Hyderabad: From Indian-origin candidates dominating the UK and Canada polls to Indian-American winning Nobel prize, from Easter Sunday attack to Hong Kong protest, from Trump Impeachment to Brexit imbroglio the year 2019 witnessed many up and downs throughout. Before we welcome 2020, here are some major international events that hogged the headlines:
Major international events at a glance 1. Easter Sunday Attack
Sri Lanka witnessed one of the deadliest carnages since the end of the civil war in 2009, when nine suicide bombers unleashed a series of blasts on April 21 morning claiming 259 lives. The blasts were targeted at three churches and luxury hotels where people had gathered after Easter Sunday prayers. Though the Islamic State claimed the responsibility for the attacks, the government alleged local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaath's involvement in the carnage. So far nearly 300 people have been arrested in connection with the blasts.
2. Hong Kong Protests
Hong Kong has been going through serious never-ending protests starting from June with protesters opposing the extradition bill. The bill allows criminal suspects to extradite to mainland China for trail. Though the bill was withdrawn for an indefinite period in September, the unrest continues with protesters demanding complete withdrawal of the bill and action against police excesses.
3. Canada Elections
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party held onto power in the Canadian general election held on October 1. Indian-origin Canadian Jagmeet Singh-led New Democratic Party (NDP), which won 24 seats, emerged kingmaker in the election which saw the dominance of Indian-origin candidates. Out of 50 Indian-origin candidates contesting in the polls, 19 emerged victorious out of which 18 are Punjabis.
4. UK Elections
Amid prolong Brexit deadlock, the UK went for the general elections on December 12 in which Boris Johnson's Conservative party registered a thumping victory. Moreover, around a dozen of Indian-origin MPs both from Conservative and Labour parties emerged victorious in the UK's general elections.
5. Climate Change Protest
Inspired by climate change activist Greta Thunberg, millions of people across the globe hit the streets from September 20 to 27 demanding action addressing climate change. According to media reports the protests took place at around 4,500 locations in 150 countries and witnessed the participation of six million people. The September 20 protest is believed to be the largest climate protest in the history.
6. Greta Thunberg
At a time when the world is concerned about deteriorating climate, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg has managed to inspire millions of youngsters across the globe to hit the street demanding actions to preserve the climate. The Swedish schoolgirl is the youngest person to be named as the Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2019. At the United Nations Climate Conference in New York, she blasted politicians and said, "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. We'll be watching you", which later went viral.
7. Aramco Attack
Saudi Arabia witnessed one of the deadliest drone attack on its oil fields on September 14. The drone attack caused massive fire at the refinery in the city of Abqaiqz, which Aramco describes as the world's largest oil processing plant. The drone attack also took place at the Khurais oil field, around 150 km from Riyadh. While the Houthi rebel group claimed responsibility for the attack, the US alleged Iran's involvement.
8. Mugabe Dies
Robert Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe with an iron fist from 1980 to 2017, died on September 6 while undergoing treatment at a Singapore hospital. He was 95. The former guerrilla leader swept to power in 1980 elections after a growing insurgency and economic sanctions forced the Rhodesian government to the negotiating table. He was finally ousted in 2017 when his previously loyal military generals turned against him as the country was mired in an economic crisis.
9. Nobel Peace Prize
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, especially in resolving the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.
10. Nobel For Economics
Indian-American economist Abhijit Banerjee along with his wife Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer jointly won the 2019 Nobel Economics Prize on October 14 for his experimental approach to alleviating global poverty. Banerjee, 58, was educated at the University of Calcutta, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Harvard University, where he received his PhD in 1988.
11. Sri Lanka Presidential Elections
The island nation went for its eighth Presidential election on November 16 with a record 36 candidates contesting in the race to President's office. After a major hue and cry over the Easter Sunday attack and unfulfilled promises, the former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa emerged victorious with 52.25 per cent votes in his pocket. Rajapaksa, who is believed to be pro-China and anti-BJP, visited India as his first overseas visit to give a better shape to the relations between the two nations.
12. Trump Impeachment
US President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on 18 December becoming only the third American chief executive to be formally charged under the Constitution’s ultimate remedy for high crimes and misdemeanours. He was impeached over the charges that he abused the power of his office by enlisting a foreign government to investigate a political rival ahead of the 2020 election. The House also approved a second charge, that he obstructed Congress in its investigation.
