21st century

====2020====
* [[January 3]] – A U.S. [[Assassination of Qasem Soleimani|drone strike]] at [[Baghdad International Airport]] kills [[Iran]]ian general [[Qasem Soleimani]] and Iraqi paramilitary leader [[Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis]]. Five days later, Iran carries out [[Operation Martyr Soleimani|retaliatory missile strikes]] on U.S. bases in [[Iraq]], while [[Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752]] is shot down by the [[IRGC]] after being mistaken for an American cruise missile.
* [[January 2]] – The [[Royal Australian Air Force]] and [[Royal Australian Navy|Navy]] are deployed to [[New South Wales]] and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] to assist mass evacuation efforts amidst the [[2019–20 Australian bushfire season]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Military moves in to help mass evacuation from Australian bushfires|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-wildfires-jan1-1.5412274|access-date=November 15, 2020|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223165119/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-wildfires-jan1-1.5412274|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Marnie |first1=O'Neill |title=Half a billion animals perish in bushfires |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/half-a-billion-animals-perish-in-bushfires/news-story/b316adb4f3af7b1c8464cf186ab9f52c |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=News.com.au |date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103031916/https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/half-a-billion-animals-perish-in-bushfires/news-story/b316adb4f3af7b1c8464cf186ab9f52c |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 3]] –  A United States [[Assassination of Qasem Soleimani|drone strike]] at [[Baghdad International Airport]] kills ten people, including the intended target, Iranian general [[Qasem Soleimani]], and Iraqi paramilitary leader [[Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-militia-official-killed-us-iran-tensions-1480181|title=Iraq Militia Officials, Iran's QUDS Force Head Killed in U.S. Drone Strike|last1=O'Connor|first1=Tom|last2=Laporta|first2=James|date=January 2, 2020|work=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103030530/https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-militia-official-killed-us-iran-tensions-1480181|archive-date=January 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 5]] 
** [[Second Libyan Civil War]]: President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] announces the [[Turkish military intervention in the Second Libyan Civil War|deployment]] of Turkish troops to Libya on behalf of the [[United Nations]]-backed [[Government of National Accord]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/turkish-troops-deploy-to-libya-to-prop-up-embattled-government|title=Turkish troops deploy to Libya to prop up embattled government|date=January 5, 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106000833/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/turkish-troops-deploy-to-libya-to-prop-up-embattled-government|archive-date=January 6, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[2019–20 Croatian presidential election]]: The second round of voting is held and [[Zoran Milanović]] of the [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia]] defeats [[incumbent]] [[President of Croatia|president]] [[Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 6, 2020 |title=Croatia elects centre-left challenger Zoran Milanovic as president |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51006754 |access-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408145737/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51006754 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 8]]
**[[Iran]] [[Operation Martyr Soleimani|launches ballistic missiles]] at two [[Iraq]]i military bases hosting [[American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present)|U.S. soldiers]], injuring over 100 personnel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.trust.org/item/20200117170342-xr08c|title=Pentagon denies trying to underplay injuries from Iran attack|agency=Reuters|date=January 17, 2020|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118042701/http://news.trust.org/item/20200117170342-xr08c|archive-date=January 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
**[[Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752]] is shot down by Iranian forces shortly after takeoff from [[Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport]], killing all 176 people on board.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 8, 2020 |title=Boeing 737 plane crashes in Iran |url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108104442/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 9]]
** A rare, [[circumbinary planet]] called [[TOI 1338|TOI 1338-b]] is discovered.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/york-teen-discovers-planet-interning-nasa/story?id=68169897 |title=New York teen discovers new planet while interning with NASA |first=Ivan |last=Pereira |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110164740/https://abcnews.go.com/US/york-teen-discovers-planet-interning-nasa/story?id=68169897 |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |work=ABC News |date=January 9, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[Islamic State in the Greater Sahara]] militants [[Battle of Chinagodrar|assault]] a [[Niger]]ien military base in [[Chinagodrar, Niger|Chinagodrar]], killing at least 89 [[Niger Armed Forces|Nigerien soldiers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-security/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-niger-army-base-attack-idUSKBN1ZD1ZZ|work=Reuters|title=Islamic State claims responsibility for Niger army base attack|date=January 14, 2020|access-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115034731/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-security/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-niger-army-base-attack-idUSKBN1ZD1ZZ|archive-date=January 15, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 10]] – [[Haitham bin Tariq]] succeeds [[Qaboos bin Said]] as the [[Sultan of Oman]].<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50902476|title = Sultan Qaboos of Oman dies aged 79|date = January 11, 2020|access-date = January 11, 2020|work = [[BBC News]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200115183138/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50902476|archive-date = January 15, 2020|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Oman's new ruler Haitham bin Tariq takes oath: newspapers |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oman-sultan-successor-media/omans-new-ruler-haitham-bin-tariq-takes-oath-newspapers-idUSKCN1ZA078 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |work=Reuters |date=January 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111063255/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oman-sultan-successor-media/omans-new-ruler-haitham-bin-tariq-takes-oath-newspapers-idUSKCN1ZA078 |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[January 11]] – [[2020 Taiwanese presidential election|Presidential]] and [[2020 Taiwanese legislative election|legislative elections]] are held in [[Taiwan]]. [[Incumbent]] [[President of the Republic of China|president]] [[Tsai Ing-wen]] is reelected and the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] wins a majority of 67 out of 113 seats in the [[Legislative Yuan]].<ref>{{cite web |date=January 11, 2020 |title=Taiwan election: Tsai Ing-Wen wins landslide in rebuke to China |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/taiwan-re-elects-tsai-ing-wen-as-president-in-clear-message-to-china |access-date=February 28, 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203042957/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/taiwan-re-elects-tsai-ing-wen-as-president-in-clear-message-to-china |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 11, 2020 |title=Taiwan opposition candidate admits defeat in presidential election |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-opposition-idUSKBN1ZA0HJ |access-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122200159/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-opposition-idUSKBN1ZA0HJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vote.nccu.edu.tw/engcec/B202000E.PDF |title=Election Result By Parties Votes For The 10th Regional Legislators Elections (National Level Public Officials Election-Taiwan, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128114956/https://vote.nccu.edu.tw/engcec/B202000E.PDF |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref>
* [[January 31]] – The [[United Kingdom]] becomes the first member state to [[Brexit|leave]] the [[European Union]].
