2024 has been a year of twists and turns.

Here are five of the year's biggest stories.

1. All change. In July, the British people chose a new prime ministerA prime minister is the head of government in a country with a parliamentary system.  at the general electionIn the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years. . Rishi Sunak and the ConservativesA traditionally right-wing or centre right political party in the UK. Members are sometimes called Tories. were replaced by Keir Starmer and LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party..

2. Big bang. IsraelA country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.'s war on HamasA militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. carried on. Thousands have been killed. The war also spilled over into LebanonA small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million..

3. With a vengeance. The US chose a new presidentIn some countries, the leader is called the president. in November. The American people had a choice between Kamala HarrisUS Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate. If elected, she will be the first female vice president of the USA. and Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025. - and they chose Trump again.

4. Arab winter. On Sunday 9 December, rebels overthrew SyriaA Middle Eastern country that was the site of much of the fighting during the Crusades.'s governmentThe group of people who govern - or lead - the country.. President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia. No-one knows what will happen next.

5. New heights. The final big story is yet to come. 2024 is "almost certain" to be the first year on record where average temperatures are more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Did the world change forever in 2024?

Yes! The world changes forever all the time. Yet 2024 was major. From Trump's win to Assad's fall, the world has set on a different course.

No! We think we live in interesting times - but that is just because we have forgotten the past. What seems like big news today will probably be forgotten in 100 years time.

Prime minister - A prime minister is the head of government in a country with a parliamentary system. 

General election - In the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years.

Conservatives - A traditionally right-wing or centre right political party in the UK. Members are sometimes called Tories.

Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.

Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.

Hamas - A militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.

Lebanon - A small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million.

President - In some countries, the leader is called the president.

Kamala Harris - US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate. If elected, she will be the first female vice president of the USA.

Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025.

Syria - A Middle Eastern country that was the site of much of the fighting during the Crusades.

Government - The group of people who govern - or lead - the country.