January:

Friday, 19 January 2024: The Mars Express orbiter had detected enough water ice beneath Mars' equator to cover the planet in a shallow ocean if melted. The European Space Agency's probe found enough ice to create an ocean 4.9 to 8.9 feet deep.

Sunday, 28 January 2024: Environmental protesters threw pumpkin soup at the glass-protected Mona Lisa in France, demanding the right to "healthy and sustainable food." The 16th Century painting, housed at the Louvre in Paris, was unharmed due to its protective glass. Two female protesters from the group Riposte Alimentaire, which claimed responsibility for the stunt, advocated for a €150 monthly food card. The museum evacuated the room and will lodge a complaint, while French Culture Minister Rachida Dati condemned the act. Recent farmer protests in Paris have also highlighted agricultural concerns.

February: 

Tuesday, 6 February 2024: Residents of Aegina, a Greek island, have been without drinkable water for several days due to an alleged act of sabotage disabling an undersea pipeline from the mainland. An explosive charge likely severed the 12-kilometer pipeline, with repairs expected to take weeks. Coast guard divers have located the damage, and a judicial investigation is underway. The sabotage may be linked to competition among private water suppliers. Aegina is a popular destination near Athens with a population of about 13,000.

Friday, 16 February 2024: The Alabama Supreme Court ruled on February 16 that embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) should be considered children. This decision prompted several IVF clinics to pause services and raised concerns about its impact on healthcare. The case arose after a patient's mishandling of frozen embryos at a fertility clinic led to their destruction. Couples sued under the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, but the trial court initially dismissed the case, stating embryos aren't children under the Act and was overturned by the Supreme Court in favour of the plaintiffs.

March:

Friday, 15 March 2024: Congo has lifted its 2003 moratorium on the death penalty to address escalating violence and militant attacks, according to a justice ministry statement released Friday. The ban's removal aims to ensure proper punishment for treason and espionage. Eastern Congo has faced decades of conflict involving over 120 armed groups. The M23 rebel group, linked to Rwanda, has intensified attacks, displacing many to Goma and controlling half of North Kivu province, causing widespread terror.

Tuesday, 26 March 2024: The UK's High Court has allowed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to appeal against his extradition to the US on espionage charges. In March, the court asked the US for assurances of a fair trial and no death penalty for Assange, who faces 18 charges related to the 2010 release of confidential military and diplomatic files. Supporters argue the prosecution aims to punish Assange for exposing US military misconduct in Afghanistan and Iraq.

 April

Thursday, 4 April 2024: Researchers use 5,000 tiny robots in a mountaintop telescope to peer 11 billion years into the past with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). This enables them to map the early cosmos and trace its evolution, revealing insights into dark energy, which drives the universe's accelerating expansion. DESI's data produced the largest 3D cosmic map and the most precise measurements of early universe expansion, offering potential new insights into dark energy's behavior which include the release of the largest 3D map of the universe featuring more than six million galaxies.

Friday, 5 April 2024: Zimbabwe’s central bank has introduced a new gold-backed currency, Zim Gold (ZiG), to combat inflation and stabilize the economy. The currency, supported by foreign currencies, gold, and precious minerals, will circulate alongside other currencies. Banks will convert existing Zimbabwe dollar balances into ZiG, which features denominations from one to 200 ZiG and images of gold ingots and Balancing Rocks. Citizens have 21 days to exchange old cash. The move aims to simplify and stabilize Zimbabwe’s financial system amid high inflation and economic challenges.

Saturday, 2 April 2024: Amidst, increasing debt within, in a rare Saturday session, the US House of Representatives approved $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies, with bipartisan support following months of resistance. The package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for Indo-Pacific allies, and $9 billion in humanitarian aid for war zones like Haiti, Sudan, and Gaza. Speaker Mike Johnson, who helped pass the package, expressed confidence in its historical significance. The bill also includes Republican-endorsed measures, such as seizing Russian assets, imposing sanctions on Iran, Russia, and China, and requiring TikTok's Chinese owner to sell its stake.

May

Wednesday, 8 May 2024: AstraZeneca announced it will cease manufacturing and supplying its COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, due to declining demand. The company had already initiated the withdrawal process in Europe, with the request submitted in March taking effect on May 7. This decision follows a significant drop in Vaxzevria's yearly sales and court documents acknowledging a rare side effect of blood clots and low platelet levels. However, AstraZeneca did not cite safety concerns as the reason for the withdrawal.

Friday, 17 May 2024: The James Webb Telescope has discovered two merging galaxies and their massive black holes from when the universe was 740 million years old, with one black hole being 50 million times more massive than the Sun. These findings shed light on how massive black holes influenced galaxy development from the universe's inception. The discovery indicates that supermassive black holes, found in many large galaxies including the Milky Way, grew rapidly and early in the universe's history, suggesting significant early growth.

June

Thursday, 6 June 2024: On Thursday, Spain became the first European country to request permission from a United Nations court to join South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. South Africa filed the case with the International Court of Justice last year, alleging that Israel's military actions violated the genocide convention. The court has ordered Israel to stop its offensive in Rafah, but Israel has not complied. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared Spain's commitment to being on "the right side of history." Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Libya, and the Palestinians are also seeking approval to join the case.

Tuesday, 18 June 2024: NVIDIA continues to thrive amid the AI boom and surpasses Microsoft as the world's most valuable publicly-traded company, announcing the debut of Blackwell, a new line of AI GPUs promising significant computing power increases. With an estimated 70-95% market share in AI chips, NVIDIA's stock rose 3.6% on June 18, boosting its market value to $3.34 trillion, surpassing Microsoft and Apple. NVIDIA's market value skyrocketed from $1 trillion to over $3 trillion in just one year, marking one of the fastest ascents in market history. This success has elevated CEO Jensen Huang's status in the tech industry. The race to a $4 trillion market value now centers on NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft.

