By Jinane Ejjed '26
The summer of 2024 was quite eventful. Below, find highlights of national and international events from recent months. Sources include The Guardian, the Council on Foreign Relations, the New York Times, the Associated Press, the July 10, 2024 NATO White House Statement, Wall Street Journal, the UN Development Program, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs Press Release, and Harvard Law Today.
National
Justice Department Sues Google: The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a comprehensive 277-page ruling indicating that Google had misused its monopoly in the search industry. This decision followed a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department and several states, which alleged that Google had unlawfully reinforced its dominant position.
Warning Label on Social Media: On June 17, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced that he would be pushing for warning labels on social media. However, this action would require approval from Congress.
U.S. Hosts NATO Summit: From July 9-11, the United States marked the historic 75th Anniversary of the Alliance, with all 32 Allies convening to discuss national security. The Summit reinforced Western support for Ukraine.
Assasanation Attempt: On July 13, a man attempted to assassinate former president Donald Trump during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The violent political act shocked the world, drawing condemnation from Democrats, Republicans, and world leaders alike. According to the Associated Press, a second attempt occurred just days ago, on September 15th, at his golf club in Florida.
Republican National Convention: From July 15-18, the RNC was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, culminating with former President Donald Trump receiving the Republican nomination for President.
Democratic National Convention: From August 19-22, the DNC was held in Chicago, Illinois, culminating with Vice President Harris receiving the Democratic nomination for President.
Joe Biden’s Exit: On July 21, President Joe Biden abandoned his campaign for reelection after voter concern escalated post-debate over his age and competence. In a dramatic bid, Biden quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the party.
International
Mexico: On June 2, Claudia Sheinbaum became the first woman, and the first Jewish person, to be elected president of Mexico in a landslide victory. Winning between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote according to Mexico’s rapid count hours after polls closed, Sheinbaum brings an environmental perspective to the highest seat in the land as a climate scientist.
EU Parliamentary Elections: From June 6-9, the European People's Party, under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, secured the highest number of seats in the European Parliament. Meanwhile, parties that are pro-EU, including centrist, liberal, social democrat, and environmentalist factions, experienced setbacks. In contrast, right-wing populist parties opposing the EU saw an increase in their representation.
Nvidia: On June 18, Nvidia surpassed Microsoft as the world’s most valuable public company for a short period of time. The rapid ascent of Nvidia is one of the most remarkable in the annals of market history. It is crucial to recognize that this growth has been significantly fueled by the surge in generative artificial intelligence and the increasing demand for the company's semiconductor products, which facilitate the development of A.I. models.
UK Election: On July 4, the leader of the Labor Party, Keir Starmer, and opposition to the Conservative Rishi Sunak, won the general election in a landslide victory. Ending 14 years of Conservative government, the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, became Britain’s new prime minister.
French Election: On July 7, general elections were held in France to elect 577 members of the 17th National Assembly after President Macron dissolved the National Assembly following an expected defeat in first-round voting that elected the far-right party Ressamblemant Nationale. However, in a blow to Le Pen’s party, the far-left New Popular Front won, and to add to the dramatic turn of events, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal resigned on July 8.
Nusantara: On August 17, the new city of Nusantara was formally inaugurated as the capital of Indonesia, replacing Jakarta.
Prisoner Swap with Russia: On August 1, a prisoner exchange involving seven nations resulted in the release of Evan Gershkovich and two other American citizens detained in Russia, alongside numerous imprisoned Russian dissidents. This agreement is unprecedented in its scale and intricacy since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Paris Olympics: Ending August 11, the Olympics in France saw many wins for the United States. The United States won the most gold medals overall.
World Health Organization: On Aug. 14, the WHO declared a global emergency over the spread of monkeypox.
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