Editing 2020 (section)

=== December ===
* [[December 1]]
** COVID-19 pandemic: [[Pfizer]] and [[BioNTech]] announced an Emergency Use Authorization application to the [[European Medicines Agency]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ellyatt |first1=Holly |title=Pfizer, BioNTech apply for Covid vaccine approval in Europe |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/pfizer-biontech-apply-for-coronavirus-vaccine-approval-in-europe.html |website=CNBC |access-date=December 8, 2020 |date=December 1, 2020}}</ref>
** The [[Arecibo Telescope]] of the [[Arecibo Observatory]] collapses, just weeks after the announcement of its planned demolition.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ashley Strickland|title=Arecibo Observatory collapses ahead of planned demolition|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/01/world/arecibo-observatory-collapse-scn-trnd/index.html|access-date=December 2, 2020|website=CNN}}</ref>
* [[December 2]]
** COVID-19 pandemic: The United Kingdom approves [[Pfizer]]-[[BioNTech]]'s [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine|BNT162b2]] vaccine, being the first country in the world to do so.<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 2, 2020|title=Covid Pfizer vaccine approved for use next week in UK|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55145696|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
** Three activists in Hong Kong were jailed for their roles in the [[2019–20 Hong Kong protests]], with [[Joshua Wong]] getting the heaviest at 13.5 months.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong jailed for 13 and a half months for 2019 anti-government protest |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-jailed-for-13-and-a-half-months-13684048 |website=CNA |access-date=December 8, 2020 |date=December 2, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209071412/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-jailed-for-13-and-a-half-months-13684048 }}</ref>
**The [[United Nations]] [[UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs|Commission on Narcotic Drugs]] votes to remove [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] from the [[Removal of cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the Single Convention on narcotic drugs, 1961|treaty list of dangerous drugs in recognition of its medical value]], although some controls will remain.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaur |first1=Harmeet |title=The UN removes cannabis from a list of the most dangerous substances |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/02/health/un-reclassifies-cannabis-scn-trnd/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=December 3, 2020 |date=December 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://undocs.org/en/E/2020/28/Add.1|title=Commission on Narcotic Drugs Report on the reconvened sixty-third session (2–4 December 2020) – Economic and Social Council Official Records, 2020 Supplement No. 8A [E/CN.7/2020/15/Add.1]|publisher=[[United Nations]]|year=2020|location=New-York|page=5|chapter=Decision 63/17: Deletion of cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=January 22, 2021|title=The International Drug Control Conventions Schedules of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol, as at 22 January 2021 [ST/CND/1/Add.1/Rev.7]|url=https://undocs.org/en/ST/CND/1/Add.1/Rev.7|website=[[United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=December 2, 2020|title=UN commission reclassifies cannabis, yet still considered harmful|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1079132|access-date=May 26, 2021|website=UN News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kwai|first=Isabella|date=December 2, 2020|title=U.N. Reclassifies Cannabis as a Less Dangerous Drug|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/world/europe/cannabis-united-nations-drug-policy.html|access-date=May 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* [[December 4]]
** COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 65 million worldwide, with the global death toll exceeding 1.5 million. Figures reflect that, in the last week, over 10,000 people worldwide have died on average every day, with one death every nine seconds. According to the [[World Health Organization]], [[COVID-19]] had caused more deaths in 2020 than [[tuberculosis]] in 2019, as well as four times the number of deaths than [[malaria]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Lucy |title=Covid: 1.5 million dead globally as vaccination schemes set to begin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/03/covid-15-million-dead-globally-as-vaccination-schemes-set-to-begin |website=The Guardian |date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=December 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Linnane |first=Ciara |title=Coronavirus tally: Global cases of COVID-19 top 65 million, U.S. adds 216,548 new cases in a single day |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/coronavirus-tally-global-cases-of-covid-19-top-65-million-us-adds-216548-new-cases-in-a-single-day-2020-12-04 |website=MarketWatch |date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=December 4, 2020}}</ref>
** [[Somali Civil War (2009-present)|Somali Civil War]]: The United States announces its withdrawal from the conflict over the next month.