2019 Timeline: Events, People and History

Events in 2019 100

1915 – 2019 Herman Wouk (1915-2019) Died 17 May 2019, aged 103 Herman Wouk was an American novelist known for The Caine Mutiny, which won the Pulitzer Prize, and the war epics The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. He continued writing into his final years and published a memoir at age 100. He died at his home in Palm Springs, California, ten days short of his 104th birthday.
1917 – 2019 I.M. Pei (1917-2019) Died 16 May 2019, aged 102 I.M. Pei was a Chinese-American architect known for landmark modernist designs including the glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art. He won the Pritzker Prize in 1983. He died in Manhattan at age 102.
1922 – 2019 Doris Day (1922-2019) American actress and singer, one of the biggest box-office stars of the 1950s and 1960s and later a leading animal-welfare campaigner.
1923 – 2019 Franco Zeffirelli (1923-2019) Died 15 June 2019, aged 96 Franco Zeffirelli was an Italian director of film, opera, and theatre, best known for his 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and his lavish opera productions. He also served as a member of the Italian Senate. He died at his home in Rome.
1924 – 2019 Robert Mugabe (1924-2019) Died 6 September 2019, aged 95 Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe as prime minister and then president from independence in 1980 until he was forced from power in a 2017 military coup. His early land reforms and later authoritarian rule and economic mismanagement left a deeply contested legacy. He died in a Singapore hospital.
1924 – 2019 Lee Iacocca (1924-2019) Died 2 July 2019, aged 94 Lee Iacocca was an American automobile executive who led the development of the Ford Mustang before becoming CEO of Chrysler, where he engineered a landmark government-backed turnaround in the early 1980s. He became one of the most recognizable corporate leaders in American business history. He died at his home in Bel Air, California.
1925 – 2019 D.A. Pennebaker (1925-2019) Died 1 August 2019, aged 94 D.A. Pennebaker was an American documentary filmmaker and pioneer of the direct cinema movement, known for Dont Look Back, his film on Bob Dylan, and Monterey Pop. He received an honorary Academy Award in 2013 for his lifetime contribution to documentary filmmaking. He died at his home in New York.
1927 – 2019 Sydney Brenner (1927-2019) Died 5 April 2019, aged 92 Sydney Brenner was a South African-born biologist who helped decipher the genetic code and pioneered the use of the roundworm C. elegans as a model organism in developmental biology. He shared the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this work. He died in Singapore.
1927 – 2019 Doris Day dies Hollywood legend, age 97 Doris Day, one of the most popular Hollywood actresses and recording artists of the 1950s and 1960s, died on May 13, 2019, aged 97.
1928 – 2019 Agnes Varda (1928-2019) Died 29 March 2019, aged 90 Agnes Varda was a French film director and photographer often called the grandmother of the French New Wave. Her films, including Cleo from 5 to 7 and Vagabond, were celebrated for their innovative style and social conscience. She received an honorary Academy Award in 2017.
1929 – 2019 Andre Previn (1929-2019) Died 28 February 2019, aged 89 Andre Previn was a German-born American conductor, pianist, and composer who led major orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra and won four Academy Awards for film scoring. He worked across classical, jazz, and film music with equal acclaim. He died at his home in New York.
1930 – 2019 Ross Perot (1930-2019) Died 9 July 2019, aged 89 Ross Perot was an American businessman who founded Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems, and ran two independent presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996. His 1992 run drew nearly 19 percent of the popular vote, one of the strongest third-party showings in modern US history. He died in Dallas of leukemia.
1931 – 2019 Toni Morrison (1931-2019) Died 5 August 2019, aged 88 Toni Morrison was an American novelist and Nobel laureate whose novels, including Beloved and Song of Solomon, explored African American identity and history. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993, the first Black woman to receive it. She died in New York after a brief illness.
1932 – 2019 Jacques Chirac President of France 1995–2007 Jacques René Chirac was a French Gaullist politician who dominated the French right for three decades. He served twice as Prime Minister, eighteen years as Mayor of Paris, and twelve years as President of the Republic, remembered for his charm, his opposition to the 2003 Iraq War, and his recognition of France's role in the Holocaust.
