Jan. 1: Earthquake in Japan
Shoppers crouch down as an earthquake hit the region at a supermarket in Toyama, Japan January 1, 2024, in this photo released by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS
A New Year’s Day earthquake of 7.6 magnitude strikes an area along the west coast of Japan, causing a tsunami wave. At least 475 people are killed.
Jan. 2: Harvard Resignation
The Ivy League school’s president, Claudine Gay, resigns after facing criticism over how she responded to antisemitism on campus, as well as allegations that she plagiarized the work of other researchers.
Jan. 2: Top Hamas Leader Killed
A suspected Israeli attack kills a senior Hamas leader in Beirut, the biggest hit to the Palestinian militant group’s leadership in years.
Jan. 2 and 5: Narrow Escapes
Officials investigate a burnt Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350 plane after a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan January 3, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo
Passengers and crew escape with minutes to spare from a burning Japan Airlines jet after it collides with a Japanese coast guard plane. Five of the six people on the coast guard plane perish. Three days later, passengers and crew survive after a door panel blows out from an Alaska Airlines jet at 16,000 feet.
Jan. 10: SEC Approves Bitcoin ETFs
The Securities and Exchange Commission votes to allow mainstream investors to buy and sell bitcoin as easily as stocks and mutual funds. The next day, 10 bitcoin exchange-traded funds are launched to much fanfare.
Jan. 19: S&P 500 Hits Record
A rally in technology stocks to start the year propels the S&P 500 index to a record high , its first in two years.
Jan. 26: Trump Hit With Penalty
A federal jury orders Donald Trump to pay more than $83 million in damages for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll by saying she fabricated a sexual assault to generate publicity for her new book.
Jan. 28: U.S. Troops Killed in Israel-Hamas War
Three U.S. service members are killed and more than 40 are injured in an Iran-backed militia’s drone strike on a base in Jordan, officials say, the first American troops killed in hostile action since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
Jan. 29: U.N. Staff Link to the Hamas Attack
At least 12 U.N. Palestinian refugee agency workers are tied to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and about 10% of its Gaza staff have links to militant groups, according to intelligence reports reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
Feb. 2: The U.S. Responds
The U.S. carries out retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq in response to the drone strike in January. Days later, a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad kills a commander blamed for the attack, the Pentagon says.
Feb. 6: More SEC Oversight of Traders
The Securities and Exchange Commission is increasing its oversight of dozens of firms, including high-speed traders and hedge funds, after broadening its definition of what it considers to be a securities “dealer.”
Feb. 7: Consumers Still Feel Blue
Americans are feeling down despite a strong economy, according to interviews across the country.
Feb. 8: Fidelity Investments’ Reshuffle
The mutual-fund giant appoints a new slate of executives to senior roles, including finance chief, in one of the biggest management reshuffles in Abigail Johnson ’s near-decade run as CEO.
Feb. 8: A Biden Report Calls Him an ‘Elderly Man’
President Biden’s age and leadership abilities are under increased scrutiny after a special-counsel report on his handling of classified materials says he presented himself as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”
Feb. 11: Chiefs Win the Super Bowl…Again
The Kansas City Chiefs win their third Super Bowl in five years, coming from behind to beat the San Francisco 49ers, 25-22, in overtime.
Feb. 13: A Cabinet Impeachment
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas becomes the first sitting cabinet official to be impeached by the House, though the Republican effort to remove him from office because of border policy is quickly defeated in the Senate.
Feb. 14: Kansas City Parade Shooting
One person is killed and 22 are wounded, many of them children, in a shooting at the parade to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win. Two adults and two juveniles are charged.
Feb. 16: Trump’s Fraud Case
A New York judge rules that Donald Trump and his business should pay more than $350 million for misrepresenting his wealth for financial gain. Trump assails the case as political.
Feb. 16: Putin Critic Dies at 47
FILE PHOTO: Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny takes part in a rally in Moscow, Russia, February 29, 2020. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/File Photo
Alexei Navalny, a fierce anticorruption campaigner who galvanized Russia’s political opposition, dies in a Siberian prison colony .
Feb. 19: Credit-Card Combo
Capital One says it will buy Discover Financial Services for more than $35 billion, a deal that will marry two of the largest credit-card companies in the U.S.
Feb. 21: Nikkei Back at a Record
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei Stock Average returns to a record high after 34 years of waiting.
Feb. 23: Valencia Fire
A fire destroys two residential buildings in the Spanish city of Valencia, killing at least 10 people.
Feb. 23: Nvidia Hits $2 Trillion in Value
The chip maker’s market valuation touches $2 trillion , thanks to its role in powering the artificial-intelligence revolution.
