This archive report was first published on 4 December 2019.
As the world welcomed 2020, it's worth looking back at the remarkable records set in 2019. From scorching heatwaves to record-breaking auctions, here are 10 notable achievements from the past year.
July 2019 saw the hottest month on record globally, with an average temperature of 16.75 degrees Celsius (62 Fahrenheit) for the planet, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Europe experienced a severe heatwave in July, with record highs set in Paris (42.6 degrees), Germany (41.5 degrees), and Britain (38.7 degrees).
Facebook faced a major fine in July, with the Federal Trade Commission imposing a $5 billion penalty for violating consumers' privacy, one of the largest ever issued by the US government.
Chinese consumers spent a record $38.3 billion on Alibaba platforms during the annual 'Singles' Day' buying spree in November, a 26 percent increase from the previous year.
Art enthusiasts witnessed a record-breaking sale in October, with Banksy's 'Devolved Parliament' painting selling for 11.1 million euros, a record for the British artist.
Jeff Koons' stainless steel 'Rabbit' sculpture set a new auction record for a work by a living artist in May, fetching $91.1 million.
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge made history in October by becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours, completing the Vienna event in 1hr 59min 40.2sec.
US gymnastics star Simone Biles took her World Championship medal haul to a record 25 in October, surpassing the 23 won by Vitaly Scherbo of Belarus in the 1990s.
Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purj shattered the previous record for climbing the world's 14 highest peaks in just six months and six days over April to October.
Qantas successfully completed the longest non-stop passenger flight in October, taking 19 hours and 16 minutes to test a direct route from New York to Sydney.
California's Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns announced in May that Saybie, born in December 2018, was the world's smallest baby ever to survive, weighing just 245 grams (8.6 ounces) at birth.
A parking space in Hong Kong's The Center skyscraper sold for a staggering HK$7.6 million (over $970,000, 882,000 euros) in October, equivalent to the price of a one-bedroom apartment in London's Chelsea.
