A+ A-

World major events in 2021


KUWAIT, Dec 29 (KUNA) -- We continue with major economic, social, and sport events throughout the year 2021, this time from around the world.


World economy:

Jan 18: China's national authority for statistics announced that the country's GDP exceeded 100 trillion Yuan (about USD 15.42 trillion) in 2020, thus becoming the only main economy that recorded a growth in the COVID-19 crisis year.

Jan 28: The US Department of Commerce announced that the US economy recorded its worst drop last year since 1946 by 3.5 percent, affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Feb 12: The UK's Office for National Statistics said the British economy recorded its worst drop last year since 1709 by 9.9 percent, affected by the coronavirus lockdown.

Feb 15: The World Trade Organization (WTO) elected Nigerian national Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director General for a four-year term, becoming the first woman and African to occupy the position.

Feb 22: Boeing company called on aviation companies to stop using of Boeing 777 airplanes, after discovering a malfunction in one of the same design in United Airlines company.

March 10: Austria announced a new financial package worth 430 million euros to local companies affected by the coronavirus crisis. March 11: US President Joe Biden signed an economic rescue package worth USD one trillion, to face the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 29: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai suspended all US trade deals with Myanmar, in accordance with the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between the United States of America and Myanmar (TIFA) 2013, until the democratically elected government returns.

June 4: UK reached three trade agreements with Norway, Island and Liechtenstein, six months after the Brexit.
Oct 22: The Turkish lira was up a little, 9.5 against the dollar, rebounding from a record low a day earlier when the central bank slashed its policy rate by 200 basis points despite rising inflation, and lowered its repo rate to 16 percent.
Nov 19: European Union approved a batch of beyond-borders energy infrastructure projects, an important milestone to achieve the union's climate-neutral economic goals of 2050.
Nov 29: Turkish Lira decreased in value with 11 Lira equaling one US Dollar. This came as a result of the Turkish central bank's downgrade of interest rates.
Nov Germany announced an unprecedented rise in inflation by 5.2 percent, the biggest in 29 years.
Nov 30: Turkey struck a USD-812-million deal to construct a solar energy station in a central province.
Dec 15: Russia and China agree on establishing an independent financial system, unaffected by pressures of third countries.
Dec 17: Britain signs free trade deal with Australia, estimating that would add GBP 10.4 billion (approx. USD 13.9 billion) additional trade, and end tariffs on all British exports.
Dec 17: Germany announces an unprecedented decline in Germany's business climate index.

Democracy around the world:
 