Feb. 28: GOP Senate Leader Steps Down
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pauses as he speaks to reporters following a meeting at the White House and the Senate Republicans weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 27, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
Senate Minority Leader, the longest-serving Senate party leader in history, says he will step down from his leadership role.
March 1: Northern California Snowstorm
A powerful blizzard dumps more than 60 inches of snow over parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
March 7: Sweden Joins NATO
Sweden officially joins NATO as the 32nd member, marking the alliance’s historic expansion in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
March 12: College-Application Chaos
Changes in the federal financial-aid application, testing requirements and the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action plunge college applicants and schools into uncertainty .
March 13: Banning TikTok?
Giovanna Gonzalez of Chicago demonstrates outside the U.S. Capitol following a press conference by TikTok creators to voice their opposition to the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” pending crackdown legislation on TikTok in the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 12, 2024. REUTERS/Craig Hudson
The House and Senate vote in favor of banning the Chinese-owned app from operating in the U.S. or forcing a sale, and President Biden signs the ban into law in April. Late in the year, a federal appeals court rules that TikTok can be banned in the U.S. over national-security concerns.
March 15: Realtors Settle
The National Association of Realtors reaches a nationwide settlement of claims that the industry conspired to keep agent commissions high, a deal set to usher in the biggest changes to how Americans buy and sell homes in decades.
March 18: Volcanic Eruptions in Iceland
Several eruptions will bedevil the country throughout the year. And scientists say more are expected on the Reykjanes peninsula for decades.
March 21: Apple Antitrust Case
The U.S. accuses Apple of monopolizing the smartphone market in a landmark antitrust lawsuit that threatens to disrupt the tech giant’s business model and how millions of consumers use their iPhones.
March 22: Terrorism in Russia
A view shows the Crocus City Hall concert venue following Friday’s deadly attack, outside Moscow, Russia, March 23, 2024. Sergei Vedyashkin
A terrorist attack on a concert hall in a Moscow suburb kills at least 145 people. Islamic State claims responsibility.
March 26: Bridge Collapse in Baltimore
View of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., March 26, 2024. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses into the Patapsco River after being hit by a large containership, killing six people.
March 28: Crypto King Is Sentenced
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is sentenced to 25 years in prison for what prosecutors call one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history, capping the onetime crypto king’s meteoric rise and fall.
March 28: Stocks Zoom to Records
The market closes out a robust first quarter, with major indexes at or near records. The S&P 500 caps its best first-quarter performance since 2019.
April 3: Disney Prevails
Walt Disney shareholders vote to elect the company’s slate of board nominees, handing CEO Bob Iger a victory over activist investor Nelson Peltz —who nonetheless makes around $300 million on the Disney investment since starting his proxy fight.
April 7: Women’s College Basketball in Spotlight
After attention surges for the women’s college game because of Iowa star Caitlin Clark, her team is knocked off by South Carolina, which completes an undefeated season to win the NCAA title. Among the men, who were overshadowed this time, Connecticut beats Purdue for its second consecutive NCAA title.
April 8: The Moon Upstages the Sun
More than 30 million people across North America are able to witness a rare solar eclipse .
April 13: Israel Thwarts Iran’s Strikes
In Iran’s first-ever direct attack on Israel, a volley of over 300 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones were launched toward Israel , but Israel, the U.S. and other allies intercepted nearly all of them.
April 15: Trump Hush-Money Trial Begins
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his criminal trial, as the jury deliberates in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S., May 29, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
Donald Trump, the first former president to sit for a criminal trial , is accused of covering up a hush-money payment to adult-movie actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
April 17: Flooding in Dubai
The most severe flooding in decades causes a wave of flight cancellations and delays at Dubai International Airport, prompting the world’s second-busiest hub (behind Atlanta’s) to warn passengers to avoid it unless absolutely necessary.
April 7: Sahara Dust Storm
A dust cloud from Northwest Africa blows across Europe.
April 20: Aid for Ukraine
The House passes a $95 billion foreign-aid package that includes long-stalled funding and weapons for Ukraine, after House Speaker Mike Johnson pushes the measure past opposition from fellow Republicans.
April 24: Criminal Inquiry of McKinsey
The Justice Department is investigating consulting firm McKinsey’s past role in advising opioid manufacturers on how to boost sales. In December, McKinsey enters into a $650 million settlement .
April 28: Inflation Lingers
Treasury yields touch new 2024 highs after data shows lingering inflation, raising anxiety about what is next for the stock market.
April 29: Campus Protests
A drone view shows tents and some tent marks left near the tents, as people begin to pack up to leave a protest encampment in support of Palestinians in Gaza, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, after protesters agreed to voluntarily end the camp by Monday afternoon at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, U.S. May 18, 2024. REUTERS/David Ryder
Universities struggle to end pro-Palestinian protests. Columbia begins suspending students in an encampment. The next day, hundreds of protesters are arrested across several campuses.
