First half of 2020 year in review - CNN

We regret to inform you that 2020 is only halfway over, even though it feels like it's been going on for half a century. 2020haschangedeverything.Andit’sonlyhalfover ByAJWillingham,CNNUpdatedJuly3,2020 Weregrettoinformyouthat2020isonlyhalfwayover,eventhoughitfeelslikeit’sbeengoingonforhalfacentury. Everyyeartypicallyhasafewdefiningmoments,butthepastsixmonthshavecontainedsomanyworld-changing,paradigm-shiftingdevelopmentsthatit’sgettinghardtobelievewe’renotinasimulationthat’srunningeverypossiblescenarioatonce. Butthere’snotimetobeexhausted:Withapandemicstillraging,wavesofsocialchangeswellingaroundtheglobe,andawholepresidentialcampaigngoingon,there’sstillalotofhistorylefttobemadein2020. Thinkyouwon’tbeabletohandlesixmoremonthsofthis?Takealookbackatwhatwe’vealreadyweathered. January -coronaviruscasesinUS -casesworldwide Januaryfeltlikesuchasimplertime.AllwehadtoworryaboutwaswhetherthekillingofanIraniangeneralinaUSdronestrikewouldleadtoWorldWarIII.ThedeathofQasemSoleimanionJanuary3ledtodaysofterrifyingtensionbetweentheUnitedStatesandIran,withmassiveprotests,threatsofwarandIran’sretaliatoryattackonIraqibaseshousingUStroops. Thefirstweekoftheyearsetthepaceofwhatwastocome.Next:TheimpeachmenttrialofPresidentDonaldTrump,theculminationofyearsofhearingsandpainfulpoliticalacrimony,beganonJanuary16.Speakingofyearsofpainfulpoliticalacrimony,Brexitfinallyhappenedafteryearsofdelaysandfalsestarts. MeanwhileinChina,astrangenewvirusbegantospread,itspresenceasilentclockcountingdowntothetimeitwouldbringtheworldtoitsknees. PeoplewatchdebrisburninBaghdad,Iraq,followingtheUSdronestrikethatkilledIranianGen.QasemSoleimanionJanuary3.(FARSNewsAgency) USPresidentDonaldTrumpleavesaftermakingastatementathisMar-a-LagoestateinPalmBeach,Florida,onJanuary3.TrumpsaidheauthorizedthestrikeagainstIranianGen.QasemSoleimanibecauseSoleimaniwasplotting"imminentandsinisterattacks"onAmericans.ThePentagonblamedSoleimaniandhisQudsForceforrecentattacksoncoalitionbasesinIraq,includingtheDecember27strikethatculminatedinthedeathsofanAmericancontractorandIraqipersonnel.TheTrumpadministrationalsoblamedSoleimanifortheDecember31USEmbassyattackinBaghdad.(JimWatson/AFP/GettyImages) PeoplegatherinTehran,Iran,onJanuary6toattendafuneralceremonyforSoleimani.Twodayslater,IranretaliatedbyfiringmissilesattwoIraqibaseshousingUStroops.Therewerenocasualtiesintheattack,buttherewereinjuries.Trumpsignaledade-escalationoftensions:“Iranappearstobestandingdown,whichisagoodthingforallpartiesconcernedandaverygoodthingfortheworld.”(OfficeoftheIranianSupremeLeader/AP) PresidentialcandidatestakepartinaDemocraticdebateinDesMoines,Iowa,onJanuary14.FromleftarebusinessmanTomSteyer;USSen.ElizabethWarren;formerVicePresidentJoeBiden;USSen.BernieSanders;formerSouthBend,Indiana,MayorPeteButtigieg;andUSSen.AmyKlobuchar.ItwasthefinalDemocraticdebatebeforetheIowacaucusesandtheseventhdebateofthecampaignseason.(EdwardM.PioRoda/CNN) HouseSergeantatArmsPaulIrvingandHouseClerkCherylJohnsonaretrailedbysevenHouseimpeachmentmanagersastheycarryarticlesofimpeachmenttotheUSSenateonJanuary15.InDecember,theHousemadePresidentDonaldTrumpjustthethirdpresidentinUShistorytobeimpeached.ItvotedalmostentirelyamongpartylinestochargeTrumpwithabuseofpowerandobstructionofCongress.OnFebruary5,theRepublican-controlledCongressacquittedTrumponbotharticlesofimpeachment.(JoshuaRoberts/Reuters) ChuckGrassley,theSenate'spresidentprotempore,swearsinSupremeCourtChiefJusticeJohnRobertsasthepresidingofficerfortheimpeachmenttrial.(SenateTV/AP) RobertsswearsinmembersoftheSenateforTrump'simpeachmenttrial.(UnitedStatesSenate) SenateMajorityLeaderMitchMcConnellarrivesattheUSCapitolonJanuary21,thedaythetrialbegan.(AndrewHarrer/Bloomberg/GettyImages) NightfallsontheUSCapitolonJanuary22.(J.ScottApplewhite/AP) AwomanridesanelectricbicycleinWuhan,China,onJanuary22.ThenovelcoronaviruswasfirstreportedinWuhan,acityof11millionpeopleincentralChina’sHubeiprovince,inlateDecember.Ithassincespreadacrosstheworld,killingmorethan500,000people.(GettyImages) MedicalstaffmembersbringapatienttotheWuhanRedCrosshospitalonJanuary25.