Today in News History

On July 2, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1840, A Ms 7.4 earthquake strikes present-day Turkey and Armenia; combined with the effects of an eruption on Mount Ararat, kills 10,000 people. In 1936, Omar Suleiman, Egyptian general and politician, 16th Vice President of Egypt (died 2012) was born. In 1964, Civil rights movement: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 meant to prohibit segregation in public places. In 1979, Ahmed al-Ghamdi, Saudi Arabian terrorist, hijacker of United Airlines Flight 175 (died 2001) was born. In 1986, Lindsay Lohan, American actress and singer was born. In 1990, In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca. In 1993, Saweetie, American rapper was born. In 1997, The Bank of Thailand floats the baht, triggering the Asian financial crisis. In 2013, A magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes Aceh, Indonesia, killing at least 42 people and injuring 420 others. In 2016, Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, activist, and author (born 1928) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.