May 7: FDIC’s Toxic Culture
A blistering report commissioned by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. finds that sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination have long pervaded the agency. The report follows a Wall Street Journal investigation. Later in the month, FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg bows to pressure to resign .
May 9: Cornell’s President Resigns
Martha Pollack, the president of Cornell University for seven years, announces her resignation , as pressure continues over how colleges have handled antisemitism and protests against Israel.
May 11: Northern Lights
A massive solar storm brings colorful auroras to the night skies in countries across the Northern Hemisphere.
May 13: Walmart Layoffs
Walmart , the nation’s largest employer, is cutting hundreds of corporate jobs and asking most remote workers to move to offices. The retailer is one of many companies reducing Covid-era remote-work flexibility.
May 16: Investors Thrive
Despite negatives in the overall economy, almost every investment is going up —homes, established Dow stocks, faster-growing tech shares, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and even gold and other precious metals.
May 17: Dow 40000
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 40000 for the first time, a day after testing the milestone. The market’s rally reflects investors’ hopes for interest-rate cuts later in the year.
May 19: Iran President Killed in Copter Crash
FILE PHOTO: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi looks on during a TV interview, in Tehran, Iran June 20, 2023. Iran’s Presidency/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi deprives Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of a longtime ally as Tehran angles for regional dominance.
May 20: Red Lobster Files for Bankruptcy (and Is Reborn)
The largest seafood restaurant chain in the U.S. failed to recover from dwindling traffic during the pandemic; an unlimited shrimp deal also took a toll. In September, the chain emerges from bankruptcy with new management and ownership.
May 21: CEOs’ Record Compensation
The chiefs of America’s biggest companies reached new pay heights in 2023 as stock awards swelled the value of compensation packages. Half of the executives in a Wall Street Journal analysis made at least $15.7 million, a record for median CEO pay in the annual survey.
May 23: Pay for Playing
The NCAA and the five most prominent collegiate athletic conferences agree to a $2.8 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit, ushering in a new era in which schools can pay athletes directly.
May 30: Trump Convicted in New York
A New York jury finds Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money trial, making him the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime. The conviction is set to pump up his rallying cry into the November presidential election.
June 3: First Woman to Lead Mexico
Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum speaks after the Spanish government said that it will not send any representatives to the historic ceremony to protest that Spanish King Felipe VI was not invited during her speech at the inauguration of Museo Vivo del Muralismo in Mexico City, Mexico, Sept. 25, 2024 REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/File Photo
Claudia Sheinbaum wins election in a landslide to become Mexico’s first female president, inheriting a security crisis and tight government coffers.
June 5: Nvidia Tops $3 Trillion
Nvidia ’s valuation surpasses $3 trillion , bringing it just above Apple and behind only Microsoft .
June 8: Hostage Rescue in Gaza
People gather around a released hostage after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, in Ramat Gan, Israel June 8, 2024. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Israel rescues four hostages held in Gaza , in a complex operation that jolts the war effort, cease-fire talks and Israeli politics.
June 11: Hunter Biden Convicted in Delaware
Hunter Biden is found guilty of lying about drug use during a 2018 handgun purchase, adding to his family’s personal turmoil as his father, President Biden, campaigns for re-election.
June 12: The Fed Bides Its Time
Three years after misreading the inflation forecast, a wary Federal Reserve is taking its time on interest-rate moves this time around.
June 14: High Court Throws Out Ban on Bump Stocks
The Supreme Court strikes down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks , which had been classified as machine guns after a 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
June 16: Brazil Flooding
A drone view shows a flooded city center after people were evacuated in Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 5, 2024. REUTERS/Renan Mattos TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
In Brazil, weeks of rain kill 175 people, uproot 650,000 and make scores of towns uninhabitable.
June 17: Boston Wins NBA Crown
The Celtics defeat the Dallas Mavericks , 4 games to 1, to capture their league-record 18th championship.
June 18: Willie Mays Dies
The “Say Hey Kid,” considered by many to be the greatest all-around baseball player in history, dies at 93 .
June 18: Nvidia Is Largest U.S. Company
Nvidia ’s shares rise to make it the U.S.’s most-valuable listed company at the time, at $3.34 trillion, ahead of Microsoft and Apple —underlining the high demand for the company’s artificial-intelligence chips.
June 21: More Than 1,170 Pilgrims Die in Heat
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba as they perform Tawaf during the annual haj pilgrimage, at the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia June 16, 2024. REUTERS/Saleh Salem
Saudi Arabia’s annual Hajj , which draws nearly two million Muslims, suffers its highest death toll since 2015 as temperatures soared past 125 degrees at one point.
