As this year draws to a close and we look forward to 2026, we take the time agin to reflect on a selection of some of the things and events that took place during the past twelve months. Thanks as always for visiting. We’ve made it through another wild year together.
january: a vehicle ramming attack kills ten and injures dozens in central New Orleans. After a five year deal expires without renewal, Russian gas can no longer be piped through Ukraine to the EU as the continent braces for a cold winter. After a decade as Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau announces he will step aside. An earthquake strikes the holy city of Shigatse in Tibet. Wind-swept wildfires devastate southern California. Joe Biden and others eulogise Jimmy Carter for his state funeral. After the US supreme court rejects a petition to delay sentencing over his hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels, Trump becomes a convicted felon, although given an unqualified discharge by the presiding judge and will serve no time. Sunset Boulevard is unrecognisable after being engulfed by wildfires. Israel and Hamas appear close to reaching a truce to bring about a permanent ceasefire. Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth faces a gruelling nomination hearing in congress for role of secretary of defence. 
Donald Trump is inaugurated for a second time and unleashes a flurry of executive orders, including a hiring freeze, immediate rescinding of Biden era policies, removal of DEI initiatives within the federal government and contracting partners, declaring that there are two genders only, issuing a blanket pardon to the January Sixth rioters in an attempt to reframe and rewrite history, freezing virtually all foreign aid, closing the borders and vowing to unleash agents to facilitate mass-deportations. Cabinet nominees are approved by the US senate, including, narrowly—Trump’s pick to head the Department of Defence. Trump proposes that Gaza be depopulated of Palestinians and urges neighbouring Egypt and Jordan to take in all displaced individuals. A scrappy open-source AI developed in China on a shoe-string budget knock a trillion dollar hole in the grift-cum-technofedualism markets in the US. Prolific blog commentator and good soul XOXOXOBruce (see more here and here) has passed away. A passenger plane collides with a Blackhawk helicopter over Washington, DC, killing all, including members from American and Russian figure skating teams. Iconic entertainer Marianne Faithfull passes away, aged 78. Mexico, Canada and China hit back against US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The government of El Salvador agrees to allow the US to offshore its most dangerous incarcerated population. A deadly shooting occurs at a continuing education centre in รrebro. Trump meets with Netayahu and offers to own the Gaza Strip and redevelop it, expelling the Palestinian population.
february: Novelist Tom Robbins dead, aged 92. Relenting on implementing tariffs for Mexico and Canada after security promises already underway, Trump shocks the markets by imposing a twenty-five percent duty on all aluminium and steel globally. 
Trump orders federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against disgraced New York City mayor Eric Adams after repeated attempts to curry favour with the president. The Aga Khan passes away, aged 88. Boycotts to protest inflation and A ramming attacked is perpetrated in Mรผnchen, ploughing into a crowd of union protesters, a day ahead of the Munich Security Conference. Pope Francis is hospitalised with double pneumonia, his prognosis for recovery guarded. Veteran actor Gene Hackman found dead, aged 95, at home along with his wife and dog.
march: By executive order, Trump makes English the official language of the United States. Israel blocks humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, demanding that Hamas abide by changed conditions dictated by the US, leading by mid-month to a resumption in airstrikes on the territory. Rosenstolz singer AnNa R passes away, aged 55. A French politician calls for the return of the Statue of Liberty. 
After rejecting a previously brokered US peace deal, during a telephone call with Trump, Putin signals he will agree to a thirty-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure. Boxer and entrepreneur George Foreman passes away, aged 76. Germany’s marked fiscal pivot to embrace debt and invest in defence stunned fellow EU members. Trump’s commerce secretary proposes cutting the social security safety net for seniors and the disabled. Arrest and detention of Erdoฤan rival and Istanbul mayor ignites protests in Tรผrkiye. Wildfires ravage South Korea. A coalition of the willing convene in Paris in solidarity with Ukraine, fearful of the outcome of a US-brokered deal with Russia. Thousands dead and many more displaced after an earthquake ravages Myanmar. Globally, thousands participate in Tesla Takedown protests against Musk. Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen banned from public office after being found guilty for misappropriating EU funds.
april: Despite millions in campaign donations, Musk and conservatives were unable to flip the state supreme court in Washington. New Jersey Democrat Corey Booker spoke in the Senate, rebuking the Trump administration for a record twenty-five hours and five minutes, beating Strom Thurmond’s filibuster against integration and equal rights. 