July

Saturday, 13 July 2024: Former President Donald Trump is injured in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally when a gunman opens fire, killing one spectator and injuring two others critically. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is dead. Trump, who is bloodied on his ear, is quickly surrounded and escorted offstage by Secret Service agents. Despite the injury, Trump pumps his fist and waves to the cheering crowd.

Tuesday, 23 July 2024: Scientists in Brazil have discovered high levels of cocaine in the muscles and livers of 13 sharpnose sharks near Rio de Janeiro. The cocaine concentrations in these sharks are 100 times higher than in other marine animals previously studied. The source is believed to be illegal drug labs or excrement from drug users. All the female sharks in the study were pregnant, but the effects on their unborn young are unknown. Further research is needed.

 August

Saturday, 3 August 2024: In a first, parts of Antarctica have experienced temperatures 50 degrees Fahrenheit above average, with this heat expected to last into early August. This unusual warmth during Antarctica's coldest season concerns scientists, as it may signal future environmental challenges and contribute to rising sea levels. Antarctica holds most of the Earth's ice, and if it fully melts, global sea levels could rise by over 100 feet.

Monday, 26 August 2024: Research reveals that over £2bn in holiday pay has been lost by workers across Britain, with more than one million employees missing out on paid leave. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) highlighted that black and minority ethnic staff, as well as low-paid workers such as waiters, care workers, and catering assistants, were most affected. The TUC is calling for the establishment of a Fair Work Agency to enforce employment rights, as part of Labour's broader effort to improve workers' conditions.

Tuesday, 27 August 2024: Namibia plans to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, to provide meat for people struggling with food shortages due to severe drought. The environment ministry states that the cull is necessary to manage human-wildlife conflicts and protect limited grazing and water resources. Additional animals to be culled include hippos, buffalo, impala, and wildebeest. Southern Africa is facing its worst drought in decades, with Namibia expecting widespread food insecurity in the coming months.

September

Thursday, 5 September, 2024: The European Union, United States, United Kingdom, and others signed an international treaty on AI use, marking the first legally binding global agreement on AI systems. The Council of Europe emphasized that the treaty sets a legal framework for AI's lifecycle, aiming to promote innovation while addressing risks to human rights and democracy. Despite praise, some experts criticized the treaty's broad language and national security exemptions. Other signatories include Iceland, Israel, Norway, and several other nations.

Thursday, 26 September, 2024: Iwao Hakamada, an 88-year-old man and the world’s longest-serving death row inmate, has been acquitted by a Japanese court after nearly five decades. Hakamada was convicted in 1968 for the murder of his boss, his boss's wife, and their two children. However, recent findings revealed that evidence may have been fabricated, prompting a retrial. Due to his deteriorated mental health from spending 46 years on death row, Hakamada was unable to attend the court hearing. His sister Hideko, who fought for decades to clear his name, expressed immense relief at the verdict. This phenomena of "delayed justice" has been a matter of concern across the world and it is a global problem which has to be adressed.

 October

Thursday, 24 October, 2024: Vladimir Putin at the Brics summit, advocates for payments between BRIC countries currencies using the same financial system to strengthen ties between BRIC Countries. Speaking in Kazan, Putin notes that 95% of Russia-China trade now uses rubles and yuan where as Russia is also developing an infrastructure to bypass the Swift system.This initiatives by BRICS Countries is seen as an alternative financial system.

November

Tuesday, 5 November, 2024: Japanese scientists launched the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, on a SpaceX mission to the ISS on Tuesday to test timber’s feasibility in space. Developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, the satellite is crafted from honoki wood, inspired by early wooden aircraft. Positioned 400 km above Earth, LignoSat will endure six months of extreme temperatures (-100°C to 100°C) and cosmic radiation, assessing timber’s durability for potential future space habitats on the Moon and Mars.

Friday, 22 November, 2024: At the verge of extinction? Giraffe populations plummet to 117,000 globally, a 30% drop since the 1980s, with Northern giraffes declining by 77% to just 5,919 individuals. Habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and urbanization threaten their survival. Giraffes, dependent on vegetation for food, face heightened risks during droughts. The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposes endangered status for three Northern giraffe subspecies and "threatened" status for reticulated and Masai giraffes, urging action to address habitat destruction and human-wildlife conflicts.

December

Sunday, 1 December 2024: In a desperate attempt to stop BRICS from floating a new currency, The US President threatens BRICS nations with a 100% tariffs on imports by tweet in the social media platform X with the following statement, "The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER. We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy. They can go find another “sucker!” There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the U.S. Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America."

Thursday, 5 December, 2024: Bitcoin surpasses $100,000 for the first time, reaching a market value of nearly $2 trillion, driven by institutional demand, corporate adoption, and expectations of crypto-friendly policies under President Trump. Spot Bitcoin ETFs from firms like BlackRock and Fidelity attract $30 billion in assets, while MicroStrategy’s strategy influences other companies. Despite election-related regulatory uncertainty, Bitcoin rebounds after Trump’s victory, marking a 130% rise this year. Bitcoin now rivals major corporations in market capitalization.

Wednesday, 18 December, 2024: Termed as the discovery of the century, Russia announces the development of an mRNA cancer vaccine, set to be distributed free to patients starting early 2025. Developed with multiple research centers, preclinical trials reportedly show it suppresses tumor growth and metastases. However, experts like immunologist Kingston Mills and cancer researcher Dr. David Jenkinson express skepticism, citing a lack of published clinical trial data. Questions remain about the vaccine’s specificity, targeted cancers, and scientific validation, prompting calls for transparency and rigorous peer-reviewed evidence.