June 21: Gun Ban for Domestic Abusers
The Supreme Court upholds a law forbidding domestic abusers from possessing guns, the first big test of the conservative majority’s approach to gun rights.
June 24: EU Charges Apple
The European Union charges Apple with failing to comply with a new digital-competition law, the first charges issued under its Digital Markets Act.
June 24: WikiLeaks’ Assange Cuts Deal
Julian Assange ’s guilty plea to conspiring to obtain and distribute classified information will allow the WikiLeaks founder to walk free after more than a decade holed up and imprisoned in London.
June 24: Panthers Win First Stanley Cup
After racing out to a 3-0 series lead, the Florida Panthers drop three straight to leave them on the brink of a historic collapse against Edmonton. But they put it all together in Game 7 to claim the franchise’s first NHL title .
June 27: High Court Curbs SEC Powers
The Supreme Court limits the ability of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal agencies to impose monetary penalties through special in-house tribunals.
June 27: Biden’s Disastrous Debate
U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump attend the first presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello
Donald Trump and Joe Biden attack each other over the economy, abortion and immigration. But the biggest impact on the public is Biden’s struggling to allay worries about his mental acuity. He drops out less than a month later.
June 28: First-Half Gains for Stocks
Artificial-intelligence fervor helps power major stock-market indexes to a strong first half , led by the Nasdaq Composite’s 18.1% rise.
July 1: Supreme Court Rules on Presidential Immunity
The court says that former presidents enjoy sweeping immunity for their acts while in office, dealing a blow to Donald Trump’s prosecution on charges that he sought to subvert the 2020 election.
July 7: France’s Left Prevails
A coalition of leftist parties wins the most seats in France’s parliamentary elections in a stunning come-from-behind victory.
July 7: Boeing to Plead in 737 MAX Case
Families and friends who lost loved ones in the March 10, 2019, Boeing 737 Max crash in Ethiopia, hold a memorial protest in front of the Boeing headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, on March 10, 2023 to mark the four-year anniversary of the event. (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP)
Boeing agrees to plead guilty to misleading air-safety regulators in the run-up to two deadly 737 MAX crashes, a concession that would brand the company a felon. (In December, a federal judge in Texas rejects the plea deal, criticizing the agreement’s diversity aims.)
July 13: Trump Survives Assassination Attempt
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump is assisted by U.S. Secret Service personnel after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 13, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Former President Donald Trump survives an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. The sight of Trump, blood on his face, as he is being rushed from the stage is a shock to an American public already on edge , but energizes supporters. A spectator, Corey Comperatore, is killed and two others are critically injured. The 20-year-old shooter is killed by the Secret Service.
July 14: Judge Dismisses Trump Documents Case
A federal judge sides with Donald Trump’s argument that special counsel Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed, dismissing the classified-documents prosecution .
July 15: Trump Picks JD Vance
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. president Donald Trump listens as JD Vance speaks during a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, U.S., September 17, 2022. REUTERS/Gaelen Morse/File Photo
In picking Sen. JD Vance as his running mate, Donald Trump settles on a millennial who will raise the profile of his conservative, populist movement. Trump attends opening night of the Republican convention with a bandaged right ear, his first major public appearance since the assassination attempt.
July 16: Sen. Bob Menendez Guilty of Corruption
A federal jury in New York convicts the New Jersey Democrat of peddling his office’s power in exchange for gold bars, cash and a convertible. He resigns a week later.
July 18: Trump Accepts Nomination at Convention
A gripping opening to Donald Trump’s speech accepting the GOP’s nomination in Milwaukee, in which he recounts the assassination attempt, gives way to familiar territory on the economy, immigration and crime.
July 19: WSJ Reporter Sentenced in Russia
FILE PHOTO: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands inside an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing to consider an appeal against his pre-trial detention on espionage charges in Moscow, Russia, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File Photo
Evan Gershkovich, The Wall Street Journal reporter falsely accused of spying, is sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony. World leaders condemn the sentencing.
July 19: Big Tech Outage
An update from cybersecurity-software firm CrowdStrike causes the massive outage for millions of Microsoft Windows devices, which grounds planes, hits banks—and exposes the fragility of global digital technology.
July 21: Biden Bows Out
President Biden ends his presidential run , after failing to quell a Democratic rebellion following a catastrophic debate performance. He endorses Kamala Harris to take over at the top of the Democratic ticket.
July 23: Secret Service Director Resigns
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns after bipartisan outrage following the security lapse at the Trump rally, and her response to it.