* [[March]] – Beginning of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|worldwide pandemic]] of [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]], the virus which causes [[COVID-19]]. [[Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic|Widespread economic disruption]], including a [[2020 stock market crash|stock market crash]], occurred during the pandemic.
* [[April 6]] – The [[United States]] designates the [[Russian Imperial Movement]] as a [[Terrorism in Russia|terrorist]] organization and imposes sanctions on its leaders; it is the first [[White supremacy|white supremacist]] group the U.S. has [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist|designated]] as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 6, 2020|title=In a first, US slaps sanctions on Russian white supremacists|url=https://apnews.com/4f5dfda48d9f13876af828757c85d852|access-date=June 3, 2020|website=AP NEWS}}</ref>
* [[May 26]] – [[George Floyd protests|Protests]] break out following the [[murder of George Floyd]] across [[List of George Floyd protests in the United States|hundreds of cities in the United States]] and even smaller ones [[List of George Floyd protests outside the United States|outside the US]]. [[Derek Chauvin]], the officer responsible for Floyd's murder, would ultimately be [[State v. Chauvin|convicted]] on two counts of murder and one of manslaughter in the wake of the protests.
* [[June 30]] – [[China]] passes the controversial [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|Hong Kong national security law]], allowing China to crack down on opposition to Beijing at home or abroad.
* [[August 11]] – [[Kamala Harris]] becomes the Democratic Party's nominee for vice-president of the United States, making her the first [[African Americans|African-American]], the first [[Asian Americans|Asian-American]] and the third female vice presidential running mate on a major party ticket.
* [[August 18]] – A mutiny in a military base by soldiers of the [[Malian Armed Forces]] develops into [[2020 Malian coup d'état|a coup d'état]]. [[President of Mali|President]] [[Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta]] and [[Prime Minister of Mali|Prime Minister]] [[Boubou Cissé]], among other senior governmental and military officers, are forced to resign.
* [[September 4]] – [[Kosovo–Serbia relations|Kosovo and Serbia]] announce that they will [[2020 Kosovo–Serbia agreement|normalize economic relations]].
* [[November 3]] – [[Joe Biden]] is [[2020 United States presidential election|elected]] as the 46th president of the United States, and [[Kamala Harris]] is elected as vice-president. Biden is the oldest person elected to a first term.
* [[November 15]]: [[President of Kyrgyzstan]] [[Sooronbay Jeenbekov]] resigns from office after weeks of [[2020 Kyrgyzstan protests|massive protests]] in the wake of the [[October 2020 Kyrgyz parliamentary election|October 2020 parliamentary election]]; opposition leader [[Sadyr Japarov]] assumes office as both the acting president and [[Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan]].
* The [[Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership|Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)]] is signed by 15 [[Asia-Pacific]] countries to form the world's largest free-trade bloc, covering a third of the world's population.
* [[Prime Minister of Sudan|Sudanese Prime Minister]] [[Abdalla Hamdok]] and [[Abdelaziz al-Hilu]], the leader of the [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North]] (SPLM–N), sign an agreement to transition [[Sudan|the country]] into a [[secular state]].
* A [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] fact-finding mission formally accuses the [[Government of Venezuela|Venezuelan government]] of [[crimes against humanity]], including cases of killings, torture, violence against political opposition and disappearances since 2014. President [[Nicolás Maduro]] and other senior Venezuelan officials are among those implicated in the charges.
* [[Israel]], [[Sudan]], [[Morocco]], the [[United Arab Emirates]] and [[Bahrain]] sign agreements to formally normalise [[International relations|diplomatic relations]].
* [[Azerbaijan]] launches a [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war|successful military campaign]] against [[Armenians|Armenian]] forces to take back the disputed [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] region. [[Turkey]] sends [[Syrian National Army|Syrian mercenaries]] to assist in this endeavor, and [[Russia]] ends the conflict by deploying peacekeepers.
* [[North Korea]] demolishes the [[Inter-Korean Liaison Office]] in [[Kaesong]], established in [[2018]] to improve relations.
* The [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon]] convicts ''[[Trial in absentia|in absentia]]'' Salim Ayyash, a senior member of [[Hezbollah]], for the 2005 [[Assassination of Rafic Hariri|assassination]] of former [[Prime Minister of Lebanon|Prime Minister]] [[Rafic Hariri]].
* [[Prime Minister of Japan|Japanese Prime Minister]] [[Shinzo Abe]], the [[List of prime ministers of Japan|longest-serving prime minister]] in the [[history of Japan]], announces his pending resignation from office, citing ill health, he was replaced by [[Yoshihide Suga]] and [[Fumio Kishida]].
* The [[Emir of Kuwait]] [[Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah|Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah]] dies at the age of 91. Crown Prince [[Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]] is named his successor.
* The [[EU]] launches legal action against the UK, accusing it of breaking international law by overriding sections of the [[Brexit]] [[Brexit withdrawal agreement|withdrawal agreement]].
* In the [[2020 New Caledonian independence referendum]], [[New Caledonia]] votes against independence from France.