Masala’s official recap of the year so far.

BY AIDEN JEWELLE GONZALES

JANUARY
• Dinosaur footprints between 220 to 225 million years old are found in Phetchabun, Thailand.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, a highly- anticipated event after decades of legal disputes.
• Japan’s SLIM mission achieves a soft landing on the Moon, making Japan the fifth country to achieve this historical success.
• The UN’s International Court of Justice (ICC) rules Israel must take measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. Despite this, the ongoing Israel–Hamas war has led to spillover into numerous countries throughout the rest of the year. Notable incidents include Israel’s attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus (April), a Hezbollah commander’s death in Beirut (July), and Israeli strikes in Lebanon starting in August. By October, Israel will have launched a full invasion of Lebanon.

FEBRUARY
• UNESCO recognises Songkran as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage, underscoring the global importance of the celebration.
• Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is released from prison on health grounds, an event that sparked speculation about his future in Thai politics.
• Mascot “Nong Noey”, now known as Butterbear, appears at pop-up booths across prominent Bangkok locations, and quickly becomes a viral sensation in Bangkok after sharing K-pop- inspired dance moves that have resonated with local and international audiences.
• Intuitive Machines’Nova-C lander makes history as the first commercial vehicle to successfully land on the Moon.

MARCH
• Thailand takes a historic step toward LGBTQIA+ rights as the House of Representatives approves a bill to legalise same-sex marriage. Following a Senate vote in June, King Rama X signed the bill into law in September, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriages, set to take effect in 2025
• Sweden officially join NATO as its 32nd member, a significant step in European security
• The EU passes the world’s first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Act, setting regulatory standards that may influence global policies on AI usage.
• Katt Williams makes a prediction about the exposure of high-profile figures including P. Diddy, during a discussion on the Club Shay Shay podcast. As investigations into P. Diddy unfolded over the course of the year, this claim, along with others, gained attention for its accuracy in predicting later events.

APRIL
• A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake of Taiwan’s coast causes minor tsunamis in Okinawa.
• North America witnesses a total solar eclipse.
• A man pulls of a “reverse museum heist” at Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne museum by sneaking into the museum after hours and hanging his own painting.

MAY
• A Singapore Airlines flight makes a emergency landing in Bangkok after severe turbulence, resulting in one fatality and over 100 injuries.
• About 150 schools in Delhi receive bomb threats, resulting in mass evacuations and significant security responses.
• Delhi hits a record-high temperature of 52.3°C, marking the highest-ever recorded temperature in the city.
• Donald Trump is convicted in his hush money trial, marking a historic first criminal conviction for a U.S. president.
• Kendrick Lamar releases his diss track “6:16”, which reignites his feud with Drake. This leads to a series of responses, starting with Drake’s “Family Matters,” which escalated the conflict with personal attacks, followed by Kendrick’s “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us,” which cemented his dominance. By mid-June, “Not Like Us” became one of the top-selling songs of the year.
• Vermont University in the U.S. bestows an honourary degree to internet phenomenon Max the Cat, celebrating his contributions to ‘litter-ature’ and his viral fame.

JUNE
• A fire at Chatuchak Market in Bangkok kills over 1,000 animals, leading to outrage from animal rights groups and sparking discussions on safety protocols at public markets.
• India wins the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and the team’s success is celebrated by a victory parade through Mumbai in July.
• Over 1,300 people die from extreme heat during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, prompting a global discussion on climate change.
• Julian Assange is released from prison after a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to return to Australia, marking a key development in his ongoing legal saga.

JULY
• Thailand grants 60-day visa-free access to nationals of 93 countries, including India.
• Six Vietnamese nationals are mysteriously found dead in Bangkok due to suspected poisoning at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel.
• Narendra Modi begins his third term as India’s Prime Minister.
• WazirX, an Indian crypto exchange, reports a USD 234 million security breach, raising concerns over the security of cryptocurrency exchanges.
• Over 330 people die in landslides in Kerala, India, after heavy monsoon rains, triggering massive rescue operations.
• Moo Deng, a playful baby pygmy hippo at Khao Kheow Zoo in Thailand, is born. She soon becomes a viral sensation, with visitors flocking to see her from around the world, reaching over 77,000 visitors in a single week in October. She’s become the face of marketing campaigns with major brands, and has inspired international media coverage; a clear example of the proverbial ‘soft power’ Thailand is after.
• The Summer Olympics 2024 is held in Paris, and the controversial opening ceremony and the boxing match between Luca Hámori and Imane Khelif spark global debate. French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati makes headlines when his ‘bulge’ reportedly cost him an Olympic medal, and this becomes one of the most talked-about moments of the games.
• Former President Donald Trump survives an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, followed by a second attempt in September.
• In a surprise move, President Joe Biden ends his candidacy for the 2024 U.S. presidential election and endorses Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate.
• Multiple lawsuits accuse P. Diddy of running a sex-trafficking ring at his infamous “white parties” in the mid-2000s. It’s revealed that there were over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricants found at his Los Angeles and Miami homes. By September, Diddy faces criminal investigations, with over 50 victims coming forward, and he is arrested on a sealed indictment for sexual assault and trafficking.