Summary of the Day ✨ 12 August (12/08)
Violence erupted across multiple nations as a deadly mass shooting in Plymouth, UK claimed six lives while an explosion at a Syrian weapons depot killed 39 civilians including children. Simultaneously, the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville resulted in three deaths, Syrian forces advanced against ISIL, and massive explosions in China killed 173 people and injured nearly 800.
Historical Events 📜
- 2021: Six people, five victims and the perpetrator are killed in Keyham, Plymouth in the worst mass shooting in the UK since 2010.
- 2018: Thirty-nine civilians, including a dozen children, are killed in an explosion at a weapons depot in Sarmada, Syria.
- 2017: The Unite the Right rally occurs in Charlottesville, Virginia, leading to the deaths of 3 and injuring nearly 50 more.
- 2016: Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capture the city of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
- 2015: At least two massive explosions kill 173 people and injure nearly 800 more in Tianjin, China.
- 2000: The Russian Navy submarine Kursk explodes and sinks in the Barents Sea during a military exercise, killing her entire 118-man crew.
- 1994: Major League Baseball players go on strike, eventually forcing the cancellation of the 1994 World Series.
- 1992: Canada, Mexico and the United States announce completion of negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- 1990: Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton found to date, is discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota.
- 1985: Japan Air Lines Flight 123, a Boeing 747, crashes into Osutaka ridge in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, killing 520, becoming the worst single-plane air disaster.
- 1984: An infamous brawl takes place at the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium between the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres.
- 1981: The IBM Personal Computer is released.
- 1977: The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise.
- 1977: The Sri Lanka Riots: Targeting the minority Sri Lankan Tamils, begin, less than a month after the United National Party came to power. Over 300 Tamils are killed.
- 1976: Between 1,000 and 3,500 Palestinians are killed in the Tel al-Zaatar massacre, one of the bloodiest events of the Lebanese Civil War.
Famous Births 👶
- 2001: Dixie D’Amelio, American social media personality and singer
- 2000: Tristan Charpentier, French racing driver
- 1999: Matthijs de Ligt, Dutch footballer
- 1999: Dream, American YouTuber
- 1999: Jule Niemeier, German tennis player
- 1999: GK Barry, social media star and presenter
- 1998: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greek tennis player
- 1996: Choi Yu-jin, South Korean singer and actress
- 1996: Julio Urías, