Events
158 entities tracked across Lowdown briefings. Page 1 of 3.
1973 Arab Oil Embargo
OAPEC oil supply ban that quadrupled prices in 1973; the benchmark for any major wartime energy shock.
OAPEC oil supply ban that quadrupled prices in 1973; the benchmark for any major wartime energy shock.
2025-26 Iranian Protests
Largest domestic protests since 1979 across 100+ Iranian cities, triggered by economic collapse and currency devaluation, indicating regime had already lost popular support before military strikes.
Largest domestic protests since 1979 across 100+ Iranian cities, triggered by economic collapse and currency devaluation, indicating regime had already lost popular support before military strikes.
2026 FIFA World Cup
48-team FIFA Men's World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, opening 11 June 2026.
48-team FIFA Men's World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, opening 11 June 2026.
2026 G7 Évian Summit
G7 leaders' summit hosted by France at Évian-les-Bains on 15-17 June 2026.
G7 leaders' summit hosted by France at Évian-les-Bains on 15-17 June 2026.
2026 State of the Digital Decade report
Annual EU scorecard tracking the bloc's 2030 digital targets across chips, AI, and skills.
Annual EU scorecard tracking the bloc's 2030 digital targets across chips, AI, and skills.
42nd Annual Best Ranger CompetitionAnnual US Army Rangers elite competition; 2026 edition first to integrate live FPV drones.
Annual US Army Rangers elite competition; 2026 edition first to integrate live FPV drones.
9 May Victory Day parade
Annual Russian military parade on Red Square marking the 1945 Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
Annual Russian military parade on Red Square marking the 1945 Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
Africa Aerospace and Defence
Biennial South African aerospace and defence trade show and air show at AFB Waterkloof.
Biennial South African aerospace and defence trade show and air show at AFB Waterkloof.
Africa CDC Ebola Funding Summit 2026Africa CDC-convened donor summit on 26 May 2026 that secured nearly $500 million in pledges against a $319 million six-month target for the Bundibugyo Ebola response.
AI Adoption Summit
UK government event on 8 June 2026 at which Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed £200m to AI adoption programmes.
UK government event on 8 June 2026 at which Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed £200m to AI adoption programmes.
Allen v. Milligan2023 Supreme Court ruling that Alabama's congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act.
2023 Supreme Court ruling that Alabama's congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act.
Antalya Diplomacy Forum
Annual Turkish diplomacy forum; hosted the key Iran ceasefire quadrilateral on 18 April 2026.
Annual Turkish diplomacy forum; hosted the key Iran ceasefire quadrilateral on 18 April 2026.
Apollo 13Failed 1970 lunar mission whose free-return arc Artemis II replicates.
Failed 1970 lunar mission whose free-return arc Artemis II replicates.
Apollo 16Fifth crewed Moon landing; April 1972, Descartes Highlands.
Apollo 17Last crewed Moon landing in December 1972, 54 years before Artemis II.
Last crewed Moon landing in December 1972, 54 years before Artemis II.
Apollo 8First crewed mission to orbit the Moon, December 1968; Artemis II's closest parallel.
First crewed mission to orbit the Moon, December 1968; Artemis II's closest parallel.
Aqua NorWorld's largest aquaculture trade fair, held in Trondheim, Norway.
Arcia v. Florida Secretary of State2014 Eleventh Circuit ruling that Florida's non-citizen voter purge broke the NVRA's 90-day rule.
2014 Eleventh Circuit ruling that Florida's non-citizen voter purge broke the NVRA's 90-day rule.
ARMOR ForceAutonomous maritime operations and recovery initiative jointly developed by HII and Babcock for the Royal Navy, centred on subsea uncrewed vehicle deployment and recovery.
Autonomous maritime operations and recovery initiative jointly developed by HII and Babcock for the Royal Navy, centred on subsea uncrewed vehicle deployment and recovery.
Artemis IUncrewed 2022 lunar test that revealed Orion heat shield damage, documented in OIG report IG-24-011.
Uncrewed 2022 lunar test that revealed Orion heat shield damage, documented in OIG report IG-24-011.
Artemis IICompleted April 2026 crewed lunar flyby; first humans beyond LEO since Apollo 17.
