Page 12 - Masala Lite Issue 168 December 2024

12 TRENDING NOW

MAY
• A Singapore Airlines flight makes an

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
JANUARY 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.
• Dinosaur footprints between 220 to 225 million
years old are found in Phetchabun, Thailand. • Vermont University in the U.S. bestows an honourary degree to internet
phenomenon Max the Cat, celebrating his contributions to ‘litter-ature’ and his
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates viral fame.
the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, a highly- JUNE
anticipated event after decades of legal disputes.
• A fire at Chatuchak Market in Bangkok

• Japan’s SLIM mission achieves a soft landing on

the Moon, making Japan the fifth country to kills over 1,000 animals, leading to
achieve this historical success. outrage from animal rights groups and
sparking discussions on safety protocols
• The UN’s International Court of Justice (ICC) rules Israel must take measures to at public markets.
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 India wins the 2024 ICC Men’s T20
incidents include Israel’s attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus (April), a World Cup, and the team’s success is
Hezbollah commander’s death in Beirut (July), and Israeli strikes in Lebanon starting celebrated by a victory parade through
in August. By October, Israel will have launched a full invasion of Lebanon. Mumbai in July.
• Over 1,300 people die from extreme
FEBRUARY heat during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca,
prompting a global discussion on climate
• UNESCO recognises Songkran as part of humanity’s change.
intangible cultural heritage, underscoring the global • Julian Assange is released from prison after a plea deal with the U.S., allowing
importance of the celebration.
him to return to Australia, marking a key development in his ongoing legal saga.
• Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is
released from prison on health grounds, an event JULY
that sparked speculation about his future in Thai
politics. • Thailand grants 60-day visa-free access
to nationals of 93 countries, including
• Mascot “Nong Noey”, now known as Butterbear,
appears at pop-up booths across prominent Bangkok India.
locations, and quickly becomes a viral sensation in Bangkok after sharing K-pop- • Six Vietnamese nationals are
inspired dance moves that have resonated with local and international audiences. mysteriously found dead in Bangkok due

• Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander makes history as the first commercial vehicle to suspected poisoning at the Grand
to successfully land on the Moon. Hyatt Erawan hotel.
• Narendra Modi begins his third term as
MARCH India’s Prime Minister.
• Thailand takes a historic step toward LGBTQIA+ • WazirX, an Indian crypto exchange,
rights as the House of Representatives approves a bill reports a USD 234 million security breach,
to legalise same-sex marriage. Following a Senate raising concerns over the security of
vote in June, King Rama X signed the bill into law cryptocurrency exchanges.
in September, making Thailand the first country in • Over 330 people die in landslides in

Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriages, set Kerala, India, after heavy monsoon rains,

to take effect in 2025. triggering massive rescue operations.
• Sweden officially joins NATO as its 32nd member, a • Moo Deng, a playful baby pygmy hippo

significant step in European security. at Khao Kheow Zoo in Thailand, is born.

• The EU passes the world’s first comprehensive She soon becomes a viral sensation,

Artificial Intelligence Act, setting regulatory with visitors flocking to see her from
standards that may influence global policies on AI usage. around the world, reaching over 77,000

visitors in a single week in October. She’s

• 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 become the face of marketing campaigns
investigations into P. Diddy unfolded over the course of the year, this claim, along with major brands, and has inspired
with others, gained attention for its accuracy in predicting later events. international media coverage; a clear
example of the proverbial ‘soft power’
Thailand is after.
APRIL
• The Summer Olympics 2024 is held

• A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake off Taiwan’s coast causes minor tsunamis in Paris, and the controversial opening
in Okinawa. ceremony and the boxing match
• North America witnesses a total solar eclipse. between Luca Hámori and Imane Khelif

• A man pulls off a “reverse museum heist” at Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne spark global debate. French pole vaulter
museum by sneaking into the museum after hours and hanging his own painting. 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.