wealthiest human, reflecting the billionaire tech ascendance.
2021Glasgow Climate Summit COP26 Convenes
Nations gathered to strengthen climate commitments, with major pledges on coal phase-out and methane emissions setting the tone for climate action.
2021India-Pakistan Border Conflict
Escalating military clashes in the Himalayan border region in 2021 marked renewed tensions between nuclear-armed powers.
2021Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan
Twenty years of nation-building collapsed in twenty days.
2021James Webb Space Telescope Launch
2021Gansu ultramarathon disaster
On this day (05/22), 5 years ago: Hypothermia kills 21 runners in the 100 km (60-mile) Gansu ultramarathon disaster in China.
2021Stresa–Mottarone cable car crash
On this day (05/23), 5 years ago: A cable car falls from a mountain near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, killing 14 people.
2022Beijing Hosts Summer Olympic Games
China's Winter Olympics debut showcased architectural innovation and state organization while becoming a geopolitical flashpoint amid human-rights criticism.
2022Novak Djokovic Deported from Australia
The tennis star's visa cancellation over vaccine refusal became a flashpoint in the anti-vax movement and Australian immigration politics.
20222022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
The first World Cup held in the Middle East in November 2022 controversially hosted the tournament in winter on climate and labor rights concerns.
2022Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Trial
The high-profile defamation trial captivated millions on social media, raising questions about celebrity, abuse allegations, and digital justice.
2022South Korean Itaewon Crowd Crush Disaster
A crush at a crowded Halloween celebration in Seoul killed 156 people, exposing inadequate safety protocols at major public events in developed nations.
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