Major Events of June 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 June 2019 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of June 2019: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Jun 2019 US-China Trade War Escalates: The United States began collecting 25 percent tariffs on numerous Chinese products arriving at U.S. ports, further intensifying the ongoing trade tensions.
- 02 Jun 2019 Syrian Civil War Escalation: Multiple violent incidents occurred in Syria: Five Syrian Democratic Forces soldiers were killed by a suicide car bomb in Raqqa, Israel conducted airstrikes on Syrian military targets in the Golan Heights in response to rocket fire, and a car bomb in Azaz killed at least 21 people.
- 03 Jun 2019 Khartoum Massacre: Sudanese Security Forces Attack Protesters: On June 3, 2019, Sudanese security forces and Janjaweed militiamen violently suppressed a peaceful sit-in protest in Khartoum, resulting in the deaths of over 100 protesters. The brutal crackdown marked a significant escalation in the ongoing Sudanese political crisis.
- 04 Jun 2019 Tiananmen Square Protests Anniversary: Tens of thousands gathered in Hong Kong to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Hong Kong remains the only place in China where the event can be openly remembered, with authorities elsewhere blocking any mention of the crackdown.
- 05 Jun 2019 D-Day 75th Anniversary Commemoration: President Trump joined Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Theresa May, and other world leaders on the southern England coast to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, commemorating a pivotal moment in World War II history.
- 06 Jun 2019 D-Day 75th Anniversary Commemoration: The 75th anniversary of the historic Normandy Landings was commemorated, honoring the brave Allied soldiers who fought during World War II. World leaders gathered to pay tribute to the veterans who participated in this pivotal military operation.
- 07 Jun 2019 Boeing 737 MAX Safety Controversy: U.S. Representatives revealed that Boeing knew about the 737 Max AOA disagree alert issue in 2017 but deliberately delayed fixing it until 2020, only after the fatal Lion Air Flight 610 accident.
- 08 Jun 2019 Arrest and Alleged Abuse of Journalist Ivan Golunov: Protests erupted in Moscow after the arrest of Meduza journalist Ivan Golunov on disputed drug charges. His lawyer claimed the drugs were planted, and Golunov alleged he was beaten during and after his arrest. A medical examination revealed a suspected rib fracture, concussion, and hematoma, raising serious concerns about police conduct.
- 09 Jun 2019 Massive Hong Kong Extradition Law Protest: Over 1 million people demonstrated in Hong Kong against a controversial proposed law that would allow extradition of fugitives to China, representing one of the largest protests in the city's history and signaling significant political tension.
- 10 Jun 2019 Indian Court Sentences Men for Rape and Murder: An Indian court convicted six men for the 2018 rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir. Three men received life sentences, while three others were sentenced to five years for destroying evidence.
- 11 Jun 2019 Jon Stewart Criticizes Congress over 9/11 Victims Fund: Comedian Jon Stewart delivered a passionate and angry rebuke to Congress, highlighting the lack of funding for 9/11 victims and their families.
- 12 Jun 2019 Hong Kong Extradition Bill Protests: Massive protests erupt in Hong Kong as the Legislative Council delays the second reading of a controversial extradition bill. Thousands of protesters block roads, confronting police in riot gear, signaling growing resistance to perceived Chinese governmental overreach.
- 13 Jun 2019 US-Iran Diplomatic Tensions over Oil Tanker Attacks: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir directly accused Iran of attacking oil tankers, while Iranian officials strongly denied these claims, escalating diplomatic tensions in the Middle East.
- 14 Jun 2019 Gulf of Oman Tanker Attacks: Two oil tankers, the Kokuka Courageous and the Front Altair, were attacked in the Gulf of Oman, creating significant international tension. The United States claimed the attack was conducted using limpet mines, while the Japanese shipping company suggested an artillery shell was responsible. A video released by the U.S. showed Iranian special forces removing an unexploded mine from the Kokuka Courageous, escalating diplomatic accusations.
