This roundup summarises the most important news stories around the world in the last month (December 2024).

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South Korea experienced 11 days of political turmoil. President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed a short-lived emergency martial law, but after the country’s legislature (with 190 of its 300 members present) voted unanimously to end it, he lifted the order. He survived a first impeachment effort after the ruling party boycotted the vote, but a second vote later passed. As a result, Mr. Yoon is suspended from office as the constitutional court deliberates on the impeachment vote.

Syria fell in 11 days. Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city, was first seized by rebel forces led by a Turkey-backed group, classified by the United States as a terrorist organisation. Later, the Syrian army withdrew rapidly from the strategic cities of Hama and Homs. The swift advance surprised observers. Ultimately, president Bashar al-Assad fled Syria to Russia as rebels quickly stormed and established control over the capital city of Damascus.

Socio-political developments

In France, the prime minister lost a no-confidence vote, resulting in a government which lasted only three months, the shortest government stint in French history. Later, the president appointed the country’s fourth prime minister in a year. The German chancellor lost a vote of confidence, leaving his coalition in shambles. A rare snap election will take place in February next year. In Ghana, a former president won the presidential election in a political comeback. In Iceland, the left-wing Social Democratic Alliance won a snap election, unseating the ruling coalition. In Ireland, long-ruling right-wing parties formed a coalition with smaller parties. And Namibia elected its first female president.

Geopolitical tensions

In Georgia, the pro-Russian ruling party suspended European Union accession talks until 2028 leading to protests and the opposition party boycotting parliament. Lawmakers then elected a new far-right president to replace the pro-Western incumbent. In Romania, the first round of the presidential election was annulled by the constitutional court, after intelligence services warned about Russian influence. The entire first round will be re-done. And in Taiwan, president’s trip to Hawaii trip drew fire from China.

Separately, China opened an anti-trust investigation into technology company Nvidia.