2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, June developments
Following the 26 May elections, King Felipe VI held a round of talks with the various parties with parliamentary representation in the Congress of Deputies which saw Pedro Sánchez being formally nominated as prime ministerial candidate on 6 June, which he accepted. Sánchez stressed that there was no alternative to his government and asked PP, Cs and Unidas Podemos for "high-mindedness" and "responsibility" to let him govern.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, June developments
By this point, conversations with other political parties had not seen any advance: CCa had already rejected supporting Sánchez if it meant either a coalition or a programmatic agreement with Podemos, UPN was willing to allow Sánchez's investiture only if he pressured his party's regional branch in Navarre to allow a UPN-led regional cabinet following the 2019 Navarrese election, whereas the position of pro-independence parties—namely, ERC, JxCat and EH Bildu—was dependant on Sánchez's stance towards their jailed leaders. An agreement was quickly reached with the Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC), which pledged its support to Sánchez's investiture in exchange for the PSOE renewing its support for Miguel Ángel Revilla as Cantabrian president following the 2019 regional election.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, June developments
On 11 June, Sánchez met again with the leaders of PP, Cs and Unidas Podemos, this time in the building of the Congress of Deputies, in a move that signaled the formal start of negotiations 43 days after the general election.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, June developments
Both Sánchez and Iglesias emerged from the meeting agreeing to explore the formation of a "government of cooperation", a semantic point that was widely commented in the media because it explicitly excluded the use of the word "coalition", as well as because both leaders committed to such an "innovative" formula without resolving the main friction point between them, namely the entry of Unidas Podemos into the government or its right to appoint cabinet ministers.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, June developments
Soon, both parties clashed on the interpretation of this meeting's conclusions: for Unidas Podemos, what was agreed was to negotiate on the basis of a "plural" and "joint government" that did not exclude an eventual coalition; for the PSOE, it was a government that was "plural, open, inclusive and representative of various sensitivities", but that was to remain a Socialist-only executive with a number of independents that could be agreed with Podemos. PP leader Pablo Casado mocked the "cooperation government" term as "a new parliamentary and administrative kind."


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, June developments
A new and discreet Sánchez–Iglesias summit on 17 June saw no advances or specific commitments, but rather "generic exchanges", an offer by the PSOE to award Unidas Podemos "intermediate posts" in the government structure outside the Council of Ministers—which was rejected by the latter—and the finding that the two parties' positions were "very far apart" because of the way in which each group understood the "cooperation".


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, June developments
On 24 June, in advance of a new meeting between Sánchez and Iglesias scheduled for the next day, it transcended that Sánchez had secretly met Casado at Moncloa earlier that day in an attempt to secure his party's abstention in his investiture, but this was met with Casado's negative; Rivera had also been invited to the meeting, amidst growing internal voices within Cs that called for at least considering to enter negotiations with the PSOE, but he refused to attend outright.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, June developments
In the wake of this event and following the meeting between their leaders—the fourth since the April 2019 election—Podemos accused Sánchez of having told Iglesias that he "preferred the right's support or going to a failed investiture without negotiating anything", a statement which was promptly denied by PSOE deputy secretary-general Adriana Lastra, who replied by accusing Iglesias of paving the ground for "voting against a left-wing prime minister"; both parties also hinted at each other's performance during the failed 2015–2016 government formation negotiations, which led to the June 2016 snap election. Finance minister María Jesús Montero warned Podemos that there would not be new opportunities should Sánchez's investiture—scheduled for July—failed, hinting at the possibility of a snap election being needed to unlock the situation, though this heavy-handed tone was brought down by the government the next day.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, Rushed negotiations
On 3 July, Pablo Iglesias published a column in La Vanguardia newspaper in which he undertook to review his position for a coalition by September if Sánchez attempted—and failed—to get this proposal succeed in an investiture vote in July. The previous day, Sánchez had agreed with Congress speaker Meritxell Batet to schedule the start of the investiture plenary for 22 July, with successive votings on 23 July and, should a second round be needed, 25 July, despite not having secured the support of any other political group for his election.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, Rushed negotiations
The next day, Sánchez offered Iglesias to designate a number of "renowned independents" to be appointed as ministers, and on 8 July the PSOE appointed a negotiating team to address programmatic contents with Unidas Podemos on the basis of a base document synthesizying the key elements of the Socialist electoral manifesto: employment and pensions; feminism and fight against social inequality; climate emergency and ecological transition; technological advance and digital transition; and Spain's position in Europe. The document left the issue of the Catalan crisis out of the paper, as it was one of the main friction programmatic points between the two parties.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, Rushed negotiations
On 9 July, a fifth meeting between Sánchez and Iglesias foundered, allegedly because Iglesias rejected making any sensible additions to the PSOE programmatic proposal and pressed for cabinet posts and the office of deputy prime minister for himself—according to PSOE sources—a claim which Unidas Podemos denied. On 11 July, Sánchez offered Unidas Podemos the right of appointing cabinet ministers on the condition that they had a more "technical profile", which was regarded by Iglesias as a "veto" to the main leaders of his alliance—including himself—and the proposal was rejected.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, Rushed negotiations
The next day, Podemos announced that it would hold a vote among party members on 18 July, to decide what its stance should be on Sánchez's investiture under such circumstances, in which almost 70% of voters chose against a single-party PSOE government and in favour of a coalition with Podemos in order for the party to support the investiture.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, Rushed negotiations
The presented choices were Choice 1 ("To vote Pedro Sánchez as prime minister, it is necessary to reach a comprehensive coalition government agreement (programmatic agreement and teams), without vetoes, in which the coalition partners have a representation that is reasonably proportional to their votes.") and Choice 2 ("To vote Pedro Sánchez as prime minister (either by voting in favour or by abstention), the PSOE's proposal is enough: a government that is designed solely by the PSOE, collaboration at administrative levels subordinate to the government and a programmatic agreement. ").


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, Rushed negotiations
Even before the Podemos vote was held, Sánchez dubbed it as a "masquerade" aimed at justifying opposing his investiture as well as a deliberate and one-sided break of negotiations, while accusing Iglesias of being entrenched in a "maximalist position"; he also stated that his offer for accepting Unidas Podemos members of technical profile into his government was to be considered as declined, and that in no case would he intend to improve on it. Further, he claimed that he would not "accept impositions" and vindicating for himself "the ability to decide who will join [his] government." On the next day, Iglesias replied to Sánchez by demanding his right to enter the cabinet, under the pretense that "Sánchez has never told me that I can't be there".


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, Rushed negotiations
After several days of back-and-forth declarations, Sánchez revealed that the main obstacles in the negotiations were Iglesias's demands for a deputy prime ministership in control of the "social" areas of the government, the ministries of Finance, Labour and the Social Security as well as the responsibilities for government communication; demands that, ultimately, singled out Iglesias as the main impediment for a coalition between PSOE and Unidas Podemos.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, Rushed negotiations
In response, on 19 July, Pablo Iglesias announced that he would renounce to become cabinet minister "as long as there are no more vetoes and the presence of Unidas Podemos in the government is proportional to its votes", while emphasizing that it was up to his party to chose the members that would be part of any coalition government. Sánchez and the PSOE replied by welcoming this predisposition, but stressed that negotiations should begin on the contents and the programmatic measures and that only then would the government composition be decided. Both PSOE and Unidas Podemos started negotiations against the clock, with only three days to go ahead of the start of Sánchez's investiture debate on 22 July.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, First investiture attempt
Initially, negotiation talks went smoothly, with both parties being confident and optimistic on 21 July of an agreement being reached by the time of Sánchez's second investiture voting within four days, in which only a simple majority—that could be achieved with the support of Unidas Podemos, Compromís and the PRC and the abstention of ERC—would be needed for success.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, First formation round (April–September 2019), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): first attempt, First investiture attempt
With promising advances on programmatic contents, the issue still remained on what Podemos's position in the cabinet would be, with the PSOE stressing its dominance of the so-called "state ministries" (Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defense and Interior) and disputes on the Finance, Labour, Social Security and Ecological Transition portfolios. Pedro Sánchez's investiture debate was scheduled to start at 12:00 CEST (UTC+2) on 22 July with Sánchez's speech, to be followed by the replies of all other parties and a first round of voting on 23 July, with a second and final balloting on 25 July if required.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, Second formation round (November 2019 – January 2020), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): second attempt, Post-November 2019 election developments
Immediately after the election, the PSOE ruled out a grand coalition with the PP as a way to end the deadlock. On 12 November, PSOE and Podemos announced a pre-agreement for a full four-year coalition government; such an agreement, if securing the parliamentary support from regional and nationalist parties, would see the first coalition government since the Second Spanish Republic.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, Second formation round (November 2019 – January 2020), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): second attempt, Post-November 2019 election developments
On 23 November the PSOE and the PSC held membership votes on the pre-agreement with Unidas Podemos; this was approved by 94.7% and 93.3% of the participants.


