These are some of the notable events relating to politics in 2020.
January January 1 All works published in 1924, except for some sound recordings, are now in the public domain in the United States. Crowds of protesters breach the US embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, and then withdrew after US Marines fired tear gas. The unrest occurred in response to US airstrikes on pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Recreational marijuana becomes legal in Illinois, United States. State laws on bail, the gig economy, minimum wages, data privacy, and red flag gun control take effect in several U.S. states, that includes California, New York, Colorado, Nevada, and Hawaii.These Major New Laws Take Effect Today By Sarah Ruiz-Grossman, HuffPost, January 1, 2020 Several new federal regulations take effect in the US as of this date, including new regulations on retirement funds, minimum wage rules, and overtime rules.Overtime rules, lower Chinese tariffs and more: 6 new regulations taking effect Jan 1 Ben Werschkul, Yahoo Finance, December 30, 2019. January 2 The government of New South Wales, Australia, declares a State of emergency to take effect January 3 as bushfires rage, threatening human lives and property as well as wiping out as many as 500 million animals.'Entire Species Are Being Wiped Out': Ecologists Say Half a Billion Animals May Have Been Killed by Australia Wildfires byJake Johnson, Common Dreams, January 2, 2020 750 US troops prepare to be deployed to Iraq to defend US Embassy in Baghdad.750 soldiers with 82nd Airborne headed for CENTCOM, additional 4,000 troops expected to deploy as Iran tensions mount. By Shawn Snow, Howard Altman, and Philip Athey. military times. com. January 1, 2020. Turkey reports a new refugee influx and possible crisis, as 250,000 Syrians flee Syria for Turkey, due to Syrian government attacks on rebel groups around Idlib.Erdogan says up to 250,000 Syrians flee toward Turkey as crisis worsens. January 2, 2020. Reuters. Zoran Zaev, the prime minister of North Macedonia, resigns. Oliver Spasovski is interim prime minister until a new government can be organized after the April 12 election.North Macedonian PM resigns By NEKTARIA STAMOULI, Politico, January 3, 2020 A female-majority cabinet is sworn in for the first time in Austria. It is also the first time The Greens – The Green Alternative forms part of the ruling coalition, in alliance with the conservative Austrian People's Party.Austria swears in first female-majority Cabinet Deutsche Welle (English), January 7, 2020 January 3 President Donald Trump approves the targeted killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad, Iraq. Fears of a conflict between Iran and the U.S. results in World War III trending on Twitter. Spain's electoral commission prohibits Catalan president Quim Torra from serving in the regional parliament. January 4 – An airstrike against the military academy south of Tripoli, Libya, kills 16 and wounds 37.Libyan authorities report airstrike on military academy|By SAMY MAGDY, AP, Jan 4, 2020 January 5 – Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanović defeats President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović with 53% of the vote in the 2020 Croatian Presidential Election.Leftist beats conservative in Croatia's presidential vote By DARKO BANDIC, AP, January 5, 2020 January 6 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledges that climate change plays a role in Australia's bushfires, in a reversal of his previous stance.In pictures: Australian bushfires rage as PM admits climate change has fuelled crisis By James Ashford, The Week (UK), January 6, 2020 US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces she will introduce a resolution to limit President Trump's ability to take actions against Iran.Pelosi says House will introduce 'War Power Resolution' aimed to limit Trump's Iran military action By Paul LeBlanc, CNN, Mon January 6, 2020. At a meeting of the Lima Group, Argentina and Mexico abstain from supporting Juan Guaidó as president of the General Assembly of Venezuela.México y Argentina se abstienen de reconocer la reelección de Juan Guaidó en Asamblea de Venezuela Proceso, January 6, 2020 January 7 – Pedro Sánchez takes office as President of the Government of Spain on a vote of 167 in favor, 165 against, and 18 abstentions.Con mínima ventaja, Pedro Sánchez es investido como presidente de España By Alejandro Gutierrez, Proceso, January 7, 2020 January 8 Two U.S. military bases in Iraq are hit with a dozen missiles fired by Iran; no casualties or serious damage reported.Iran launches missiles at Iraq airbases hosting US and coalition troops By Michael Safi, The Guardian, January 8, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran "appears to be standing down" after the killing of Qasem Soleimani but announces new sanctions against Iran.Trump says Iran "appears to be standing down" after missile attack BY KATHRYN WATSON, STEFAN BECKET, & GRACE SEGERS, CBS News, January 8, 2020 As many as 25 Crore (250 million) people join a general strike in India in response to Bharat Bandh labor reforms.Bharat Bandh live updates: Strike by trade unions gets mixed response The Economic Times (India), January 8, 2020 Bharat Bandh updates: Delhi, Mumbai unaffected by nationwide trade union strike India Today, January 9, 2020Strike by millions of workers hit businesses in India AP, January 8, 2020 Millions Flood Streets Across India as General Strike Takes Aim at Modi Government by Eoin Higgins, Common Dreams, January 8, 2020 January 9 – The International Olympic Committee bans political gestures by athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympics.International Olympic Committee bans political statements by athletes at games NBC News, January 9, 2020 January 10 On January 11, 2020, Russia announced that a ceasefire had been agreed to in the area of Idlib and Northwest Syria, between Russia, Syria, Syrian rebels and Turkey. This was