Major Events of June 2014: 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 June 2014 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of June 2014: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Jun 2014 Jewish Museum of Belgium Shooting: A tragic terrorist attack at the Jewish Museum of Belgium resulted in the murder of four Jewish victims by a Muslim Frenchman, highlighting ongoing tensions and antisemitic violence.
- 02 Jun 2014 EPA Carbon Emission Regulations: The United States Environmental Protection Agency introduces new regulations to reduce carbon emissions in the US power sector, targeting significant reductions from 2005 levels by 2030, in a major step towards addressing climate change.
- 03 Jun 2014 Intense Fighting in Sloviansk, Ukraine: Heavy combat erupts between Ukrainian military forces and pro-Russian militants in and around the eastern city of Sloviansk, escalating tensions in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.
- 04 Jun 2014 China Suppresses Tiananmen Square Commemoration: Chinese authorities cracked down on dissidents during the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, continuing their policy of restricting public discussion of the historic event.
- 05 Jun 2014 European Central Bank Economic Intervention: In a strategic move to stimulate the stagnant Eurozone economy, the European Central Bank lowered the prime interest rate to -0.10%, an unprecedented monetary policy aimed at devaluing the euro and encouraging economic growth.
- 06 Jun 2014 70th Anniversary of D-Day: World leaders gathered in Normandy, France to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the historic D-Day invasion, marking a pivotal moment in World War II when Allied forces launched a massive amphibious assault against Nazi-occupied France.
- 07 Jun 2014 Petro Poroshenko Sworn in as Ukraine's President: Billionaire chocolate maker Petro Poroshenko was inaugurated as Ukraine's President, delivering a powerful inaugural address emphasizing peace while warning aggressors. He stated, 'I don't want war. I don't want revenge. But who comes with the sword will fall from the sword.'
- 08 Jun 2014 Pope Francis Mediates Israeli-Palestinian Peace Dialogue: Pope Francis initiated a historic diplomatic effort by calling Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to promote peace, hosting a joint prayer meeting at the Vatican.
- 09 Jun 2014 Conviction in Anna Politkovskaya Assassination: A Moscow court sentenced five Russian men to prison for the 2006 assassination of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a prominent critic of the Russian government, marking a significant moment in the pursuit of justice.
- 10 Jun 2014 Militants Capture Mosul, Iraq: In a significant development of the Iraqi insurgency, militants launched an overnight attack on Mosul, successfully taking control of the city as police and military forces fled, marking a critical moment in the region's ongoing conflict.
- 11 Jun 2014 Islamic State Seizes Mosul: Islamic State of Iraq forces seized control of government offices and critical infrastructure in the northern city of Mosul, marking a significant territorial expansion.
- 12 Jun 2014 Camp Speicher Massacre by ISIS: A devastating terrorist attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) resulted in the mass killing of between 1,095 and 1,700 Shia Iraqi people at Camp Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq. This horrific event is considered the second deadliest act of terrorism in modern history, surpassed only by the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- 13 Jun 2014 Ukraine Conflict: Mariupol Port Recapture: During the 2014 pro-Russian conflict, Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov claimed that Ukrainian forces had successfully retaken control of the strategic port city of Mariupol.
- 14 Jun 2014 Afghanistan Presidential Election Amid Taliban Threats: Afghan voters went to the polls for the presidential election under significant threat from the Taliban. The election was marked by violence, with hundreds of people killed in the country, highlighting the challenging political landscape.
- 15 Jun 2014 US Embassy Evacuation in Baghdad: As part of the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive, the United States evacuated its personnel from the embassy in Baghdad due to the advancing Islamic State in Iraq & the Levant (ISIS), signaling escalating regional tensions.
- 16 Jun 2014 U.S. Evacuates Iraq Embassy Personnel: The United States began evacuating some embassy personnel in Baghdad and reinforced security with 50-100 Marines and Army soldiers. ISIS claimed to have executed 1,700 Iraqi soldiers and threatened to attack the capital, escalating tensions in the region.
- 17 Jun 2014 Al-Shabaab Attack in Kenya: Al-Shabaab militants attacked Poromoko village in Kenya, killing 15 people and setting multiple houses on fire in a brutal assault.
- 18 Jun 2014 Iraq Military Shakeup Amid Militant Surge: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki fired four top military commanders due to their failure to stop the Islamic State militants' offensive. The militants continued advancing, attacking the country's largest oil refinery and threatening Baghdad.
- 19 Jun 2014 Iraq Requests U.S. Military Intervention Against ISIS: The Iraqi government formally requested U.S. air power to help combat an offensive by the ISIS insurgent group. ISIS had seized control of several cities and was battling for a major oil refinery. President Obama was actively considering military response options with congressional leadership.
- 20 Jun 2014 Egyptian Court Confirms Mass Death Sentences for Muslim Brotherhood Leaders: An Egyptian court upheld death sentences for over 180 Islamists, including Mohamed Badie, the top leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, signaling the ongoing political crackdown on the organization following the 2013 military coup.
- 21 Jun 2014 Qhapaq Ñan Receives UNESCO World Heritage Status: The Qhapaq Ñan, the extensive 30,000 km (18,600 miles) Andean Road System of the Inca Empire spanning six countries, was granted prestigious UNESCO World Heritage status, recognizing its immense historical and cultural significance.
- 22 Jun 2014 ISIL Captures Border Crossings in Northern Iraq: During the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) strategically captured two critical border crossings: Al-Walid (al-Tanf) on the Syrian border and Turaibil (Karameh) on the Jordanian border, significantly expanding their territorial control.
- 23 Jun 2014 Syria Chemical Weapons Removal: The last of Syria's declared chemical weapons are shipped out for international destruction, marking a significant milestone in global disarmament efforts.
- 24 Jun 2014 Major Sex Trafficking Crackdown in the United States: A nationwide law enforcement operation resulted in the arrest of 281 alleged pimps across 106 cities and the rescue of 168 children from sex trafficking, targeting various locations including casinos and online platforms.
- 25 Jun 2014 Iraq's Prime Minister Calls for National Unity Against ISIS: During the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki urged national unity to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), with strategic focus on Yathrib, located 87 km northeast of Baghdad.
- 26 Jun 2014 Luis Suárez Banned from FIFA World Cup: Luis Suárez, Uruguay's top striker, received a severe punishment from FIFA for biting Italian player Giorgio Chiellini during a Group C match. He was banned from nine international matches and suspended for four months from all football-related activities. The suspension prevents him from training or playing for Liverpool until October 27, marking the harshest World Cup player penalty.
- 27 Jun 2014 EU Signs Association Agreements with Eastern European Countries: The European Union signed significant association agreements with Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, a move strongly opposed by Russia and marking a critical geopolitical moment in Eastern European relations.
- 28 Jun 2014 Sarajevo Commemorates Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassination Centenary: Sarajevo marked the 100th anniversary of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination, a pivotal event that triggered World War I, reflecting on a transformative moment in global history.
- 29 Jun 2014 Islamic State Declares Caliphate: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) self-declares its caliphate in Syria and northern Iraq, marking a significant moment in the group's territorial and ideological expansion.
- 30 Jun 2014 Israeli Teenagers Kidnapping Tragedy: Three Israeli teenagers, one with dual American citizenship, were found partially buried near Hebron in the West Bank. Shin Bet investigated the kidnapping and sought two Hamas suspects believed to be involved.