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Major Events of July 2012: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from July 2012 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of July 2012: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jul 2012 Syrian Civil War Peace Plan Rejection: The UN-brokered Peace Plan for Syria's Political Transition was rejected by opposition groups in Geneva. They claimed the plan was unclear and refused to negotiate with President Bashar al-Assad. Tensions escalated with Turkey scrambling F-16 jets in response to Syrian military helicopters near the border.
  • 02 Jul 2012 GlaxoSmithKline Settles Historic Healthcare Fraud Case: Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) settled the largest healthcare fraud case in U.S. history, paying a $3 billion settlement to resolve criminal and civil allegations of improper marketing and illegal activities.
  • 03 Jul 2012 Barclays Libor Scandal: Bob Diamond Resigns: In the wake of a significant financial manipulation scandal involving Libor and Euribor interest rate systems, Bob Diamond stepped down from his position as Chief Executive of Barclays Bank, marking a major corporate governance crisis.
  • 04 Jul 2012 Discovery of Higgs Boson at Large Hadron Collider: Scientists at CERN announced the groundbreaking discovery of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle in physics that helps explain how matter gains mass. This discovery, long theorized since the 1960s, represents a monumental achievement in particle physics and our understanding of the universe.
  • 05 Jul 2012 Syrian Uprising Continues: The Syrian Civil War escalated with ongoing violent conflicts between government forces and opposition groups, marking a critical period of intense political and humanitarian crisis in the region.
  • 06 Jul 2012 NASA's Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars: NASA's Curiosity rover successfully landed on the Martian surface, marking a significant milestone in space exploration and robotic planetary research. This sophisticated rover was designed to investigate Mars' climate and geology, searching for potential signs of past microbial life.
  • 07 Jul 2012 Libya Holds Historic National Congress Election: Libyan voters participated in a landmark General National Congress election, marking a significant step in the country's democratic transition. The elected representatives were tasked with appointing a Prime Minister, forming a cabinet, and drafting a new Constitution.
  • 08 Jul 2012 NATO Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan: Six NATO soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by international military forces in the region.
  • 09 Jul 2012 Syrian Uprising Continues with High Civilian Casualties: UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan reported 'constructive' talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. However, the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 17,000 deaths, predominantly civilians. On this day, 31 people were reportedly killed by the Syrian Army, mainly in Homs.
  • 10 Jul 2012 Lubanga Sentenced for War Crimes: Thomas Lubanga, a Congolese warlord, was sentenced by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to 14 years imprisonment for recruiting and using child soldiers during the Ituri conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • 11 Jul 2012 Syrian Army Kills 56 People, Including Red Crescent Worker: On July 11, 2012, the Syrian army reportedly killed 56 people, including a humanitarian Red Crescent worker, during the ongoing Syrian uprising. This incident highlights the brutal nature of the conflict and the risks faced by humanitarian workers.
  • 12 Jul 2012 Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal Report: Former FBI Director Louis Freeh released a report alleging that Joe Paterno and other Penn State officials covered up child sexual abuse by Jerry Sandusky, revealing a systemic failure to protect children.
  • 13 Jul 2012 China's Economic Slowdown: The People's Republic of China experienced an economic growth rate of 7.6 percent, marking its lowest level in three decades, signaling potential economic challenges.
  • 14 Jul 2012 Syrian Military Attack in Daraa: Syrian military forces launched a significant offensive in Khirbet Ghazaleh, Daraa province, involving hundreds of soldiers and helicopter gunships, escalating the ongoing Syrian conflict.
  • 15 Jul 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalates: The Syrian uprising continues, with intense fighting between opposition forces and government troops in Damascus, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing civil conflict.
  • 16 Jul 2012 FDA Approves Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Drug: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Truvada, the first drug scientifically proven to lower the risk of HIV infection, marking a significant milestone in public health.
  • 17 Jul 2012 Libya's First Post-Revolution Elections: In Libya's first post-revolution elections, the National Forces Alliance, led by interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jbril, won 39 of the 80 seats reserved for political parties.
  • 18 Jul 2012 Syrian High-Profile Government Officials Killed: A significant suicide bombing in Syria resulted in the deaths of three high-profile government officials, including the Minister of Defense, Dawoud Rajiha. This attack was part of the ongoing Syrian Civil War and represented a major blow to the Assad regime.
  • 19 Jul 2012 UN Security Council Divided on Syria: Russia and China vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution threatening sanctions against Syria. 11 countries voted for the resolution, while South Africa and Pakistan abstained, highlighting the international community's deep divisions over the Syrian conflict.
  • 20 Jul 2012 2012 Aurora Movie Theater Shooting: On July 20, 2012, James Holmes conducted a mass shooting during the midnight premiere of 'The Dark Knight Rises' at the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. The gunman, dressed in tactical gear, opened fire on unsuspecting moviegoers, killing 12 people and injuring 58 others in one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.
  • 21 Jul 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalation: The Syrian uprising, which began in 2011, continued with intense conflict, marking a critical period of civil war and humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.
  • 22 Jul 2012 Arab League Demands Assad's Resignation: The Arab League officially called for the immediate resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to halt the ongoing bloodshed and violence in the Syrian Civil War, escalating international diplomatic pressure.
  • 23 Jul 2012 Aurora Movie Theater Shooting Suspect Appears in Court: James Eagan Holmes, the suspect in the devastating Aurora movie theater shooting, made his first court appearance, marking a significant moment in one of the most notorious mass shooting incidents in recent U.S. history.
  • 24 Jul 2012 News International Phone Hacking Scandal Prosecution: The Crown Prosecution Service in Britain formally announced charges against eight individuals, including prominent media executives Andy Coulson, Rebekah Brooks, and Rebekah Smith, in connection with the extensive phone hacking scandal.
  • 25 Jul 2012 2012 Summer Olympics Begin: The 2012 Summer Olympics commence in Great Britain, starting with the Women's Football Tournament, a major international sporting event.
  • 26 Jul 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalates: The Syrian Civil War continues to intensify, with major military operations and significant civilian casualties unfolding across multiple cities.
  • 27 Jul 2012 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony: The opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics was held at London Olympic Stadium. Queen Elizabeth II officially declared the Games open, marking the third time London had hosted the Olympic Games. The ceremony, titled 'Isles of Wonder', was creatively directed by renowned filmmaker Danny Boyle.
  • 28 Jul 2012 2012 London Olympics Highlights: The 2012 Summer Olympics in London featured multiple record-breaking performances in swimming and archery, with athletes from South Korea, China, and South Africa setting new Olympic and world records.
  • 29 Jul 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalates: The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, continues to intensify with significant conflict and humanitarian implications across the country.
  • 30 Jul 2012 Syrian Civil War Escalation: The Syrian Civil War continued to intensify, with significant humanitarian consequences and widespread displacement of civilians.
  • 31 Jul 2012 Michael Phelps Breaks Olympic Medal Record: Michael Phelps breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the most medals won at the Olympics, becoming the most decorated Olympian in history.