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55196130 |title=Trump orders withdrawal of US troops from Somalia |website=BBC |date=December 5, 2020 |access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 5]] – COVID-19 pandemic: [[Russia]] begins mass vaccination against COVID-19 with the [[Gam-COVID-Vac|Sputnik V]] candidate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/5/moscow-starts-mass-covid-19-vaccination-with-its-sputnik-v-shot |website=Al-Jazeera |title=COVID-19: Moscow starts mass vaccination amid record cases |date=December 5, 2020 |access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 6]] – The [[2020 Venezuelan parliamentary election]] takes place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Venezuela to hold parliamentary elections in December|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/venezuela-hold-parliamentary-elections-december-200701060140227.html|access-date=July 25, 2020|website=aljazeera.com}}</ref>
* [[December 8]]
** COVID-19 pandemic: The United Kingdom becomes the first nation to begin a mass inoculation campaign using a clinically authorised, fully tested vaccine, [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/world/britain-rolls-out-the-pfizer-vaccine-a-huge-task-but-a-sign-of-hope.html|title=Britain rolls out the Pfizer vaccine, a huge task but a sign of hope. |date=December 8, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-idUKKBN28I0OM|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208074543/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-idUKKBN28I0OM|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2020|title='Go for it,' says grandmother who got world's first Pfizer COVID vaccine in Britain |date=December 8, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2020|work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-covid-tier-system-lockdown-new-rules-vaccine/#update-20201202-1343|title= Covid will be with us forever despite Pfizer vaccine, claims Van-Tam |date=December 8, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=The Telegraph|last1= Penna |first1= Dominic |last2= Fitzpatrick |first2= John }}</ref> Margaret Keenan, 90, becomes the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer vaccine after trials.
** Nepal and China officially agree on [[Mount Everest]]'s actual height, which is 8,848.86m.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Navin Khadka |title=Mt Everest grows by nearly a metre to new height |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55218443 |website=BBC |access-date=December 8, 2020 |date=December 8, 2020}}</ref>
*[[December 10]]
**COVID-19 pandemic: The United States and [[Saudi Arabia]] approve the [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine]] for emergency use, while Argentina approves Sputnik V.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/12/10/944813076/fda-advisers-weigh-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine |last1=Harris |first1=Richard |last2=Hensley |first2=Scott |website=NPR |title=FDA Panel Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use |date=December 10, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1775291/saudi-arabia |last=Radwan |first=Rawan |website=Arab News |title=Saudi Food and Drug Authority approves registration of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine |date=December 10, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201210-argentine-president-says-he-ll-get-russia-vaccine-to-dispel-fears |website=France 24 |title=Argentine president says he'll get Russia vaccine to dispel fears |date=December 10, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref>
**Western Sahara conflict, [[Arab–Israeli conflict]]: [[Israel]] and [[Morocco]] normalise diplomatic relations. Simultaneously, the United States reaffirms its previous recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the [[Western Sahara]] and announces plans to build a consulate there.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-morocco-agree-to-normalize-relations-in-latest-us-brokered-deal-651742 |last1=Cashman |first1=Greer Fay |last2=Harkov |first2=Lahav |last3=Nahmias |first3=Omri |website=The Jerusalem Post |title=Morocco, Israel normalize ties as US recognizes Western Sahara |date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref>
**The [[Nicolas Sarkozy corruption trial]] concludes in France.<ref>{{cite news |title=French Court To Rule In Ex-president Sarkozy's Corruption Trial |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/french-court-to-rule-in-ex-president-sarkozy-s-corruption-trial-01607637903?tesla=y |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=www.barrons.com |agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] |date=December 10, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 11]] – The [[European Union]] agrees to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% over the next decade.