In the final recap of 2024, we’re exploring the stories our editors were keen to explore during the tail end of this year. From the downfall of dictatorships in Syria to the outlawing of the death penalty in Zimbabwe, there’s a lot to cover in today’s edition!
Syrians celebrate fall of dictatorship after five decades of dynastic rule
Bashar al-Assad’s regime has come to a sudden end after 54 years of dynastic rule, with the dictator fleeing to Moscow. Crowds of people waved the Syrian revolutionary flag and pulled down statues and portraits of the president and his father – infamous for their brutal dictatorships, crackdowns on peaceful protest, and imprisonment of innocent civilians.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, a former member of Namibia’s underground independence movement in the 1970s, has been elected as the country’s first female president. She is widely regarded as a steady hand and not tainted by corruption scandals.
Ghana makes history with first female vice president-elect
Running alongside President-elect John Dramani Mahama, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang’s appointment as the first VP under the National Democratic Congress is being seen as a huge step for gender representation in Ghanaian politics.
Sierra Leone launches nationwide Ebola vaccine campaign
Sierra Leone has started to distribute the single-dose vaccine nationwide – the first such programme in West Africa since the region’s devastating 2014 Ebola outbreak. The campaign – supported by the Sierra Leonean government, Gavi, the WHO, and UNICEF – will initially target 20,000 frontline workers nationwide.
China creates 3000km green belt around its largest desert
After a 46-year campaign, China has finished a mammoth project to encircle its largest desert with trees. The 3000km (2000 mile) green belt around the Taklamakan was completed on Thursday in the northwestern region of Xinjiang as part of national efforts to curb sandstorms and reduce desertification.
Zimbabwe senate votes to abolish the death penalty
The new legislation comes as a big step towards officially eliminating a law that hasn’t been applied in almost 20 years – partly due to a shortage of individuals willing to take on the role of executioner. Capital punishment is set to be officially abolished as soon as president Emmerson Mnangagwa signs is, which is anticipated.
Brazil’s social schemes are driving a decline in poverty
2023 saw the lowest levels of poverty in Brazil since 2012: in absolute terms, this means that the number of people living under these conditions has dropped to 59 million, with 8.7 million individuals rising above the poverty line in one year alone.
Serbian capital of Belgrade to make all public transport free from next month
Mayor Aleksandar Sapic has announced that the will city follow the example of Luxembourg, the Estonian capital Tallinn and the French city of Montpellier. Belgrade – with a population of almost 1.7 million – struggles with traffic jams, with the number of cars on its roads increasing by 250,000 over the past ten years.
Citing persistent injuries and deaths among racing greyhounds, New Zealand will phase out greyhound racing over the next 20 months. The plan includes rehoming nearly 3,000 dogs and supporting industry workers in transitioning to new roles.
Teen abstinence from drugs and alcohol hits record high in the US
A national survey shows record numbers of US teens abstaining from alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco. Experts suggest the sustained decline gives an opportunity to study effective prevention strategies and promote healthier youth behaviours.
Spiking drinks set to become new criminal offense in the UK
With a recent YouGov poll finding 10% of women and 5% of men said they had been the victims of spiking, Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that spiking will become a new standalone criminal offense. Other measures include training thousands of staff working in the nighttime economy to spot and tackle spiking.
California is paying drug users to stay sober – and it’s working
For the first time in decades, overdose deaths have plummeted by 10% between April 2023 and April 2024 – largely thanks to a simple concept: a small cash reward for each negative drug test.
How AI monitoring is cutting stillbirths and neonatal deaths by 82% in Malawi
The software monitors the baby’s vital signs during labour, alerting care workers to any potential complications. The AI system is less reliant on time, equipment, and skilled staff compared to traditional methods – making it a useful tool in resource-limited hospitals where health worker shortages are a major obstacle.
Faced with waste management challenges common in many urban areas, Rwanda’s capital Kigali transformed into Africa’s cleanest city through a ban on plastic bags, public education, and a monthly event called Umuganda.
Growing corn in the desert: Hopi dry farming revives climate-smart traditions
Hopi farmer Michael Kotutwa Johnson uses a 2,000-year-old dry farming method to grow corn and other crops in the desert without irrigation. By teaching the technique to youth and starting a seed bank, he aims to address food insecurity in his community.
New greenhouse tech helps farmers combat extreme heat, save water
As rising global temperatures threaten crops, a startup developed a nanotechnology-based greenhouse covering that reduces heat by 7°C while conserving up to 30% of water. This enables sustainable agriculture in extreme climates.
Restoring the Aral Sea desert with resilient trees
Decades of environmental damage turned the Aral Sea into a growing desert. Now, ecologists are planting saxaul trees to stabilise the soil, combat toxic dust, and create the foundation for a new, sustainable ecosystem.
Scotland and Wales lead Europe’s rewilding movement
Facing severe biodiversity loss, Scotland and Wales are pioneering large-scale rewilding efforts. Scotland aims to become the world’s first official ‘rewilding nation’, while Wales is crowdfunding for its largest ecosystem restoration project.
How a “sponsor an olive tree” scheme revived a tiny Spanish village
With an ageing population and the very real threat of the only school closing, the remaining residents of Oliete in the remote Teruel region of eastern Spain needed to get creative. Their plan worked: thanks to a NGO’s olive tree “adoption” programme – which generated €71,000 – locals were able to convert a cow shed into a coworking space for digital nomads.
Women-led taxi services boost safety, independence in Bolivia
In Bolivia, where rates of sexual violence are among the highest in Latin America, women-led taxi services provide safe transportation for women, children, and elderly passengers. These services also offer income for women, empowering them to escape abusive situations and achieve financial independence.
Divisive histories often go untaught in schools, this programme bridges the gap
Many schools avoid teaching contentious topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict, leaving students with limited understanding of critical global issues. A charity addresses this gap by providing tools and methods that help students examine both sides.
Volunteers restore habitat for endangered bird by planting 750,000 trees
In Australia, farmers and volunteers have planted 750,000 trees to address habitat loss and support the critically endangered regent honeyeater. The Regent Honeyeater Project is building tree corridors that benefit not only the bird but also other wildlife and sustainable farming practices.