(HectorRetamal/AFP/GettyImages) LyuJun,left,amemberofamedicalteamleavingforWuhan,saysgoodbyetoalovedoneinUrumqi,China,onJanuary28.(WangFei/Xinhua/GettyImages) ChildrenwearplasticbottlesasmakeshiftmaskswhilewaitingtocheckintoaflightattheBeijingCapitalAirportonJanuary30.Theuseoffacemaskshasbecomeubiquitousinmanycountriesaspeopletrytohelpslowthespreadofthecoronavirus.(KevinFrayer/GettyImages) ConstructionworkersinWuhanbegintoworkonaspecialhospitaltodealwiththeoutbreakonJanuary24.(AFP/GettyImages) AgiantmuralofNBAlegendKobeBryantandhis13-year-olddaughter,Gianna,isseenonabasketballcourtinTaguig,Philippines,onJanuary28.Itwaspaintedtwodaysearlier,justhoursaftertheyandsevenotherpeoplewerekilledinahelicoptercrashinCalifornia.Inphotos:TheworldmournsKobeBryant(EzraAcayan/GettyImages) AmaninLondonwavesagiantflagonJanuary31afterBritainbecamethefirstcountrytoeverleavetheEuropeanUnion.Thehistoricdepartureknownas“Brexit”camemorethanthreetumultuousyearssince51.89%ofpeoplefromEngland,Scotland,Wales,NorthernIrelandandGibraltarvotedtoleavetheEU.(HenryNicholls/Reuters) February -coronaviruscasesinUS -casesworldwide TrumpwasacquittedinearlyFebruary,andthepoliticaleventthathadhungheavyoverhisofficeintheprevioussixmonthswasoverinlessthanthreeweeks.But2020isanelectionyear,andthepoliticalwheelskeptturning. ThefirstroundofprimaryelectionsquicklydividedtheDemocraticfield,andmajorcandidatesbegantofall.ByFebruary,CoryBookerandKamalaHarriswerealreadyout.AndrewYangsoonfollowed.PeteButtigieg,AmyKlobucharandElizabethWarrenlimpedthrough,butitsoonbecamecleartheirtimewasrunningout. Inbetweentheslowlyunfoldingdramas,aboltofshockstruckthesportsworldwhenNBAlegendKobeBryant,hisdaughterandsevenotherswerekilledinahelicoptercrash.ThememorialtookplaceinlateFebruary. Andfinally,thevirusmakingitswaythroughChinastartedtosparkfearthroughouttheworld.Formany,theword“coronavirus”wasstillunfamiliarandthethreatseemedfaroff. Butnotforlong. DemocraticpresidentialcandidatePeteButtigiegspeakstosupportersinDesMoines,Iowa,onFebruary3,thenightoftheIowacaucuses.Buttigiegultimatelywonthemostdelegatesinthecaucuses—thestartofthe2020primaryseason—buttheresultsweredelayedfordaysduetomistakesbythestateparty.(RobertFranklin/SouthBendTribune/USATodayNetwork) HouseSpeakerNancyPelosiripsuphercopyofPresidentTrump'sStateoftheUnionspeechafterhefinishedonFebruary4.Duringthespeech,youcouldfeelthetensionintheroombetweenthePresidentandtheDemocratswhoimpeachedhiminDecember.Pelosi,sittingbehindTrump,stretchedoutherhandtoshakehisbeforethespeech.Hedidn’ttakeit.(PatrickSemansky/AP) TrumpholdsupanewspaperattheNationalPrayerBreakfastonFebruary6,adayafterhewasacquittedinhisimpeachmenttrial.TheRepublican-controlledCongressacquittedTrumponbotharticlesofimpeachment.Thevotewas52-48onabuseofpower,withRepublicanSen.MittRomneyjoiningthe47Democratsinvotingguilty.All53RepublicansenatorsvotednotguiltyonobstructionofCongress.(OliverContreras/Pool/Bloomberg/GettyImages) ReportersinWashington,DC,takephotosofatelevisionastheywatchtheSenatevotetoacquitTrump.(SamuelCorum/GettyImages) USSen.MittRomneyheadstotheSenatefloortocasthisvoteinTrump’simpeachmenttrial.Romneyannounced,inastirringandemotionalspeechontheSenatefloor,thathewouldbreakwithhispartyandvotetoconvictTrumponabuseofpower.HeisthefirstsenatorinUShistorytovotetoconvictapresidentfromthesamepartyinanimpeachmenttrial.(JonathanErnst/Reuters) Trumpkisseshiswife,Melania,intheEastRoomoftheWhiteHouseonFebruary6.(PatrickSemansky/AP) VicePresidentMikePence,secondfromleft,sitswithhiswife,Karen,andmembersofTrump’sCabinetasTrumpspeaksattheWhiteHouseonFebruary6.(AlDrago/Bloomberg/GettyImages) PassengersareseenontheDiamondPrincesscruiseshipwhileitwasquarantinedinYokohama,Japan,onFebruary12.Dozensofpeopleontheshipwereinfectedwiththenovelcoronavirus.(BehrouzMehri/AFP/GettyImages) VanessaBryant,thewidowofbasketballlegendKobeBryant,speaksatamemorialforKobeandtheir13-year-olddaughter,Gianna,onFebruary24.(MarcioJoseSanchez/AP) USPresidentDonaldTrumpholdsanewsconferenceonthecoronavirusoutbreakonFebruary26.HedefendedtheWhiteHouse'sresponsetotheoutbreak,stressingtheadministration'songoingeffortsandresourcesdevotedtocombatingthevirus.