1933 – 2019 Danny Aiello (1933-2019) Died 12 December 2019, aged 86 Danny Aiello was an American actor best known for his Academy Award-nominated role as Sal in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. He appeared in dozens of films including Moonstruck and The Godfather Part II. He died in New Jersey.
1933 – 2019 Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019) Died 19 February 2019, aged 85 Karl Lagerfeld was a German fashion designer who led the houses of Chanel and Fendi for decades while also running his own label. Known for his instantly recognizable white ponytail and sunglasses, he became one of the most influential figures in modern fashion. He died in Paris after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
1933 – 2019 Tim Conway (1933-2019) Died 14 May 2019, aged 85 Tim Conway was an American comedic actor best known for his work on The Carol Burnett Show, where his improvised bits with co-star Harvey Korman became legendary. He won six Emmy Awards over his career. He died in Los Angeles after a long illness.
1935 – 2019 Diahann Carroll (1935-2019) Died 4 October 2019, aged 84 Diahann Carroll was an American actress and singer who became the first Black woman to star in her own non-servant television series with Julia in 1968. She won a Tony Award and was Oscar-nominated for Claudine. She died in Los Angeles of cancer.
1939 – 2019 Ginger Baker (1939-2019) Died 6 October 2019, aged 80 Ginger Baker was an English drummer best known as a member of the rock supergroup Cream alongside Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce. His powerful, jazz-influenced style made him one of the most influential rock drummers of his generation. He died in England after years of declining health.
1939 – 2019 Valerie Harper (1939-2019) Died 30 August 2019, aged 80 Valerie Harper was an American actress best known for playing Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off Rhoda, winning four Emmy Awards. She continued acting and advocacy after a 2013 terminal brain cancer diagnosis. She died in Los Angeles.
1940 – 2019 Peter Fonda (1940-2019) Died 16 August 2019, aged 79 Peter Fonda was an American actor and filmmaker who co-wrote, produced, and starred in the 1969 counterculture film Easy Rider. He came from a celebrated acting family, the son of Henry Fonda and brother of Jane Fonda. He died at his home in Los Angeles from complications of lung cancer.
1940 – 2019 John Havlicek Hondo 8-time champion with the Celtics; famous for the "Havlicek stole the ball!" call.
1942 – 2019 Peter Tork (1942-2019) Died 21 February 2019, aged 77 Peter Tork was an American musician best known as the bassist and keyboardist for the 1960s pop group the Monkees. The band, formed for a television series, went on to become a genuine commercial and cultural phenomenon. He died at his home in Connecticut.
1942 – 2019 Felice Gimondi The Phoenix Winner of all three Grand Tours; competed in the era of Merckx.
1943 – 2019 Scott Walker (1943-2019) Died 22 March 2019, aged 76 Scott Walker was an American-born singer and composer who found fame in the UK with the Walker Brothers before pursuing an influential and increasingly experimental solo career. His later avant-garde work drew acclaim from a generation of alternative musicians. He died in London.
1944 – 2019 Rutger Hauer (1944-2019) Died 19 July 2019, aged 75 Rutger Hauer was a Dutch actor best known for his role as the replicant Roy Batty in Blade Runner, including the film's celebrated "tears in rain" monologue. He appeared in numerous other films including The Hitcher and Ladyhawke. He died in the Netherlands.
1944 – 2019 Ric Ocasek (1944-2019) Died 15 September 2019, aged 75 Ric Ocasek was the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the American rock band The Cars, known for hits including "Just What I Needed" and "Drive". He also produced albums for artists such as Weezer and Bad Brains. He was found dead at his New York home.
1949 – 2019 Niki Lauda (1949-2019) Died 20 May 2019, aged 70 Niki Lauda was an Austrian Formula One driver who won three world championships and famously returned to racing weeks after a near-fatal fiery crash in 1976. He later became a successful airline entrepreneur and Formula One team executive. He died in Zurich following long-term health complications.
