Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1596, The Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz discovers the Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen. In 1767, Samuel Wallis, a British sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island. In 1839, In the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kamehameha III issues the edict of toleration which gives Roman Catholics the freedom to worship in the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaii Catholic Church and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace are established as a result. In 1843, The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes place. In 1940, World War II: RMS Lancastria is attacked and sunk by the Luftwaffe near Saint-Nazaire, France. At least 3,000 are killed in Britain's worst maritime disaster. In 1953, Cold War: East Germany Workers Uprising: In East Germany, the Soviet Union orders a division of troops into East Berlin to quell a rebellion. In 1967, Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon. In 1992, A "joint understanding" agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II). In 1999, Henri Jokiharju, Finnish ice hockey player was born. In 2013, Michael Baigent, New Zealand-English theorist and author (born 1948) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.