(CarlosBarria/Reuters) March -coronaviruscasesinUS -casesworldwide InMarch,allhellbrokeloose.Butundertheshadowofapandemic,hellisn’taclatteringsturmunddrang.It’seeriesilenceandemptyspaces.It’speopledyingaloneinquarantinedhospitalbeds.Globalmarketsshuddered,sputteredandcrashed,foreshadowingmonthsofeconomicsuffering. Asshutdownsrolledacrosstheglobe,lifeasweknewitseemedtogrindtoahaltovernight:Emptyflights,desertedcitycenters,andcruiseshipsfloatinglistlesslythoughtheopenwater,theirtrappedpassengershopinginvainforaplacetoport. OnMarch11,theWorldHealthOrganizationcalledthecoronaviruswhatitisandwhatitwillremainformonths:Apandemic.Forweeksafterward,littleelseseemstomatter. JillBiden,thewifeofformerVicePresidentJoeBiden,blocksaprotesterwhochargedthestageduringhisSuperTuesdayspeechinLosAngelesonMarch4.Theprotesterwasholdingasignthatsaid"Letdairydie."SuperTuesdaywasagoodnightforBiden,whotookcontroloftheDemocraticracefollowingearlysetbacksinIowaandNevada.(PatrickT.Fallon/Bloomberg/GettyImages) Britain'sPrinceHarryandhiswifeMeghan,theDuchessofSussex,attendtheEndeavourFundAwardsinLondononMarch5.InJanuary,thecoupleannouncedthattheyweresteppingbackfromtheirrolesasseniormembersoftheBritishroyalfamily.(SamirHussein/WireImage/GettyImages) LoriSpencervisitshermother,81-year-oldJudieShape,attheLifeCareCenter,anursinghomeinKirkland,Washington,onMarch11.ThefacilitybecameanearlyepicenterofthecoronavirusoutbreakintheUnitedStates,andShapewasamongthosewhotestedpositive.Shehassincerecovered.(JasonRedmond/Reuters) TradersworkontheflooroftheNewYorkStockExchangeonMarch12.USstocksrecordedtheirworstdaysince1987asworriesaboutthecoronavirusmounted.(MichaelNagle/Bloomberg/GettyImages) Awoman’sreflectioncanbeseeninaMilan,Italy,mortuaryasshelooksatacoffinonMarch13.Italywasputunderadramatictotallockdownasthecoronavirusspreadinthecountry.(GabrieleGalimberti) PopeFrancisdelivershisblessingtoanemptySt.Peter'sSquareattheVaticanonMarch15.Thenovelcoronavirushasputmuchoftheworldonhold.Totrytoslowthespreadofthevirus,peoplearebeingaskedtoavoidcrowdsandlimittheirtravel.Manygovernmentshaveissuedstay-at-homeorders.What'sleftbehindisaneerieemptiness.(VaticanNews/SipaUSA/AP) RestaurantseatsareemptyinLondononMarch13.(SimonDawson/Reuters) TheOculustransportationhubinNewYorkwasmostlydevoidofcommutersandtouristsonMarch15.(VictorJ.Blue/TheNewYorkTimes/Redux) TheSeattleTimes'newsroomisemptyonMarch12.Employeeswereworkingremotely.(GrantHindsley/TheNewYorkTimes/Redux) AlianzaLimaandRacingClubplayaprofessionalsoccermatchinanemptystadiuminBuenosAiresonMarch12.(GustavoGarello/AP) AboyvisitstheLincolnMemorialinWashington,DC,onMarch29.(StephenVoss) TheKaabaintheGrandMosque,Islam'sholiestsite,isnormallysurroundedbypeopleinMecca,SaudiArabia.ButitwasnearlyemptyonMarch6.(BandarAldandani/AFP/GettyImages) FormerVicePresidentJoeBiden,left,greetsUSSen.BernieSanderswithanelbowbumpbeforethestartofadebateinWashington,DC,onMarch15.Itwasthefirstone-on-onedebateoftheprimaryseason,andithappenedunderunprecedentedcircumstances.ThedebatewassupposedtotakeplaceinArizonainfrontofaliveaudience,butbecauseofthecoronaviruspandemic,ittookplaceinthenation’scapitalwithnoaudience.(SarahSilbigerforCNN) SpringBreakrevelerswatcha"chickenfight"inPompanoBeach,Florida,onMarch17.ManypeoplewerecontinuingtopartyonFlorida'sbeachesdespitethecoronaviruspandemic.Florida'sgovernorlaterissuedanorderlimitingbeachgatheringstonomorethan10people.(JulioCortez/AP) Aclose-upofPresidentDonaldTrump'snotesshowswheretheword"Corona"wascrossedoutandreplacedwith"Chinese"ashespeaksaboutthecoronavirusattheWhiteHouseonMarch19.AfterconsultingwithmedicalexpertsandreceivingguidancefromtheWorldHealthOrganization,CNNdeterminedthattheterm"Chinesevirus"isinaccurateandconsideredstigmatizing.(JabinBotsford/TheWashingtonPost/GettyImages) GiuseppeCorbariholdsSundayMassinfrontofphotographssentinbyhiscongregationmembersinGiussano,Italy,onMarch22.Duringthecoronaviruspandemic,manyreligiousservicesarebeingstreamedonlinesothatpeoplecanworshipwhilestillmaintainingtheirdistancefromothers.