1951 – 2019 Elijah Cummings (1951-2019) Died 17 October 2019, aged 68 Elijah Cummings was a US congressman representing Maryland and chairman of the House Oversight Committee, where he led investigations into the Trump administration. He was a prominent voice on civil rights and government accountability during his more than two decades in Congress. He died in Baltimore from complications of longstanding health issues.
1953 – 2019 Jeffrey Epstein (1953-2019) Died 10 August 2019, aged 66 Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier who was facing federal sex trafficking charges involving the abuse of underage girls at the time of his death. He was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, in a death ruled a suicide that prompted widespread scrutiny. His case implicated numerous prominent associates.
1958 – 2019 Marie Fredriksson (1958-2019) Died 9 December 2019, aged 61 Marie Fredriksson was a Swedish singer and one half of the pop duo Roxette, known worldwide for hits including "It Must Have Been Love" and "Listen to Your Heart". She continued recording and performing for years after a 2002 brain tumor diagnosis. She died in Djursholm, Sweden.
1966 – 2019 Luke Perry (1966-2019) Died 4 March 2019, aged 52 Luke Perry was an American actor who rose to fame playing Dylan McKay on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 in the early 1990s. He later appeared in Riverdale playing Fred Andrews. He died after suffering a massive stroke.
1968 – 2019 John Singleton (1968-2019) Died 28 April 2019, aged 51 John Singleton was an American film director whose debut feature, Boyz n the Hood, earned him Academy Award nominations for directing and screenwriting at age 24, making him the youngest and first Black director nominated for the award. He went on to direct films including Poetic Justice and Baby Boy. He died in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke.
1985 – 2019 Nipsey Hussle (1985-2019) Died 31 March 2019, aged 33 Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, was an American rapper and community activist from Los Angeles known for his Grammy-nominated album Victory Lap and his investment in his South Central neighborhood. He was shot and killed outside the clothing store he owned. His death prompted an outpouring of tribute across the music industry.
1989 – 2019 Emperor Akihito (Heisei era) Reign 1989–2019 — abdicated, the first in 200 years Emperor Akihito's Heisei era was a time of economic stagnation after the 1980s bubble, and of natural disasters including the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. A reconciliation-minded monarch, in 2019 he became the first Japanese emperor in over two centuries to abdicate the throne.
1999 – 2019 Cameron Boyce (1999-2019) Died 6 July 2019, aged 20 Cameron Boyce was an American actor best known for his roles in Disney Channel productions including Jessie and the Descendants film franchise. He died in his sleep at home due to a seizure related to an underlying epilepsy condition. His family later founded a foundation to raise epilepsy awareness in his name.
2019 Eight-year playoff drought continues The Knicks miss the playoffs again, extending one of the league's longest postseason droughts into a new decade.
2019 Quantum Computing Quantum Supremacy The first demonstration of a quantum processor solving an impossible classical task.
2019 Australian bushfires 18 million hectares burn The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 burned over 18 million hectares across Australia, destroying thousands of homes and killing an estimated 3 billion animals.
2019 Chang'e 4 lands on the far side of the Moon China achieves first-ever landing on the lunar far side China's Chang'e 4 spacecraft became the first probe in history to make a soft landing on the far side of the Moon, in the South Pole-Aitken basin. It deployed the Yutu-2 rover to study the previously unexplored terrain. The mission relied on a relay satellite to communicate with Earth.
2019 Saudi Aramco IPO World's largest IPO ever Saudi Aramco raised $25.6 billion in its IPO in December 2019, the largest IPO in history, valuing the oil company at $1.7 trillion — briefly making it the world's most valuable company.
2019 Venezuela political crisis deepens Guaido declares himself interim president Opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela, arguing that Nicolas Maduro's re-election had been illegitimate. The United States and dozens of other countries recognized Guaido, while Russia and China backed Maduro, deepening an international standoff. Maduro retained control of the military and state institutions.
2019 MiG-21 shot down over Kashmir Abhinandan Varthaman Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's MiG-21 Bison is shot down during an air battle with Pakistani F-16s. He is captured and released two days later. India claims an F-16, which Pakistan denies.
