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Major Events of July 2019: 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 2019 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of July 2019: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jul 2019 Hong Kong Protests Escalate: Demonstrators against the controversial extradition bill briefly entered the Legislative Council Complex, marking an escalation in the ongoing political protests in Hong Kong.
  • 02 Jul 2019 Major European Leadership Nominations: The European Council made historic nominations for key leadership positions: Ursula von der Leyen was nominated as the first woman to potentially become President of the European Commission, Charles Michel was nominated for European Council President, Josep Borrell was named High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Christine Lagarde was elected President of the European Central Bank.
  • 03 Jul 2019 Syrian Civil War: Mass Grave Discovered in Raqqa: In Raqqa, Syria, a horrific mass grave containing over 200 bodies was discovered, revealing the brutal atrocities committed by ISIL militants. The victims were found bound and executed by being shot in the head, underscoring the extreme violence of the Syrian Civil War.
  • 04 Jul 2019 Trump's Historic Salute to America Event: The 2019 Salute to America was a unique Independence Day event at the National Mall, featuring military vehicle displays, presidential address, aircraft flyovers, and fireworks. It was the first presidential address at the National Mall in 68 years.
  • 05 Jul 2019 Babylon Becomes UNESCO World Heritage Site: The ancient Iraqi city of Babylon was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its immense historical and cultural significance.
  • 06 Jul 2019 Syrian Civil War Civilian Casualties: According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), a devastating Russian government-led assault on the last rebel stronghold in northwestern Syria has resulted in at least 544 civilian deaths, including 130 children, and 2,117 injuries over a two-month period.
  • 07 Jul 2019 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final: The United States women's national team defeated the Netherlands 2-0, with Megan Rapinoe scoring a penalty kick and Rose Lavelle adding another goal. Rapinoe won the Golden Boot, cementing the team's dominance.
  • 08 Jul 2019 African Continental Free Trade Agreement: African leaders reached a landmark agreement establishing a continent-wide free trade zone, encompassing nearly all African countries except Eritrea and Somaliland. This agreement represents the largest free trade zone since the World Trade Organization's establishment.
  • 09 Jul 2019 Hong Kong Protests Intensify: On July 9, 2019, Hong Kong protests against the proposed extradition bill reached a critical point, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets and engaging in confrontations with local police, highlighting growing tensions in the region.
  • 10 Jul 2019 Oldest Homo Sapiens Skull Outside Africa Discovered: Paleoanthropologists announced in the Nature journal the discovery of Apidima 1, a human skull found in a Greek cave, representing the oldest known Homo Sapiens individual found outside of Africa.
  • 11 Jul 2019 Hayabusa2 Space Probe Lands on Asteroid: JAXA's Hayabusa2 space probe successfully landed on the Apollo asteroid 162173 Ryugu, representing a significant achievement in space exploration and scientific research.
  • 12 Jul 2019 U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta Resigns: U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta resigned amid intense public scrutiny over his controversial 2008 plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein, who was later arrested on charges of sex trafficking minors. Patrick Pizzella was appointed as Acting Secretary of Labor, effective July 19.
  • 13 Jul 2019 Devastating Monsoon Floods in South Asia: Severe monsoon rains triggered catastrophic floods and landslides across South Asia. Nepal suffered at least 67 deaths, while India and Bangladesh reported 34 and 29 fatalities respectively, highlighting the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events.
  • 14 Jul 2019 New Zealand vs England Cricket World Cup Final: In a historic and unprecedented moment, New Zealand and England battled in the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final, which was ultimately decided by the total number of boundaries after a tied match and super-over. This was one of the most dramatic cricket finals in history, showcasing the intense competition between the two teams.
  • 15 Jul 2019 Charlottesville Car Attack Sentencing: James A. Fields Jr. received a second life sentence plus 419 years for his violent act during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was convicted for driving his car into a crowd of peaceful protesters, resulting in one death and 28 injuries, marking a significant legal response to racially motivated violence.