2019–2020 Spanish government formation, Second formation round (November 2019 – January 2020), Candidate Pedro Sánchez (PSOE): second attempt, Post-November 2019 election developments
On 27 November, Podemos held a membership vote on the pre-agreement with the Socialist party, which was approved by 96.8% of the participants. United Left held a similar membership vote between 22 and November in which 88% of the participants approved the pre-agreement.


2019–2020 United States flu season
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, as of April 4, 2020, the 2019–2020 United States flu season had caused 39 million to 56 million flu illnesses, 410,000 to 740,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 to 62,000 deaths. In January 2020, the Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci expected the 2019-2020 flu season to be one of the worst in several years, at least as severe as the 2017-2018 season.


2019–2020 United States flu season
By the third week in February the seasonal flu was near its peak with over 26 million people sickened, 250,000 hospitalized, and 14,000 who died. Experts said that the flu came in two waves, with a hard impact on children. The season began in October, earlier than usual, with the expected wave of influenza B virus. The number of children who died, 105, was higher in late February than any season for the past ten years with about 67% associated with influenza B viruses. The second wave came with the influx of influenza A viruses, such as H1N1.


2019–2020 United States flu season
According to preliminary burden estimates for the 2019-2020 flu season (October 1, 2019 through April 4, 2020) there were between 39 and 56 million flu cases; 18-26 million doctor visits; 410,000 to 740,000 hospitalizations, and between 24,000 and 62,000 deaths. Due to higher than average testing this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, preliminary estimates may be adjusted down when the flu season is officially closed. The unusually abrupt decline in cases by April 2020 was attributed to the effects of widespread social distancing and lockdowns aimed at COVID-19, shortening the influenza season by 5-6 weeks.


2019–2020 United States flu season, Vaccination
From survey data CDC estimated that 51.8% of persons six months and older were vaccinated during the 2019–20 flu  season, an increase of 2.6 percentage points from the prior season. FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee selected the following strains for the vaccine:


2019–2020 United States flu season, Vaccination
CDC end of season influenza vaccine effectiveness study for all vaccine types showed the vaccines were 39%,30%, and 45% effective against influenza A or B viruses, A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses, and influenza B/Victoria viruses, respectively.


2019–2020 Uzbekistan protests
The 2019–2020 Uzbekistan protests were a series of spontaneous demonstrations and peaceful protest movements over social and political issues. Civil unrest has ravaged the country for a long time from July 2019, after a series of scandals and home demolitions caused severe anger. One reason for the massive demonstrations in the winter of 2019 was energy/fuel shortages in the region of Karakalpakstan. After a plan was set out to demolish illegal homes and mines in Tashkent, six days of protests unleashed.


2019–2020 Uzbekistan protests, Background
Protests in Uzbekistan are a rare event given the country's authoritarian history. Uzbekistan's security forces under President Islam Karimov suppressed most public or digital expressions of discontent. After current President Shavkat Mirziyoyev began his tenure, careful digital protests directed against government officials and government policies began to emerge. Three years after Mirziyoyev took over, in the fall of 2019, small public protests are emerging. The majority of public protests so far have been tied to temperature drops. As the temperature dropped, so did the patience of people unable to satisfy their basic needs for electricity and natural gas. The protests have been isolated and uncoordinated, but in a way each small demonstration reinforces others. Their goals are the same: To attract the attention of officials.


2019–2020 Uzbekistan protests, Wave of protests
Rare street protests began on 2–3 April 2019 when illegal houses were demolished, sparking anger. A wave of protests started on 26–30 July, protesting the treatment of poor people and the demolitions of mosques, homes and houses. Many say they've been treated like dogs. Hundreds demonstrated in the areas surrounding Tashkent. Mass protests were quashed by the security forces. One man said that "The police has treated us like dogs, The president is losing power".


2019–2020 Uzbekistan protests, Wave of protests
Between 6–12 August 2020, a series of national protests in Tashkent was met with a police presence and scuffles. Mild protests were held nationwide in support of the protesters in Tashkent, protesting a new plan and bill set in place and demanding the resignation of president Shavkat Mirziyoyev. These protests ended with the scrapping of the plan on 12 August, when the protest movement ended.


2019–2020 Uzbekistan protests, Wave of protests
On 28 November-14 December, a wave of protests struck Andijan, a city which experienced a national crisis, the 2005 Andijan unrest. Thousands of people attended a series of rallies in the eastern region. One was hurt when a tree was pulled down as a blockade to halt traffic. Agencies had been pulled in to quell the protests. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called on protesters to stop and pause their demands for a non-authoritarian government and democracy, with justice and an end to shortages.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro
In late December 2019, a wave of protests started against the newly adopted controversial law "Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Legal Status of Religious Communities" which  effectively transferred ownership of church buildings and estates built before 1918 (when the Montenegrin state was abolished and united with Kingdom of Serbia) from the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro to the Montenegrin state. The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, which owned 66 mainly medieval monasteries, dozens of churches and other real estate there, insisted the state wants to impound its assets, while Pro-Western Montenegro's president Milo Đukanović, has accused the Serbian church of promoting pro-Serb policies that are aimed at "undermining Montenegrin statehood".


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, Background
Montenegro has experienced less religious conflict than the other former Yugoslavian states, and has historically had a high degree of religious tolerance and diversity. There is, however, an outstanding dispute between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, as both churches lay claim to the country's many Orthodox religious sites and dispute each other's legitimacy. Churches disputed over control of the 750 Orthodox religious sites in the country. Both groups claim to be the "true" Orthodox Church of Montenegro, and hold religious ceremonies separately. Police forces have provided security for such events. This dispute dates back to the original establishment of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church as a separate entity in 1993. Since 2011, members of both churches have been barred from celebrating the transfiguration of Christ at the Church of Christ in Ivanova Korita village near the historical capital of Cetinje.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, Background
According to the 2017 survey conducted by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Office of the state ombudsman, 45% of respondents reported having experienced religious discrimination and perception of discrimination were highest by a significant margin among Serbian Orthodox Church members. In May 2019, the Venice Commission positively evaluated the proposed draft of the Law on Freedom of Religion, but recognized the articles 62 and 63, related to the church property, as substantive issues and one of the most controversial points. They stated that the state may in certain conditions use property, but that it must provide the right to property of religious communities.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, Background
At the eight Congress of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) in October 2019, a new political program of the party was adopted, stating that one of the main program goals of the party in the coming period is the "renewal" of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, which is currently unrecognized by other Eastern Orthodox churches, announcing the adoption of a new law on the status of religious communities.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, Passing the law in December 2019 and attendant protests
On 24 December 2019, the legislative committee of Montenegro's parliament endorsed a draft Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Legal Status of Religious Communities, the last hurdle before the legislation was debated by lawmakers. Hundreds of SOC priests and monks, headed by metropolitan Amfilohije Radović, protested in front of parliament before the committee session demanding the bill's withdrawal. After the protest, the clergy celebrated a liturgy at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, Podgorica and signed a statement pledging to defend the church.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, Passing the law in December 2019 and attendant protests
Ahead of a vote on the draft Law on Religious Freedoms, expected later on Thursday or on Friday of the same week, Serbian Orthodox clergy and believers held a service on a packed bridge near parliament, watched by police who had sealed off city center roads and approaches to the government building.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, Passing the law in December 2019 and attendant protests
On 27 December 2019, the bill was approved by 45 ruling coalition lawmakers, sparking a series of massive protests and road blockages which continued to February 2020. Eighteen members of the parliament (opposition Democratic Front MPs) were arrested prior to the voting and charged with violently disrupting the vote. Some Serb Orthodox clerics were attacked by police and a number of journalists, opposition activists and protesting citizens were arrested.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, Passing the law in December 2019 and attendant protests
On 29 December 2019 Episcopal Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro excommunicated President of Montenegro Đukanović and Government coalition MPs and officials for passing religious law.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, 2020 religion law protests
Demonstrations continued into January, February and March 2020 as peaceful protest walks, mostly organised by the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church in most of Montenegrin municipalities. As time went on a considerable percentage of Montenegro's population took to streets opposing the law. During February peaceful public gatherings reached over  70,000 attendees in Podgorica alone and they are increasingly described as the most massive public gatherings in history of Montenegro. During peaceful protests in early 2020, more cases of police abuse of office and violence against protesting citizens and political activists were reported, several opposition activists and journalists were also arrested.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, 2020 religion law protests
European External Action Service (EEAS) pointed at fair reporting but also propaganda, disinformation and fake news in the media reports on the riots and the political crisis in Montenegro, which reached its peaks in the first week of January 2020. EEAS reported that sources of the false reporting included media which were based in Serbia (some of them state-owned), Russian-owned in Serbian language media Sputnik and some Montenegro-based news portals. In March 2020 all protests have been paused by the Serbian Orthodox Church due to COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, 2020 religion law protests
Amid the 12 May protest in Niksic a correspondent journalist of Serbia-based Vecernje Novosti was arrested and his eyes were pepper sprayed while he reporting from the protest, journalist was released after three hours, but the material he had filmed was deleted by the police, which many media, NGOs and the OSCE mission characterized as another attack on media freedoms in Montenegro. Both the Associations of Journalists of Montenegro and Serbia condemned the arrest.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, 2020 religion law protests
On 13 May Bishop of Budimlja and Nikšić Joanikije Mićović and several other priests were arrested on charges of alleged organisation of a religious protest rally in Nikšić, although public gatherings were forbidden in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, 2020 religion law protests
The police responded violently towards the peaceful protesters, with several police crackdowns taking place, resulting in beatings and arrests which were highly criticised by other governments of Europe. Serbian authorities has repeatedly demanded release of bishop Joanikije, as well the other arrested Serb Orthodox clerics. During the next few days, the protests continued throughout the country, a couple of thousand remaining protesting citizens demanded the release of the arrested eparchy priests from detention, with more cases of police brutality reported. On 16 May the Bishop of Budimlja and Niksić, Joanikije, along with other arrested clerics, were released after 72 hours passed from the processing, in accordance with the law, although a formal lawsuit was created against Joanikije and other arrested clerics, and is, as of the 16th of May, pending.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, 2020 religion law protests
The mass protests resumed in June, but after a few weeks, the Montenegrin government reintroduced a ban on public and religious gatherings due to a new wave of COVID-19 virus spread, so the protests were stopped again. Many have labeled the government's move as political, to stem protests against the enactment of a religion law, during the August 2020 parliamentary election campaign in the country.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, 2020 religion law protests
Even if public gatherings were banned, citizens organized several anti-government and pro-church protest walks during July and August, as well as protest car rallies, protesting against the law on religious communities and the DPS-led government.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, Montenegrin authorities′ reaction
Montenegrin government and ruling Democratic Party of Socialists officials, including president Milo Đukanović and members of the current Cabinet of Montenegro blamed the Belgrade-based media and Government of Serbia for the current political crisis, destabilization and unrest across the country, claiming that the ongoing Church protests actually are not against the disputed law but against Montenegrin statehood and independence. Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro categorically rejects that allegations. President Milo Đukanović called the protesting citizens "a lunatic movement".