(PieroCruciatti/AFP/GettyImages) PassengerjetsfromDeltaAirLinesareparkedinBirmingham,Alabama,onMarch25.Airtravelhasbeenscaledbackdramaticallybecauseofthecoronaviruspandemic.(ElijahNouvelage/Reuters) TheOlympicflameisdisplayedinIwaki,Japan,onMarch25,adayafterthe2020TokyoGameswerepostponedayearbecauseofthecoronavirus.(PhilipFong/AFP/GettyImages) USPresidentDonaldTrumpwalkspastDr.AnthonyFauci,thedirectoroftheNationalInstituteofAllergyandInfectiousDiseases,afteradailycoronavirusbriefingattheWhiteHouseonMarch26.Fauci,akeymemberoftheWhiteHouse'scoronavirustaskforce,isnostrangertoleadingthefederalresponsetonationalhealthemergencies.HehasservedundersixUSpresidents,startingwithRonaldReagan.(JonathanErnst/Reuters) WorldleadersdiscussthecoronaviruspandemicviavideoconferenceonMarch26.ThisscreenwasphotographedattheParliamentHouseinCanberra,Australia.Thecoronavirus,inamatterofweeks,turnedvideoconferencingintothebackboneofourlives—andnotjustforwork.(GaryRamage/Pool/AFP/GettyImages) Inthisphototakenfrombehindawindow,doctorsworkwithcoronaviruspatientsinPavia,Italy,onMarch26.(ClaudioFurlan/LaPresse/AP) EpidemiologistsJenAndonianandMattShearergetmarriedatahospitalinBostononMarch27.TheyweresupposedtogetmarriedinAnnArbor,Michigan,buttheirplanshadtobealteredbecauseoftravelrestrictionsduetothecoronavirus.Formanycoupleswhodecidetogetmarried—whetherthey'vehadtocanceltheiroriginalceremonyplansandmakenewones,orareonlynowfeelingthetimeisrightornecessaryformarriage—followingtheadviceofhealthcareprofessionalsandscientistsappearstobeverymuchontheirminds.(SuzanneKreiter/TheBostonGlobe/GettyImages) Becauseofthecoronavirus,BBTUniversityinTokyoheldavirtualgraduationceremonyusingrobotsonMarch28.Thegraduateswatchedtheirceremonythroughtheirrobot'spointofview.Inphotos:Howthepandemichaschangededucation(BBTUniversity/CoverImages/AP) TheUSNSComfort,aNavyhospitalship,reachesNewYorkonMarch30.AnotherhospitalshipwenttoLosAngeles.Theshipsweredeployedtotakesomeofthepressureoffmedicalfacilitiesthatwerestrainedbecauseofthecoronaviruspandemic.(MikeSegar/Reuters) April -coronaviruscasesinUS -casesworldwide People—andeconomies—can’tstaylockeddownforever.InApril,widespreadcoronavirusrestrictionsbegantochafe,andgroupsofAmericanstooktothestreetsinprotest,demandingareturntonormalcy. Butnormalwasalreadylonggone.Facemasksbecameafamiliarsight,andsocialdistancingbecameawayoflife. Worldwidecoronaviruscaseshit1millionatthebeginningofthemonth.BytheendofApriltherewere1millioncasesintheUnitedStatesalone,andmorethan62,000deathsworldwide.Federalsocial-distancingguidelinesalsoexpired,leavingstatestocharttheirownpathforwarddespiteclearsignsthatthethreatwasfarfromover. AnurseadjustsafaceshieldonanewbornbabyatahospitalinThailand’sSamutPrakanprovinceonApril3.(PaoloHospitalSamutprakarn) EmergencymedicalworkersintubateacoronaviruspatientatahomeinYonkers,NewYork,onApril6.The92-year-oldmanwaslaterputonaventilatoratthehospital,andhediedtwoweekslater,hisfamilysaid.(JohnMoore/GettyImages) BodiesareburiedonHartIsland,aNewYorkCitypubliccemetery,onApril9.NewYorkbecametheepicenteroftheUScoronavirusoutbreak.(LucasJackson/Reuters) PeoplewaitintheircarsfortheSanAntonioFoodBanktobegindistributingfoodonApril9.ThecoronaviruspandemichasputmillionsofAmericansoutofwork,andmoreandmorefamilieshaveturnedtofoodbankstogetby.(WilliamLuther/SanAntonioExpress-News/AP) ProtestersstandoutsidetheStatehouseAtriuminColumbus,Ohio,tovoicetheiroppositiontostay-at-homeordersonApril13.About100protestersassembledoutsidethebuildingduringGov.MikeDeWine'sweekdayupdateonthestate'sresponsetothecoronaviruspandemic.Otherstatesalsosawprotestsaspeoplegrewmoreconcernedaboutthepandemic'seconomicfallout.(JoshuaA.Bickel/ColumbusDispatch/USATodayNetwork) USPresidentDonaldTrumpleavestheWhiteHouseRoseGardenfollowingacoronavirusbriefingonApril14.Duringthebriefing,TrumpthreatenedtoleaveafterPlayboycorrespondentandCNNanalystBrianKaremattemptedtoaskaquestionaboutsocialdistancing."Quiet.Quiet."Trumpsaid.WhenKaremcontinuedtoaskhisquestionTrumpinterjected,"Ifyoukeeptalking,I'llleaveandyoucanhaveitoutwiththerestofthesepeople.Ifyoukeeptalking,I'mgoingtoleaveandyoucanhaveitoutwiththem.Justaloudmouth."Itwasn’tthefirsttimeTrumphadlashedoutatareporterduringacoronavirusbriefing.Hehasventedhisfrustrationsonseveraloccasions.