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January Damage caused by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake and subsequent fires in the city of Wajima, Japan January 1 Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates become BRICS members.[25] The Republic of Artsakh is formally dissolved following the recapture of the Nagorno-Karabakh region by Azerbaijan.[26] A 7.5 Mww earthquake strikes the western coast of Japan (Noto Peninsula), killing at least 504 people and injuring 1,389 others.[27][28] A further 5 are killed the next day when a Coast Guard aircraft carrying humanitarian aid was involved in a collision with a Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft, destroying both aircraft. All 379 people aboard the passenger jet are evacuated safely.[29] Ethiopia announces an agreement with Somaliland to use the port of Berbera. Ethiopia also says that it will eventually recognize Somaliland's independence, becoming the first country to do so.[30] January 2 – 2023 Marshallese general election: The Legislature of the Marshall Islands elects Hilda Heine as President for a second non-consecutive term during its first session following the general election.[31] January 3 – 2024 Kerman bombings: An Islamic State double bombing kills 94 people during a memorial event commemorating the assassination of Qasem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran.[32] The bombing was carried out using two briefcase bombs placed at the entrance that were detonated remotely.[33] January 7 – 2024 Bangladeshi general election: The Awami League, led by incumbent Sheikh Hasina, wins a 4th consecutive term amid protests by opposition parties and a large drop in voter turnout.[34][35] January 8 Said Abdullahi Deni is elected President of Puntland by the Puntland Parliament after three rounds in the 2024 Punttland presidential election.[36] 2024 Ecuadorian conflict: Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declares a state of emergency following the escape of Los Choneros drug cartel leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar from prison. The military was deployed onto the streets and into prisons, while setting a national nighttime curfew.[37] January 9 – Two Polish MPs: former Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski and his then-deputy Maciej Wasik, are arrested by police inside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw following a legal dispute over their conviction and pardon for abuse of power [pl].[38][39] On 23 January, President Andrzej Duda pardoned them for the second time, and the police released them from prison.[40] January 11 – Riots break out throughout Papua New Guinea after an alleged rounding error causes pay cuts for police officers and soldiers.[41] January 12 – Operation Prosperity Guardian: A U.S.-led coalition launches airstrikes at Houthi militant locations in Yemen, marking a retaliation to the Houthis' attacks on ships in the Red Sea.[42] January 13 – 2024 Taiwanese presidential election: Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party wins with 40% of the vote.[43] January 14 Margrethe II formally abdicates as Queen of Denmark on the 52nd anniversary of her accession, with her eldest son Frederik succeeding her as King Frederik X.[44] 2024 Comorian presidential election: Amid an opposition boycott, incumbent president Azali Assoumani wins re-election with 62.9% of the vote and only 16.3% voter turnout.[45][46] January 15 – Following a brief political crisis in the aftermath of the 2023 elections, Bernardo Arévalo is inaugurated as the 52nd President of Guatemala.[47][48] January 16 – Iran carries out a series of missile and drone strikes within Balochistan, Pakistan, claiming that it had targeted the Iranian Baloch militant group Jaish ul-Adl.[49] January 18 – Pakistan conducts retaliatory airstrikes on Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province.[50] January 19 – Japan becomes the 5th country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, with its SLIM mission.[51][52] January 24 – 2024 Korochansky Ilyushin Il-76 crash: A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane carrying (according to Russia) 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, 6 crew members, and 3 guards crashes in Russia's Korochansky District, near the Ukrainian border, killing everyone on board.[53] January 26 Gaza war: The UN's International Court of Justice rules that Israel must take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza, but stops short of ordering an immediate halt to operations.[54] 2024 Tuvaluan general election: Kausea Natano, the incumbent Prime Minister of Tuvalu, loses reelection to Parliament.[55] A month later, Feleti Teo was elected prime minister.[56] January 31 – Sultan of Johor Ibrahim Iskandar ascends the throne as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.[57]