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Serbian reactions
Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivica Dačić said the Montenegrin government should discuss the controversial Religious Law with its citizens and called on Serbian citizens of Montenegrin descent to publicly state their views on the recent developments in Montenegro, saying that people who support Montenegrin Government should have their Serbian citizenship reviewed.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Serbian reactions
Following mass protests by Serbian Orthodox Church and ethnic Serbs in Montenegro agitation against the law has spread to neighbouring Serbia. On 2 January 2020, several thousand fans of the Red Star Belgrade marched to the Montenegrin embassy in Belgrade to support the protests in Montenegro against the law, setting off fireworks that partially burned the flag of Montenegro outside the embassy building. Several Serbian far-right organisations also joined the rally. Although the event was announced, the embassy was allegedly left unguarded by the Serbian police, with only undercover security units present, which sparked criticism from Montenegro. President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić denied these claims and stated that the embassy was well-guarded and Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the vandalism and stated that the Montenegrin government is trying to shift the blame for ongoing crisis on Serbia.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Serbian reactions
Peaceful protest against the controversial Religious Law took place in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, and a number of other cities and towns in Serbia.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Serbian reactions
Hip-hop collective Beogradski sindikat released a song about the ongoing protest. When attempting to enter Montenegro they were not allowed entrance, and another group member was deported from Podgorica Airport without any official explanation. Tennis player Novak Djokovic supported the ongoing protests, as well as Basketball player Nikola Mirotić.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Serbian reactions, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Citizens of Bijeljina, Trebinje, Pale, Gacko and Banja Luka organised several peaceful protest against the proclaimed law. Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik also participated in the protest rally in Banja Luka, calling the law discriminatory against the Serbian church and its property and called for law withdrawal. A group of citizens from Gacko walked several kilometers in order to support the ongoing peaceful protests, but was not allowed entry to Montenegro as they were deemed "threat to national security of Montenegro".


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Serbian reactions, Diaspora
Around 2,000 people from Chicago metropolitan area protested against the proclaimed law. On 8 March 2020 a Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Austria and Switzerland organized in Vienna a protest rally against the Montenegrin religion law.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Russian reactions
Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) stated that Russian Orthodox Church firmly stands with the position held by Serbian Orthodox Church. He also stated that the newly adopted law represents direct meddling of Montenegrin government into affairs of the church.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Russian reactions
On 29 February 2020 a senior Russian-backed bishop in Ukraine Onufriy (Berezovsky) participated and led a prayer walk and protest rally in Podgorica, reflecting tense relations between the Montenegrin government and Russia.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Russian reactions
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia has publicly denied all of the allegations of the Montenegrin government on the involvement of the Russian Federation in events and ongoing crisis in Montenegro.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, United States reactions
In the annual International Religious Freedom Report, the State Department wrote that the Serbian Orthodox Church strongly criticized the law, which stipulates religious property lacking clear ownership and that, after the passing of the religion law, they organized regular peaceful protests in which hundreds of thousands turned out. The report said that the Montenegrin government continued its policy of not providing restitution of religious properties expropriated by the former Yugoslav communist government, as well as that contrary to the announcements, this law did not address the restitution issues.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, United States reactions
Furthermore, the State Department described the protests as generally peaceful except for isolated incidents of violence against the police, accompanied by online incitements to violence. The report mentioned that the government and analysts said there was an apparently coordinated campaign of disinformation, propaganda, and provocation, "seeking to fan ethnonationalistic divisions and provoke conflict through the protests."


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, United States reactions
In June 2020 the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom state that Christian rights have been attacked in Montenegro by a controversial law, and protests continue after the adoption of the Law on Religion, which many believe will allow the government to confiscate religious property, the ban on religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic has further increased tensions. Commissioner Johnnie Moore Jr. pay special attention to the arrest of Metropolitan Amfilohije. Commission are critical of the rather restrained attitude of European officials towards such persecution of Christians. The decision not to extend the position of the European Union Special Envoy, whose mandate included the promotion of freedom of religion and belief, is marked as particularly unjustified.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Non-governmental organizations
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, a non-governmental organization concerned with human rights issues in Serbia, accused the government of Serbia of standing behind the riots and attempt to destabilize Montenegro and influence the internal affairs of this country.