   Jan 3: The US House of Representatives re-elected Nancy Pelosi as Speaker.
   Jan 7: US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao resigned in opposition of the violence and breaking into the Congress by President Donald Trump supporters.
   Jan 7: US President Joe Bided nominated judge Merrick Garland as Attorney General.
   Jan 9: Twitter suspended US President Donald Trump's account permanently.
   Jan 10: Sadyr Japarov received 80 percent of votes in Kyrgyzstan presidential elections.
   Jan 11: The North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced that President Kim Jong-un was elected as First Secretary of the Workers' Party.
   Jan 11: Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf resigned in protest of breaking into the Congress by President Donald Trump supporters.
   Jan 13: US President Joe Biden nominated former US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power for the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development position.
   Jan 13: US House of Representatives voted on impeaching US President Donald Trump with accusations of encourage his supporters to go on mutiny.
   Jan 14: Snap Chat application suspended the account of US President Donald Trump permanently.
   Jan 15: The Dutch government resigned over child welfare fraud scandal.
   Jan 16: President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni won a second term after receiving over 58 percent of votes.
   Jan 20: Joe Biden swore the constitutional oath, becoming the 46th US president.
   Jan 20: Kamala Harris swore the constitutional oath, becoming the first American woman to serve as Vice President.
   Jan 20: The Central African Republic announced that Faustine-Archange Touadera won the presidential elections after receiving 53 percent of votes in the first round on 27 December 2020.
   Jan 21: US President Joe Biden signed a number of decrees to prevent his country from re-joining the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris climate agreement.
   Jan 22: The US Senate voted by majority on appointing General Lloyd  Austin as Secretary of Defense, becoming the first African American to lead the Pentagon.
   Jan 24: President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won another presidential term after receiving 61 percent of votes.
   Jan 26: The US Senate approved appointing Janet Yellen as Secretary of the Treasury, becoming the first woman in the position.
Nov 1: Liberal Democratic Party won seats in Japanese Diet's (parliament) House of Representatives election.
   Oct 1: Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who led last month's coup in Guinea, promised to respect the country's international commitments while transitioning to civilian rule as he was sworn in as interim president.
   Oct 4:  Japan's parliament elected the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Fumio Kishida as the country's 100th prime minister.
   Oct 17: Alexander Schallenberg, took the constitutional oath and was sworn in as chancellor of Austria.
   Oct 21: Cindy Kiro, takes the constitutional oath and becomes Governor-General of New Zealand.
   Oct 25: The country's election commission said Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been re-elected as president of Uzbekistan.
   Oct 29: United States Southern Command announced that Lieutenant General Laura J. Richardson takes over as the first woman to lead a military organization, first time in US history.
   Nov 3: Democrat Pat Adams won in New York City's mayoral elections becoming the second African-American mayor of the city.
   Nov 10: The Japanese parliament reelected head of the Liberal Democratic Party Fumio Kishida as Prime Minister after his party won the elections.
   Nov 19: President Joe Biden transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris temporarily to undergo a regular colonoscopy.
   Nov 22: President Joe Biden renewed the nomination of Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve for a four-year second term.
   Nov 22: Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was re-elected for a new term.
   Nov 23: The Taliban government of Afghanistan assigned 27 figures to run high-level positions of the government.
   Nov 24: German Social democrats, the Green, and Liberal parties reached an agreement on forming the government, the first in history to include a tri-parties coalition. It ended 16 years of rule by former chancellor Angela Merkel.
   Nov 29: Wiliame Katonivere, sworn in as President of Fiji.
   Nov 30: Fernando Arias was reelected as Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for a new term.
   Dec 2: Former Austrian Chancellor and chairperson of the People's Party, party leading the federal government, Sebastian Kurz, resigns from position of party chief.
   Dec 3: Austria's Federal party committee chooses Minister of Interior, Karl Nehammer as new Chancellor, succeeding Alexander Schallenberg.
   Dec 6: Military government in Myanmar reduces imprisonment sentence of head of deposed government Aung San Suu Kyi from four years to two, on account of violating COVID-19 protocols.
   Dec 8: Socialist Democrat Olaf Scholz is sworn-in as German federation's ninth Chancellor, succeeding Angela Merkel.
   Dec 9: Ignazio Cassis is elected president of Swiss confederation.
   Dec 10: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announces appointing Catherine Russel as new United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) leader, succeeding Henrietta Fore.
   Dec 20: Chile announces the victory of leftist candidate Gabriel Boric in presidential elections.
   Dec 24: Ukrainian court issues arrest warrant to former President Viktor Yanukovych, accusing him of national treason and supporting radical groups. 
 
Sports around the world:
 
   Jan 17: Athletic Bilbao football club won the Supercopa de Espana (Spanish super cup) competition for the third time in history, defeating Barcelona FC 3-2.
   Jan 20: Juventus football club won the Italian super cup for the ninth time, defeating Napoli 2-0.
   March 12: The Confederation of African Football (CAF) elected South Africa's Patrice Motsepe as President for a five-year term.
   April 18: Some 12 European football clubs sign up for the Super League, led by Spain's Real Madrid.
   April 21: Atletico Madrid announces withdrawal from the aforementioned League.
   April 25: Manchester United crowned FA Champion's after beating Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. 
   May 11: Manchester City wins Premier League title for the seventh time.
   May 15: Leicester City wins FA Cup for first time after beating Chelsea 1-0.
   May 19: Paris Saint-Germain beats Monaco and wins 14th Coupe de France. 
   May 22 : Atletico Madrid crowned league champions for 11th time.
   May 23: Lille wins the French Ligue 1 title for the 4th time, beating Angers SCO 2-1.
   June 8: England's Football Association on Tuesday named corporate executive and former RAC chief Debbie Hewitt as its first woman chair.
   Aug 5: Barcelona FC announced departure of its super star Lionel Messi.
   Aug 7: Leicester City FC won the FA Community Shield after beating Manchester City.
   Aug 8: The US led the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with 39 Gold medals.
   Aug 11: Chelsea FC won the European Super Cup after beating Viarreal CF.
   Sept 25: Frenchman Luc Tardif elected President of the International Ice Hockey Federation.
   Nov 19: High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Joseph Borrell announced that 466 million children were unable to get educated online as a result spread of COVID-19.
   Nov 29: Lionel Messi won Ballon D'or for best footballer in 2021. This is the seventh win for Messi.
   Dec 8: Britain announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing winter Olympics.
   Dec 8: Australia declares diplomatically boycotting winter Olympics taking place in Beijing 2022.
   Dec 15: Barcelona footballer, Sergio Aguero, announces he will be retiring due to cardiac health issues that prevent him from playing the game.
 