due to requests by Turkey for a ceasefire, in order to stop the flood of Syrian refugees into Turkey.Russian army announces ceasefire in Syria's Idlib, January 10, 2020.Turkey, Russia agree to ceasefire in war-torn Idlib, Syria, CBC, January 10, 2020.Russia and Turkey establish new ceasefire in Syria's Idlib. A ceasefire was introduced in Idlib's de-escalation zone at 2 pm Moscow time, Russia's Ministry of Defence says. January 9, 2020. However, some regional news outlets reported that Syria launched further attacks near Idlib, in Maarat al-Numan district and the villages of Maar Shoreen, Talmenes, and Maar Shamshah, even after the ceasefire had officially begun.Assad regime attacks Idlib, violating third cease-fire attempt, DAILY SABAH, January 9, 2020. January 11 Taiwanese general election: Progressive Tsai Ing-Wen is reelected with 7.8 million votes (90% of the votes counted). Legislators in Northern Ireland form a government for the first time since the Executive of the 5th Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed in January 2017.Northern Ireland has a government again after 3 years BY JILL LAWLESS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Global News, January 11, 2020 Iran takes responsibility for "unintentionally" shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 that killed 176 people on January 8. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demands "transparency and justice for the families and loved ones of the victims."Iran admits to shooting down Ukrainian plane in ‘error’ By LAURA KAYALI, Politico, January 11, 2020 British police say it was an "error of judgment" to label 'Extinction Rebellion' a terrorist group.UK police say it was mistake to call climate group extremist ABC News, January 11, 2020 January 12 13,000 participate in a "Run Against Dictatorship" in Bangkok, demanding that Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha step down.Thousands run against 'dictatorship' in Thai capital By JERRY HARMER Associated Press, January 12, 2020 A nuclear alert about Pickering Nuclear Generating Station was erroneously sent to millions in Ontario, Canada.Canadian officials accidentally push nuke alert to millions AP News, January 12, 2020 Same-sex couples can legally register for marriage in Northern Ireland.Same-sex marriage now legal in Northern Ireland By Peter Coulter, BBC News NI, January 13, 2020 January 14 Alejandro Giammattei is inaugurated as President of Guatemala.Alejandro Giammattei asume como nuevo presidente de Guatemala Publimetro.com.mx, January 14, 2020 Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso is under fire for describing Japan as a single race and single language country, ignoring 200,000 indigenous Ainu people and 760,000 ethnic Koreans.Deputy prime minister calls Japan a nation with single race AP/Yahoo News, January 14, 2020 New Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei takes office after a five-hour delay due to protests. Outgoing president Morales is pelted with eggs.Turbulent inauguration day in Guatemala, outgoing president hit by eggs Reuters World News, January 14, 2020 January 15 The Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev announces that the entire Russian government will resign. This occurred due to a proposal from Putin for new laws and reforms that would vastly increase his power.Russian government resigns after Putin proposes reforms that would weaken his successor By Mary Ilyushina, CNN World, January 15, 2020 U.S. Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi names the seven managers of the impeachment team and the House votes to send its impeachment resolutions to the Senate for a trial of President Donald Trump.House votes to send Trump impeachment articles to Senate, triggering trial By HEATHER CAYGLE and SARAH FERRIS, Politico, January 15, 2020 Filipe Nyusi is sworn in for another term as president of Mozambique while the opposition boycotts the ceremony amidst charges of electoral fraud.Mozambique leader Nyusi sworn in despite opposition boycott By Manuel Mucari, Reuters, January 15, 2020 Turkey lifts its ban on Wikipedia, due to a ruling by the Turkish High Constitutional Court.Turkey Lifts More Than 2-Year Block of Wikipedia, By The Associated Press, January 15, 2020 January 16 Pope Francis names Italian lawyer Francesca Di Giovanni as the under-secretary in the Section for Relations with States, the arm of the Catholic church that handles the foreign relations of the Holy See. She is the first woman appointed to a post at that level.Pope Francis appoints first woman to senior Vatican diplomatic role By Julia Hollingsworth, CNN, January 16, 2020 The impeachment of Donald John Trump formally moves into its trial phase in the United States Senate. Guatemala breaks off diplomatic relations with VenezuelaGuatemala breaks off diplomatic relations with Venezuela Al Jareeza, January 16, 2020 Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin is appointed as Prime Minister of Russia. He previously served as Director of the Federal Tax Service from 2010 to 2020. He was nominated for Prime Minister of the Russian Federation by President Vladimir Putin. Hearings on his appointment were held in the State Duma on January 16, and he was confirmed to the office that day. January 18 French police called for backup as protesters tried to storm a theater where President Emmanuel Macron and his wife were watching The Fly.Police backup called to guard President Macron as protesters try to storm theater By Saskya Vandoorne, Milena Veselinovic and Martin Goillandeau, CNN, January 18, 2020 Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urges leaders of the European Union to support the government of Libya in peace talks in Berlin.Turkey's Erdogan: Europe must back Libyan govt in Tripoli By ANDREW WILKS, AP, January 18, 2020 Libyan opposition leader General Khalifa Haftar seeks support in Greece.Libya's rival military commander seeks support in Greece By ELENA BECATOROS, AP, January 17, 2020