2019–2020 clerical protests in Montenegro, International reactions, Non-governmental organizations
Freedom House, the US-based non-governmental organization that measures the degree of civil liberties and political rights in the world, described that the religion law is widely seen to target the Serbian Orthodox Church and that its adoption as one of the "questionable decisions". They explain that the requirements of the law likely burden the Serbian Orthodox Church and that it provoked peaceful nationwide protests.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic
The 2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic was an epidemic of the infectious disease dengue fever in several countries of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, and Laos. The spread of the disease was exacerbated by falling vaccination levels in certain areas, and by a growing population of mosquitoes, which are the primary carriers of the disease, and which are able to reproduce in larger numbers where humans have littered the environment with plastic containers, which provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Affected countries have sought to control the epidemic through increased vaccination efforts, and through efforts to control the mosquito population.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) carried out a survey in Dhaka city in January 2019, where they found both larva and adult Aedes mosquitoes in different parts of the city. Based on the outcome of the survey, in March 2019, warned of a potential outbreak DGHS alerted both city corporations about a possible outbreak in upcoming months. According to CDC director Sanya Tahmina, they also started training the doctors and nurses from February considering the possibility of a future outbreak.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Bangladesh
The 2019 outbreak in Bangladesh began primarily in April 2019. According to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 14 people had died and 19,513 people had been affected by August 2019, a majority of whom were children, with other sources reporting that the death toll had already passed 50. DGHS confirmed the outbreak affecting all districts of the country, with Dhaka being the worst-hit city in the country and districts in Dhaka Division among the most affected regions. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) expected the outbreak to continue until September 2019. In August 2019, the Bangladesh government withdrew all tariffs on dengue test kits imports.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Malaysia
The Malaysian Ministry of Health reported that by 3 August 2019, the number of cases in Malaysia had reached a record 80,000 on the year, with 113 deaths reported. The highest incidences were in the states of Selangor, the Johor, Kelantan, Sabah, Penang, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang, as well as the Federal territories. The Malaysian government sought to counter the epidemic by releasing mosquitoes of the genus Aedes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria, which was expected to reduce the mosquito population.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Pakistan
In Pakistan, in the summer of 2019, more than 47 people died and more than 30,000 were infected by dengue fever, the worst outbreak of the disease in the history of the country. In October 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of the outbreak and sought a report from the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Zafar Mirza. On 10 October 2019, a Peshawar High Court bench sent summons to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's provincial health secretary to explain the situation related to dengue outbreak in parts of the province.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Philippines
In August 2019, the Philippines declared an epidemic after more than 622 people had died of the disease in that country.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Philippines
The Philippines Department of Health reported that there were over 146,000 dengue fever cases from the beginning of 2019 to 20 July, which was "a 98% increase from the same time period last year". The epidemic occurred in the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Northern Mindanao. The epidemic was largely blamed on falling vaccination rates, following a series of issues with the Dengvaxia vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur. In 2017, Sanofi warned of possible adverse effects, and in 2018 the vaccine was blamed for the deaths of children during a national vaccination program.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Vietnam
In Vietnam, dengue fever cases tripled from the previous year, to 88,000 by mid-July, with six deaths. By 19 November, Vietnam had recorded 250,000 cases with 50 deaths. The epidemic is most prevalent in the southern region of the country, where locals store rainwater in containers for use in farming, providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes. In neighboring Laos, dengue fever cases exceeded 11,000 by mid-year, with 27 deaths, prompting the Lao Ministry of Health to recommend that likely mosquito breeding sites should be drained.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Latin America
In Latin America, 2019 was a record-setting dengue fever outbreak, with more than 2.7 million cases and 1206 deaths during the first 10 months of 2019.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Other places
In the summer of 2019 an outbreak was confirmed in Oceania. 276 cases and one death were reported in the Marshall Islands, resulting in the government halting travel between the urban centers of Ebeye and Majuro to the outer islands. Outbreakers were also reported in Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, and the Philippines.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Other places
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that the epidemic had affected the French island of Réunion, off the coast of Africa, with "over 15,000 autochthonous confirmed cases" being reported as of mid-2019, including nine deaths. The ECDC expressed concern that Réunion's European tourism industry could provide a vector for the transmission of the virus to Europe. A systematic review that was done by Ahmed et al. revealed the appearance of autochthonous dengue in Europe along with the increase in imported dengue and dengue severity. Therefore, health authorities pay more attention and update the protocols in order to catch dengue infection among travelers coming from and to Europe.


2019–2020 dengue fever epidemic, Course in specific countries, Other places
In November 2019, the epidemic struck Yemen, with nearly 8,000 cases in Taiz Governorate before the end of the month.


2019–2020 measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In 2019, a measles epidemic broke out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The epidemic started in early 2019 in the southeast corner of the DRC and then spread to all provinces. By June 2019 the epidemic was reported to have exceeded the death toll of the concurrent Ebola epidemic. By April 2020, it had infected more than 341,000 people and claimed about 6,400 fatalities. This has primarily affected children under the age of five, representing 74% of infections and nearly 90% of deaths.


2019–2020 measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In response, a vaccination program had been set up by the Ministry of Public Health with the aim to vaccinate more than 20 million children under the age of five. In 2018, the measles vaccination rate was 57%. The effort is supported by the Measles & Rubella Initiative, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and GAVI, a vaccine alliance. Also, Médecins Sans Frontières started conducting vaccination campaigns. Vaccination programs have been hampered by access to health resources, lack of resources, security issues, and mistrust.


2019–2020 measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The measles outbreak in the DRC has been the largest and most fatal measles outbreak across the world in 2019.


2019–2020 measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In April 2020, it was reported that due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccination program for measles was suspended.


2019–2020 measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 24 August 2020, the outbreak was declared over with final results of over 380,766 cases and 7,018 deaths.


2019–2020 measles outbreaks
The 2019 measles outbreaks refer to a substantial global increase in the number of measles cases reported, relative to 2018. As of April 2019, the number of measles cases reported worldwide represented a 300% increase from the number of cases seen in the previous year, constituting over 110,000 measles cases reported in the first three months of 2019. In the first half of 2019, the World Health Organization received reports of 364,808 measles cases from 182 countries, up 182% from the same time period of 2018 when 129,239 confirmed cases were reported by 181 countries.


2019–2020 measles outbreaks, Countries affected
In the United States, the number of measles cases was set to reach a 25-year high by the middle of the year, beginning with a large concentration of cases in the Pacific Northwest followed by another in New York, as well in the U.S. state of California with two quarantines ordered at two colleges in Los Angeles on April 28, 2019. Other countries reporting large increases included Brazil, Nigeria, Israel, Ukraine, Madagascar, India, and the Philippines. However, the largest and most fatal outbreak of measles in 2019 occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other notable outbreak locations include the 2019 Kuala Koh measles outbreak, 2019 Philippines measles outbreak in Asia; the 2019 Pacific Northwest measles outbreak and 2019 New York measles outbreak in the United States; 2019–2020 New Zealand measles outbreak, and 2019 Samoa measles outbreak in Oceania.


2019–2020 measles outbreaks, Contributing factors
In some countries, this outbreak has been fueled by lack of access to the measles vaccine, while in others it has been exacerbated by opposition to vaccination. As one such example, the outbreak in the Philippines was attributed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to lowered trust in the government's immunization drive due to a controversy regarding administration of a dengue vaccine. The outbreak prompted President Donald Trump to shift away from his previous skepticism regarding vaccination, and to insist that parents must vaccinate their children. The Trump Administration also took a forceful position of requiring vaccination, with Trump's Surgeon General Jerome Adams calling for limitations on exemptions to vaccination.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak
An outbreak of vaping-associated pulmonary injury (VAPI) starting in 2019 is ongoing among users of illegal unregulated (Black market) cannabis vaping products, almost exclusively in the United States. The first cases were identified in Illinois and Wisconsin in April 2019; as of 21 January 2020, a total of 2,711 hospitalized cases, including 60 deaths, have been confirmed by the U.S due to use of illegal (black market) Cannabis carts or juice. Centers for Disease Control. Cases peaked in September 2019, and have been slowly declining since. All cases of illness/death are directly related to the use of (black market) THC products, and not regulated nicotine products.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak
CDC investigators identified direct exposure to chemicals present in illegal (Black market) cannabis vaping products as responsible for the outbreak. Vitamin E acetate is a very strong culprit of concern in the lung illnesses related to THC-based vaping products, but the CDC did not rule out other chemicals as possible causes, even though highly unlikely according to many leading doctors. Though patients have reported using vaping products containing THC, nicotine, or both types, about 36% of patients studied by the CDC admitted THC use. The majority of those affected were young adults 18–34, which is the group with the greatest prevalence of cannabis use in the US.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak
Nicotine-containing products are regulated in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration; THC products are illegal under federal law, but allowed and regulated by some states. Prior to the outbreak, vitamin E acetate was used in low concentrations, or lower than 20% of the formula in vape cartridges, as a thickening agent.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak
As a result of a limited availability of cannabis in California as well as high demand, illicit sellers had used about 50% or higher of diluent thickeners in their formulas to bulk up tiny potency vape cartridges to create the illegal and dangerous products, and vitamin E acetate is a common choice because it resembles THC oil. Some jurisdictions took action to restrict the sale of products containing vitamin E acetate and other chemicals in response to the outbreak, but THC products in states where it is illegal are produced illegally (and sometimes obtained illegally in jurisdictions where legal, by uninformed consumers).