July 25: Southwest Ditches Open Seats
As part of sweeping changes to its business model, Southwest Airlines says it will soon assign seats on flights . Open seating had been a hallmark of Southwest since it got its start more than 50 years ago.
July 28: Maduro’s Disputed Victory
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro celebrates after the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela July 29, 2024. REUTERS/Fausto Torrealba
Strongman Nicolás Maduro claims an unlikely victory in Venezuela’s presidential election. Opposition leaders say the regime had falsified the vote count. The regime crushes protests.
July 31: Strikes on Hamas and Hezbollah Officials
Hamas’s political leader is killed in Iran in a targeted strike. The announcement comes hours after Israel says it killed a senior Hezbollah leader in Beirut. Then on Aug. 1, Israel says it killed top Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in a July airstrike.
Aug. 1: A Historic Prisoner Swap With Russia
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich , ex-Marine Paul Whelan and a dozen others are released by Moscow, in a sweeping deal that involves 24 prisoners and at least six countries. It is the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War.
Aug. 2-5: Summer Swoon for Stocks
A weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report rattles investors, followed by declines in Japan’s stock market. On the worst day for the global declines, Aug. 5, the Dow drops 1,033.99 points (2.6%).
Aug. 5: Google Loses Antitrust Case
A federal judge rules that Google, a unit of Alphabet , engaged in illegal practices to preserve its search-engine monopoly, delivering a major antitrust victory to the Justice Department.
Aug. 6: Harris Picks Running Mate
U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally held along with Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in Glendale, Arizona, U.S., August 9, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
Vice President Kamala Harris introduces Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate at a raucous rally in Philadelphia.
Aug. 11: Paris Games
The Olympics wrap up , after France hosts one for the sixth time—with Russia and Belarus banned from team sports because of the war on Ukraine. U.S. basketball wins the gold again on both the men’s and women’s sides, the men behind a barrage of 3-pointers from Stephen Curry; superstar gymnast Simone Biles wins three golds and a silver; and American sprinter Noah Lyles wins the 100 meters to take the “world’s fastest man” crown. Swimmer Katie Ledecky adds four medals (two golds) to become the most decorated U.S. women’s Olympian of all time.
Aug. 13: Starbucks Replaces CEO
The coffeehouse giant, under pressure from activist investors, replaces Laxman Narasimhan with Chipotle’s Brian Niccol.
Aug. 14: Another Ivy League Resignation
Columbia’s Minouche Shafik steps down , the fifth Ivy League college president to do so in the past year—ending an embattled 13-month term during which her campus was the scene of sometimes-violent protests and pro-Palestinian encampments.
Aug. 19: A Superyacht Sinks
Rescue personnel pour water on a body bag containing the corpse of British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who died when a yacht owned by his family sank off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi
A luxury yacht—the tallest when it was built, with a nearly 240-foot mast— sinks off the coast of Sicily after being hit by a sudden thunderstorm. The 22 people on board include owner Mike Lynch, a U.K. tech billionaire.
Aug. 21: Ford’s EV Pullback
Ford Motor cancels plans for a large electric sport-utility vehicle and expects to take $1.9 billion in related special charges and write-downs, as automakers adjust their EV plans because of softer-than-expected demand.
Aug. 22: Harris Accepts Nomination at Convention
Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia, U.S., August 29, 2024. REUTERS/Megan Varner
Kamala Harris formally accepts the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago, vowing to unite the country if elected and attacking Donald Trump.
Aug. 23: ‘Time Has Come’ for Rate Cuts
The Federal Reserve’s Jerome Powell gives his strongest signal yet that interest-rate cuts are coming soon—comments that all but bring to a conclusion the Fed’s historic inflation-fighting campaign.
Aug. 23: RFK Jr. Drops Out, Backs Trump
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democrat, says he is suspending his election bid and endorsing Donald Trump.
Aug. 25: Israel, Hezbollah Exchange Fire
Israel launches a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah after detecting the militant group is preparing for an missile-and-rocket attack on Israel. Hezbollah launches hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel. Afterward, both sides signal de-escalation.
Aug. 26: The Long-Covid Impact
The chronic condition of long Covid has pushed around one million Americans out of the labor force , knocking people at the height of their careers off the paths they once laid out.
Aug. 26: Facebook Chief Criticizes White House Pressure
Mark Zuckerberg , CEO of Facebook parent Meta Platforms , says it was improper for the Biden administration to have pressured Facebook to censor content in 2021 related to the coronavirus pandemic, vowing that the social-media giant would reject any such future efforts.
Aug. 31: Hamas Kills Six Hostages undefined The Israeli military retrieves the bodies of six hostages in Gaza ; the two women and four men killed include American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
S ept. 3: A Chinese Agent in New York
Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, is arrested and charged with using her state government position to push Beijing’s agenda in the U.S.