(AlexBrandon/AP) AhealthcareworkerstandsinaDenverstreetonApril19,counterprotestingarallywherepeopleweredemandingthatstay-at-homeordersbelifted.Protestersaroundthecountryhaveralliedagainstcoronavirusrestrictionsandcomplainedthattheyinfringeontheirpersonalfreedomsandthreatentodestroytheirlivelihoods.(AlysonMcClaran/Reuters) AcustomergetsamanicureatanailsaloninAtlantaonApril24.Georgia'shairsalons,tattooparlors,bowlingalleysandotherbusinesseswerepermittedtoreopenafterGov.BrianKempannouncedthathe'deasethestate'sstay-at-homeorder.(ElijahNouvelage/Bloomberg/GettyImages) USVicePresidentMikePencevisitsDennisNelson,apatientwhosurvivedthecoronavirusandwasgoingtogiveblood,duringatouroftheMayoClinicinRochester,Minnesota,onApril28.Pencechosenottowearafacemaskduringthetourdespitethefacility'spolicythat'sbeeninplacesinceApril13.Penceinitiallytoldreportersthathewasn'twearingamaskbecausehe'softentestedforcoronavirus.Helatersaidheshouldhavewornone.(JimMone/AP) MichiganstatepolicepreventprotestersfromenteringthechamberoftheMichiganHouseofRepresentativesonApril30.Theprotesterswereunhappywiththestate’sstay-at-homeorder.Gov.GretchenWhitmerhadextendedtheorderthroughMay15,thoughrestrictionswererelaxedsosomebusinessescouldreopen.(JeffKowalsky/AFP/GettyImages) May -coronaviruscasesinUS -casesworldwide InMay,rumblingsofadifferentkindofunrestbegantosurfaceintheGeorgiatownofBrunswick,whereaBlackmannamedAhmaudArberyhadbeenshotandkilledwhilejogginginaneighborhoodinFebruary.ThecaseechoedpainfulmemoriesofotherunarmedBlackmenwhohaddiedatthehandsofpoliceor,inArbery’scase,menallegedlypursuingsomeformofvigilantejustice. OneracialcrisiswasquicklycompoundedwithanotherwhenGeorgeFloyd,anunarmedBlackman,waskilledduringanencounterwithpoliceinMinneapolislaterthatmonth—anencounterthatwascaughtonvideoasanofficerkneeledonhisneckfornearlynineminutes. Suddenly,thefloodgateswereopened.Streetsleftbarrenduringweeksofcoronaviruslockdownswerefillednightafternightwiththousandsofprotesterscallingforjustice,policeaccountabilityandreform.Clashesbetweendemonstratorsandpoliceonlyaddedtothetensions,andbeforethemonthwasover,itwasclearareckoningwasgoingtocome. Allthewhile,thespecterofthecoronavirusstillhungovertheworld.Countriesbegantentativelyreopening.ForthefirsttimesinceDecember,Chinarecordeditsfirstdaywithoutanewcase.However,thereprievewastobeshort-lived. IntheUnitedStates,therewasbarelyareprieveatall.OnMay27,theUSrecordedits100,000thcoronavirusdeath. NorthKoreanleaderKimJongUnvisitsafertilizerfactoryinSunchon,NorthKorea,inthisphotoreleasedbyNorthKorea’sstate-runnewsagencyonMay2.AfterKimmissedthecelebrationofhisgrandfather'sbirthdayonApril15,theUnitedStateswasmonitoringintelligencesuggestingKimwasingravedangerfollowingasurgicalprocedure.Kim’sabsencesfromofficialstatemediaoftensparkspeculationandrumorsabouthishealth.CNNcannotindependentlyverifyNorthKorea’sstate-runagencyreports,theauthenticityofthephotographorthedateitwasshot.(KoreanCentralNewsAgency/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) AsiangianthornetsfromJapanareshowninadisplaycaseinOlympia,Washington,onMay4.Theinsects,nicknamed"murderhornets,"werespottedintheUnitedStatesforthefirsttime,specificallyinWashingtonstate,scientistssaid.(TedS.Warren/AP) RelativesofAhmaudArberyembraceoutsideacourthouseMay8whileprotestinghisshootingdeathinBrunswick,Georgia.ThreemenhavebeenchargedintheFebruary23deathofArbery,whowasshotdeadwhilejoggingjustoutsideBrunswick.(SeanRayford/GettyImages) Dr.EthanWeiss,acardiologistfromSanFrancisco,tweetedthisphotoofhisflighthomefromNewYorkonMay9.Thephotoappearedtoshowdozensofmask-wearingpassengerssittingnexttooneanotherwithnospaceinbetween."ThisisthelasttimeI'llbeflyingagainforaverylongtime,"WeisswroteinaTwitterthread,addingthatalotofpassengersontheflightwere"scared/shocked."Weisssaidhewasapartofagroupof25doctorsandnurseswhohadbeenworkinginNewYorkhospitalsforthepasttwotofourweeks.UnitedAirlineshadflownthemhomeforfree.