Home / Centerstage / 2024 / June / Week 3
Thousands of Hungarians celebrating the annual Budapest Pride parade takes the centerstage among all global events which has happened over this week.
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The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in the NBA Finals on Monday, making them the franchise with the most championships in league history. The Celtics won the series 4-1, securing their 18th title and surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers' 17 championships. The final game, played at home, saw over 19,000 fans in attendance. Jayson Tatum expressed his joy, while Jaylen Brown, who averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5 assists, received the Finals MVP award. Veteran center Al Horford celebrated the victory, calling it a dream come true. Lakers legend Magic Johnson lamented the Celtics' new record, while Paul Pierce and President Biden congratulated the team.
Monday, 17 June, 2024
NVIDIA continues to thrive amid the AI boom and surpasses Microsoft as the world's most valuable publicly-traded company, announcing the debut of Blackwell, a new line of AI GPUs promising significant computing power increases. With an estimated 70-95% market share in AI chips, NVIDIA's stock rose 3.6% on June 18, boosting its market value to $3.34 trillion, surpassing Microsoft and Apple. NVIDIA's market value skyrocketed from $1 trillion to over $3 trillion in just one year, marking one of the fastest ascents in market history. This success has elevated CEO Jensen Huang's status in the tech industry. The race to a $4 trillion market value now centers on NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft.
Tuesday, 18 June, 2024
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a "demographic national emergency" on Wednesday due to the country's low birth rate and aging population. He vowed to tackle the ultralow birth rate, which hit a record low of 0.72 last year. To address the crisis, Yoon announced a comprehensive government response, including increasing parental leave allowances, extending leave for fathers, implementing flexible work hours, and easing educational burdens on parents. South Korean couples often delay starting families due to high housing and education costs, as well as long working hours.
Wednesday, 19 June, 2024
Japan has introduced trade restrictions against firms in China, India, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan for allegedly supporting Russia's war on Ukraine. Announced by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, these sanctions are the first to target China-based companies linked to the conflict. Japanese firms are now prohibited from exporting goods to sanctioned entities, including Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific Links Ltd and Shenzhen-based Yilufa Electronics Limited. This follows last month’s sanctions by Japan and South Korea against suppliers of North Korean weapons to Russia. Under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan has taken a tougher stance against Moscow than other Asian governments.
Thursday, 20 June, 2024
China has officially criminalized actions supporting Taiwan independence, with punishments potentially including the death penalty. This move, expected to heighten tensions across the Strait, was announced jointly by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and several ministries. The new guidelines outline crimes and punishments under existing laws like China’s criminal code and the 2005 Anti-Secession Law. Severe cases, such as seeking independence with external support, may face the death penalty. Although symbolic, this declaration could deter Taiwanese citizens from traveling to China and complicate their international travel.
Friday, 21 June, 2024
Thousands of Hungarians celebrated the annual Budapest Pride parade on June 22, protesting the government’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Christian-conservative agenda includes a 2021 law banning the "promotion of homosexuality" among minors. Gay marriage isn't recognized, and only heterosexual couples can adopt. Critics highlight everyday discrimination, such as fines for unwrapped LGBTQ+ books. Before the march, 35 embassies urged Hungary to protect LGBTQ+ rights. US Ambassador David Pressman praised the marchers' spirit.
Saturday, 22 June, 2024
Over 150,000 Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, demanding new elections, the return of hostages, and a ceasefire. Demonstrators, waving Israeli flags and chanting slogans, criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza conflict. Protesters carried signs like “Crime Minister” and “Stop the War.” The rally, organized by Hofshi Israel, is the largest since the Gaza war began. Former Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin condemned Netanyahu, while many blamed the right-wing coalition for prolonging the conflict and jeopardizing security.
Sunday, 23 June, 2024