Tag Archives: 2000

12 December 2000

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The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore.

The United States Supreme Court’s decision in Bush v. Gore, issued on December 12, 2000, effectively resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. The case arose from the contentious Florida recount, initiated after the vote count showed an extremely narrow margin between Bush and his opponent, Al Gore. The Court ruled 7–2 that the lack of uniform standards in Florida’s recount violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. However, the more consequential 5–4 decision halted the recount, concluding that no constitutionally valid recount could be completed by Florida’s statutory deadline. This decision was deeply controversial, as it not only ended the election but also underscored political and judicial tensions, with critics arguing that the ruling favored partisan interests. The case remains a significant moment in U.S. legal and political history, raising enduring questions about the judiciary’s role in electoral disputes and the application of equal protection principles.

7 May 2000

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Vladimir Putin is inaugurated as president of Russia.

Vladimir Putin is a significant and controversial figure in global politics. He has served as both President and Prime Minister of Russia, positions he has held since 1999 in varying capacities. Born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia, Putin studied law at Leningrad State University, graduating in 1975.

After graduation, he joined the KGB, the Soviet Union’s security agency, and served for 16 years, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Putin retired from active KGB service and entered politics in his hometown of Saint Petersburg. He moved to Moscow in 1996 and quickly ascended the political ranks, becoming the head of the FSB (the KGB’s successor) and then Secretary of the Security Council.

In 1999, President Boris Yeltsin appointed Putin as Prime Minister, and later that year, Yeltsin resigned, appointing Putin as acting President. Putin won his first presidential term in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004. Due to constitutional term limits, he served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012 under President Dmitry Medvedev but maintained significant influence. In 2012 and again in 2018, Putin was re-elected as President.

Putin’s tenure has been marked by significant economic growth, military reform, and the reassertion of Russia as a major power on the world stage. However, his administration has also been criticized for authoritarian practices, the erosion of democratic institutions, suppression of opposition, control over the media, and allegations of corruption and election manipulation.

Internationally, Putin has pursued an assertive foreign policy, most notably the annexation of Crimea in 2014, involvement in the Syrian civil war, and ongoing tensions with Western countries. His leadership continues to evoke strong reactions, ranging from staunch support within Russia to severe criticism and sanctions from abroad.

10 March 2000

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The Dot-com bubble peaks with the NASDAQ Composite stock market index reaching 5,048.62.

The Dot-com bubble was a period of excessive speculation in Internet-related companies and their stocks in the late 1990s and early 2000s. During this time, many investors were pouring large amounts of money into companies that had little or no earnings, but were expected to become profitable in the future. The rapid growth of the Internet, combined with the excitement and hype surrounding new technologies, fueled this speculative fervor.

As more and more investors piled into these companies, their stock prices soared to unprecedented levels, often far beyond their intrinsic value. However, the bubble eventually burst in the early 2000s, as many of these companies failed to meet expectations and the market corrected itself. This led to a widespread market downturn and many of the companies that were previously highly valued lost much of their worth, resulting in large losses for investors.

The Dot-com bubble was a significant event in the history of the stock market and serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of excessive speculation and hype.