 Violence around the world:
 
Jan 3: France announced that two soldiers were killed and another injured during a military operation in Mali. 
   Jan 6: Supporters of US President Donald Trump broke into the Congress during a session to confirm the victory of President Joe Biden in the elections. 
   Jan 7: Afghanistan announced the death of 23 people, among them were security officers, while others were injured in different attacks in Kunduz, Uruzgan and Helmand. 
   Jan 7: A woman was killed in a gun shot in Washington D.C., US, during a protest for supporters of President Donald Trump, who broke into the Congress. 
   Jan 9: US Federal Court accused 13 people of breaking into the Congress, while 40 others were facing similar charges at Supreme Court. 
   Jan 15: At least 12 Afghan soldiers were killed by Taliban's armed men, northern Afghanistan. 
   Jan 19: Conflict in northern Afghanistan kills four Afghan soldiers and 15 Taliban armed men. 
   Jan 20: At least three Afghan soldiers were killed by unidentified armed men, western Afghanistan. 
   Jan 30: A car bomb killed 14 Afghan soldiers, eastern Afghanistan. 
   Feb 1: Myanmar's army announced its leader General Min Aung Hlaing's assumed power and declared a one-year state of emergency. They also arrested leaders of the National League for Democracy ruling party. 
   Feb 5: At least two people were killed and 28 others injured in two explosions targeting a protests to support Kashmir in Balochistan province, western Pakistan. 
   Feb 9: At least four governmental employees were killed in an attack by unidentified armed men in the Afghan capital Kabul. 
   Feb 10: At least 12 Afghan security officers were killed in two separate attacks in Kabul and Nimruz province. 
   Feb 12: Pakistan announced that four of its soldiers and four armed men killed in exchange of fire in south Waziristan, northern Pakistan. 
   Feb 19: At least three Indian soldiers and three armed men were killed in conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir, northern India. 
   Feb 20: At least five people were killed and two others injured in three consecutive explosions that rocked the Afghan capital Kabul. 
   Feb 22: Italy confirmed the death of its Ambassador to Congo and his Italian guard in an attack on a UN crew. 
   March 4: At least seven workers were killed in an attack by unidentified armed men on a factory, eastern Afghanistan. 
   March 13: A car bomb killed eight people in Herat. Western Afghanistan. 
   March 22: India announced that four unidentified armed men were killed by Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
   March 23: At least 10 people were killed in a shooting at a supermarket in Colorado, US. 
   March 28: A suspected suicidal terrorist explosion near a catholic church wounded 20 people in Makassar, eastern Indonesia.
   April 1: Four people killed, including a child, in a shooting at an office building in Southern California, the suspect and another person were injured.
   April 2: Five civilians were killed and seven others wounded in two roadside bomb blasts in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province and western Herat province.
   April 2: Storming attempt to the Capitol building in Washington results in the killing of a police officer.
   April 4: Twenty-two security personnel were killed and 30 others injured in an encounter with Maoist rebels in central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
   April 8: At least one person was killed and four others wounded in a shooting at an industrial complex in Bryan, Texas, US.
   April 16: Eight people were killed and at least four others were wounded in a mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis.
   April 20: Chad President Idriss Deby succumbed to his wounds after being shot, following armed clashes with the rebels, days after his sixth term election as president.
   April 20: The Chadian army announces the formation of a military council to take power in the country following the killing of President Idriss Deby.
   April 2: Four people were killed and around 12 others received injuries in a blast that exploded in the parking lot of a five star hotel in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
   April 30: A huge car bomb blast killed 27 people as 60other injured in Afghanistan's eastern Logar province.
   May 3: Ten security personnel killed in two separate attacks by Taliban northern and southern Afghanistan.
   May 14: Twelve people killed and more than 15 others injured at mosque explosion in Kabul Afghanistan's capital.
   May 17: Two armed men killed in clashes with security forces in Srinagar provenance of Jammu and Kashmir northern India.
   May 21: The Indian security personnel gunned down 13 armed rebels in the southwestern state of Maharashtra.
   May 25: Acting vice president of Mali Col. Assimi Goita, announced coup on interim government and leaders removed.
   May 27: At least four civilians were killed and six others were wounded in a mortar attack by Taliban rebels in Afghanistanآ's northern Faryab province.
   June 12: Seven people killed and six others injured in two buses explosions in Kabul. Afghanistan.
 
