Mid to Late 2010's Updates.

2015 is a year of mighty developments. On January 1, 2015, the Eurasian Economic Union came into effect. It created a political and economic union between Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.  Lithuania adopted the euro as its currency replacing the litas. It is the 19^th Eurozone country to have done so on that date. There was a large massacre in Baga, Nigeria by Boko Haram when that group destroyed villages. More than 2,000 people were killed in villages from January 3-7, 2015. In Paris, France, 2 gunmen (belonging to Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch) killed 12 people and injured 11 more at the Paris headquarters of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Demonstrations occurred against terrorism. Charlie Hebdo made xenophobic, racist images for years, but people should not be murdered because of their reprehensible views. People should agree to disagree on issues peacefully and without violence. Government raids kill 143 Boko Haram fighters in Kolofata, Cameroon. Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi resigned in January 22, 2015 after unrest plus the Houthi rebels seized the Presidential palace. On February 12, 2015, both Ukraine and Russia had a ceasefire and fighting still continues. Egypt attacked ISIL forces in Libya after ISIL members beheaded over a dozen Egyptian Christians. From March 5-8, ISIL forces destroyed the ancient cities of Nimrod, Hatra, and Dur Sharrukin. NASA’s Dawn probe went to the orbit of Ceres, which is a dwarf planet. A total social eclipse occurred on March 20, 2015 on the North Atlantic, and Faroe Islands, Svalbard. This was the 61^st eclipse of the 120^th saros cycle that started on May 27, 983 and will end on July 7, 2195. Saudi Arabia led an offensive against Yemen on March 25, 2015. Al-Shahaab used terrorism and killed 148 people, mostly students in Kenya. An April 25 earthquake in 2015 has killed many people in Nepal, China, and Bangladesh. ISIS captured the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria by May 21, 2015. On May 23, 2015 Ireland votes to legalize same sex marriage being the first country to legalize same sex marriage by popular vote. On June 17, 2015, nine African Americans were murdered by the coward Dylan Roof at the Charleston Church shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The Charleston community came together in unity to fight racism and eliminate that Confederate flag from Capitol grounds. That elimination of that Confederate flag was very historic. Bree Newsome took the flag down previous to the state government doing it. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court decided on Obergefell v. Hodges that same sex marriage is recognized in all 50 states. The decision was a 5-4 decision.

On June 30, 2015, Cuba was the first nation on Earth to eradicate mother to child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Greece struggles to pay off its debt. Sandra Bland died mysteriously in jail on July 13, 2015 after she was pulled over for a traffic stop in Texas. On July 14, 2015, the Iranian nuclear deal exists and NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft fly over Pluto. Turkey attacks ISIL too. By September 1, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning British monarch in history. Russia supports the Syrian government and uses air strikes on ISIL on September 30, 2015. Gunmen fire at a workplace in San Bernardino, California. 14 people were killed. ISIL claimed responsibility. On December 15, 2015, the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition was formed in order to fight terrorism.

In 2016, more occurrences transpired. On January 3, 2016, the execution of Mir al-Nimr has caused Saudi Arabia and other countries to end their diplomatic relations with Iran. Joaquin Guzman was recaptured on January 8, 2016 after his escape from a maximum security prison in Mexico. On January 16, 2016, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran has adequately dismantled its nuclear weapons programs, allowing the United Nations to lift sanctions immediately. Terrorism happened in Burkina Faso in a hotel and restaurants. 176 hostages were released. 30 people were killed, and 56 people were injured. Zika virus is worldwide by January 28. Pope Francis and Patriarch Krill of the Orthodox Church signed an Ecumenical Declaration. This is the first such meeting since their schism in 1054. Convicted war criminal Congolese former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba is guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity (like sexual violence). Bombings in Brussels have happened. 49 people were killed and 53 people were injured at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016. The murderer was the 29 year old security guard Omar Mateen. The gunman claimed allegiance to the Islamic state. The Brexit movement starts in June 23 when the UK votes on a referendum to leave the European Union. ISIL is suspected in the 2016 Ataturk Airport attack on June 28. The historic 2016 Summer Olympics are held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. This is the first time it was held in a South American nation. The Summer Olympic games happened from August 5-21, 2016. On September 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NHAAHC) was opened to the public. That was a very historic event. It had 1.9 million visitors in 2018. It was a historic museum. It has about 40,000 collections of items. It records the culture and history of African Americans for centuries. It was started decades ago. The authorization to make the museum came about in 2003. The NMAAHC is a magnificent display of what black culture is all about. By September 28, 2016, Global CO2 levels exceeded 400 ppm at the time of the year that usually exists with minimum levels. This level is higher than anything experienced in human history according to many. On November 2, 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in American sports history.  November 8, 2016 was the date that will live in infamy. It was the end of the 2016 Presidential election in America where Trump wins by the Electoral College. Also, we find that U.S. intelligence agencies found out that Russian government officials used computer hacking to try to interfere with the U.S. election process. Trump bragged about sexual improprieties. WikiLeaks released thousands of private emails from inside the political campaign of candidate Hillary Clinton. On December 23, 2016, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2334, condemning Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. On December 31, 2016, the United States troops withdraw from Afghanistan after 15 years. 

