US and Chinese flags are seen as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meet in Washington, DC in May 2018. (Photo: AFP)Hanoi (VNA) – Below are the top 10 world events of 2019 voted by the Vietnam News Agency.
1. US – China strategic competition intensifies
Strategiccompetition between the world’s two major powers – the US and China – hasbecome fiercer than ever in various areas, from trade to technology andmilitary. The threat of a currency war has risen after the US accused China ofmanipulating its currency.
The US-China tensions have had severe impacts onthe global economy and created more risks for emerging markets. Though multiplerounds of negotiations were held, the twosides have yet to reach a final deal to ease the tensions.
2. Complicateddevelopments in the East Sea spark international concern
On July 4, Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8 and itsescorts entered Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf in the East Sea, seriously violatinginternational law and Vietnam’ssovereignty rights and jurisdiction.
Chinese survey ships have also repeatedlyencroached upon the EEZ and continental shelf of other countries bordering the East Sea and obstructed their legal oil and gas activities. The international community strongly criticised China’s unilateralactions which had erodedtrust and threatened regional peace, security and stability.
3. The UK’s bumpy roadto Brexit
The European Union flag and the Union Jack flag are seen outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
The Conservative Party’s resounding victory in theDecember 12 general election hasincreased the possibility of the UK to leave the EU on January 31 next year after repeated delays. In his first speech after his party won, Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to dohis best to get Brexit done while EU leaders said they were ready for the nextsteps.
An earlier withdrawal agreement was rejected three times by the BritishHouse of Commons, leading tothe resignation of PM Theresa May. Johnson requested an EU extension of the Brexit deadline until January 31, 2020 and demanded a snap election onDecember 12 to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
4. US Federal Reservemakes first interest rate cut in 11 years
On July 31, the FED lowered its benchmark interest rateby 0.25 percentage points to a range of2 – 2.25 percent, the first cut since the global financial crisis in 2008, to respondto the uncertain economic outlook. It continued to cut interest rates twice, onSeptember 18 and October 30, down to 1.5 – 1.75 percent and then left them unchanged through the remainder of 2019.
Majorcentral banks around the world, including the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and theEuropean Central Bank (ECB), also madesimilar moves, sendingtheir rates to historic lows, even belowzero, to spur economic growth and prevent a recession.
5. Middle East tensions grow over US policy reversal
The situation in the Middle East has become unpredictableafter the US accused Iran of being behind attacks on fuel tankers in the Gulf and two major oil refineries in Saudi Arabia and imposed more sanctions on Tehran.
The US also added fuel to the fire byrecognising the Golan Heights as part of Israel, supporting Israeli settlementsin the West Bank and ordering all US troops to withdraw from northern Syria.
6. Waves ofdemonstrations cause political and social unrest
Rioters set fire at street in Sai Wan Ho, south China's Hong Kong in November, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
The lengthy demonstrations in Hong Kong (China) against an extradition bill haveturned into riots, pushing the special administrative region to the brink ofsocio-economic crisis.
Meanwhile, challenges in politics, economics and socialinequality have fueled widespread protests in parts of Europe, the Middle Eastand Latin America, causing instability in some countries.
7. Climatechange and alarming plastic waste pollution
The Earthexperienced the hottest June in 140 years. The temperatures set all time highsduring the summer in Europe while Australia also reported record temperatures.Wildfires caused severe damage to the Amazon rainforest, which is dubbed thelungs of the Earth.
Meanwhile,plastic waste pollution reached an alarming 13 million tonnes dumped into theoceans every year, causing the deaths of about 1.5 million marine animals. Massiverallies took place across the globe to demand governments take more concreteactions to curb climate change and protect the environment.
However, at the 2019 UNClimate Change Conference, known as COP25, in Spain, participating countriesfailed to reach a deal on the Paris Agreement implementation roadmap while the USofficially withdrew from the agreement.
8. Talkson the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) conclude
Ten ASEAN nations and five partner countries – Australia,China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand – concluded text-basednegotiations on the RCEP during the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand onNovember 4.
It marked a significant milestone in the international economicintegration against the backdrop of rising protectionism that is hinderingglobalisation. The member countries pledged to soon finish their required legalreviews for the deal to be signed in 2020.
9. Global fight against “fake news”
Twentycountries, including France, Britain and India, signed an agreement onSeptember 26 that aims to stop the spread of fake news online while manycountries, including Singapore andRussia, have adopted fakenews laws.
In the wake of growing pressure from various countries, leadingsocial media platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter have taken multiplemeasures to control and prevent fake news.