2019 Federer wins his 100th ATP title Dubai 2019 — only second man in history Roger Federer won his 100th career ATP title at the Dubai Championships in March 2019, becoming only the second man in history after Jimmy Connors to reach that milestone.
2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash Boeing 737 MAX crashes minutes after takeoff A Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed near Bishoftu, Ethiopia six minutes after departing Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people aboard. It was the second fatal crash of the new 737 MAX model in five months, following Lion Air Flight 610. The crash triggered a worldwide grounding of the aircraft type.
2019 Boeing 737 MAX grounded worldwide Regulators ground the aircraft after two fatal crashes Following the Ethiopian Airlines crash, aviation authorities around the world grounded the Boeing 737 MAX fleet, with the US Federal Aviation Administration following days later. Investigations pointed to a flawed flight-control system called MCAS. The grounding lasted for more than 20 months and cost Boeing billions of dollars.
2019 Christchurch mosque shootings 51 killed in New Zealand A white supremacist gunman killed 51 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 15, 2019, in the deadliest terrorist attack in New Zealand history.
2019 Fall of Baghuz ends ISIS territorial caliphate US-backed forces capture the last ISIS-held town in Syria Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by a US-led coalition, captured Baghuz, the last town held by the Islamic State, ending the group's territorial "caliphate" that once spanned large parts of Iraq and Syria. Thousands of fighters and family members surrendered or were captured. ISIS continued to operate as an insurgent network afterward.
2019 Brexit deadline missed UK fails to leave EU on schedule The UK failed to leave the EU on its original Brexit deadline of March 29, 2019, after Parliament rejected Theresa May's withdrawal agreement three times.
2019 Bouteflika resigns as Algeria president Weeks of mass protests force out a 20-year ruler Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned after weeks of massive peaceful protests against his bid for a fifth term. He had ruled Algeria since 1999 and had rarely appeared in public after a 2013 stroke. His resignation did not fully satisfy protesters, who continued demonstrating against the ruling establishment.
2019 First black hole image Event Horizon Telescope captures M87 The Event Horizon Telescope collaboration published the first ever image of a black hole on April 10, 2019 — the supermassive black hole at the centre of galaxy M87, 55 million light-years away.
2019 Beresheet lunar lander crashes on the Moon Israeli spacecraft fails during final descent Israel's Beresheet probe, built by the nonprofit SpaceIL, crashed while attempting to land on the Moon after an engine failure during its descent. It would have made Israel the fourth country to achieve a soft lunar landing. The mission was privately funded and considered a technological milestone despite the crash.
2019 Julian Assange arrested in London WikiLeaks founder dragged from Ecuadorian embassy Julian Assange was arrested by British police after Ecuador withdrew the political asylum that had sheltered him in its London embassy for nearly seven years. The US unsealed charges against him related to the 2010 publication of classified military and diplomatic documents. He was later held in a British prison while fighting extradition to the United States.
2019 Omar al-Bashir ousted in Sudan Military removes Sudan's longtime leader after mass protests Sudan's military overthrew President Omar al-Bashir after months of mass protests against his 30-year rule. A transitional council took power, later sharing authority with civilian opposition leaders. Bashir was later charged with corruption and, separately, faced international warrants over Darfur.
2019 Tiger Woods wins the Masters Golfer completes comeback with fifth green jacket Tiger Woods won the Masters Tournament for a fifth time, completing one of the most celebrated comebacks in sports history after years of injuries, surgeries, and personal setbacks. It was his first major championship victory in 11 years. The win was widely covered around the world.
2019 Extinction Rebellion protests spread globally Climate activists stage mass civil disobedience The environmental group Extinction Rebellion staged coordinated civil disobedience actions in cities including London, occupying bridges and public spaces to demand urgent government action on climate change. Thousands were arrested over the course of the protests. The movement helped push climate policy higher on the political agenda in several countries.
2019 Notre-Dame fire Medieval cathedral nearly destroyed A devastating fire engulfed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019, causing the collapse of the spire and most of the roof. The 850-year-old cathedral was saved by firefighters.