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
The CDC recommends that the public should consider not using any vaping products during their investigation, particularly those containing THC from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers as of 20 November 2019. The US FDA considers it prudent to avoid inhaling vitamin E acetate. On 6 September 2019, the US FDA stated that because consumers cannot be sure whether any THC vaping products may contain vitamin E acetate, consumers are urged to avoid buying vaping products on the street, and to refrain from using THC oil or modifying/adding any substances to products purchased in stores. The CDC recommends that e-cigarette, or vaping, products should never be used by youths, young adults, or women who are pregnant. Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette, or vaping, products, according to the CDC.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Background
Though this is the first time that vaping products have been linked to an outbreak of lung illness, at least 19 cases of vaping-associated pulmonary injuries had been reported worldwide prior to 2019. The first case of e-cigarettes inducing lipoid pneumonia was documented in the medical literature in 2012, though the causative agent was identified as glycerin, not vitamin E acetate. Glycerin was long thought to be a safe additive in e-cigg liquid. However, the carcinogen formaldehyde is known as a product of propylene glycol and glycerol vapor degradation, these ingredients may also cause lung inflammation.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
Cases involved in the outbreak of severe vaping-associated pulmonary injury associated with vaping products were first identified in Illinois and Wisconsin in April 2019. As of 21 January 2020, a total of 2,711 hospitalized cases of lung illness associated with the use of vaping products have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two US territories (Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands). The potential cases of severe lung illness have been associated with the use of vaping products such as devices, liquids, refill pods, and cartridges.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
On 12 September 2019 the CDC no longer reported possible cases. The CDC changed its reporting methodology from counting possible cases to reporting probable and confirmed cases where patients recently vaped, developed a breathing illness, and either had some tests were performed to rule out infection or testing did not show an infection. The CDC stated the possible cases are still under investigation at the state level. As of 3 December 2019, the CDC is only reporting hospitalized vaping-associated lung illness cases and vaping-associated lung illness deaths regardless of hospitalization status.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
As of 15 October 2019, the CDC has reported on 1,358 people with data on age and gender: 70% of people are male. The median age of persons is 24 years and ages range from 13 to 75 years. 79% of persons are under 35 years old. Prevalence of lung disease attributable to vaping is likely under reported as cases brought to the CDC are some of the most severe.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
Symptoms typically develop over a period of days but sometimes can manifest over several weeks. Many cases, patients reported a gradual start of symptoms, including: breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, and/or chest pain before hospitalization. Based on reports from several states, patients have experienced respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain), and some have also experienced gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) or non-specific symptoms (fatigue, fever, or weight loss). Some cases reported mild to moderate gastrointestinal illness.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
Some patients have reported that their symptoms developed over a few days, while others have reported that their symptoms developed over several weeks. Some patients have reported gastrointestinal symptoms began before respiratory symptoms. Fever, elevated heart rate, and elevated white blood cell count have been reported, even though no infectious disease has been identified. Many patients sought medical care in ambulatory settings, sometimes over several visits, before they were admitted to the hospital.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
Many patients have required medical treatment with supplemental oxygen. Some required assisted ventilation. Some patients have been treated with corticosteroids with demonstrated improvement. Evidence does not suggest an infectious disease is the cause of the severe pulmonary disease. Antibiotic therapy alone has not consistently been associated with clinical improvement. A handful of individuals have been re-admitted for clinical care after discharge for lung injury. The CDC does not know whether individuals who were re-admitted continued or restarted use. The range of time that the CDC is aware of for these re-admissions ranges from approximately five days after discharge to 55 days after discharge.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
As of 5 September 2019, the New York State Department of Health reported 34 cases of severe lung illness in patients who were reportedly using different vaping products. Tests conducted by the Wadsworth Center found exceedingly high amounts of vitamin E acetate in most of the cannabis e-cigarette products. "At least one vape product containing vitamin E acetate has been linked to each patient who submitted a product for testing," the New York State Department of Health stated. None of the nicotine-based product samples contained vitamin E acetate.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
According to the reports from Illinois and Wisconsin, the onset of respiratory findings appeared to have occurred over several days to several weeks before hospitalization. As of 5 September 2019, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 42 cases of lung illness, seven that were still being investigated, and one death. Severe lung illness among young adults and youth who used vaping products required hospitalization in 11 cases in Wisconsin and others were being investigated in August 2019. Symptoms were difficulty breathing, tiredness, chest pain, cough, and reduced weight. Some required help to breathe.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
On 9 August 2019, the California Department of Public Health issued a statement regarding a cluster of seven healthy adults in Kings County, California, all of whom required hospitalization. Since June 2019, at least seven cases of severe acute pulmonary illness in previously healthy adults were reported from a hospital in Kings County, California. Cases were among residents of multiple counties. The patients presented with progressive respiratory distress, sometimes initially diagnosed with pneumonia or bronchitis, and some with preceding fevers and gastrointestinal symptoms. All cases failed to respond to an initial course of antibiotic treatment.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States
All patients required admission to the hospital with significant respiratory support, including high-flow oxygen, bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP), or intubation with mechanical ventilation. Diagnoses included pneumonitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Several cases of vaping-associated pulmonary injury (VAPI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in California were connected to vaping cannabis products that were traced back to pop-up retailers. Patients have improved with systemic steroids. Evaluation for infectious etiologies has been negative to date in all patients. All patients reported vaping in the weeks prior to hospital admission, and a reported common exposure among these patients is that they have been vaping cannabis or CBD oils.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, United States, Deaths
As of 21 January 2020, a total of 60 deaths linked to illegal (Black market) cannabis vaping products have been confirmed in 27 states and the District of Columbia: Alabama, California (4), Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia (3), Illinois (5), Indiana (4), Kansas (2), Louisiana, Massachusetts (3), Michigan, Minnesota (3), Mississippi, Missouri (2), Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York (2), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee (2), Texas, Utah, and Virginia. The median age of deceased persons was 51 years and ranged from 15 to 75 years, as of 14 January 2020.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Canada
On 18 September 2019, a case of severe lung illness associated with vaping in Canada was reported. A high school student in Ontario needed to be put on life support. The person had been vaping every day. His health improved and he was sent home. This case has not been confirmed, as 27 September 2019. He vaped intensively, adding THC to his devices.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Canada
He initially showed symptoms aligning with bronchiolitis (lung condition normally caused by a bacterial or viral infection), but many patients that have vape-related illnesses in the United States have experienced damage to the alveoli; this type of injury was not found. Instead, his case aligned more with an injury called popcorn lung, an ailment most commonly seen in factory workers of microwave popcorn plants nearly 20 years ago.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Canada
On 27 September 2019, it was announced the first confirmed case of a vaping-related lung illness in Canada. A Montreal resident in Quebec in their 50s was admitted to a hospital with breathing difficulties. The person had been vaping to help them give up smoking. Chief Public Health Officer of Canada announced on 11 October 2019 that they are aware of the initial cases of vaping-associated lung illness and they stated that a few other occurrences are being investigated. Three probable cases have been reported in British Columbia as of 7 November 2019 and other cases are under investigation in British Columbia. Two probable cases have been reported in New Brunswick as of 16 October 2019.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Canada
A case in Newfoundland and Labrador was reported as a probable case of a lung illness tied to vaping in January 2020. A person became sick in late 2019 following the use of a cannabis product. The person has since been released from the hospital. As of 4 February 2020, 17 cases of lung injuries have been reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Reported cases were from Alberta (1), British Columbia (3), New Brunswick (2), Newfoundland and Labrador (1), Ontario (4), and Quebec (6). 14 people needed to be hospitalized.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Other countries
What has occurred in the US has not occurred in other places where vaping is frequent such as the UK. In European countries such as France, there is no evidence of an outbreak of the vaping-associated lung illness that occurred in the US.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
Investigators from multiple states in the US are collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) to determine the cause of the lung illnesses associated with the use of vaping products.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
On 6 September 2019, Dr. Dana Meaney-Delman, serving as the incident manager of CDC's response to this outbreak, said that "Based on the clinical and laboratory evidence to date, we believe that a chemical exposure is likely associated with these illnesses. However, and I really want to stress this, more information is needed to determine which specific products or substances are involved. We are aware that some laboratories have identified vitamin E acetate in product samples, and we have connected those laboratories with the FDA Forensic laboratories to compare results.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
At this time, no one device, product, or substance has been linked to all cases. Continued investigation is needed to better understand if a true relationship exists between any specific product or substance and the illnesses observed in patients. To find the answer we will need to combine information about e-cigarette use, and product sample testing and the clinical information from patients."


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
Patients have acknowledged recent use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing e-cigarette products while speaking to healthcare personnel, or in follow-up interviews by health department staff. On 6 September 2019, The New England Journal of Medicine reported that "Information on product use is based on reports by the patients, and patients may be reluctant to report illicit drug use."


