Retrospective 2024

Global Political Events 

• Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election on November 5, 2024, succeeding Joe Biden. 
• Emmanuel Macron led France in 2024, but the dissolution of the National Assembly triggered early elections. 
• Keir Starmer became the UK’s Prime Minister in July, replacing Rishi Sunak after the general election. 
• Sweden became the 32nd NATO member, strengthening the alliance in the Nordic region. 
• In South Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached by the National Assembly in December. 

Conflicts and Attacks 

• The Ukrainian incursion into Kursk in August marked an escalation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with North Korea providing military support to Russia. 
• In Syria, Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebels, ending decades of family rule. 
• Israel intensified its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon and eliminated several Hamas leaders. 
• Sudan continued its civil war, particularly devastating in Darfur, with millions displaced. 
• An assassination attempt targeted Donald Trump in July, leaving him slightly injured. 

Scientific Events 

• A total solar eclipse crossed Mexico, the United States, and Canada on April 8, offering a spectacular view. 
• Japan became the fifth country to achieve a lunar landing with its SLIM mission. 
• A faulty update to the Falcon Sensor software caused a global IT outage in July, affecting millions of computers. 
• The UK closed its last coal power plant, becoming the first G7 country to fully abandon coal for electricity generation. 

Disasters and Natural Phenomena 

• Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused significant damage in the U.S. in September and October. 
• Typhoon Man-yi struck the Philippines in November, generating 14-meter waves. 
• Japan experienced a series of deadly earthquakes in January, while a landslide in Papua New Guinea killed over 2,000 people in May. 
• Major floods in Spain resulted in 240 deaths in October. 

Sports 

• Paris successfully hosted the Olympics from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8. 
• The United States dominated the 2024 Paris Olympics with 126 medals. 
• Léon Marchand excelled in swimming, winning four gold medals, while Simone Biles made a triumphant comeback in gymnastics. 
• In North America’s major leagues, the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Boston Celtics (NBA), and Florida Panthers (NHL) emerged as champions. 
• Spain won Euro 2024 by defeating England 2-1, marking their fourth tournament victory. 
• Real Madrid claimed the Champions League, achieving a historic 15th title. 
• Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his Wimbledon title, defeating Novak Djokovic. 
• Tadej Pogacar won his third Tour de France, and Max Verstappen secured his fourth Formula 1 title. 

Culture 

• Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopened in December after years of restoration. 
• Céline Dion’s rendition of "Hymne à l’amour" during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony marked her return to the stage. 
• Kavinsky and Angèle broke Shazam records with their performance of "Nightcall" during the Olympics. 
• The film "Oppenheimer" won the Oscar for Best Picture, with Cillian Murphy named Best Actor for his leading role. 
• The Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival was awarded to "Anora," directed by Sean Baker. 
• Taylor Swift dominated the year, becoming Spotify’s most-streamed artist and winning the Grammy for Album of the Year for "Midnights." 

Notable Deaths 

• Donald Sutherland and Maggie Smith, icons of cinema, passed away in 2024. 
• Brian Mulroney, former Canadian Prime Minister, and Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader, were prominent figures in obituaries. 
• Quincy Jones, a legendary music figure, died at 91. 
• Liam Payne, former One Direction member, tragically passed away in October in Buenos Aires.