Today in News History

On June 16, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1779, American Revolutionary War: Spain declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Great Siege of Gibraltar begins. In 1819, A major earthquake strikes the Kutch district of western India, killing over 1,543 people and raising a 6-metre-high (20 ft), 6-kilometre-wide (3.7 mi), ridge, extending for at least 80 kilometres (50 mi), that was known as the Allah Bund ("Dam of God"). In 1972, The largest single-site hydroelectric power project in Canada is inaugurated at Churchill Falls Generating Station. In 1976, Soweto uprising: A non-violent march by 15,000 students in Soweto, South Africa, turns into days of rioting when police open fire on the crowd. In 1995, The Astronomy Picture of the Day website is launched. In 2002, Padre Pio is canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. In 2005, Enrique Laguerre, Puerto Rican-American author and critic (born 1906) passed away. In 2013, A multi-day cloudburst, centered on the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, causes devastating floods and landslides, becoming the country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami. In 2013, Norman Ian MacKenzie, English journalist and author (born 1921) passed away. In 2015, American businessman Donald Trump announces his campaign to run for President of the United States in the upcoming election. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.