On 2017, we see new developments. On January 1, 2017, there was the Istanbul nightclub shooting with a gunman dressing up as Santa Claus. January 20, 2017 was when Donald Trump was sworn in as President. By January 21, 2017, millions of people worldwide join the Women’s March in response to the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States. 420 marches were reported in America. On January 30, 2017, Morocco rejoined the African Union. North Korea tested a ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan on February 11, 2017. Kim Jon-nam was assassinated by 2 women with VX nerve agent at Kaula Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. He was the eldest son of the deceased Kim Jong-Il. March 20, 2017 was when the UN warned of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, and Nigeria as the biggest humanitarian crisis since the days of World War II. A terror attack was outside the Palace of Westminster in London, killed 5 people and injuring 50 others on March 22, 2017. The U.S. drops the MOAB bomb at the ISIL base in eastern Afghanistan on April 13, 2017. MOAB is the world’s largest non-nuclear weapon.  By May 9, 2017, Trump fired FBI Director James Comey This has lead to the calls for the appointment of a special counsel. On May 17, 2017, former FBI Director Robert Mueller was appointed Special Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election. A terrorist bombing attack was at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. 22 people were killed and more than 500 people were injured.  The U.S. left the Paris Climate Agreement by June of 2017. Another Islamist terror attack happened on London Bridge that killed 8 people and injured 48 others on June 3, 2017. By June, Theresa May is a leader in the UK with Jeremy Corbyn gaining power of the Labour party. Cyberattacks happened in Ukraine. Mosul was liberated from ISIL by July 10, 2017. The violence in Charlottesville, Virginia happened at the racist, anti-Semitic Unite the Right Rally on the date of August 11-12, 2017. Heather Heyer, who was a counter protester, was killed after being hit by a car by a white supremacist. Violence against innocent protesters happened that the location. A total solar eclipse is seen in America on August 21, 2017. Harvey was a hurricane in a Category 4 that damaged the Houston metropolitan area (especially with record breaking floods). 108 deaths were recorded and damage was $125 billion making Harvey the costliest natural disaster in United States history (it landed on soil by August 26, 2017) tied with Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Putin expelled 755 diplomats in response to U.S. sanctions. Hurricane Irma harmed the Caribbean and America killed 146 people plus causing $64.2 billion in damage. On September 13, 2017, the International Olympic Committee awarded Paris and Los Angeles to host the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics respectively. On October 1, 2017, 58 people were killed and 851 people injured when Stephen Paddock fired his gun on a crowd in Las Vegas. It was the deadliest mass shooting done by one single gunman in modern U.S. history. The Iraqis said that they are liberated of the ISIL group on October 17, 2017. President Xi won the election in China. Catalonia declared independence from Spain on October 27, but Spain doesn’t recognize it. A rental truck killed 8 people and injured 11 others in Lower Manhattan, NYC on October 31, 2017. There is a Sutherland Springs Baptist church shooting when 26 people died and 20 more are injured. President Robert Mugabe was placed under house arrested on November 15, 2017. A mosque attack in Sinai, Egypt killed 305 worshipers. Hundreds more were wounded. Russia is banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang by the International Olympic Committee over doping allegations. America officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on December 6, 2017. The Iraqi military said that it has liberated its lands from ISIL by December 9, 2017. Disney acquired most of 21^st century FOX. Many nations like Guatemala moved their Israeli embassy to Jerusalem by December 24, 2017. The end of 2017 represents the start of the end of the 2010’s decade.

By Timothy