Events
103 entities tracked across Lowdown briefings. Page 1 of 2.
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 Kananaskis Summit
G7 leaders' summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada in June 2026; ended without a joint communique as the Iran deal dominated proceedings.
G7 leaders' summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada in June 2026; ended without a joint communique as the Iran deal dominated proceedings.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Lions
Annual international advertising and creativity festival held in Cannes, France; the sector's most prominent showcase for new industry products and partnerships.
Annual international advertising and creativity festival held in Cannes, France; the sector's most prominent showcase for new industry products and partnerships.
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.
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.
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 budgetEU 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.
EurosatoryMajor biennial Paris land-and-air defence exhibition; the 2026 edition (15-19 June) was its largest ever, spanning 185,000 sqm.
Major biennial Paris land-and-air defence exhibition; the 2026 edition (15-19 June) was its largest ever, spanning 185,000 sqm.
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.
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.
Gauntlet IPentagon drone competition at Fort Moore where Skycutter scored 99.3/100, triggering Phase 1 delivery orders.
Gauntlet IIPentagon drone finals; 19 of 49 firms advanced 2 July; Fort Carson build test, August.
Google I/O 2026Google's annual developer conference; 2026 edition made Canva, Adobe, and CapCut callable inside Gemini.
Google's annual developer conference; 2026 edition made Canva, Adobe, and CapCut callable inside Gemini.
Gulf War1990-91 US-led coalition war that expelled Iraq from Kuwait; the template for modern precision air campaigns.
Hillsborough15 April 1989 FA Cup semi-final crush at Sheffield; 97 Liverpool fans killed.
15 April 1989 FA Cup semi-final crush at Sheffield; 97 Liverpool fans killed.
Hungary's 12 April parliamentary electionHungarian parliamentary election on 12 April 2026, pitting Orbán's Fidesz against opposition Tisza.
IBC 2026 Accelerator
IBC Show's 2026 funded programme for open-standard broadcast technology proof-of-concept projects.
IBC Show's 2026 funded programme for open-standard broadcast technology proof-of-concept projects.
IBC ShowAnnual September Amsterdam conference for broadcast and media technology professionals worldwide.
Annual September Amsterdam conference for broadcast and media technology professionals worldwide.
International Fleet Review 2026India's multinational naval review at Visakhapatnam; attended by Iran's IRIS Dena days before war.
India's multinational naval review at Visakhapatnam; attended by Iran's IRIS Dena days before war.
Iran-Azerbaijan Conflict (2026)
Escalating military conflict involving Iranian drone strikes on Azerbaijani territory, now extending the broader regional conflict to a third UN member state.
Escalating military conflict involving Iranian drone strikes on Azerbaijani territory, now extending the broader regional conflict to a third UN member state.
Iran-Iraq WarThe 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war; its tanker war and ceasefire remain the template for Gulf conflicts.
The 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war; its tanker war and ceasefire remain the template for Gulf conflicts.
Iran-Israel-US Conflict 20262026 war between Israel and Iran, with US B-2 strikes and Iranian Hormuz counter-blockade.
Islamabad Four
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan; brokered ceasefire diplomacy in the 2026 Iran war.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan; brokered ceasefire diplomacy in the 2026 Iran war.
Israeli operations in Lebanon (June 2025)
Continuous IDF operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon throughout June 2025.
Continuous IDF operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon throughout June 2025.
Israeli strikes (28 February 2026)Joint US-Israeli opening salvo on 28 Feb 2026 that triggered the Iran war.
Joint US-Israeli opening salvo on 28 Feb 2026 that triggered the Iran war.
Israel-Lebanon ceasefire (April 2026)US-brokered truce announced by Trump on 16 April 2026 pausing IDF strikes inside Lebanon.
Lethality Prize ChallengePentagon prize challenge for modular drone warheads; winners join Gauntlet II preferred munitions list.
Pentagon prize challenge for modular drone warheads; winners join Gauntlet II preferred munitions list.
London Tech WeekUK's largest annual tech conference; 2026 edition launched the £1.1bn AI Hardware Plan.
UK's largest annual tech conference; 2026 edition launched the £1.1bn AI Hardware Plan.
Louisiana v. CallaisSCOTUS ruling requiring Section 2 majority-minority remedies to survive strict scrutiny, not just VRA compliance.
M7.5 solar flareM7.5 solar flare from Region 4409 on 4 April 2026, during Artemis II lunar transit.
Madrid Gas Regulatory ForumBiannual EU gas market regulatory forum hosted by CNMC in Madrid; 40th edition 29-30 April 2026.
Biannual EU gas market regulatory forum hosted by CNMC in Madrid; 40th edition 29-30 April 2026.
Maritime Innovation HubThe Maritime Innovation Hub is the UK MCA's formal regulatory pathway, published 3 June 2026, for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship trials across four vessel-size categories, with Plymouth Harbour as the designated trial zone.
The Maritime Innovation Hub is the UK MCA's formal regulatory pathway, published 3 June 2026, for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship trials across four vessel-size categories, with Plymouth Harbour as the designated trial zone.