  • 16 Jul 2019 First Female European Commission President: Ursula von der Leyen made history by becoming the first woman elected as President of the European Commission, succeeding Jean-Claude Juncker. She was set to be sworn in on November 1st, 2019, marking a significant milestone in European political leadership.
  • 17 Jul 2019 US Removes Turkey from F-35 Program Over S-400 Missile System: The United States removed Turkey from its Joint Strike Fighter program after Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 missile defense system, effectively ending Turkey's planned acquisition of 100 F-35 Lightning II aircraft and escalating tensions between NATO allies.
  • 18 Jul 2019 US Navy Confrontation with Iranian Drone: In the Strait of Hormuz, the USS Boxer destroyed an Iranian drone in a defensive action. The Iranian drone reportedly approached within 1,000 yards of the U.S. vessel and ignored multiple requests to stop, escalating tensions between the two countries.
  • 19 Jul 2019 Apollo 11 Enters Lunar Orbit: On July 19, 1969, the historic Apollo 11 mission, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin, and Michael Collins, entered lunar orbit, setting the stage for humanity's first moon landing.
  • 20 Jul 2019 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing: On July 20, 2019, the United States commemorated the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, celebrating the momentous achievement of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on the lunar surface in 1969.
  • 21 Jul 2019 Yuen Long Attack in Hong Kong: On July 21, 2019, a violent incident occurred in Yuen Long, Hong Kong, where triad members indiscriminately attacked civilians returning from protests. The police were accused of failing to intervene and protect the citizens, raising serious concerns about law enforcement's neutrality during the ongoing pro-democracy protests.
  • 22 Jul 2019 India's Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Mission Launch: Chandrayaan-2, India's second lunar exploration mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre using a GSLV Mark III M1 rocket. The mission comprised a lunar orbiter, lander, and lunar rover, with an ambitious goal of becoming the first spacecraft to land at the lunar south pole.
  • 23 Jul 2019 Boris Johnson Becomes UK Conservative Party Leader: On 23 July 2019, Boris Johnson was elected as the Leader of the UK Conservative Party, positioning him to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This leadership change marked a significant moment in British political history, with Johnson succeeding Theresa May and promising a new approach to Brexit negotiations.
  • 24 Jul 2019 Boris Johnson Becomes UK Prime Minister: Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after defeating Jeremy Hunt in a Conservative Party leadership contest, succeeding Theresa May.
  • 25 Jul 2019 European Heat Wave Breaks National Temperature Records: On July 25, 2019, multiple Western European countries experienced unprecedented extreme heat, setting new national temperature records. Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom all recorded temperatures that significantly exceeded previous historical maximums.
  • 26 Jul 2019 U.S. Marines Arrested for Smuggling: Sixteen American Marines were arrested at Camp Pendleton, California, on suspicion of involvement in drug and human smuggling, highlighting potential internal disciplinary and legal issues within military ranks.
  • 27 Jul 2019 Moscow City Duma Election Protests: Thousands of protesters gathered in Moscow to demonstrate against the disqualification of opposition candidates in regional elections. The protests turned violent, resulting in approximately 1,000 arrests, including prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
  • 28 Jul 2019 Hong Kong Protests Against Carrie Lam: Tens of thousands of protesters demanded the resignation of Hong Kong's pro-China Chief Executive Carrie Lam. Demonstrators took over streets in Sai Wan, Causeway Bay, and near China's Hong Kong Liaison Office, defying an official police ban.
  • 29 Jul 2019 Capital One Major Data Breach: A significant cybersecurity incident occurred when a 33-year-old hacker from Seattle, Paige Thompson, compromised data for approximately 106 million Americans and Canadians. The breach was discovered after Thompson boasted about her actions online, leading to her arrest by the FBI.
  • 30 Jul 2019 Military Aircraft Crash in Residential Area: A small military aircraft crashed into a residential zone, causing significant casualties with 13 civilians killed and 12 others injured, raising serious concerns about aviation safety and urban military operations.
  • 31 Jul 2019 U.S. Sanctions Iranian Foreign Minister: The United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, citing his implementation of what they describe as the 'reckless agenda' of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This action further escalates tensions between the two countries.