Sept. 4: Atlanta School Shooting
Two girls embrace during a vigil following the shooting at Apalachee High School, at Jug Tavern Park in Winder, Georgia, U.S. September 6, 2024. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage
Two students and two teachers are killed and several others injured at a high school outside of Atlanta. A 14-year-old student is arrested, as is his father, who is accused of letting his son possess a weapon despite knowing the teen was a danger.
Sept. 10: The Harris-Trump Debate
A debate that begins with a handshake quickly descends into acrimony, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump clashing over policies and trading barbs. Harris successfully puts her opponent on the defensive.
Sept. 12: SpaceX Walk
Private-citizen astronauts traveling with SpaceX complete the first commercial spacewalk , pushing new boundaries for the Elon Musk -led company.
Sept. 15: A Second Trump Assassination Attempt
A police officer gestures as they investigate reports of shots fired outside Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. September 15, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello
Secret Service agents open fire on a gunman at Donald Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla., where the former president is golfing just a few holes away. Trump is unhurt, and the suspect flees but is arrested shortly later.
Sept. 16: Russia-Ukraine Dead Hits One Million
The number of Ukrainians and Russians killed or wounded in the grinding 2½-year war reaches roughly one million , a toll that two countries struggling with shrinking prewar populations will pay far into the future.
Sept. 17: Hezbollah’s Exploding Devices
Hezbollah supporters carry the coffin of a Lebanese boy killed in Tuesday’s pager explosions. Photo: Manu Brabo for WSJ
Pagers carried by thousands of Hezbollah operatives explode at the same time in an audacious Israeli operation that authorities say injure thousands and kill several people across Lebanon—while exposing undercover Hezbollah members. In a second wave a day later, walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah blow up.
Sept. 18: The Fed Cuts Rates
The Federal Reserve votes to lower interest rates by a bold half-percentage point, as a long-anticipated pivot on rates begins. It is the first reduction since 2020.
Sept. 18: SEC Backs Half-Penny Stock Pricing
A change to market rules will cause the prices of many stocks to be quoted in increments of $0.005, potentially lowering costs for investors by narrowing bid-ask spreads.
Sept. 25: New York Mayor Indicted
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has been dogged by a series of probes swirling around a circle of the Democrat’s associates, is indicted on federal criminal charge s.
Sept. 26: Money-Market Funds Hit Record
Investors flocking to money-market funds after the Fed’s jumbo-size interest-rate cut send assets in such funds to a record $6.76 trillion . In part, Americans might simply be shifting their savings to higher-yielding money markets from traditional bank accounts.
Sept. 27: A Devastating Hurricane Helene
Helene’s wide path of destruction across six Southeastern U.S. states leaves millions without power as it floods rivers and homes, destroys crops and dumps rainfall that triggers landslides. At least 230 people are confirmed killed by mid-December.
Sept. 27: Israel Kills Hezbollah Leader
People stand next to a banner with a picture of the late Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a street in Tehran, Iran September 29, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS.
Hassan Nasrallah is killed in a massive airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs. His death is a blow not only to the U.S.-designated terrorist group but also to its main backer, Iran. Israel’s military says the strike also kills Ali Karaki, a Hezbollah commander.
Oct. 1: Iran Attacks Israel With Missiles
Iran attacks Israel with dozens of missiles that were for the most part shot down or missed their marks, heightening fears of an escalating war in the Middle East.
Oct. 1: Dockworkers Strike
U.S. dockworkers walk off their jobs at dozens of ports, launching a strike at cargo terminals that handle more than half of American import and export volumes. The dockworkers agree to end their strike after port operators sweeten their contract offer.
Oct. 1: The VP Debate
Vice-presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz spend much of their debate time defending their running mates, but the overall tenor remains civil and focused on policy differences.
Oct. 10: TD Bank’s $3 Billion Settlement
TD Bank agrees to pay more than $3 billion in penalties and accepted limits on its growth in the U.S. as part of a settlement with regulators and prosecutors over charges it failed to properly monitor money laundering by drug cartels and other criminal groups.
Oct. 10: Hurricane Milton
A view shows a collapsed construction crane that fell on the building that also hosts the offices of the Tampa Bay Times, after Hurricane Milton made landfall, in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. October 10, 2024. REUTERS/Octavio Jones
Two weeks after Hurricane Helene, the historic Milton storm batters Florida with heavy winds, tornadoes and rain. More than three million residents lose power during the worst of the storm.
Oct. 11: Peace Prize Awarded
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to a Japanese grassroots group of atomic-bomb survivors for its efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
Oct. 13: Catching a Starship
SpaceX catches a towering booster rocket back at its launchpad in south Texas, an engineering milestone for the Starship vehicle at the center of Elon Musk ’s plans for deep-space exploration.
