Today in News History

On June 30, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1864, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln grants Yosemite Valley to California for "public use, resort and recreation". In 1908, The Tunguska Event, the largest impact event on Earth in human recorded history, resulting in a massive explosion over Eastern Siberia. In 1937, The world's first emergency telephone number, 999, is introduced in London. In 1939, José Emilio Pacheco, Mexican poet and author (died 2014) was born. In 1952, Athanassios S. Fokas, Greek mathematician and academic was born. In 1972, The first leap second is added to the UTC time system. In 2003, Buddy Hackett, American actor and comedian (born 1924) passed away. In 2012, Michael J. Ybarra, American journalist and author (born 1966) passed away. In 2013, Protests begin around Egypt against President Mohamed Morsi and the ruling Freedom and Justice Party, leading to their overthrow during the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état. In 2019, Donald Trump becomes the first sitting US President to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.