(CourtesyEthanWeiss) SanDiegohighschoolstudentPhoebeSeip,center,andhersistersSydney,left,andPaisleywatchformerUSPresidentBarackObamadeliveravirtualcommencementaddresstomillionsofhighschoolseniorsonMay16.(BingGuan/Reuters) PeoplevisitNewYork'sDominoParkonMay17.Thepaintedcircles,spaced6feetapart,aretoencouragephysicaldistancing.(JohannesEisele/AFP/GettyImages) NewYorkGov.AndrewCuomoistestedforthecoronavirusduringanewsconferenceinAlbanyonMay17.Hewastryingtodemonstratetheeaseoftheprocedureandencouragepeopletogettested.(AngusMordant/Bloomberg/GettyImages) AmanchasesawayaswarmofdesertlocustsinSamburuCounty,Kenya,onMay21.Itistheworstinvasionofdesertlocuststherein70years.ItisalsotheworstlocustinvasionintheHornofAfricain25years,saidtheUN'sFoodandAgricultureOrganization.Theinvasionposesanunprecedentedthreattofoodsecurityintheregion,wheremorethan19millionpeopleinEastAfricaarealreadyexperiencingahighdegreeoffoodinsecurity,theagencysaid.(FredrikLerneryd/GettyImages) USPresidentDonaldTrumpwearsafacemaskwhilevisitingaFordplantinYpsilanti,Michigan,onMay21.Butitwasduringapartofthetourwherereporterswerenotallowed."Ididn'twanttogivethepressthepleasureofseeingit,"hesaid.ThisphotowastweetedbyUSRep.JackieSpeier.PressphotosfromthetourshowTrumpwithoutamask.(FromRep.JackieSpeier/Twitter) AgroupfloatsdowntheAmericanRivernearRanchoCordova,California,onMay24.MemorialDayweekendpromptedplentyofcelebrationsatthebeachandboardwalks,butfewwereseensocialdistancingorwearingmasks.(DanielKim/TheSacramentoBee/AP) OliviaGrant,right,hugshergrandmother,MaryGraceSileo,throughaplasticclothhungonaclotheslineinWantagh,NewYork,onMay24.Thetwosaweachotherforthefirsttimesincethepandemicstarted.(AlBello/GettyImages) FormerUSVicePresidentJoeBidenandhiswife,Jill,layawreathattheDelawareMemorialBridgeVeteransMemorialParkonMemorialDay.InaCNNinterview,BidencalledPresidentDonaldTrump"anabsolutefool"forsharingatweetthatmockedhimforwearingamask.(PatrickSemansky/AP) AprotestercarriesanAmericanflagupsidedownnexttoaburningbuildinginMinneapolisonMay28.ProtestershavebeenrallyingacrosstheUnitedStatessincethedeathofGeorgeFloyd,anunarmedBlackmanwhowaskilledinpolicecustodyinMinneapolis.AngerpouredthroughcommunitiesasvideoofFloyd'slastmomentsbegancirculating.Floydwaspleadingforhelpashewaspinneddown,sayinghecouldn'tbreathe.Thedemonstrationshavebeenlargelypeaceful,butsomecitieshaveseeninstancesofviolence,withprotestersclashingwithpoliceandstoresbeinglootedandburned.(JulioCortez/AP) CNNjournalistOmarJimenezistakenintocustodyduringalivebroadcastMay29atthesiteofprotestsinMinneapolis.Jimenez'screwwasalsoplacedinhandcuffsandlaterreleased.Gov.TimWalzapologizedforthearrestsandsaidhetookfullresponsibility.(CNN) Awomanyellsatasheriff'sdeputyduringaprotestinMinneapolisonMay28.(MarkVancleave/StarTribune/AP) PeoplevandalizeaWalgreensstoreduringprotestsinOakland,California,onMay29.(PhilipPacheco/AP) ProtestersblockahighwayinSt.Paul,Minnesota,onMay31.(LucasJackson/Reuters) PeopleliefacedownduringaprotestattheStateCapitolinLansing,Michigan,onMay31.Duringtheprotests,somedemonstratorshavestagedlie-ins,takingtothegroundforeightminutesand46secondstosymbolizethefinalmomentsofFloyd'slife.(MatthewDaeSmith/LansingStateJournal/USAToday) KaiAyden,7,raiseshisfistduringademonstrationinAtlantaonMay31.ThephotomadeKaiafaceoftheprotestmovementandinspiredmanytocreateartworkbasedonhim.(ElijahNouvelage/GettyImages) AcrowdgathersinTitusville,Florida,towatchSpaceX'shistoriclaunchonMay30.TheSpaceXFalcon9rocketlaunchedtwoNASAastronautstowardtheInternationalSpaceStation.It'sthefirsttimeinhistorythatacommercialaerospacecompanyhascarriedhumansintoEarth'sorbit.(ScottAudette/Reuters) TheSpaceXFalcon9rocketblastsofffromtheKennedySpaceCenter.NASAandspacefanshadwaitednearlyadecadeforthismilestone.TheUnitedStateshadn’tlauncheditsownastronautsintospacesincetheshuttleprogramendedin2011.