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
On 2 October 2019, The New England Journal of Medicine reported that the histologic evidence suggests that the "vaping-associated lung injury represents a form of airway-centered chemical pneumonitis from one or more inhaled toxic substances rather than exogenous lipoid pneumonia as such, but the agents responsible remain unknown." They also stated that this "finding should be interpreted with caution." On 17 October 2019, the American Journal of Clinical Pathology reported that lung biopsies from eight patients with vaping-associated lung injury show acute lung injury patterns, not exogenous lipoid pneumonia.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
Of the 2,506 reported cases, information is available in the three months prior to symptom onset for 1,782 of them as of 3 December 2019. 80% reported THC use, 35% reported exclusive THC use, about 54% reported using nicotine-containing products, and 13% reported exclusive use of nicotine-containing products. The CDC reported that their findings suggest vaping products containing THC, particularly those obtained off the street or from other informal sources (e.g. friends, family members, illicit dealers), are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
On 8 November 2019, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, said, "for the first time we have detected a potential toxin of concern — Vitamin E acetate — in biologic samples from patients with lung injuries associated with the use of e-cigarette or vaping products." The sample types were bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples (fluid samples collected from the lungs). The chemical was found in samples collected from ten different states from the lungs of 29 patients with the disease.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
"These findings provide direct evidence of Vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury within the lungs," said Dr. Schuchat. The CDC tested for a wide range of substances that might be found in e-cigarette or vaping products including plant oil, petroleum distillates like mineral oil, medium-chain triglyceride oils – or MCT oils – and terpenes which are compounds found in or added to THC products. No other potential toxicants were detected in the testing conducted so far. The CDC did not rule out other possible compounds or ingredients that may be causing the lung injuries. No one compound or ingredient has emerged as the cause of these illnesses so far; and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
Many of the samples tested by the states or by the US FDA as part of the 2019 investigation have been identified as vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC, a psychoactive component of the cannabis plant) and further, most of those samples with THC tested also contained significant amounts of vitamin E acetate. Vitamin E acetate is a substance present in topical consumer products or dietary supplements, but data is limited about its effects after inhalation.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Investigation
While the US FDA does not have enough data presently to conclude that vitamin E acetate is the cause of the lung injury in these cases, the agency believes it is prudent to avoid inhaling this substance. The US FDA's Forensic Chemistry Center serves as the FDA's national laboratory and is playing a critical role in fact-gathering and analysis for the incidents of lung illnesses following vaping product use.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Illicit vaping
What people are inhaling is causing the lung illnesses. The lung illnesses are likely to be caused by a chemical exposure. Counterfeit cannabis cartridges are being sold to users at a reduced cost. Dank Vapes is an illicit brand that uses a cartridge. There is no singular company that owns Dank Vapes. There have been hundreds of people selling Dank Vapes cartridges.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Illicit vaping
Dank Vapes appears to be the most prominent in a class of largely counterfeit brands, with common packaging that is easily available online and that is used by distributors to market THC-containing cartridges with no obvious centralized production or distribution. Some of the vaping products that contained exceedingly high amounts of vitamin E acetate include Chronic Carts and . Illicit vape brands have been sold across multiple states in the US.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Illicit vaping
As of 27 August 2019, the most frequently used product reported by patients experiencing respiratory, gastrointestinal, and/or constitutional symptoms in Illinois and Wisconsin was the THC product called Dank Vapes. Dank Vapes was the most commonly reported product brand used by patients nationwide, although there are regional differences. While Dank Vapes was most commonly reported in the Northeast and South, TKO and Smart Cart brands were more commonly reported by patients in the West and Rove was more common in the Midwest. The composition of THC based oils is to a large extent not known.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
The CDC recommends that the public should consider not using any vaping products during their investigation, particularly those containing THC from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers as of 20 November 2019. The US FDA considers it prudent to avoid inhaling vitamin E acetate. On 6 September 2019, the US FDA stated that because consumers cannot be sure whether any THC vaping products may contain vitamin E acetate, consumers are urged to avoid buying vaping products on the street, and to refrain from using THC oil or modifying/adding any substances to products purchased in stores. The CDC recommends that e-cigarette, or vaping, products should never be used by youths, young adults, or women who are pregnant. Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette, or vaping, products, according to the CDC.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
Various diluent thickening products were sold online via wholesale suppliers. There has been an increase in attention to companies that sell diluent products that are made with vitamin E acetate. A lot of speculation has focused on Honey Cut. Honey Cut, used as a diluent thickener, became wildy used in Los Angeles' vape pen manufacturing plants in late 2018. After Honey Cut became widely used in THC vape cartridges many other similar products from other companies were introduced into the market in early 2019.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
The maker of Honey Cut's product is not known, and the only way to purchase the product was from the company's website. In early September 2019, the Honey Cut website went offline and Honey Cut told sellers in the Toy District, Los Angeles area to discontinue offering its products for sale. Counterfeit products from China that look like Honey Cut products were being sold, which increased the confusion in regard to which products people may have been vaping.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
The company Floraplex in Michigan has shutdown the buyers page for their Uber Thick brand. The diluent products called Clear Cut were sold by Connoisseur Concentrates from Tigard, Oregon. Clear Cut is no longer available from the company's website. The company acknowledged the products contained vitamin E acetate. The company stated that it began selling the products in May 2019 and was reviewed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. As of 10 September 2019, Mass Terpenes' Pure Thickener diluent is no longer available on its website.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
A cache of the product on its website stated, "a proprietary formula composed simply of flavorless terpenes and a derivative of Vitamin E (to preserve color and consistency)." Aaron Riley, CEO of CannaSafe, stated that likely about 75-80% of illicit vapes use some type of diluent agent. Drew Jones of Mr Extractor stated in September 2019 that as high as 70% of illicit cannabis vape cartridges in the US contain vitamin E acetate. It is estimated that at least 40 companies in the US sold a cutting agent containing vitamin E acetate. Thickening agents have been sold online as a less costly and safer substitute.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
Thickening agents were used to water down and bulk up vape oils. Thickening agents were used mostly in THC vape products. Vitamin E acetate was used to cut THC oil to dilute it. Vitamin E acetate dilutes vape oil without making it look like the oil was watered down. Previously, vitamin E was used in low concentrations, or lower than 20% of the formula in vape cartridges.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
As a result of a limited availability of cannabis in California as well as high demand, illicit sellers had used about 50% or higher of diluent thickeners in their formulas to bulk up tiny potency vape cartridges. Thomas Whitten, a consultant at WeedRAR, said to Rolling Stone that "there's so much cutting agent even the people who made the cutting agent didn't expect it to be cut that much." Some cannabis laboratories began making arrangements in September 2019 to provide testing services for vitamin E.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
Regulations in legal markets for cannabis use allow the use of many additives such as tocopherols (various forms of vitamin E). However, regulators may be considering banning such substances in the near future, as of September 2019. As of December 2019, Washington state has now banned vape products containing vitamin E acetate, thought to be linked to illness. Although the substance is not banned in the United States and has not been officially declared as a deadly substance, many states are making advances to ban the use of the chemical in vape products.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Public health recommendations
States like Massachusetts are considering a ban on flavored tobacco and vape products, and in New York, Manhattan is expected to become the largest city to ban all vaping flavors except tobacco. Other states that have already banned the use of vitamin E acetate in vape products include Colorado and Ohio.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Subpoenas
In September 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo instructed the state health department to issue subpoenas against three sellers of thickening agents used in illicit vaping products. The subpoenas are being served against Honey Cut Labs in Santa Monica, California, for its Honey Cut product; Floraplex Terpenes in Ypsilanti, Michigan, for its Uber Thick product; and Mass Terpenes in Amherst, Massachusetts, for its product. All three firms sell a product used as a thickener in vape liquids. The thickeners from all three firms were found to contain mostly vitamin E acetate, according to test results from the Wadsworth Center.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Criminal cases
On 5 September 2019, Tyler Huffhines and Jacob Huffhines were arrested. Search warrants were served on a house at their place of residence and at a leased condominium. In September 2019, an investigation in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, is underway to determine whether a major operation ran by the Huffhines brothers for purportedly making illicit THC vape cartridges, which were packed in containers to resemble candy and were thought to have been marketed to youth, could be related to a series of vaping-induced lung illness and deaths in the US. The purportedly candy-themed containers used names such as Sour Patch.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Criminal cases
In January 2018, Tyler Huffhines purportedly began the operation. The vape cartridges purportedly contained as high as 1,000 milligrams of THC, when the packaging stated it was just 5 milligrams. Roughly $1.5 million worth of THC products were seized during the raid. 57 mason jars containing THC oil were also seized during the raid. Each jar was worth about $6,000.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Criminal cases
An initial appearance in Kenosha County court was held for both brothers on 16 September 2019. Tyler Huffhines is facing multiple drug-related charges including possession with intent to deliver THC. Jacob Huffhines is facing charges including being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of THC. Bond for Tyler Huffhines was set $500,000. Bond for Jacob Huffhines was set at $50,000. Both are scheduled to return to court on 26 September 2019. The Huffhines brothers pleaded not guilty on 23 October 2019.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Criminal cases
Courtney Huffhines, the mother of Jacob and Tyler Huffhines, was charged with assisting her sons run the illegal THC vape operation. A woman was arrested in connection with the THC vape operation. On 3 October 2019, Hannah Curty was charged with making THC, as a party to an offense against the law. She is scheduled to return to court on 11 October 2019. Courtney Huffhines and Hannah Curty were in court on 11 October 2019. Both women are due to return to court on 23 October 2019. Courtney Huffhines and Hannah Curty pleaded not guilty on 23 October 2019.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Criminal cases
On 17 October 2019, 22-year-old Jordan Lynam was charged with making THC vape cartridges in relation to the Huffhines's purportedly illicit vaping operation.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Criminal cases
Daniel Graumenz, Wesley Webb, and Tarail King are facing charges in relation to the illicit vaping operation.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Civil lawsuits
On 23 September 2019, a product liability lawsuit, Charles Wilcoxson v. Canna Brand Solutions LLC et al., was filed in Superior Court of Pierce County, Washington, against makers of . Wilcoxson, a peace officer, had used THC vape products between January 2018 and September 2019. He bought cannabis products that included Conscious Cannabis, Rainbows Aloft, Leafwerx, MFused, and Jane's Garden, and a Canna Brand Solutions vaporizer, all of which were cited as defendants. The plaintiff was hospitalized for three days in September 2019 with wheezing and lipoid pneumonia as a result of his vaping, according to the complaint.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Civil lawsuits
In September 2019, 35-year-old Erin Gilbert from Virgin Islands filed a lawsuit against Just CBD in a Broward County, Florida court, contending that her sickness was the result of a CBD vape oil containing mango flavor that she had purchased from a merchant in Saint Croix. After just a few days of using the vape oil, she had severe respiratory problems, multiple organ failure, and deficient supply of oxygen, resulting in necrosis of her legs, both of which had to be amputated.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Civil lawsuits
In May 2019, a 21-year-old was hospitalized for more than two weeks due to fluid in his lungs and was in a medically induced coma for 8 days. He had purportedly developed an addiction to Juul mint pods, which he had been using since age 19. In October, the patient sued Juul, complaining the company did not disclose the dangers of its pod system and deceptively advertised its products as being safer than combustible cigarettes. The suite also claimed Juul advertised its products to intentionally entice underage individuals and young adults as well as people who are never frequent smokers.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Civil lawsuits
In September 2019, a lawsuit was brought on behalf of an 18-year-old from Illinois who had been hospitalized with lung damage from vaping. The sued charged Juul with targeting teens with false marketing of a dangerous product, and a gas station for allowing him to buy vaping products as a minor.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Legal proceedings, Civil lawsuits
On 29 October 2019, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest district in the nation filed a class action suit against Juul for creating an epidemic of youth vaping that impedes student learning and risking the health and safety of more than 600,000 students in the Los Angeles School District. As of January 2020, a total of 10 California school districts have filed a lawsuit against Juul Labs, Inc. The suit seeks injunctive relief and abatement remedy to fight against the vaping epidemic in the California school districts.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, E-cigarette industry
The e-cigarette industry is placing the blame on illicit vaping liquids for the lung injuries. "Each day of this crisis brings more evidence that street vapes containing THC or other illegal drugs are responsible for these illnesses, not nicotine vaping products," said Gregory Conley of the American Vaping Association, in August 2019. "Like any health-related events reportedly associated with the use of vapor products, we are monitoring these reports," Juul Labs stated to Reuters in August 2019. The company also stated that some news reports state that several cases of lung illness are associated with vaping THC, found in cannabis, "a Schedule 1, controlled substance that we do not sell."


