Today in News History

On July 9, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 869, The 8.4-9.0 Mw Sanriku earthquake strikes the area around Sendai in northern Honshu, Japan. Inundation from the tsunami extended several kilometers inland. In 1875, The Herzegovina Uprising against Ottoman rule begins, which would last until 1878 and have far-reaching implications throughout the Balkans. In 1910, Govan Mbeki, South African anti-apartheid and ANC leader and activist (died 2001) was born. In 1950, Moisés Canelo, Honduran singer-songwriter (died 2024) was born. In 1955, Adolfo de la Huerta, Mexican politician and provisional president, 1920 (born 1881) passed away. In 1977, The Pinochet dictatorship in Chile organises the youth event of Acto de Chacarillas, a ritualised act reminiscent of Francoist Spain. In 1986, The New Zealand Parliament passes the Homosexual Law Reform Act legalising homosexuality in New Zealand. In 1999, Days of student protests begin after Iranian police and hardliners attack a student dormitory at the University of Tehran. In 2002, The African Union is established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, replacing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The organization's first chairman is Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa. In 2011, A rally takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to call for fairer elections in the country. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.