Completed April 2026 crewed lunar flyby; first humans beyond LEO since Apollo 17.
Artemis IIIRedesignated LEO lander test targeting 2027; SLS core stage shipping from Michoud 20 April 2026.
Redesignated LEO lander test targeting 2027; SLS core stage shipping from Michoud 20 April 2026.
Artemis IVNow the first potential crewed lunar landing under Artemis, targeting 2028.
Now the first potential crewed lunar landing under Artemis, targeting 2028.
Artemis VFifth Artemis mission; second planned crewed Moon landing using Blue Origin's lander.
AUKUS Pillar II Signature ProjectThe first AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project, announced 30 May 2026, focuses on developing payloads and enabling systems for uncrewed underwater vehicles with hardware deliveries beginning in 2027.
The first AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project, announced 30 May 2026, focuses on developing payloads and enabling systems for uncrewed underwater vehicles with hardware deliveries beginning in 2027.
Autumn Budget 2026UK Budget set for 28 October 2026, published with the OBR's Economic and fiscal outlook.
UK Budget set for 28 October 2026, published with the OBR's Economic and fiscal outlook.
BALTOPS
NATO annual Baltic Sea exercise since 1972; 2026 edition integrated autonomous undersea systems.
NATO annual Baltic Sea exercise since 1972; 2026 edition integrated autonomous undersea systems.
Beals v. Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights2024 Supreme Court order letting Virginia keep removing suspected non-citizens from its voter rolls.
2024 Supreme Court order letting Virginia keep removing suspected non-citizens from its voter rolls.
Bonta v. BiancoCalifornia Supreme Court case on the attorney general's power over a sheriff's ballot inquiry.
California Supreme Court case on the attorney general's power over a sheriff's ballot inquiry.
BRICS foreign ministers meeting
BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi, 14-15 May 2026; Iran, Russia and India built non-Western diplomatic architecture.
BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi, 14-15 May 2026; Iran, Russia and India built non-Western diplomatic architecture.
Cannes LionsAnnual advertising and creativity festival in Cannes, combining awards, industry talks and commercial partnerships.
Annual advertising and creativity festival in Cannes, combining awards, industry talks and commercial partnerships.
Cervantes v. BiancoCalifornia Supreme Court case over Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of Riverside County ballots.
California Supreme Court case over Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of Riverside County ballots.
Civo NavigateCivo's annual UK cloud conference series; the 2026 London edition focused on digital sovereignty.
Civo's annual UK cloud conference series; the 2026 London edition focused on digital sovereignty.
Combined Naval Event 2026UK naval industry and procurement conference held at Farnborough from 19 to 21 May 2026; the venue for the First Sea Lord's autonomy doctrine address and HII subsea capability showcase.
UK naval industry and procurement conference held at Farnborough from 19 to 21 May 2026; the venue for the First Sea Lord's autonomy doctrine address and HII subsea capability showcase.
Common Cause v. Department of JusticeCommon Cause's 2026 lawsuit against the Justice Department's collection and checking of state voter rolls.
Common Cause's 2026 lawsuit against the Justice Department's collection and checking of state voter rolls.
COP17
17th UN Convention on Biological Diversity summit, held in Yerevan, Armenia, 19-30 October 2026.
17th UN Convention on Biological Diversity summit, held in Yerevan, Armenia, 19-30 October 2026.
County Board of Arlington County v. DHSArlington County's 2026 federal suit to bar armed federal agents from its polling sites.
Arlington County's 2026 federal suit to bar armed federal agents from its polling sites.
Cyclone Narelle
Category-5 Western Australian cyclone; took Wheatstone LNG offline in April 2026.
Category-5 Western Australian cyclone; took Wheatstone LNG offline in April 2026.
Denizkurdu-I/2026Turkish inter-service naval exercise held 20 to 25 September 2026 with about 100 ships.
Turkish inter-service naval exercise held 20 to 25 September 2026 with about 100 ships.
Department of Homeland Security v. League of Women Voters (2026)Supreme Court case in which a 2026 stay restored bulk SAVE citizenship checks.
Supreme Court case in which a 2026 stay restored bulk SAVE citizenship checks.