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
The CDC recommends that people should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC, particularly from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers. Until the relationship of vitamin E acetate and lung health is better understood, vitamin E acetate should not be added to e-cigarette, or vaping, products. In addition, people should not add any substance to e-cigarette or vaping products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
CDC also recommends that people should not modify or add any substances such as vitamin E acetate to e-cigarette, or vaping, products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments. According to the CDC, if you are an adult using e-cigarettes, or vaping, products, to quit smoking, do not return to smoking cigarettes. Adults addicted to nicotine using e-cigarettes should weigh all risks and benefits, and consider utilizing FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
The US FDA considers it prudent to avoid inhaling vitamin E acetate. On 6 September 2019, the US FDA stated that because consumers cannot be sure whether any THC vaping products may contain vitamin E acetate, consumers are urged to avoid buying vaping products on the street, and to refrain from using THC oil or modifying/adding any substances to products purchased in stores. On 4 October 2019, the US FDA strengthened its warning to consumers to stop using vaping products containing THC amid more than 1,000 reports of lung injuries—including some resulting in deaths—following the use of vaping products.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
"The legal vapes have been actively regulated by FDA since Aug 2017. FDA has conducted thousands of inspections of manufacturers and vape stores, published manufacturing guidance, sought product removals etc. These tragedies point to illegal vapes and THC," former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted in August 2019. During an interviewed on CNBC's Squawk Box on 9 September 2019, Gottlieb said that "the current belief is the illnesses are linked to illegal vapes containing vitamin E oil." He also stated that cannabis products in the US should be regulated.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
"The e-cigarette-related lung illnesses currently sweeping across the country reaffirm our belief that the use of e-cigarettes and vaping is an urgent public health epidemic that must be addressed. We must not stand by while e-cigarettes continue to go unregulated. We urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed up the regulation of e-cigarettes and remove all unregulated products from the market.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
We also call on the FDA to immediately ban flavors, as well as marketing practices, that enhance the appeal of e-cigarette products to youth," Patrice A. Harris, the president of the American Medical Association, stated on 9 September 2019. On 19 November 2019, the American Medical Association urged for a complete ban on all types of vaping products that are not approved by the US FDA as quitting smoking aids.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
Various states have banned vitamin E acetate in vaping products, including Colorado, Ohio, and Washington.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
The governor of Massachusetts declared a public health emergency on 24 September 2019, and ordered a 4-month moratorium on the sale of all vaping products, both for nicotine and THC. After courts determined it had sole jurisdiction over THC products, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission quarantine all THC vape products until they could be screened for vitamin E acetate and other chemicals. A Massachusetts testing lab offering tests to consumers found vitamin E acetate was widespread in unlicensed products but not in licensed products. The nicotine vaping ban was also challenged and ended early, but prompted the state legislature to ban flavored nicotine products to reduce underage vaping, among other new measures.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, United States
The federal government has been criticized for instituting bans on flavored products rather than passing caps on nicotine concentrations and establishing accountability measures for negligent marketing.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, Canada
Health Canada, the responsible government agency, responded to the US cases of potentially deadly lung illness by issuing a warning on 4 September 2019. They advise that Canadians consider not using vaping products, monitor for symptoms, get a medical attention quickly if they have concerns, tell their doctor if and what they vape or have vaped, avoid the illegal and unregulated markets, avoid modifying vaping products, report adverse reactions, and monitor their advisory for updates. They also stated for those who are vaping to watch for symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain. On 11 October 2019, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada recommended to Canadians to consider holding back from vaping. Health Canada started a $766,000 advertisement campaign to curb underage vaping in part in response to the US and Canadian outbreak.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, Europe
"What little we know of recent reports from the U.S. is that the devices used appear to be linked to 'home brews' of illicit drugs and not legitimate vaping products," Martin Dockrell, overseer of tobacco control at Public Health England, stated in September 2019.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, Australia
As a result of a potential link between vaping and lung illness in the US, the Australian Medical Association stated on September 18, 2019, that they reiterate a precautionary approach for the use of vaping products.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, India
Following a string of deaths tied to vaping in the US, India has banned the sales of vaping products in September 2019.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Responses, World Health Organization
Dr. Vinayak Prasad, overseer of tobacco control at World Health Organization, told CNN on September 12, 2019, that WHO was observing the events in the US and abroad and will provide information to governments at the appropriate time. Prasad also stated that its member states have not made any announcements of lung illnesses that resemble those that were observed in the US.


2019–2020 vaping lung illness outbreak, Hospitalized patients
News media featured hospitalized lung vaping illness patients in narratives including the following:


2019–2020 wheat flour crisis in Pakistan
Wheat flour crisis in Pakistan started in November 2019 and worsened around mid-January 2020 onwards.


2019–2020 wheat flour crisis in Pakistan, Background
The products made out of wheat flour especially roti are a staple in Pakistani diet. Wheat flour is also used to make naans and other forms of bread in Pakistan. It is estimated that 22 million tons of wheat is consumed in Pakistan annually.