2019 Mueller Report released Special counsel report on Russian election interference published Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible obstruction of justice by President Trump was released in redacted form. It found insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy with Russia but did not exonerate Trump on obstruction. The report shaped the following year's impeachment debate.
2019 2019 World Snooker Championship Judd Trump First Title Winner: Judd Trump; Runner-up: John Higgins. Score: 18–9.
2019 Sri Lanka Easter Sunday bombings Coordinated suicide bombings kill over 250 people A series of coordinated suicide bombings struck churches and luxury hotels across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing more than 250 people and injuring hundreds more. A local Islamist group with links to ISIS was blamed for the attacks. It was the deadliest violence in the country since its civil war ended in 2009.
2019 Volodymyr Zelensky elected President of Ukraine A television comedian wins in a landslide Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian with no prior political office, won Ukraine's presidential runoff election with over 73 percent of the vote. His victory over incumbent Petro Poroshenko reflected widespread frustration with corruption and the stalled war in the Donbas. He was inaugurated the following month.
2019 Avengers Endgame released Highest-grossing film ever at the time Avengers: Endgame was released on April 26, 2019, earning $2.798 billion worldwide to become the highest-grossing film in history, surpassing Avatar.
2019 Avengers: Endgame #1 film of 2019 — $2.80bn worldwide Directed by the Russo brothers. After Thanos wiped out half of all life, the Avengers must assemble one last time to undo his actions.
2019 – present Emperor Naruhito (Reiwa era) Reign 2019–present — the 126th emperor Naruhito became the 126th emperor on 1 May 2019, beginning the Reiwa era, after his father Akihito's abdication. Oxford-educated and a specialist in water policy, he is the first Japanese emperor born after World War II.
2019 Parasite Played Park Dong-ik, the patriarch of the wealthy family, in Bong Joon-ho's Parasite. The film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and four Academy Awards including Best Picture, making it the first non-English language film to win that honour.
2019 US blacklists Huawei Trade restrictions cut Chinese tech giant off from suppliers The United States added Huawei to a trade blacklist barring American companies from supplying it with technology without government approval, citing national security concerns. The move disrupted Huawei's smartphone business, notably cutting off access to Google's Android services. It escalated broader US-China trade and technology tensions.
2019 Game of Thrones series finale airs HBO fantasy epic ends after eight seasons HBO's Game of Thrones concluded its eight-season run with a divisive finale that drew a record 19.3 million viewers in the US. The final season faced significant fan backlash over its pacing and plot resolutions. It remained one of the most-watched and most-discussed television series of the decade.
2019 Parasite wins the Palme d'Or at Cannes Bong Joon-ho's film becomes first Korean winner Bong Joon-ho's Parasite won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the first South Korean film to receive the award. The dark comedy-thriller about class inequality went on to become a global critical and box-office phenomenon. It later made history as the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
2019 Liverpool wins UEFA Champions League Liverpool defeats Tottenham in an all-English final Liverpool beat fellow English club Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Champions League final in Madrid to claim a sixth European title. It capped a season in which both English clubs had staged dramatic comebacks in the semi-finals to reach the final. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp won his first major trophy with the club.
2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition protests Mass demonstrations erupt over a China extradition bill Over a million people marched in Hong Kong against a proposed bill allowing extradition to mainland China, sparking months of mass protests and clashes with police. The bill was withdrawn in September but demonstrations broadened into wider demands for democratic reform. The unrest continued into 2020 and reshaped Hong Kong's relationship with Beijing.
2019 Star Trek: Discovery — Season 2 Discovery's second season introduces Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike and Ethan Peck as Spock — a casting so successful it leads directly to the creation of Strange New Worlds. The season resolves the "Red Angel" mystery with a time-jump to the 32nd century, fundamentally changing the show's setting.
2019 Iran shoots down US surveillance drone Tensions spike in the Strait of Hormuz Iran's Revolutionary Guard shot down a US Navy RQ-4 Global Hawk drone, which Iran said had violated its airspace; the US said it was over international waters. President Trump said he called off a retaliatory strike minutes before launch. The incident marked a sharp escalation in US-Iran tensions during 2019.