Disgrace of Gijon
The 1982 match where West Germany and Austria eliminated Algeria; origin of simultaneous final group games.
The 1982 match where West Germany and Austria eliminated Algeria; origin of simultaneous final group games.DON 600
WHO Disease Outbreak News bulletin 600; 9 May 2026 revision upgrading MV Hondius Andes risk to MODERATE.
WHO Disease Outbreak News bulletin 600; 9 May 2026 revision upgrading MV Hondius Andes risk to MODERATE.
Draghi Report
Former ECB president Mario Draghi's 2024 EU competitiveness report, now only 11% implemented.
Former ECB president Mario Draghi's 2024 EU competitiveness report, now only 11% implemented.
Drone DominancePentagon programme mass-producing attack drones; 300K+ drones by 2027 at $1.1B budget
Pentagon programme mass-producing attack drones; 300K+ drones by 2027 at $1.1B budget
DSCC v. Trump2026 Democratic suit in the D.C. federal court over alleged threats to prosecute election officials.
2026 Democratic suit in the D.C. federal court over alleged threats to prosecute election officials.EU Cyprus summit
EU leaders summit 23-24 April 2026 on Cyprus; discussed Article 42.7 but produced no shipping protection group.
EU leaders summit 23-24 April 2026 on Cyprus; discussed Article 42.7 but produced no shipping protection group.
Euro 2032UEFA European Championship co-hosted by Italy and Turkey in 2032, now threatened by Italy's stadium crisis.
European Conference on Optical CommunicationAnnual European conference on optical communications.
Annual European conference on optical communications.
EurosatoryBiennial Paris land-and-air defence exhibition; its 2026 edition, 15-19 June, was the largest ever.
Biennial Paris land-and-air defence exhibition; its 2026 edition, 15-19 June, was the largest ever.
Exercise MILANIndia's premier multinational naval exercise, whose 2026 guests became the war's first casualties.
India's premier multinational naval exercise, whose 2026 guests became the war's first casualties.
Exercise Rhino Storm
British Army exercise conducted in Germany at which the DCE X-series Universal Carrier was run as part of the first operational UGV fleet evaluation.
British Army exercise conducted in Germany at which the DCE X-series Universal Carrier was run as part of the first operational UGV fleet evaluation.
Farnborough International AirshowBiennial UK aerospace and defence trade show held at Farnborough.
Biennial UK aerospace and defence trade show held at Farnborough.
FAVORFAVOR is a £1.2m Horizon Europe-funded project launched 1 June 2026, led by Liverpool John Moores University, to recommend a unified regulatory architecture for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships.
FAVOR is a £1.2m Horizon Europe-funded project launched 1 June 2026, led by Liverpool John Moores University, to recommend a unified regulatory architecture for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships.
FCC v. BrownSupreme Court case 26A476 on whether coordinating party committees get candidates' discounted broadcast ad rate.
Supreme Court case 26A476 on whether coordinating party committees get candidates' discounted broadcast ad rate.
FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee2001 Supreme Court ruling that upheld limits on party spending coordinated with candidates.
2001 Supreme Court ruling that upheld limits on party spending coordinated with candidates.
FIFA Fan FestivalFIFA's official fan-zone programme run in each host city during the tournament.
Fleet ProblemUS Navy fleet exercises of the 1920s and 1930s
US Navy fleet exercises of the 1920s and 1930s
Florida Rising Together v. ByrdFederal case in Florida challenging the state's exact-match voter-registration rule.
Federal case in Florida challenging the state's exact-match voter-registration rule.
Florida State Conference of the NAACP v. Browning2008 Eleventh Circuit ruling on Florida's 'no match, no vote' registration law.
2008 Eleventh Circuit ruling on Florida's 'no match, no vote' registration law.
G7 Digital Ministerial 2026G7 Digital and Technology Ministerial convened 29 May 2026 at Bercy, Paris, chaired by France with priorities on AI security, diffusion, minors online and digital resilience.
G7 Digital and Technology Ministerial convened 29 May 2026 at Bercy, Paris, chaired by France with priorities on AI security, diffusion, minors online and digital resilience.