Oct. 17: Hamas Chief Sinwar Is Killed
FILE PHOTO: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar attends a rally marking the 35th anniversary of the movement’s founding, in Gaza City December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo
Israeli forces kill Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar —a U.S.-designated terrorist and architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel—in a major blow to the militant group. His death achieves one of Israel’s top objectives for the war.
Oct. 21: A New Disney CEO
Walt Disney says it will name Chief Executive Bob Iger ’s replacement in early 2026 and that former Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman will become chairman—the first time the company has formally given a time frame for when it aims to name Iger’s successor.
Oct. 26: Israel Attacks Iran
Israel strikes back at Iran , delivering a much-threatened response for the early-October missile attack and further expanding the hostilities that have spiraled out of the war in Gaza.
Oct. 31: Dodgers Win World Series
Los Angeles clinches its eighth title in franchise history after rallying to beat the New York Yankees in Game 5.
Nov. 1: Nvidia Joins the Dow
The AI-chip darling Nvidia replaces Intel in the 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average as of Nov. 8 trading—a swap that reflects the two companies’ reversal of fortunes . Sherwin-Williams also replaces Dow Inc.
Nov. 5: Trump Elected Again, Defeating Harris
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump celebrate after the Fox Network called the election in his favor at the site of his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris to win the White House , becoming the first past president in over a century to win a second nonconsecutive term. The Republicans seize control of the Senate and hold on to the House. Analysts say the Harris campaign misread an electorate that was more wound up about inflation and immigration than about the focus on Trump’s character.
Nov. 7: Fed Cuts Rates Again
The central bank reduces its target rate by one-quarter point . At a news conference after the meeting, Chair Jerome Powell reaffirms his intention to stay at the Fed until his four-year term as chair expires in May 2026.
Nov. 8: Stocks Rally Postelection
Stocks post their best weekly gains of the year after Trump’s decisive victory and the Fed rate cut, including a $1.62 trillion rise in U.S. stocks’ capitalization on the day after the election.
Nov. 9: Iran’s Assassination Plan
The Justice Department says that the FBI thwarted an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump before he was re-elected.
Nov. 9-17: Spain’s Flood Aftermath
Jorge, a 34-year-old volunteer from Madrid, pauses on the street in the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, November 5, 2024. REUTERS/Nacho Doce TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
After catastrophic flash floods in southeastern Spain kill more than 200 people, the country assesses the damage and tries to clean up.
Nov. 15: T-Mobile Hacked by Chinese
T-Mobile’s network is among the systems hacked in a damaging Chinese cyber-espionage operation that successfully gains entry into U.S. and international telecom companies, according to people familiar with the matter.
Nov. 17: U.S. Approves Long-Range Weapons in Russia
President Biden for the first time authorizes Ukrainian forces to use Western-made long-range weapons to strike inside Russia.
Nov. 18: Spirit Airlines’ Bankruptcy Move
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection after merger talks with Frontier Airlines break down.
Nov. 20: Comcast to Spin Off Networks
Comcast will go forward with plans to spin off its NBCUniversal cable TV networks—including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, E!, Syfy and Golf Channel—in recognition that it will be better off without a business that was once its crown jewel.
Nov. 26: Israel-Lebanon Cease-Fire
Israel approves a cease-fire with Lebanon that is intended to bring a halt to more than a year of fighting with the Hezbollah militia and could help defuse a broader regional crisis.
Nov. 29: Stocks Rally
U.S. stocks in November post their biggest monthly gains of 2024, on the backs of chip stocks. The Dow and S&P finish at records.
Nov. 30: A Stunning Defeat for Syria
Syrian opposition fighters stand in front of University of Aleppo, after rebels opposed to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo, Syria November 30, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hasano
A surprise rebel offensive recaptures the city of Aleppo in just a few days. It had taken the Syrian regime and its backers—Iran, Russia and Hezbollah—more than four years to dislodge rebel forces from there.
Dec. 1: A Proven Bestseller: The Bible
Publishers attribute a 22% jump in Bible sales this year to rising anxiety, a search for hope, or highly focused marketing and designs.
Dec. 1: Hunter Biden Gets a Pardon, After All
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden greets his son Hunter Biden at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. August 19, 2024. REUTERS/Craig Hudson/File Photo
President Biden pardons his son Hunter , wiping away criminal convictions on tax and gun charges despite previously saying that he wouldn’t. The pardon is criticized by leaders of both parties.