Actor Val Kilmer dead at age 65. Israeli defence forces annex huge swaths of the Gaza Strip. Foregoing over two billion dollars in federdal funding, Harvard refuses to give in to Trump demands. Katy Perry and an all-female crew travel briefly to the edge of space. The world mourns Pope Francis. The US threatens to walk away from the Ukraine-Russia peace deal it brokered. As a rebuke to Trumpism, Canada elects another liberal government with Mark Carney as Prime Minister.
may: The US Department of Homeland Security is planning to remove illegal migrants to Libya. The College of Cardinals elect the first American pope, Leo XIV. India and Pakistan exchange violent skirmishes over the disputed territories of Kashmir and Jammu. Austria wins the Eurovision song contest. 
A tall ship from the Mexican navy collides with the Brooklyn bridge during manoeuvrers. Romanian elects a centrist, pro-EU mathematician for president in a surprise turn-out. Former US president Joe Biden diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. UK, France and Canada sharply criticise Israel for its continued assault on Gaza and blockade of humanitarian aid, suspending trade talks and recalling diplomatic staff. Veteran actor George Wendt passed away, aged 76. King Charles delivers a speech of solidarity from the throne in Canada to open parliament. Trump blasts Putin for escalation of fighting in Ukraine.
june: In planning for eighteen-months, Ukraine carries out surprise drone attack on Russian bombers in five regions. Trump rescinds nomination of private astronaut to head NASA after apparent falling out with Elon Musk, who recommended the nominee for the job. Trump federalises the California national guard against the will of the state’s governor to suppress protests against ICE raids. 
The Israeli defence forces seise a Gaza-bound cargo ship of humanitarian aid with activist Greta Thunberg onboard. A London-bound plane crashes shortly after departure from Ahmedabad with a sole survivor. Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys passes away, aged 82. Israel launches air strikes against Iran’s nuclear processing facilities, killing the commander of the Revolutionary Guard. The US bombs three Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities. In the last week before recess, the US supreme court delivers Trump several judicial victories. Veteran journalist and moderator Bill Moyers has died. Israeli attacks on Gaza humanitarian assistance sites markedly intensify.
july: The US congress narrowly passes Trump’s domestic policy agenda. Flash flooding in Texas Hill Country claims dozens, including many from a summer camp for girls. Russian transport minister found dead hours after his dismissal ostensibly for his failure to secure Moscow from Ukrainian drone attacks. Trump announces twenty-fiver percent tariffs on Japan and South Korea, as the administration pushes for ninety trade deals in ninety days. Trump disavows MAGA supporters who demand the release of the Epstein files. Israel launches airstrikes on Damascus to defend Druze communities living on the border of the Golan Heights. 
UK government resolves to lower voting age to sixteen. The US senate approves rescission bill to defund public broadcasting in America and eliminate billions in foreign aid. Iconic rocker Ozzy Osboure has died, aged 76. The famine in Gaza worsens as hundreds have been killed just queuing for aid. France resolves to acknowledge Palestinian statehood. Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan passed away, aged 71. The EU negotiates a last minute trade and tariff deal with Trump, giving Europe worse than nothing but perhaps preserving global security and stability in Ukraine. Contrary to assurances that the Qatari gift of Air Force one would not be for the Trump’s personal use post-presidency, the secretary of defence accepted the gift, explicitly calling it not a bribe. Trump admits his friendship with Epstein came to an end because Epstein was stealing employees from his pleasure spa.
august: Trump’s redacted name appears in the Epstein files. Microsoft joins Invidia as the first firms to reach a four trillion dollar market valuation. Global stocks are shocked by tariff deadline with few deals. Trump fires government statistician after poor jobs-growth report, revising downward previous months’ estimates. Sabre-rattling, two nuclear submarines move within striking distance of Russian. Netanyahu announces plans to take over Gaza City whilst Trump again threatens to federalise Washington, DC. 
Astronaut and Apollo XIII commander Jim Lovell dies, aged 97. Putin has a summit with Trump in Alaska, followed by a meeting in Washington, DC between Trump and Zelenskyy with several European leaders also inviting themselves. Texas and California commence with their redistricting war to gerrymander the mid-terms. The Florida department of transportation removes the rainbow crosswalk memorial of the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre. Rumours of the death of Trump are trending. The White House announces intent to end mail-ballots and allow only in-person voting. Israeli attacks aided by the US kill Houthi prime minister in Yemen. Modi and Xi meet with Putin as counterbalance to western hegemony.
september: A devastating earthquake hits Afghanistan. Google emerges more or less unscathed from a landmark anti-trust case. Chaos at the US Centres for Disease control prompts many states to do their own research. Celebrated fashion designed Giorgio Armani dead, aged 91. Over a dozen killed in a tragic funicular accident in Lisbon. The US targets an alleged Venezuelan drug-boat and deploys warships to the Caribbean. Israeli Defence Forces order the complete evacuation of Gaza City. Right wing influencer and conservative activist Charles Kirk is assassinated during a speaking event at a college campus in Utah. 
