Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo declares winner in election
The Democratic Republic of Congo declared President Felix Tshisekedi winner of the country’s presidential election. He won nearly 73 percent of the vote, and the election was extended because of logistical problems. Many polling stations opened late, and 30 percent of voting machines did not work on the first day of the vote.
United Nations peacekeepers leave Mali
For the first time in 10 years, the United Nations is removing peacekeepers from Mali. The United Nations deployed peacekeepers after an armed rebellion took place. The country’s ruling military asked the United Nations to remove peacekeepers in Mali. It was the United Nations’s second deadliest mission worldwide as around 310 peacekeepers were killed.
Asia
North Korea continues military efforts
Throughout 2023, North Korea continued to ramp up its military through nuclear weapon tests and spy satellites. The country is planning to launch three more spy satellites next year. In November, North Korea put a spy satellite into space and claimed to photograph major U.S. and South Korea military sites. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un promised his efforts would lead to “fundamental change” in South Korea in 2024.
India reaches the moon
During the summer, India successfully reached the lunar south pole region of the Moon, an area that no one had reached before. India joined other countries like the U.S., the Soviet Union and China who all achieved a soft landing on the moon. The country also carried out an observation mission to the sun and a key test flight ahead of a mission to send astronauts into space in 2025.
Europe
Russia continues Ukraine invasion
Throughout the year, headlines in Europe and throughout the world were dominated by news of Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine. In his end of the year speech, Russia President Vladimir Putin called for united support of his army without referring to the war in Ukraine. He also did not mention the thousands of Russian casualties in the war with Ukraine. Putin announced he would stand for a fifth term in office this year as well.
Finland/Sweden join NATO
On April 4, Finland became the 31st country to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. After the invasion of Ukraine, countries like Finland and Sweden abandoned their policy of military non-alignment. Turkey leadership had previously stalled Sweden’s joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, saying it was concerned the country was harboring militants. Those concerns were set aside, and Sweden will join the organization in early 2024.
Latin America
Amazon drought intensifies
The Amazon rainforest continued to see troubling signs this past year as it experienced its worst drought on record. This caused many villages to become unreachable by river, started wildfires, and killed wildlife. Scientists have expressed fear that the forest is heading toward a point where it dries, breaks apart, and becomes a savannah.
Migrants continue to leave Mexico
Over the 12 months ending in October, around 180,000 Mexican migrants crossed the border into the United States. That is four times more than the previous year as many Mexicans sought to escape violence and economic hardships. It is unknown how many of those migrants will be able to stay in the U.S. legally, and over the last 20 years, immigrant courts denied 85 percent of asylum claims by Mexican applicants.
North America
Submarine lost at sea leaves five dead
Over the summer, the world’s attention turned to the submersible called the Titan that carried five people to view the wreckage of the Titanic. However after its launch, the submarine was lost at sea. Due to only a 96-hour supply of oxygen, officials carried out a large search for the vessel in the North Atlantic. Sadly, the United States announced it had found a debris field from the Titan.
Trump indicted four times
Former President Donald Trump dealt with legal issues all throughout 2023. He was indicted on four felony counts related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and on 13 felony counts in Georgia for alleged election interference. He was also indicted on 34 felony counts in New York over hush money payments to a porn star. Finally, Trump was also indicted on 40 felony counts in Florida for possession of classified documents and for hindering the government’s efforts to retain those documents.
