Today in News History

On July 6, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1560, The Treaty of Edinburgh is signed by Scotland and England. In 1909, Eric Reece, Australian politician, 32nd Premier of Tasmania (died 1999) was born. In 1944, The Hartford circus fire, one of America's worst fire disasters, kills approximately 168 people and injures over 700 in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1947, The AK-47 goes into production in the Soviet Union. In 1947, Referendum held in Sylhet to decide its fate in the Partition of India. In 1962, As a part of Operation Plowshare, the Sedan nuclear test takes place. In 1967, Nigerian Civil War: Nigerian forces invade Biafra, beginning the war. In 1988, The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea is destroyed by explosions and fires. One hundred sixty-seven oil workers are killed, making it the world's worst offshore oil disaster in terms of direct loss of life. In 1997, The Troubles: In response to the Drumcree dispute, five days of mass protests, riots and gun battles begin in Irish nationalist districts of Northern Ireland. In 2013, A 73-car oil train derails in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec and explodes into flames, killing at least 47 people and destroying more than 30 buildings in the town's central area. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.