2019–2020 wheat flour crisis in Pakistan, Background
When Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took over the helms of governmental affairs in August 2018, the price of the wheat flour was 50 PKR per kilogram (KG).


2019–2020 wheat flour crisis in Pakistan, Crisis
The crisis came to surface with its full-fledged intensity around mid-January 2020 when the Flour Mills Association (FMA) raised the wheat flour price by 6 PKR per KG hitting a total of around 70 PKR per KG. This was an increase of 20 PKR per KG since the inception of PTI government.


2019–2020 wheat flour crisis in Pakistan, Crisis
Hiking up the price, the FMA complained that they did not receive any subsidy from the government while in addition to the price of raw commodity, the gas and electric prices were hiked up as well thus they did not have any other option but to bump up the flour prices.


2019–2020 wheat flour crisis in Pakistan, Management
According to Jehangir Tareen who is affiliated with the government of PTI, the crisis started in November 2019 and the federal government furnished Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Cooperation (Passco) with 400,000 tonnes of wheat to counter the crisis.


2019–2020 wheat flour crisis in Pakistan, Bibliography
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2019–2021 Albanian political crisis
Starting from 16 February 2019, the opposition parties organized a series of protests and rallies against the government to demand new elections and the formation of a technocrat government that would ensure the fairness of the electoral process, citing electoral fraud and corruption in the government as the main reasons for the need for change.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis
The opposition coalition consists of the Democratic Party of Albania, the Socialist Movement for Integration, the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, the Republican Party and other minor opposition parties. After the first protests opposition MPs decided to resign in mass from parliament.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Background
Following a 6-month boycott period, the opposition parties returned to parliament in January and announced mass protests to be held against the Rama Government. Meanwhile, the government was reshuffled as an aftermath of the student protests.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Background
In a similar rhetoric as in 2017 the opposition coalition accused the government of corruption and electoral fraud. The first nationwide protest was announced on 16 February 2019 in Tirana. Prior to that, the State Police issued a warning about the presence of criminal elements in the protest which was condemned as a form of intimidation by the opposition coalition.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Protests and mass resignation
On 16 February 2019, opposition supporters from different cities gathered in Tirana demanding new elections and the resignation of the Rama Government. The protest turned violent as there were clashes with the police and use of tear gas and water cannon against the protesters. Some of them tried to enter the Prime Minister's Office as they broke through police ranks. Thousands of opposition supporters attended the protest that was considered as being one the biggest protests that the country had seen in years.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Protests and mass resignation
In the aftermath, the opposition parties announced that all their MPs in the parliament would resign from the parliament in an unprecedented act. On 22 February 2019 another protest was announced outside the parliament's building, while other MPs were attending the plenary session. The peaceful demonstration culminated in a march led by opposition leader Lulzim Basha and members of the opposition parties in the parliament, to hand over signed statements giving up their parliamentary seats and demanding fresh elections. More than 40 seats were vacated and the Central Elections Commission started in the following days the procedures to replace the MPs with mostly unknown and inexperienced figures that were part of the candidate lists during the 2017 election.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Protests and mass resignation
Some MPs from opposition parties refused to resign their mandate, among them the daughter of one of the founders of the Democratic Party, Rudina Hajdari.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Protests and mass resignation
On 16 March 2019, another big demonstration was announced. It started outside the Prime Minister's Office building and continued outside the parliament, where once again protesters clashed with police and water cannons and tear gas were used to controlling the situation.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Protests and mass resignation
Another big protest was called on 18 April 2019, this time in the afternoon. In the days prior to the protest, the two main opposition parties have refused to enlist in the local elections of 30 June, signaling a boycott.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Boycotting local elections
The opposition parties decided to boycott the local elections previously set to be held on 30 June.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Boycotting local elections, Wiretap scandal
Wiretaps part of an investigation still on process by the prosecution office in Albania, were released by Bild on June, where government and socialist party officials were taped dealing with vote buying and forcing people to vote for the Socialist Party in the elections of Dibra. Among the officials in the tapes was also the Prime Minister Edi Rama, former minister of Energy Damian Gjiknuri and former minister of interior Saimir Tahiri.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Reactions
After the protest of 16 February turned violent, the US Embassy in Tirana issued a press statement condemning the violence and destruction. Other foreign embassies issued similar statements condemning the violence and calling for political dialogue to solve the situation.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Reactions
The mission of OSCE in Albania called the instigators and the perpetrators to "bear the responsibility for the incidents".


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Reactions
Following the mass resignation of the opposition MPs, the European Union condemned the extreme action through a joint statement issued by the EU Diplomatic Chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, considering the acts as counterproductive and against the democratic choice of Albanian citizens, undermining progress in the path to accessing the European Union and hindering the functioning of democracy in Albania.


2019–2021 Albanian political crisis, Protests in 2020
A protest movement erupted in May after the demolition of a theatre. Police dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas and pepper spray. Another movement erupted in December after a shooting of a man. Tear gas was fired to disperse protesters while protests dwindled.


2019–2021 Algerian protests
The  2019–2021 Algerian protests, also called Revolution of Smiles or Hirak Movement, began on 16 February 2019, six days after Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced his candidacy for a fifth presidential term in a signed statement. These protests, without precedent since the Algerian Civil War, were peaceful and led the military to insist on Bouteflika's immediate resignation, which took place on 2 April 2019. By early May, a significant number of power-brokers close to the deposed administration, including the former president's younger brother Saïd, had been arrested.


2019–2021 Algerian protests
The rising tensions within the Algerian regime can be traced back to the beginning of Bouteflika's rule which has been characterized by the state's monopoly on natural resources revenues used to finance the government's clientelist system and ensure its stability. The major demonstrations have taken place in the largest urban centers of Algeria from February to December 2019. Due to their significant scale, the protests attracted international media coverage and provoked reactions from several heads of states and scholarly figures.


2019–2021 Algerian protests, Background, Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika had been president of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria since 1999. Two amnesties (via referendum) for former combatants in the Algerian Civil War had taken place during his presidency (1999 and 2005). A complex "dirty war" between Islamic guerrillas and the government had claimed a contested number of approximately 200,000 lives between 1991–2002. Nearly half of the Algerian population was born after the end of the conflict, amidst the din of repeated corruption scandals.


2019–2021 Algerian protests, Background, Abdelaziz Bouteflika
With Bouteflika's accession to power in 1999, he began a diplomatic mission to rehabilitate Algeria's image abroad. He set about consolidating power, especially after his re-election in 2003. During his tenure as president, the power center in Algerian politics shifted from the east to west, most particularly to Tlemcen, where some became highly placed figures in the media, administration, and police. Roughly $10 billion of public funding flowed to the city for construction projects, including a university, hotels, museums and airports. €155m was spent on a state residence, which remains incomplete. Many of the public works contracts were given to Chinese companies, by whom local contractors were allegedly not always paid.


2019–2021 Algerian protests, Background, Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Oil-rich during the Arab Spring, the government was able to quiet dissent during the 2010–2012 protests with increased spending.


2019–2021 Algerian protests, Background, Abdelaziz Bouteflika
The constitutional revision of 2016 limited the number of presidential terms that could be served to two, but nevertheless allowed Bouteflika to seek a fifth term, because the law was not retroactive.


2019–2021 Algerian protests, Background, Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Since 2005, and especially after his stroke in 2013, Bouteflika's ability to govern the country was called into question: rumors of his death were frequent as he was often hospitalized, no longer spoke and made very few written statements. In this context, some Algerians considered his announced candidacy for the presidential election, originally scheduled for 18 April 2019, 4 July 2019 or 2020, to be humiliating.


2019–2021 Algerian protests, Background, Corruption
Members of Bouteflika's administration have been accused of engaging in corrupt practices in several instances. In 2010, Sonatrach, the state-owned oil and gas company, suspended all of its senior management after two of the company's vice-presidents were imprisoned for corruption. Algeria's Energy Minister Chakib Khelil announced that the president of the company and several executives have been placed under judicial supervision. In 2013, Khelil was also accused of receiving a bribe from a subsidiary of the Italian energy company Eni. According to El Watan, overbilling for public works and misleading descriptions of imported goods are two common corrupt practices, facilitated by cronyism at the highest levels.


2019–2021 Algerian protests, Background, Corruption
On 26 June 2018, Bouteflika dismissed Abdelghani Hamel as head of the national police (DGSN), despite the latter being part of his inner circle. This news came after one of Hamel's drivers had become a suspect in Cocainegate, which led a general of the gendarmerie, four judges and two public prosecutors to be tried for bribery.