2019 Trump and Kim meet at the Korean DMZ Trump becomes first sitting US president to enter North Korea President Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Demilitarized Zone and briefly stepped across the border, becoming the first sitting US president to set foot in North Korea. The impromptu meeting followed the failed Hanoi summit earlier in the year. Little concrete progress on denuclearization followed.
2019 Wimbledon 2019 — extraordinary final Men: Novak Djokovic · Women: Simona Halep Djokovic saved two championship points to beat Federer 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12 in the longest Wimbledon final ever. Halep dominated Serena 6-2, 6-2.
2019 United States wins FIFA Women's World Cup US team claims a record fourth title in France The United States women's national team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the final in Lyon to win its second consecutive Women's World Cup and fourth overall. The tournament drew record global viewership and intensified the team's public fight for equal pay. Megan Rapinoe won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball.
2019 England wins Cricket World Cup Hosts win first title in a dramatic Super Over final England won its first Cricket World Cup title, beating New Zealand in a final at Lord's that finished tied after the match and after a Super Over, with England winning on a boundary-count tiebreaker. It was widely described as one of the most dramatic finishes in cricket history. The match drew huge television audiences across the cricketing world.
2019 DRC Ebola outbreak declared global health emergency WHO issues its highest alert level for the epidemic The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, its highest level of alert. The outbreak, the second-deadliest in history, was complicated by armed conflict in the affected region. It ultimately killed more than 2,200 people before being declared over in 2020.
2019 El Chapo sentenced to life in prison Mexican drug lord convicted of running a criminal empire Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, former leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years by a US federal court in New York. He had been convicted in February on charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, and murder conspiracy. The trial exposed extensive details of cartel operations and corruption.
2019 The Lion King (2019) #2 film of 2019 — $1.66bn worldwide Directed by Jon Favreau. A photorealistic computer-animated remake of the 1994 Disney classic.
2019 Boris Johnson becomes UK Prime Minister Johnson succeeds Theresa May after Conservative leadership vote Boris Johnson became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after winning the Conservative Party leadership contest following Theresa May's resignation. He pledged to deliver Brexit by the end of October, "do or die". His government would go on to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement and call an early general election.
2019 Puerto Rico governor resigns after protests Leaked chats spark weeks of mass demonstrations Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello announced his resignation after nearly two weeks of mass street protests triggered by the leak of vulgar private chat messages among his aides. It was one of the largest protest movements in the island's history. He was succeeded by Wanda Vazquez following a brief succession dispute.
2019 Amazon rainforest fires Record wildfires spark global alarm over deforestation A sharp rise in fires across the Brazilian Amazon, many linked to land-clearing for agriculture, drew international condemnation and pledges of aid. Smoke darkened skies over Sao Paulo more than 2,000 kilometers away. The crisis intensified scrutiny of President Jair Bolsonaro's environmental policies.
2019 "Old Town Road" sets chart longevity record Lil Nas X single becomes longest-running number one Lil Nas X's genre-blending single "Old Town Road", featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, surpassed the previous record for longest-running number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It eventually spent 19 weeks atop the chart. The song's viral rise via TikTok made it a landmark case study in social-media-driven music success.
2019 El Paso and Dayton mass shootings Two shootings kill 32 people within 13 hours A gunman killed 23 people at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, in an attack targeting Hispanic shoppers, followed less than a day later by a shooting that killed 9 people in Dayton, Ohio. The back-to-back attacks intensified national debate over gun control and domestic extremism in the United States. The El Paso attack was investigated as domestic terrorism.
2019 India revokes Article 370 in Kashmir Special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir ended India's government revoked Article 370, which had granted Jammu and Kashmir a degree of autonomy and special status since 1949. The region was split into two federally administered territories and placed under a communications lockdown. The move drew strong condemnation from Pakistan and raised tensions in the disputed region.
2019 Hurricane Dorian devastates the Bahamas Category 5 storm stalls over Grand Bahama and Abaco Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph, then stalled for nearly two days, causing catastrophic damage. At least 70 people were confirmed dead, with many more missing. It was the strongest hurricane on record to hit the islands.