(SpaceX/GettyImages) June -coronaviruscasesinUS -casesworldwide TheprotestssparkedbyGeorgeFloyd’sdeathroaredintoJuneandwentglobal.DemonstratorsfilledcitycentersintheUnitedKingdom,Germany,France,Brazil,Australia,SouthAfricaandcountlessothercountries,unitingunderonerefrain:BlackLivesMatter. IntheUnitedStates,talksofpolicereformrippledthroughCongress.Citiesslashedpolicedepartmentbudgetsandtightenedpoliceaccountability.Peoplealsotookchangeintotheirownhands,topplingstatuesofmenwhooncechampionedortradedinslavery.Confederateflagsandothersymbolsofracialenmitycamedown,too. Withthe2020electionmeremonthsaway,PresidentTrumpreturnedtothecampaigntrail,hostingoneofhissignatureralliesinTulsa,Oklahoma. Afterafewweeksofoptimism,coronaviruscasescameroaringbackacrosstheglobe.IntheUnitedStates,expertswarnedprematurereopeningsmayhavesentthecountryhurtlingtowardanotherroundofcalamityanddeath. RiotpolicerushdemonstratorsinWashingtonDC’sLafayetteParkonJune1.ThousandsofpeoplewerepeacefullyprotestingneartheWhiteHousewhenpolicestartedtoshootrubberbullets,teargasandflashbangsintothecrowd.PolicewereclearingtheblocktoallowPresidentDonaldTrumptowalktoSt.John'sEpiscopalChurchforaphotoop.(KenCedeno/Reuters) PresidentDonaldTrumpholdsaBibleoutsideSt.John'sEpiscopalChurchduringhisphotooponJune1.Partofthechurchwassetonfireduringproteststhenightbefore.(PatrickSemansky/AP) TamikaPalmer,themotherofBreonnaTaylor,looksonduringavigilforherdaughteronJune6inLouisville,Kentucky.Taylor,a26-year-oldEMT,wasshoteighttimesbypoliceonMarch13whentheybrokedownthedoortoherLouisvilleapartmentwhileexecutingawarrantinanarcoticsinvestigation.Taylor'sfamilyhasfiledawrongfuldeathlawsuit.(BrettCarlsen/GettyImages) ProtestersholduptheirphonesduringademonstrationoutsidetheWhiteHouseonJune3.GeorgeFloyd'sdeathhasreignitedanationalconversationaboutrace,policebrutalityandsocialinjustice.Therehavebeencallstodefundthepolice,andprotestershavebeentearingdownstatuesofmenwhooncechampionedortradedinslavery.(EricBaradat/AFP/GettyImages) PhiloniseFloydspeaksatamemorialserviceforhisbrotherGeorgeonJune4.HesaidGeorgehad"touchedmanyhearts"andthattheaudienceinMinneapoliswasatestamentofthat."Everybodywantsjustice,wewantjusticeforGeorge,"Philonisesaid."He'sgoingtogetit."DerekChauvin,theMinneapolispoliceofficerwhokneeledonFloyd’sneckforeightminutesand46seconds,wasfiredfromthedepartmentandeventuallychargedwithsecond-degreemurder.Threeotherofficersinvolvedintheincidentwerealsofired,andtheywereeachchargedwithaidingandabettingsecond-degreemurderandaidingandabettingsecond-degreemanslaughter.(JulioCortez/AP) Thissatellitephoto,takenonJune6,showsthenewBlackLivesMatterPlazainWashington.Thewords"BlackLivesMatter"werepaintedontwoblocksof16thStreet.ThepainterswerecontractedbyMayorMurielBowser.(MaxarTechnologies/Reuters) ProtestersinBristol,England,throwastatueofEdwardColstonintotheRiverAvonduringaBlackLivesMatterprotestonJune7.TheMuseumsofBristolwebsitedescribesColstonasa"reveredphilanthropist/reviledslavetrader"fromthe17thcentury.(GiuliaSpadafora/NurPhoto/GettyImages) AbouttwodozenDemocraticlawmakers,includingHouseSpeakerNancyPelosiandSenateMinorityLeaderChuckSchumer,kneelinsilenceforeightminutesand46secondsastheypaytributetoGeorgeFloydonJune8.TheyworestolesmadeofKentecloth,drawingcriticismfromobserverswhofelttheymadethetraditionalAfricantextileintoapoliticalprop.(ManuelBalceCeneta/AP) VoterslineupatChristianCity,anassisted-livinghome,tocasttheirprimaryballotsinUnionCity,Georgia,onJune9.VotingdelaysacrossGeorgialedstateofficialstocallforinvestigations.Somevotersspenthourswaitinginline.(DustinChambers/Reuters) PeopledrinkoutsideabarinNewYorkCity'sEastVillageonJune12.Barsinthecitywerenotallowedtoopenyet,butmanypeopleinNewYorktooktothestreetsafterthecityenteredPhaseOneofitsreopeningplanonJune8.(JeenahMoon/Reuters) DemonstratorssetfiretoaWendy'srestaurantinAtlantaonJune13.RayshardBrooks,a27-year-oldBlackman,wasfatallyshotbypoliceneartherestaurant’sdrive-thruonJune12.Brookswasshotafterpolicemovedtohandcuffhimforsuspecteddrivingundertheinfluence,accordingtovideosfromthescene.ThevideosshowthatBrookstookanofficer'sTaserduringtheattemptedarrestandthenfiredtheTaserattheofficersasheranaway.OneofficerthenfatallyshotBrooksthreetimeswithhisserviceweapon,authoritiessaid.Brookswasshottwiceintheback,accordingtoareleasebytheFultonCountyMedicalExaminer'sOffice.ThepoliceofficerwhokilledBrooks,GarrettRolfe,wasfiredandchargedwithmurder.Rolfe’sattorneyssayRolfewaslegallyjustifiedandactinginself-defense.Atlanta’spolicechiefresigned.