10. First ever black hole image released
The EventHorizon Telescope Collaboration on April 10 released the first ever picture ofa black hole. The black hole, that is 6.6 billion times bigger than the Sun, was found in a distantgalaxy called M87, about 55 million light-years from the Earth.
It was capturedby a global network of eight telescopes, from Hawaii (the US) and Atacama (Chile) to the South Pole and Europe. The historicdiscovery is said to confirm Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity./.
2. Complicateddevelopments in the East Sea spark international concern
On July 4, Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8 and itsescorts entered Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf in the East Sea, seriously violatinginternational law and Vietnam’ssovereignty rights and jurisdiction.
Chinese survey ships have also repeatedlyencroached upon the EEZ and continental shelf of other countries bordering the East Sea and obstructed their legal oil and gas activities. The international community strongly criticised China’s unilateralactions which had erodedtrust and threatened regional peace, security and stability.
3. The UK’s bumpy roadto Brexit
The European Union flag and the Union Jack flag are seen outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)The Conservative Party’s resounding victory in theDecember 12 general election hasincreased the possibility of the UK to leave the EU on January 31 next year after repeated delays. In his first speech after his party won, Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to dohis best to get Brexit done while EU leaders said they were ready for the nextsteps.
An earlier withdrawal agreement was rejected three times by the BritishHouse of Commons, leading tothe resignation of PM Theresa May. Johnson requested an EU extension of the Brexit deadline until January 31, 2020 and demanded a snap election onDecember 12 to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
4. US Federal Reservemakes first interest rate cut in 11 years
On July 31, the FED lowered its benchmark interest rateby 0.25 percentage points to a range of2 – 2.25 percent, the first cut since the global financial crisis in 2008, to respondto the uncertain economic outlook. It continued to cut interest rates twice, onSeptember 18 and October 30, down to 1.5 – 1.75 percent and then left them unchanged through the remainder of 2019.
Majorcentral banks around the world, including the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and theEuropean Central Bank (ECB), also madesimilar moves, sendingtheir rates to historic lows, even belowzero, to spur economic growth and prevent a recession.
5. Middle East tensions grow over US policy reversal
The situation in the Middle East has become unpredictableafter the US accused Iran of being behind attacks on fuel tankers in the Gulf and two major oil refineries in Saudi Arabia and imposed more sanctions on Tehran.
The US also added fuel to the fire byrecognising the Golan Heights as part of Israel, supporting Israeli settlementsin the West Bank and ordering all US troops to withdraw from northern Syria.
6. Waves ofdemonstrations cause political and social unrest
Rioters set fire at street in Sai Wan Ho, south China's Hong Kong in November, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)The lengthy demonstrations in Hong Kong (China) against an extradition bill haveturned into riots, pushing the special administrative region to the brink ofsocio-economic crisis.
Meanwhile, challenges in politics, economics and socialinequality have fueled widespread protests in parts of Europe, the Middle Eastand Latin America, causing instability in some countries.
7. Climatechange and alarming plastic waste pollution
The Earthexperienced the hottest June in 140 years. The temperatures set all time highsduring the summer in Europe while Australia also reported record temperatures.Wildfires caused severe damage to the Amazon rainforest, which is dubbed thelungs of the Earth.
Meanwhile,plastic waste pollution reached an alarming 13 million tonnes dumped into theoceans every year, causing the deaths of about 1.5 million marine animals. Massiverallies took place across the globe to demand governments take more concreteactions to curb climate change and protect the environment.
However, at the 2019 UNClimate Change Conference, known as COP25, in Spain, participating countriesfailed to reach a deal on the Paris Agreement implementation roadmap while the USofficially withdrew from the agreement.
8. Talkson the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) conclude
Ten ASEAN nations and five partner countries – Australia,China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand – concluded text-basednegotiations on the RCEP during the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand onNovember 4.
It marked a significant milestone in the international economicintegration against the backdrop of rising protectionism that is hinderingglobalisation. The member countries pledged to soon finish their required legalreviews for the deal to be signed in 2020.
9. Global fight against “fake news”
Twentycountries, including France, Britain and India, signed an agreement onSeptember 26 that aims to stop the spread of fake news online while manycountries, including Singapore andRussia, have adopted fakenews laws.
In the wake of growing pressure from various countries, leadingsocial media platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter have taken multiplemeasures to control and prevent fake news.
10. First ever black hole image released
The EventHorizon Telescope Collaboration on April 10 released the first ever picture ofa black hole. The black hole, that is 6.6 billion times bigger than the Sun, was found in a distantgalaxy called M87, about 55 million light-years from the Earth.
It was capturedby a global network of eight telescopes, from Hawaii (the US) and Atacama (Chile) to the South Pole and Europe. The historicdiscovery is said to confirm Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity./.
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