Hey there, my foxy friends! 🦊
Happy New Year from Dr. Troot - your wise and witty guide to all the highs and lows of 2024! From elections that rocked the globe to sizzling temperatures that made even this fabulous fur feel the heat, it’s been a year packed with drama, triumphs, and twists no one saw coming.
Election Fever: A Global Frenzy
2024 was like a wild game of musical chairs, with nearly 60 countries hosting elections. Some leaders held onto their seats ,while others got booted out by voters hungry for change.
India’s Lok Sabha Elections
India—home to a colossal democracy! The Lok Sabha elections were a showstopper with a whopping 64.64 crore voters showing up. On June 4, the BJP-led NDA snagged 293 seats, while the INDIA bloc followed with 234. PM Narendra Modi made history, becoming the first prime minister since Chacha Nehru to win three straight terms.
US Presidential Election
Meanwhile, across the pond, November 5 saw Donald Trump pull a dramatic “guess who’s back” moment, reclaiming the title of 47th U.S. President.
Farewells That Touched the Nation 🌟
India said goodbye to some legendary figures, who will remain in our hearts forever:
- Ratan Tata: Industrialist extraordinaire , kind philanthropist
- Ustad Zakir Hussain & Ustad Rashid Khan: Musical maestros.
- Manmohan Singh: Former PM and gentle statesman.
Global Conflicts: A Year of Geopolitical Shifts 💥🌐
The year was riddled with international conflicts that shook the world. The ongoing war in Ukraine continued to reshape Europe’s security landscape, while escalating tensions in the Middle East sparked new military campaigns and shifting alliances. These crises sent ripple effects across the globe, influencing diplomacy and strategic priorities. 2024 was a stark reminder that peace takes effort . Talk to your parents about this to learn more , understand their views !
2024 :When the World Turned Into a Hot Oven 🌡️🔥
India sweltered through its hottest year since 1901, with October breaking a 123-year record. The annual mean temp hit 25.75°C—0.65°C above normal. Globally, things got even toastier as the planet blew past the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C limit. Nature was screaming, “Cool it, folks!”
Conservation Comebacks: Some Wins for Wildlife 🐾🌿
Even with a biodiversity crisis looming like a storm cloud, some furry, feathery, and shelled friends had a moment to shine:
- Iberian Lynx: Climbed off the endangered list—what a glow-up!
- Australia’s Wildlife: Western quolls, bettongs, and bilbies made a triumphant return to Sturt National Park.
- UK Cranes: From extinction to a population boom!
- Sea Turtles in Greece: Their nesting stats were record-breaking!
- Eagles in Toronto: Taking their urban flight debut like true rock stars.
Still, the WWF warned us: animal populations have plummeted by 73% since 1970. Yikes! 🦊💔
Climate Action & Cool Innovations 🌍✨
At COP29 in Baku, world leaders finally agreed to help poorer nations tackle climate change , although many feel the measures were not enough . Meanwhile, scientists got their Sherlock on, discovering oxygen in ocean rocks and capturing deep-sea footage—via cameras strapped to sea lions. Yes, sea lions are now honorary detectives.
Back in India, Gujarat’s Masali Village became the country’s first fully solar-powered border village. Talk about bright ideas! 🌞
Coal Bows Out in the UK 🌱👋
Great Britain turned off its last coal-powered plant after 142 years. Clean energy for the win!
India’s Cosmic Wins: Shooting for the Stars 🚀⭐
- XPoSat: Launched January 1, giving us cosmic X-ray vision.
- Aditya-L1 Solar Mission: Landed at its destination on January 6, giving us a VIP view of the Sun.
- Pushpak RLV Test: On March 22, ISRO’s reusable launch vehicle nailed an autonomous landing .
Sports: Foxy Moves on the Field and Board 🏏♟️
- India’s T20 World Cup Win: After 12 years, Team India roared back to glory.
- Chess Champ Gukesh: At just 18, this Grand Master became the youngest chess world champion ever.
- Paris Olympics: Six medals, including a silver from Neeraj Chopra and two bronze medals by shooting star Manu Bhaker.
The Wedding of the Year 💍✨If Bollywood made weddings, this one would take the cake (and probably eat it too). Akash Ambani and Radhika Merchant tied the knot in a celebration reportedly costing ₹5,000 crore. That’s enough cash to fill an actual treasure chest! There are a lot of things so much money could do - so here's another topic that you could pick your parents' brains on and understand your families views !
Kids Rule in 2024! 👶💪
Big wins for children’s rights this year:
- Tajikistan & Laos: Said goodbye to corporal punishment.
- Australia: Introduced a Children’s Online Privacy Code.
- The UN: Drafted a treaty declaring every child’s right to education.
What a foxy whirlwind of a year, folks! Here’s to 2025 bringing us excitement , peace ,and happiness ! 🦊