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The year 2024 will be remembered as a year of global elections, which saw the UK elect its first Labour Prime Minister in nearly 20 years and the US voters dumbfound the political pundits to send Donald Trump back to the White House.
It’s also been a year of conflict, with the escalation of the Israel-Gaza-Lebanon Conflict and the continuation of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Climate-induced disasters have wreaked havoc worldwide, with major floods hitting Spain, Central Europe, Thailand and Morocco, while a series of hurricanes led to devastation in the US, and many parts of the world were hit by heatwaves and drought.
There has been some respite in the world of sport, with the successful Paris Olympics and Germany holding the Euro 24 football tournament.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, here are some of the people, events and stories that have shaped the year, for better or for worse.
9. Sir Chris Hoy's cancer diagnosis
In October Scottish cycling great Sir Chris Hoy shared the tragic news that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer a year earlier and that his condition was terminal - being given between two and four years to live. He's now on a mission to help up to 500,000 people check for prostate cancer, with charity Prostate Cancer UK saying the impact of his announcement has seen almost 300,000 men make a check online. A hero both on and off the velodrome. | Getty Images
10. Saying goodbye to Janey
Scottish comedian, author and activist Janey Godley died on November 2, three years after revealing she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She seemed to have beaten the illness in 2022 but it returned later that year and had spread. She continued to tour until she was no longer able to and attended a world premiere of a documentary about her life which closed the Glasgow Film Festival in March. Godley became globally famous when a picture of her demonstrating against Donald Trump during a visit to his Turnberry Golf Course went viral, and entertained thousands with her voiceovers of Nicola Sturgeon's daily pandemic briefings. Hundred of mourners lined the streets of Edinburgh to watch her hearse pass on a "final tour" before a final send-off at Glasgow's St Mary's Catherdral. | Getty Images
11. The 'Glasgow Miracle' continues
This year was the 40th anniversary of the Turner Prize - the biggest prize in the world of contemporary art - and, once again, an artist from, or trained in, Glasgow triumphed. The city has dominated the award for much of the last 20 years. Jasleen Kaur joined the roll of honour that includes Douglas Gordon (1996), Simon Starling (2005), Richard Wright (2009) and Martin Boyce (2011). Martin Creed (2001) and Susan Philipsz (2010). Her work included a conversation-starting installation of a car with a giant doily on it. The five jury members chose Kaur for “her ability to gather different voices through unexpected and playful combinations of material, from Irn-Bru to family photographs and a vintage Ford Escort, locating moments of resilience and possibility”. | Getty Images