Actor, activist and director Robert Redford passed away, aged 89. Donald Trump arrives in London for his second state visit. The GOP are exploiting the death of Charlie Kirk to silence dissent. Portugal, the UK, Canada and Australia recognise Palestinian statehood, ahead of the UN General Assembly—with host nation refusing to issue visas to the country’s delegation to attend (the first time the US has barred entry since 1998 and banning PLO head Yasser Arafat, which prompted the UN to change the venue to Geneva). Trump gives a rambling and dangerous speech falsely linking acetaminophen, childhood vaccinations with autism. Erik Adams drops his re-election bid to be mayor of New York City.
october: At an impasse, the US government shuts down. Renowned primatologist and wildlife advocate Jane Goodall passes away, aged 91. Veteran UK actor Patricia Routledge dies, aged 96. Hamas and Israel reach a tentative ceasefire days after the second anniversary of the the beginning of the war. Gazans begin returning home, joy amid sorrow and destruction as the Israeli army pulls back. Actor Diana Keaton has died, aged 79. Trump misappropriates funds to make military pay-day during the shutdown. Hamas begins releasing the remaining Israeli hostages. Elite universities in the US choose to forego federal funding rather than submit to conditions on research and hiring practises. 
The US CIA begin covert operations to overthrow the government of Venezuela. Every major US media outlet surrendered their Pentagon press credentials rather than sign a pledge to only report on approved releases. Former Trump national security advisor John Bolton indicted for mishandling of classified information. NPR founding reporter and anchor Susan Stamberg passed away, age 87. Partial demolition begins on the East Wing of the White House to construct Trump’s ballroom. The Japanese parliament elects its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. Charles III and Pope Leo XIV pray together in the Sistine Chapel. Against America’s peace agenda, the Knesset votes to annex the West Bank. Leftwing candidate Catherine Connolly wins Ireland’s presidency. Veteran television star June Lockhart passes away, aged 100. Fawlty Towers actor Prunella Scales dies, aged 93. US government shutdown surpasses Trump’s old record for the longest in history. Dick Cheney dies, aged 84. Zohran Mamdani wins mayorship of New York City.
november: Redistricting efforts in Texas ahead of US mid-term elections are ruled to be unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. The US federal government reopens after an unprecedented shut-down as Democrats fold. A violent civil war continues to rage in Nigeria. COP 30 begins in Brazil. Tech businesses and telecoms shed tens of thousands of employees. 
In response to a cadre of congressional representatives urging service members not to obey illegal orders, Trump cries sedition and threatens them with execution. US leaks a twenty-eight point peace plan for Ukraine and Russia. Marjorie Taylor Greene announces she will leave the US congress in January after a public falling out with Trump. Flames engulf a residential apartment block in Hong Kong. The pope makes his first trip abroad, visiting Tรผrkiye and Lebanon. With war in Venezuela imminent, closing the country’s airspace, Trump pardons notorious Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez, commuting his sentence in a US federal prison after smuggling weapons and four hundred tonnes of cocaine into the country. A deadly fire in a Hong Kong housing estate kills scores.
december: Playwright Tom Stoppard passes away, aged 88. Influential architect Frank Gehry has died, aged 96. Australia launches a world first social media ban for young people. The US military seizes a Venezuelan oil tanker, escalating tensions. Articles of impeachment are forwarded for both secretary of war and RFK, Jr. 
Indiana state lawmakers reject Trump’s redistricting plans to gerrymander Democrats out of existence. A gunman kills a dozen individuals gathering at Australia’s Bondi beach for Hanukkah celebrations. Actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle Singer-Reiner are found murdered—with the couple’s son arrested as the the prime suspect. The US justice department releases a heavily redacted version of the Epstein files. Singer, songwriter Chris Rea, performer behind “Driving Home for Christmas” dies, aged 74. Brigitte Bardo has died, aged 91. Trump announces ground strikes in Venezuela. Xi announces intent to reunite Taiwan in New Year’s Eve address.