June 12: two police offices and two civilians killed and three others injured in shooting in Jammu and Kashmir. 
   June 19: Sixteen Afghan security members killed in clashed with Taliban. 
   June 23: Three killed and 21 others injured in bomb explosion in residential area in Pakistan.  
   June 30: Germany completed withdrawal of forces form Afghanistan. 
   July 7: Haiti President Jovenel Moise assassinated at his home. 
   July 12: Three persons killed and six injured in bomb explosion in southern Afghanistan. 
   July 13: Four civilians killed and five others injured in a bomb blast in Kabul, Afghanistan. 
   July 14: Pakistan announced death of 13 people, including nine Chinese, in an explosion of bus northern Pakistan. 
   July 19: Iraqi announced death and injury of many people in an explosion in Sadr City in Baghdad. 
   Aug 3: Three persons killed and seven injured in a booby-trapped car attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. 
   Aug 4: Eight people killed and over 20 injured in a car explosion near residence of Afghan Defense Minister. 
   Aug 8: Two Pakistan policemen killed and eight injured in a blast near a hotel in Pakistan city of Quetta. 
   Aug 15: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan to an unknown destination following the Taliban's entry of Kabul. The Taliban captured the presidential palace. 
   Aug 10: Ten people killed and four injured in an attack on a truck in Karachi, Pakistan. 
   Aug 16: Five people killed at Kabul Airport when hundreds of people tried to force their way into a plane, which was departing following Taliban's takeover of Kabul. 
   Aug 19: The Taliban announced Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. 
   Aug 26: Eighty-five people killed, including 13 US forces and 72 Afghans, and more than 150 others wounded in two bomb explosions at Kabul airport. 
   Aug 27: Britain said three citizens killed in Kabul airport blasts. 
   Sept 4: Up to 17 people killed and 41injured in a shooting incident in Kabul. 
   Sept 5: Four persons killed and 20 injured in a suicide attack on a check point in southwest Pakistan. 
   Sept 6: The Taliban announced full control over Afghanistan. 
   Sept 15: Pakistan announced death of seven soldiers and five gunmen during a security operation north of the country. 
   Sept 20: Eight people killed and six injured in a shooting incident in eastern Russian.
   Oct 2: five security personnel were killed in an attack by militants in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.
   Oct 3: Two people killed, three injured in a bomb explosion that targeted a mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul.
   Oct 4: One solider from Thailand was killed in clashes with separists after six days  of confrontations, which resulted in killing four armed men, in Patchu area, south of Thailand.
   Oct 7: India says two teachers were killed by unknown armed men Eid Akah area, near Sryijar city, in Jammu and Kashmir state, north of India.
   Oct 8: Fifty people were killed and dozens injured in a suicide attack that targeted a mosque in Qandoz State, north of Afghanistan.
   Oct 11: India says five soldiers killed in clashes with armed group in Punch province, in Jammu and Kashmir state, north of India.
   Oct 15: British Member of Parliament (MP) Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed multiple times at a local constituency gathering in Essex.
   Oct 15: Thirty people killed and dozens injured in a bomb explosion at a mosque in Qandahar State, south of Afghanistan.
   Oct 18: Pakistan says one police officer was killed and 17 other were injured in an explosion near Bleushistan region, southeast of Pakistan.
   Oct 23: Pakistan says six armed men were killed in a military operation, carried out by army, in Bleushistan region, southeast of Pakistan.
   Oct 27: Pakistan says four security personnel were killed and 253 others injured in clashes with protesters in Banjab region, east of Pakistan.
Nov 2: Suicide bombing in a military hospital, central Kabul, killed 25 people and injured 50 others.
  Nov 7: Explosions in a province east of Afghanistan killed three civilians and injured four security personnel.
  Nov 12: Afghanistan announced the death of three people and the injury of 15 others in a mosque suicide bombing in a province east of Afghanistan.
Nov 13: Violence in various parts of Pakistan led to the death of four security and military personnel and the injury of seven.
   Nov 14: The UK said that an explosion in front of a maternity hospital in Liverpool city led to the death of a person and the injury of another.
   Nov 24: Turkish authorities arrested an individual wanted by Interpol on suspicion of being involved in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.
   Nov 22: The US said five people were killed and over 40 others injured in an incident involving a vehicle running over a Christmas Parade in the State of Wisconsin.
 Nov 24: The US, Britain, and Italy urged their nationals to leave Ethiopia due to the increase of violence and fighting in the capital Addis Ababa.
   Nov 27: Pakistan said two soldier were killed in a military base near the borders of Afghanistan northern of the country.
   Nov 30: The US announced that three individuals were killed and six injured in a high-school shooting incident in the State of Michigan.
   Dec 4: Turkey launched a new security operation against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in south-eastern Turkey.
   Dec 5: Violence breaks out in Nagaland state, north-eastern India, in response to the Indian army's killing of 14 citizens by mistake.
   Dec 8:  MITA company, who owns Facebook, expanded ban on accounts and groups belonging to Myanmar army, due to their role in escalating violence in Myanmar.
   Dec 18: At least 12 people were killed and 11 others injured in a gas pipeline explosion in Karachi, Pakistan.
   Dec 19: A suicide attack on a political party's vehicle killed two people and injured four others, during local elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. (end)
 
ed