2019 Global Climate Strike 4 million march worldwide Over 4 million people took to the streets in 161 countries on September 20, 2019, in the largest climate protest in history, inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg.
2019 Greta Thunberg addresses UN Climate Action Summit "How dare you" speech galvanizes climate movement Teenage activist Greta Thunberg delivered an emotional speech to world leaders at the United Nations, accusing them of failing younger generations with empty words on climate change. Her "how dare you" address became one of the most widely shared speeches of the year. It followed a global climate strike she had helped inspire.
2019 WeWork IPO collapses Office-sharing startup withdraws offering after valuation implodes WeWork withdrew its highly anticipated initial public offering after investor scrutiny of its governance and business model caused its valuation to collapse from $47 billion to a fraction of that figure. Co-founder Adam Neumann was ousted as CEO shortly before the withdrawal. The episode became a cautionary tale about startup valuations.
2019 Lebanon protests begin Proposed tax on WhatsApp calls ignites mass demonstrations Nationwide protests erupted in Lebanon after the government proposed a tax on WhatsApp voice calls, rapidly broadening into demands against corruption and sectarian governance. The demonstrations were among the largest and most cross-sectarian in the country's modern history. Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned less than two weeks later.
2019 Chile mass protests begin Metro fare hike sparks nationwide unrest over inequality Protests erupted in Santiago over a subway fare increase and quickly grew into nationwide demonstrations against inequality and the cost of living. Violent clashes with police left dozens dead and led to a state of emergency. The unrest eventually forced the government to agree to a referendum on rewriting the constitution.
2019 Google claims quantum supremacy Quantum computer solves problem in 200 seconds Google announced that its Sycamore quantum processor had achieved quantum supremacy on October 23, 2019, performing a specific calculation in 200 seconds that would take a classical supercomputer 10,000 years.
2019 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed ISIS leader dies during US special forces raid ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a US special operations raid on his compound in northwestern Syria, detonating a suicide vest as troops closed in. President Trump announced the operation's success the following day. ISIS confirmed his death and named a successor days later.
2019 South Africa wins Rugby World Cup Springboks defeat England in the Japan final South Africa defeated England 32-12 in the Rugby World Cup final in Yokohama to win the tournament for a record-tying third time. Captain Siya Kolisi became the first black player to captain the Springboks in a World Cup final. The victory was celebrated as a unifying moment for the country.
2019 Evo Morales resigns as Bolivia president Morales steps down amid disputed election and unrest Bolivian President Evo Morales resigned after weeks of protests over a disputed election result and following calls from the military for him to step down. He had governed Bolivia since 2006 as its first indigenous president. He fled into exile in Mexico shortly afterward.
2019 Disney+ launches Streaming service debuts with Disney, Pixar, and Marvel library The Walt Disney Company launched its Disney+ streaming service, offering its film and television library alongside new original content from Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. It signed up over 10 million subscribers on its first day, exceeding expectations. The launch marked a major escalation in the streaming wars against Netflix.
2019 UK general election Conservatives win landslide majority on Brexit platform Boris Johnson led the Conservative Party to its largest majority since 1987, campaigning on a promise to "get Brexit done". The Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn suffered its worst result since 1935. The result cleared the way for the UK to leave the European Union in early 2020.
2019 US House impeaches President Trump Trump impeached over Ukraine dealings The US House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, stemming from his dealings with Ukraine. He became only the third US president to be impeached. The Senate acquitted him on both charges in February 2020.
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #4 film of 2019 — $1.07bn worldwide Directed by J.J. Abrams. The Resistance faces the First Order once more as the saga of the Skywalker family comes to a close.
2019 Greta Gerwig's Little Women Saoirse Ronan as Jo Told out of chronological order, it stars Saoirse Ronan as Jo, Florence Pugh as Amy, Emma Watson as Meg, Eliza Scanlen as Beth and Timothée Chalamet as Laurie. Six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture — it wins for Costume Design.