Dec. 3: South Korea Dragged Into Martial Law and Back
Military forces walk outside the National Assembly, after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul. December 4, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, under fire politically, takes a desperate measure. But it takes just six hours for martial law to be declared, enacted, nullified and lifted. Lawmakers impeach him.
Dec. 4: UnitedHealthcare CEO Is Killed
An image of the individual sought in connection to the investigation of the shooting death of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance unit, is seen in this still image from a surveillance video taken outside a hotel in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S. December 4, 2024. VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS/Handout via REUTERS.
Brian Thompson is shot dead on a New York City street, outside a hotel that was to host the UnitedHealth Group annual meeting, in what police say is a targeted attack. A week later, New York prosecutors charge Luigi Mangione with murder.
Dec. 7: Notre Dame Cathedral Reopens
Attendees stand inside the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral during a ceremony to mark its re-opening following the 2019 fire, in Paris, France, December 7, 2024. LUDOVIC MARIN/Pool via REUTERS
The restoration of Notre Dame in Paris comes five years after a fire swept across the masterpiece of Gothic architecture, nearly destroying it.
Dec. 8: Assad Falls in Syria
People celebrate, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Tripoli, northern Lebanon December 8, 2024. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim
Bashar al-Assad’s regime is toppled— ending 50 years of his family’s rule —as Syrian rebels take Damascus. Assad flees to Russia. In the Middle East realignment, Turkey gains and Russia and Iran lose.
Dec. 8: Catch Your Breath, Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift performs as her record-breaking The Eras Tour comes to an end with the first of her three concerts in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada December 6, 2024. REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier
The biggest concert tour of the 21st century—Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour— finally comes to a close with a show in Vancouver. The tour spanned five continents, sold roughly 10 million tickets and brought in revenue that could be around $2 billion.
Dec. 11: Mysterious Drones
Dozens of mysterious drones have been appearing in the skies over New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York in recent weeks, including over military installations—perplexing state and federal officials and agitating residents. The Biden administration says the drones don’t pose a national security threat.
Dec. 12: Nominations & Commutations
As the year draws to a close, Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations are under scrutiny, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head Health and Human Services. Meanwhile, President Biden announces he is commuting the sentences of around 1,500 people and pardoning 39 others—the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.
Dec. 16: Wisconsin School Shooting
A teacher and a teenage student are killed and several others are injured in a shooting at a private K-12 school in Madison, Wis. The suspected shooter is a 15-year-old female student who died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Dec. 17: An Audacious Attack in Moscow
Ukraine says it killed a senior Russian general in Moscow, with a bomb planted in a scooter. Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov is the most senior commander to be killed in the heart of the Russian capital since the start of the war.
Dec. 20: Christmas Market Attack in Germany
People look at flowers and candles left as a tribute for the victims of the ‘Alter Markt’ Christmas market, after a man drove a car into the crowd through an emergency exit route on Friday evening, in Magdeburg, Germany, December 23, 2024. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt
A driver rams a car through a festive Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, leaving five dead and more than 200 wounded. The suspect is a Saudi exile and anti-Islam activist—leaving a perplexed Germany unsure about what lessons should be drawn.
Dec. 20: Baseball’s Base-Stealing King Dies
Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who swiped a record 1,406 bases in his 25-year career, dies at age 65 .
Dec. 23: Honda, Nissan Plan to Create No. 3 Automaker
Honda and Nissan say they plan to merge in 2026. Combined with Nissan partner Mitsubishi Motors , the company would be the third-largest carmaker in the world, after Toyota and Volkswagen .
Dec. 25: Airliner Crash in Kazakhstan
A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25, 2024. REUTERS/Azamat Sarsenbayev
At least 38 people are killed when a passenger jet headed for Russia crashes in Kazakhstan. Ukraine officials and aviation experts say the likely cause was Russian antiaircraft fire.
Dec. 28: Charles Dolan Dies at 98
The cable-television pioneer launched Home Box Office and AMC Networks.
Dec. 29: South Korean Plane Crash Kills 179
Rescue workers take part in a salvage operation at the site where an aircraft crashed after it went off the runway at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, December 29, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
In one of the deadliest plane disasters in years, a passenger plane skids off the runway in South Korea, collides with a concrete barrier and bursts into flames. There are only two survivors: a pair of flight attendants.
Dec. 29: Jimmy Carter Dies at 100
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter wave to the crowd after Jimmy Carter’s speech before the 2004 Democratic National Convention, at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. July 26, 2004. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
The longest-lived former U.S. president had been in hospice since February 2023. Carter’s term in starting in 1977 was plagued by problems at home and abroad but he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after he left office.
William Power is deputy editor of Journal Reports. Johnny Simon and Joe Fornabaio are photo editors for The Wall Street Journal. They can be reached at reports@wsj.com .
