There is no tradition more widely practiced in the world than the passing of a new year or a new cycle of the seasons. Through thousands of years of civilization, the questions passing through everyone’s mind at this time are: “Will this year be better, will it be worse? What should I do or not do?”
2019 was an extraordinarily turbulent year. There was the trade war that induced a worldwide economic slowdown, just reaching a phase-1 deal between the United States and China as the year ended. The United States sent drones to assassinate Gen. Qassem Soleimani of Iran, in Iraq, launched out of Qatar, almost starting a regional war as Iran retaliated with an attack on US bases, then accidentally blowing up a Canadian passenger airline. Hong Kong descended into chaos, with the US actually legislating support for activists engaged in violence and penalizing those trying to control them. Venezuelan embassies were taken over, with the US backing opposition forces. Saudi Arabia oil fields were decommissioned by drone attacks, as well.
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