- 15 Jun 2019 Detailed Hong Kong Extradition Protest Context: Mass protests in Hong Kong, which began on Sunday and continued through the week, successfully pressured Chief Executive Carrie Lam to suspend a controversial extradition bill. The protests, which turned violent with police using tear gas and rubber bullets, were driven by concerns about threats to Hong Kong's rule of law. Lam indicated the bill was on hold but not completely withdrawn, with further protests expected.
- 16 Jun 2019 2019 Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill Protests: Nearly 2 million people gathered in Victoria Square to demand the complete removal of the controversial extradition bill. This massive demonstration is considered the largest protest in Hong Kong's history, with organizers claiming unprecedented turnout. The bill, proposed by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, sparked widespread public opposition. While police estimated the peak turnout at 338,000, protest organizers suggested a much larger number of participants.
- 17 Jun 2019 Iran Nuclear Deal Tension: Iran announced its intention to cease compliance with the international nuclear agreement, declaring it would exceed uranium stockpile limits within ten days. President Hassan Rouhani called on European nations, particularly France, to intervene and warned that the deal's collapse would harm regional and global interests.
- 18 Jun 2019 Trump Launches 2020 Presidential Campaign: President Donald Trump officially launched his 2020 United States presidential campaign with a rally in Orlando. He had initially filed campaign paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on January 20, 2017.
- 19 Jun 2019 Trump 2020 Campaign Launch: President Trump officially launched his 2020 re-election campaign at a rally in Orlando, Florida, criticizing Democrats and outlining ambitious goals for a potential second term.
- 20 Jun 2019 Iran Shoots Down US Surveillance Drone: Iran's Air Defense Forces shot down an American RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. The incident sparked international diplomatic controversy, with conflicting claims about the drone's location at the time of downing.
- 21 Jun 2019 Trump Halts Planned Iran Military Strike: President Donald Trump initially ordered military strikes against Iran in retaliation for downing a U.S. surveillance drone, but subsequently reversed the decision and halted the operation while American warplanes and warships were already in position.
- 22 Jun 2019 Iran-Saudi Arabia Tensions over Strait of Hormuz: Escalating tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia reached a critical point when Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir, warned of a 'very strong reaction' if Iran attempted to close the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. This statement underscored the volatile geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East and potential risks to global oil transportation.
- 23 Jun 2019 Istanbul Mayoral Election Rerun: In a significant political development, Ekrem Imamoglu of the opposition party defeated the ruling AK Party in the re-run Istanbul mayoral election, marking a notable shift in Turkish municipal politics.
- 24 Jun 2019 UN Calls for Action on Islamic State Detainees: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged international action regarding tens of thousands of Islamic State fighters and their families in Syria and Iraq, calling for them to be either tried in court or released, and for countries to take responsibility for their citizens.
- 25 Jun 2019 SpaceX Satellite Launch: SpaceX successfully launched and deployed 24 satellites using its Falcon Heavy rocket, including innovative projects like LightSail 2 and the Deep Space Atomic Clock. While the side boosters returned safely, the center booster exploded after failing to land on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.
- 26 Jun 2019 Canada Declares Neo-Nazi Groups as Terrorist Organizations: Canada added the far-right group Blood & Honour to its terrorist list, marking the first time extreme right-wing groups have been officially designated as such. The ban also extended to three Shia militant organizations, including the Iranian-backed Al-Ashtar Brigades.
- 27 Jun 2019 Supreme Court Gerrymandering Decision: The US Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution does not prohibit partisan gerrymandering, effectively allowing political parties to redraw electoral boundaries.
- 28 Jun 2019 EU-Mercosur Free Trade Breakthrough: Argentina's Foreign Minister announced a significant breakthrough in free trade negotiations between the European Union, Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay after 20 years of discussions, potentially reshaping international trade dynamics.
- 29 Jun 2019 US-China Trade Negotiations at G20 Summit: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, to negotiate a temporary trade truce. The leaders agree to restart trade talks, with the U.S. allowing American companies to sell non-sensitive technology to Huawei, while China commits to purchasing more agricultural products from the United States.
- 30 Jun 2019 Trump Becomes First US President to Enter North Korea: President Donald Trump made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to cross into North Korea at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. During this unprecedented diplomatic encounter, Trump invited Kim to visit the White House to continue discussions about denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.