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| 2024 by topic |
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2024 (MMXXIV) is the current year, and is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2024th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 24th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 5th year of the 2020s decade.
So far, this year has witnessed the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war, the war in Sudan, and the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel. The continuance of the Israel–Hamas war has further caused spillover into numerous countries, including a Red Sea crisis impacting global shipping.
Approximately 76 countries, representing around four billion people, are expected to conduct national elections throughout the course of the year, including eight out of ten of the world's most populous countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, Pakistan, Russia, India, Mexico, Indonesia, and the United States),[1] and the United Kingdom. The European Parliament will also hold elections.[7]
Events[edit]
January[edit]
- January 1
- Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates become BRICS members.[8]
- The Republic of Artsakh is formally dissolved as Nagorno-Karabakh unifies with Azerbaijan.[9]
- A 7.5 Mww earthquake strikes the western coast of Japan, killing at least 240 people and injuring 1,289 others. A further five are killed the next day when a Coast Guard aircraft carrying humanitarian aid collides with a Japan Airlines passenger jet, destroying both aircraft. All 379 people aboard the passenger jet are evacuated safely.[12]
- Ethiopia announces an agreement with Somaliland to use the port of Berbera. Ethiopia also says that it will eventually recognize Somaliland's independence, becoming the first country to do so.[13]
- January 2 – 2023 Marshallese general election: The Legislature of the Marshall Islands elects Hilda Heine as President for a second non-consecutive term, during its first session following the general election.[14]
- January 3 – 2024 Kerman bombings: An Islamic State double bombing kills 94 people during a memorial event commemorating the assassination of Qasem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran.[15] The bombing was carried out using two briefcase bombs placed at the entrance that were detonated remotely.[16]
- January 7 – 2024 Bangladeshi general election: The Awami League, led by incumbent Sheikh Hasina, wins a fourth consecutive term amid protests by opposition parties and a large drop in voter turnout.
- January 8 – 2024 conflict in Ecuador: Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declares a state of emergency following the escape of Los Choneros drug cartel leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar from prison. The military will be deployed onto the streets and into prisons, while setting a national nighttime curfew.[19]
- January 11 – Riots break out throughout Papua New Guinea after an alleged rounding error causes pay cuts in police officers and soldiers.[20]
- January 12 – Operation Prosperity Guardian: A U.S.-led coalition launches air strikes at Houthi militant locations in Yemen, marking a retaliation to the Houthis' attacks on ships in the Red Sea.[21]
- January 13 – 2024 Taiwanese presidential election: Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party wins with 40% of the vote.[22]
- January 14
- Margrethe II formally abdicates as Queen of Denmark on the 52nd anniversary of her accession, with her eldest son Frederik succeeding her as King Frederik X.[23]
- 2024 Comorian presidential election: Amid an opposition boycott, incumbent president Azali Assoumani wins re-election with 62.9% of the vote and only 16.3% voter turnout.
- January 15 – Following a brief political crisis in the aftermath of the 2023 elections, Bernardo Arévalo is inaugurated as the 52nd President of Guatemala.
- January 19 – Japan becomes the fifth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, with its SLIM mission.
- January 24 – 2024 Korochansky Ilyushin Il-76 crash: A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane carrying (according to Russia) 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, six crew members and three guards crashes in Russia's Korochansky District, near the Ukrainian border, killing everybody on board.[30]
- January 26
- Israel–Hamas war: The UN's International Court of Justice rules that Israel must take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza, but stops short of ordering an immediate halt to operations.[31]
- 2024 Tuvaluan general election: Kausea Natano, the incumbent Prime Minister of Tuvalu, loses reelection to Parliament.[32]
- January 31 – Sultan of Johor Ibrahim Iskandar ascends to the throne as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.[33]
February[edit]
- February 4
- President of Namibia Hage Geingob dies at the age of 82, and is succeeded by his vice-president Nangolo Mbumba.
- 2024 Salvadoran general election: Incumbent President Nayib Bukele wins the election with over 80% of the vote, becoming the first president to be reelected in El Salvador since 1944.
- February 7 – 2024 Azerbaijani presidential election: Amid an opposition boycott, President Ilham Aliyev is reelected to a fifth term.[38]
- February 8 – 2024 Pakistani general election: Independent politicians, most of whom are members of the banned political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, win a plurality of seats in the National Assembly.[39]
