Today in History

2013 1129 people die in Bangladesh in the worst building collapse disaster in modern history

The building was used by clothing factories producing garments for western markets, highlighting the disastrous working conditions in the industry.
2005 Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as Pope Benedict XVI

The German was considered a particularly conservative Pope – quite unlike his successor, Pope Francis.
1990 The Hubble Space Telescope is launched into Earth orbit

Unhindered by the impurities and distortions of Earth’s atmosphere, the 2.4 meter (7.9 feet) aperture telescope has delivered some of the most spectacular images of the far reaches of the Universe.
1957 The Suez Canal reopens after the Suez Crisis

The conflict between Egypt on the one hand and France, the United Kingdom and Israel on the other, erupted in October 1956 when Egypt announced that the canal will be nationalized.
1915 The Ottoman Empire begins its systematic extermination of Armenians

An estimated 1 million people were killed in the Armenian Massacres during and after World War I. The event is considered one of the first genocides in modern history.

1982 Kelly Clarkson

American singer-songwriter, producer, actress
1973 Sachin Tendulkar

Indian cricketer
1942 Barbra Streisand

American singer-songwriter, actress, producer
1941 Richard Holbrooke

American journalist, banker, diplomat, 22nd United States Ambassador to the United Nations
1897 Benjamin Lee Whorf

American linguist