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-climate-climate-change-paris-summits-3c0ef69599fbf311353657f1ab6e672c |last=Petrequin |first=Samuel |website=Associated Press |title=EU leaders agree to reduce emissions after all-night talks |date=December 12, 2020 |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 12]]
** COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 70 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |title=Global Covid-19 cases cross 70 million mark: Johns Hopkins |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/global-covid-19-cases-cross-70-million-mark-johns-hopkins/articleshow/79690083.cms |website=The Economic Times |access-date=December 12, 2020 |date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>
** [[Bhutan]] and Israel normalise diplomatic relations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/israel-normalizes-ties-with-bhutan-651904 |last=Harkov |first=Lahav |website=The Jerusalem Post |title=Israel normalizes ties with Bhutan |date=December 12, 2020 |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 14]]
**COVID-19 pandemic: The United States and Canada begin mass vaccination with the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-administer-1st-doses-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine/story?id=74703018 |last=Pereira |first=Ivan |website=ABC News |title=US administers 1st doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine |date=December 15, 2020 |access-date=December 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-canada-vaccine-idINKBN28O17B |last1=Lampert |first1=Allison |last2=Osorio |first2=Carlos |website=Reuters |title=Canada turns a corner in pandemic as first COVID-19 vaccines administered |date=December 14, 2020 |access-date=December 15, 2020}}</ref> In addition, Singapore approves the [[Pfizer]]–[[BioNTech]] COVID-19 vaccine, with other companies to provide vaccines progressively.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abdullah |first1=Zhaki |title=Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine approved by Singapore, first shipment expected by end-December |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-phase-3-13769570 |website=CNA |access-date=January 16, 2021 |date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204082015/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-phase-3-13769570 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
**[[Sudan–United States relations]]: The United States removes [[Sudan]] from its list of [[state sponsors of terrorism]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sudan-usa/u-s-to-remove-sudan-from-terrorism-list-on-monday-embassy-idUSKBN28O0TG?il=0 |last=Abdelaziz |first=Khalid |title=United States takes Sudan off terrorism list after 27 years |website=Reuters |date=December 14, 2020 |access-date=December 15, 2020}}</ref>
**[[Turkey–United States relations]]: The United States places sanctions on [[Turkey]] in retaliation for their purchase of a [[S-400 missile system]] from Russia, marking the first time they have sanctioned a [[NATO]] ally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-turkey-ankara-russia-c77d08a1ec06ebb3dae99bb05a67191b |last=Lee |first=Matthew |title=US sanction NATO ally Turkey over Russian missile defense |website=Associated Press |date=December 14, 2020 |access-date=December 16, 2020}}</ref>
**A [[Solar eclipse of December 14, 2020|total solar eclipse]] is visible from parts of the South Pacific Ocean, southern South America, and the South Atlantic Ocean.<ref>{{cite web|title=Total solar eclipse of 12/14/2020|url=https://www.solar-eclipse.info/|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Solar Eclipse Info}}</ref>
* [[December 18]]
**Media outlets report that astronomers have detected a radio signal, [[BLC1]], apparently from the direction of [[Proxima Centauri]], the closest star to the Sun. Astronomers have stated that this and other, yet unpublished, signals, are thought to likely be "interference that we cannot fully explain" and that it appears to be among the two strongest candidates for a radio signal humanity received from extraterrestrial intelligence so far.<ref name="BLC1-guardian">{{cite news |title=Scientists looking for aliens investigate radio beam 'from nearby star' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/18/scientists-looking-for-aliens-investigate-radio-beam-from-nearby-star |access-date=December 31, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=December 18, 2020 }}</ref><ref name=OCallaghan2000>{{cite web
 | last=O'Callaghan | first=Jonathan | date=December 18, 2020
 | title=Alien Hunters Discover Mysterious Radio Signal from Proxima Centauri
 | url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/alien-hunters-discover-mysterious-signal-from-proxima-centauri/
 | access-date=December 19, 2020
 | website=Scientific American }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20201231">{{cite news |last=Overbye |first=Dennis |author-link=Dennis Overbye |title=Was That a Dropped Call From ET? - A spooky radio signal showed up after a radio telescope was aimed at the next star over from our sun. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/science/radio-signal-extraterrestrial.html |date=December 31, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=December 31, 2020 }}</ref>
**COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 75 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/new-covax-agreements-renew-vaccine-hopes-developing-countries |title=New COVAX agreements renew vaccine hopes for developing countries |last=Schirring |first=Lisa |website=CIDRAP |date=December 18, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2020}}</ref>
**COVID-19 pandemic: The United States approves [[Moderna]]'s vaccine for emergency use, the second brand available there.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lovelace |first1=Berkeley Jr. |title=FDA approves second Covid vaccine for emergency use as it clears Moderna's for U.S. distribution |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/18/moderna-covid-vaccine-approved-fda-for-emergency-use.html |website=CNBC |access-date=January 16, 2021 |date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 20]] – COVID-19 pandemic: [[Variant of Concern 202012/01|A highly infectious new strain of SARS-CoV-2]] spreading in Europe and [[Australia]] provokes international border closures.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-55382212 |work=BBC News |title=Covid: WHO in 'close contact' with UK over new virus variant |date=December 21, 2020 |access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 21]]
** COVID-19 pandemic: 36 cases are reported on the [[Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme]] in the [[Chilean Antarctic Territory]], marking the first infections in [[Antarctica]], the last continent to report infections.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2020/12/21/reportan-brote-de-coronavirus-en-base-chilena-en-la-antartida/ |website=Infobae |title=Reportan brote de coronavirus en base chilena en la Antartida |date=December 21, 2020 |access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>
** A [[great conjunction]] of [[Jupiter]] and [[Saturn]] occurs, with the two planets separated in the sky by 0.1 degrees. This is the closest conjunction between the two planets since [[1623]].<ref>{{cite web|title=See the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, 21 December 2020|url=https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/great-conjunction-jupiter-saturn|access-date=November 29, 2020|website=BBC Sky at Night Magazine}}</ref>
* [[December 24]] 
**The [[United Kingdom]] and the [[European Union]] agree to a comprehensive [[UK - EU Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement|free trade agreement]] prior to the end of the [[Brexit withdrawal agreement|transition period]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-55433447| title=UK and EU agree post-Brexit trade deal| work=BBC News| date=December 24, 2020| access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref>
**COVID-19 pandemic: [[Sinovac]]'s [[CoronaVac|vaccine]] reached a rate of 91.25% efficacy in trials in Turkey.<ref>{{cite web |title=Turkey says China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine 91.25% effective in late trials |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/covid-19-sinovac-turkey-91-effective-late-trials-13841238 |website=CNA |access-date=January 16, 2021 |date=December 25, 2020 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122175300/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/covid-19-sinovac-turkey-91-effective-late-trials-13841238 }}</ref>
* [[December 27]] – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 80 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-12-26-20#h_b63ee60dff49ed562b974b304b8f885b |title=December 26 coronavirus news |website=CNN |date=December 26, 2020 |access-date=December 27, 2020}}</ref>
*[[December 29]] – The [[2020 Petrinja earthquake]] with a magnitude of 6.4 strikes Croatia, killing seven and injuring more than 20.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 29, 2020 |title=At least seven killed as strong earthquake rattles Croatia |work=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/29/strong-6-3-magnitude-earthquake-hits-central-croatia |access-date=December 30, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 30]] – COVID-19 pandemic: The United Kingdom approves [[AstraZeneca]]-[[Oxford]]'s [[AZD1222|vaccine]], the second one available. The vaccine is easier to store as it only requires normal fridge temperatures, making distribution easier.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gallagher |first1=James |last2=Triggle |first2=Nick |title=Covid-19: Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine approved for use in UK |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55280671 |website=BBC |access-date=December 30, 2020 |date=December 30, 2020}}</ref>
* [[December 31]] – The [[Brexit withdrawal agreement#Transition_period|transition period]] following [[Brexit|the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union]] on January 31, 2020, expires.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edgington |first=Tom  |date=December 20, 2019 |title=Brexit: What is the transition period? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50838994 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131215049/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50838994 |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=December 30, 2019 |work=BBC}}</ref>