Year 2020 has passed and the beginning of a new year heralds the dawn of a new era. This is a pivotal moment as it marks the end of the decade while the world has seen considerable progress and even upheaval since the beginning of the 21st Century.
The year was a dismal one dominated by the coronavirus pandemic. The global economy was decimated and reached its lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis, stock markets collapsed and oil prices went negative for the first time. Developing countries with strong economies, healthcare budgets, and large standing armies were helpless against the virus which left carnage everywhere. More than 1.7 million lost their lives and over 78 million cases were recorded this year.
The year did not witness significant happenings as we observed the ‘Great Lockdown’ and people were forced to stay indoors for several months. Schools remained closed for much of the year affecting the academic career of students as many took gap years and delayed going into college and university.
Many countries closed their borders indefinitely and tourism plunged while those destinations which saw millions of visitors were deserted. Sports were badly affected as major events, including the Tokyo Olympics, were either cancelled or postponed while others were held in empty stadiums without cheering crowds. The film industry was also affected as cinemas remained closed and production was halted, forcing filmmakers to either delay release or choose digital streaming platforms.
Global politics was dominated by the United States elections which saw President Donald Trump lose to Democratic Joe Biden in a bitter election making him a one-term president. The UK ratified the Brexit trade deal and finalized its divorce from the EU. The US moved to end its longest war in Afghanistan signing a historic peace agreement with the Afghan Taliban and pledging to withdraw troops. India and China, two of the largest countries, scuffled over a deadly border dispute and came to the brink of war.
The year was disappointing as many were forced to delay plans of life goals – to either travel, study or wed. Our lifestyle changed as we observed new rules of social distancing, wearing face masks and other safety precautions. We embraced work-from-home and online education. As life gradually restores to normal, it would be difficult to leave behind the new habits we have adopted. The dawn of a new year also brings hopes and optimism about a brighter future. The rollout of virus vaccines has given hope to many people around the globe that the worse may be over.
