After a successful prisoner swap, the US and Cuba have re-established full diplomatic relations. President Obama has agreed to end the US’s long-standing trade embargo on Cuba.
Number of consecutive years that the UN General Assembly demanded that the US end its embargo on Cuba (1992-2014). [1]
Andrew Shannon, the man who walked into the National Art Gallery in Dublin and proceeded to punch a hole through a Monet painting, has been sentenced to five years in prison.
The cost of the punched Monet painting "Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat." [2]
The cost of the most expensive painting in the world, Cézanne’s "The Card Players." [3]
Militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan attacked an army-run school in Peshawar, resulting in the deaths of 132 children. The Pakistani government has in turn ended its 2008 moratorium on executions in order to hang the militants allegedly responsible for the attack.
Number of alleged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants killed by the Pakistani army since launching an offensive against the group in June. [4]
Number of fatal school shootings in the US since the Sandy Hook shooting in last two years. [5]
The FDA has lifted its lifetime ban for gay male blood donors, but will continue to ban donations from all men who have had sex with other men in the last twelve months.
Percentage of American males that will be excluded by the new policy. [6]
A grand jury in Staten Island decided not to indict Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD officer who killed Eric Garner. Pantaleo fatally placed Garner in an illegal chokehold after Garner was suspected of selling cigarettes illegally.
Percent of cigarettes smoked in NYC that are sold illegally. [7]
Ratio of African Americans killed by police to whites killed by police in the US. [8]
Citing “outdated, unfair” drug laws, President Obama has used his power of clemency to order the early release of some long-serving American prisoners.
Number of prisoners who were granted clemency in 2014. [9]
Number of prisoners who applied for clemency in 2014. [10]
Rising temperatures in the Arctic have resulted in the creation of a new hybrid species: the grolar bear, a mix of polar bears and grizzly bears.
Number of degrees that the temperature has risen in the Arctic in the last 40 years. [11]
Number of US-NATO troops that will remain in Afghanistan despite the official mission ended. [12]
Hours after shooting his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore, Ismaaiyl Brinsley killed two NYPD officers in Brooklyn before committing suicide.
Number of American police officers killed while on duty in 2014. [13]
Number of British police officers killed while on duty from 1900-2010. [14]
Six detainees from Guantanamo Bay have been released to Uruguay after being imprisoned for more than twelve years.
Number of detainees presently in Guantanamo prison. [15]
Number of these detainees that have been cleared for release by the US government but are still being illegally held. [16]
Sources:
[1] http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/World_News_3/article_101893.shtml
[2] http://news.artnet.com/in-brief/thug-who-punched-10-million-monet-painting-convicted-191151
[3] http://www.theartwolf.com/10_expensive.htm
[4] http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2014/12/08/national/zarb-e-azb-key-commanders-among-at-least-30-killed-in-dattakhel-airstrikes/
[5] http://elitedaily.com/news/politics/america-averages-one-school-shooting-a-week/814769/
[6] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/health/fda-lifting-ban-on-gay-blood-donors.html
[7] http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21636044-americas-police-kill-too-many-people-some-forces-are-showing-how-smarter-less
[8] http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/10/10/3578877/black-teens-were-21-times-more-likely-to-be-shot-dead-by-the-cops-reported-deaths-suggest/
[9] http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/12/19/clemency-year-end.html
[10] http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/12/19/clemency-year-end.html
[11] http://nautil.us/issue/101/in-our-nature/a-strange-new-gene-pool-of-animals-is-brewing-in-the-arctic-rp
[12] http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/12/28/us-afghanistan-war.html
[13] http://www.odmp.org/search/year
[14] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_police_officers_killed_in_the_line_of_duty
[15] https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/12/07/release-six-detainees-12-years-highlights-historic-evil-guantanamo/
[16] https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/12/07/release-six-detainees-12-years-highlights-historic-evil-guantanamo/