(BenHendren/AnadoluAgency/GettyImages) TiffanyMunroewavesarainbowflagduringaBlackTransLivesMatterrallyinNewYorkonJune14.Thenextday,theUSSupremeCourtruledthatfederalcivil-rightslawprotectsgay,lesbianandtransgenderworkers.(DemetriusFreeman/TheNewYorkTimes/Redux) PoliceinAlbuquerque,NewMexico,detainmembersoftheNewMexicoCivilGuard,anarmedciviliangroup,afteramanwasshotduringaprotestonJune15.TheshootinghappenedasprotestersweretryingtopulldownastatueofSpanishconquistadorJuandeOñate.A31-year-oldmanwasarrestedinconnectionwiththeshooting,policesaid.TheNewMexicoCivilGuardtoldCNNbyemailthatthemanisnotpartoftheirgroup.(AdolphePierre-Louis/TheAlbuquerqueJournal/AP) USPresidentDonaldTrumplistenstoapplauseaftersigninganexecutiveorderonpolicereformJune16intheWhiteHouseRoseGarden.Trumpsaidhewastakingexecutiveactiontoencouragepolicetoadoptthe"highestandthestrongest"professionalstandards"todeliverafutureofsafetyandsecurityforAmericansofeveryrace,religion,colorandcreed."Hisorder,amongothersteps,createsafederaldatabaseofpoliceofficerswithahistoryofusingexcessiveforce.(LeahMillis/Reuters) DACArecipientsandtheirsupportersrallyoutsidetheUSSupremeCourtonJune18.Ina5-4rulingthatday,theSupremeCourtblockedtheTrumpadministration'sattempttoendDACA,whichstandsforDeferredActionforChildhoodArrivals.TheObama-eraprogramprotectshundredsofthousandsofimmigrants—whowerebroughttothecountryaschildren—fromdeportation.(DrewAngerer/GettyImages) PresidentDonaldTrumparrivesathiscampaignrallyinTulsa,Oklahoma,onJune20.Itwashisfirstrallysincethestartofthecoronaviruspandemic,andtheindoorvenuegeneratedconcernsaboutthepotentialspreadofthevirus.About6,200peopleshoweduptotheBOKCenter,whichseats19,199.(DougMills/TheNewYorkTimes/Redux) TrumpwalksontheSouthLawnoftheWhiteHouseonJune21afterreturningfromhiscampaignrallyinTulsa.(PatrickSemansky/AP) TomikaMillerweepsoverherhusband,RayshardBrooks,athispublicviewinginAtlantaonJune22.HisprivatefuneralservicetookplaceatEbenezerBaptistChurch,whereMartinLutherKingJr.wasasaco-pastorfrom1960untilhisassassinationin1968.King'sdaughter,theRev.BerniceA.King,spokeatthefuneral.(CurtisCompton/Pool/AtlantaJournal-Constitution/AP) AbeachisslammedwithpeopleinBournemouth,England,duringaheatwaveonJune25.BritishPrimeMinisterBorisJohnsonbeganeasingcoronavirusrestrictionsinMay,butpeoplearestillsupposedtobedistancingthemselvesfromoneanother.Afterthousandsflockedtobeaches,officialsinsouthernEnglanddeclareda"majorincident.”(FinnbarrWebster/GettyImages) AcoupledrawsgunsonpeoplewhowereprotestingagainstSt.LouisMayorLydaKrewsononJune28.ThedemonstrationcameafterKrewson,onaFacebooklivevideo,readthenamesandaddressesofpeoplecallingforpolicereform,accordingtoCNNaffiliateKMOV.ThemanandwomanwiththegunswereidentifiedasMarkandPatriciaMcCloskey,whoownedtheprivatestreettheprotesterswerewalkingon."ThepeacefulprotesterswerenotthesubjectofscornordisdainbytheMcCloskeys,"theirattorney,AlbertS.Watkins,saidinastatementtoCNN."Tothecontrary,theywereexpectingandsupportiveofthemessageoftheprotesters.”Hesaid“theactionsofviolence,destructionofpropertyandactsofthreateningaggressionbyafewindividuals”puttheMcCloskeys“infearofimminentharm.”(LawrenceBryant/Reuters) WillieTownsend,anemployeeoftheMississippiStateCapitol,raisesandlowerscommemorativestateflagsJune30thatarepurchasedbypeopleafterbeingflownattheCapitol.Hourslater,Gov.TateReevessignedabilltoretiretheflag—thelaststateflagtofeaturetheConfederatebattleflag.TheflagoftheConfederacy,itssymbolsandthestatuescommemoratingConfederateleadershavelongdividedthecountry.Criticscalltheflagasymbolthatrepresentsthewartoupholdslavery,whilesupporterscallitasignofSouthernprideandheritage.(SuziAltman/Reuters) Asthefirsthalfoftheyearcametoaclose,thefutureseemedtoholdnothingbutuncertainty—aboutthepandemic,aboutNovember’selection,aboutthefutureofthecountryandtheworld. Lookingbacktothebeginningoftheyear,theeventsof2020havedefiedprediction. Whattherestoftheyearholdsisanyone’sguess.