2024

2024: A Year of Turmoil, Triumphs, and Transformations

2024 is the current year, a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. It marks the 24th year of the 3rd millennium, the 21st century, and the 5th year of the 2020s decade.

As we stand at the threshold of this pivotal year, it’s hard not to feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Major armed conflicts continue to rage across the globe, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Myanmar civil war, Sudanese civil war, and Islamist insurgency in the Sahel casting long shadows over peace. The Israel-Hamas war has led to spillover into Lebanon, with Israel invading in October. These events are not just headlines; they are realities that impact millions of lives.

The rise in activity by the Houthi movement is contributing to a crisis in the Red Sea, impacting global shipping and exacerbating tensions. Protests against these wars have been widespread, echoing the voices of those who seek peace and stability. It’s a year where the world seems to be at a crossroads, with choices that could shape the future for generations.

Approximately 80 countries will conduct national elections throughout the year, including eight out of ten of the world’s most populous countries. Many democracies saw significant losses for incumbent parties, with historic defeats in some cases. These elections are not just about choosing leaders; they represent a vote on the direction and future of nations.

Key events include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates becoming BRICS members, marking a shift in global economic power dynamics. The Republic of Artsakh being formally dissolved as Nagorno-Karabakh unifies with Azerbaijan is another significant geopolitical change. A 7.5 Mw earthquake striking Japan’s western coast, killing over 462 people, highlights the vulnerability to natural disasters that many countries face.

The year saw the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, and Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, in Tehran. These events have profound implications for regional stability and power dynamics. The Bangladeshi general election saw the Awami League win a fourth consecutive term on January 8.

January 11 – Riots broke out throughout Papua New Guinea after an alleged rounding error caused pay cuts in police officers and soldiers. Operation Prosperity Guardian: A U.S.-led coalition launched air strikes at Houthi militant locations in Yemen, marking retaliation to the Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

January 13 – The 2024 Taiwanese presidential election saw Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party win with 40% of the vote. January 14 – Margrethe II formally abdicated as Queen of Denmark, with her eldest son Frederik succeeding her as King Frederik X.

January 15 – Following a brief political crisis in the aftermath of the 2023 elections, Bernardo Arévalo was inaugurated as the 52nd President of Guatemala. January 16 – Iran carried out missile and drone strikes within Pakistan’s Balochistan province, claiming it had targeted the Iranian Baloch militant group Jaish ul-Adl.

January 18 – Pakistan conducted retaliatory airstrikes on Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province. January 19 – Japan became the fifth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon with its SLIM mission. January 24 – A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war, six crew members, and three guards crashed in Russia’s Korochansky District, near the Ukrainian border, killing everyone on board.

January 26 – The UN’s International Court of Justice ruled that Israel must take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza but stopped short of ordering an immediate halt to operations. January 31 – Sultan of Johor Ibrahim Iskandar ascended the throne as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

February 2 – The US launched airstrikes on 85 targets in Iraq and Syria in response to a deadly drone attack on a US military base. February 4 – President of Namibia Hage Geingob died at the age of 82, succeeded by his vice-president Nangolo Mbumba.

February 6 – Former President of Chile Sebastián Piñera died in a helicopter crash at the age of 74. February 7 – The 2024 Azerbaijani presidential election saw President Ilham Aliyev re-elected to a fifth term amid an opposition boycott. February 8 – Independent politicians, most of whom are members of the banned political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, won a plurality of seats in the National Assembly.

February 11 – Alexander Stubb was elected president of Finland in the second round of the 2024 Finnish presidential election. February 14 – Prabowo Subianto won the Indonesian presidential election, and the Democratic Party of Struggle won the most votes in the legislative election.

February 22 – American company Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander became the first commercial vehicle to land on the Moon. February 28 – A state of emergency was declared by the Haitian government after gangs stormed two prisons and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

March 7 – Sweden officially joined NATO, becoming its 32nd member after Finland a year earlier. March 10 – The Democratic Alliance won a plurality of seats and formed a minority government amid losses by the incumbent Socialist Party and major gains by the right-wing Chega party in Portugal’s legislative election.

March 11 – Haitian acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his pending resignation from both offices amid an ongoing crisis marked by gang warfare. March 13 – The Artificial Intelligence Act, the world’s first comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, was passed by the European Union.

March 14 – The UN estimated that at least 56% of Palestinian civilians killed in the Israel–Hamas war were women and children. March 15-17 – Vladimir Putin was re-elected for a fifth term in Russia’s presidential election. March 22 – Islamic State-affiliated gunmen attacked concertgoers at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, killing at least 145 people and injuring 551.

March 24 – Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected president of Senegal after his party and its former candidate Ousmane Sonko were disqualified. March 25 – The UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza and demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

March 26 – A container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing its total collapse and the deaths of six people. March 31 – Bulgaria and Romania became members of the Schengen Area through sea and air routes.

The year 2024 is a testament to both human resilience and the challenges we face as a global community. It’s a reminder that while progress can be made, it often comes with significant costs and sacrifices. As we move forward into this new chapter, let us remember the importance of unity, understanding, and cooperation in shaping our collective future.