Discover · History

On this day — June 11

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

2013

Broadcasting

Greece's public broadcaster ERT is shut down by then-prime minister Antonis Samaras

It would be opened exactly two years later by then-prime minister Alexis Tsipras.

2012

Disaster

75 people die in a landslide triggered by two earthquakes in Afghanistan

an entire village is buried.

2010

Sport

The first African FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa.

2008

Milestone

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes a historic official apology to Canada's First Nations in regard to abuses at a Canadian Indian residential school.

2008

Science

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is launched into orbit.

2007

Milestone

Mudslides in Chittagong

Bangladesh, kill 130 people.

2004

Milestone

Cassini–Huygens makes its closest flyby of the Saturn moon Phoebe.

2002

Milestone

Antonio Meucci is acknowledged as the first inventor of the telephone by the United States Congress.

2001

Milestone

Timothy McVeigh is executed for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.

1998

Milestone

Compaq Computer pays US$9 billion for Digital Equipment Corporation in the largest high-tech acquisition.

1987

Milestone

Diane Abbott

Paul Boateng and Bernie Grant are elected as the first black MPs in Great Britain.

1981

Disaster

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake at Golbaf

Iran, kills at least 2,000.

1978

Milestone

Altaf Hussain founds the student political movement All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO) in Karachi University.

1971

Sport

The U.S. Government forcibly removes the last holdouts to the Native American Occupation of Alcatraz

ending 19 months of control.

1970

Milestone

After being appointed on May 15, Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P

Hoisington officially receive their ranks as U.S. Army general officers, becoming the first women to do so.