Donald Trump's return to the White House, Israel's expansion of the Gaza war into Lebanon, and the Olympics that lit up Paris were among the news events that marked 2024. AFP looks back at 12 major stories that made headlines:
More than a year into the war unleashed by Palestinian armed group Hamas's deadliest attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the violence showed no signs of abating. The conflict escalated as Israel targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia and extended its offensive into Lebanon. On September 27, Israel's air force carried out a massive strike on Hezbollah's stronghold in south Beirut, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah. A ground offensive in southern Lebanon followed on September 30. The conflict has claimed at least 3,768 lives in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the health ministry, with most deaths occurring since September 2024.
On the Israeli side, authorities report at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians killed in the war with Hezbollah. The Israeli military has also eliminated several key figures of Hamas in Gaza, including Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attack. Hamas's assault resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Of the 251 hostages taken to the Gaza Strip on October 7, 97 remain captive, including 34 the Israeli military claims are dead. Repeated ceasefire negotiations have failed, leaving those in Gaza in what the UN describes as 'an abyss of suffering' and 'the most profound humanitarian disaster'.
After a failed counteroffensive in 2023, Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region in August. This offensive aimed to divert Moscow's forces from eastern Ukraine but seems to have fallen short. Russia responded with deadly strikes, and Ukraine's outgunned troops struggled to hold back Russian advances, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region. The West, Ukraine, and South Korea claim thousands of North Korean soldiers are in Russia. In November, Ukraine used Western-supplied long-range missiles against Russia for the first time, prompting Russia to respond with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) without a nuclear warhead.
Donald Trump stunned the world by winning the US presidential election, defeating his Democrat rival Kamala Harris. He secured all seven swing states, maintained control of the House, and regained the Senate. Trump is also on track to win the popular vote. His victory was one of many twists in a tumultuous campaign that included two failed assassination attempts and four indictments.
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term as Russian president in May after a controversial election. His nemesis Alexei Navalny died in February under murky circumstances in an Arctic prison. Since his death, Russian authorities have intensified a campaign against Navalny's supporters, allies, and family, arresting journalists and adding his wife to a 'terrorists and extremists' blacklist.
The summer Games in Paris provided a welcome respite from political turmoil. For three weeks, Paris and its iconic landmarks hosted a spectacular display of sport, kicking off with an extravagant opening ceremony along the Seine. Records were broken, and new stars were crowned, from French swimming sensation Leon Marchand to US gymnastics prodigy Simone Biles.
Social media giants faced increasing scrutiny in 2024. In France, the founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was arrested and charged with failing to curb extremist content. TikTok was accused of violating child privacy laws by the US Federal Trade Commission. Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter) faced significant backlash, including a 40-day ban in Brazil over disinformation.
China launched measures to boost its economy, including rate cuts and increased debt limits for local authorities. The world's second-largest economy has been affected by a property crisis and sluggish consumption. Trade disputes with the US and EU have escalated, leading to retaliatory measures by Beijing.
The summer of 2024 was the hottest ever recorded, with global warming causing heatwaves, droughts, and deadly flooding. In Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye became the youngest president since independence, promising radical change. Young people drove political change in Kenya and Botswana, while European elections saw the rise of nationalist and far-right parties.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro won a third term in July, but the results were contested. Protests were brutally repressed, leaving 27 dead and over 2,400 arrested. US megastar Taylor Swift continued her world tour, which had already surpassed one billion dollars in revenue.
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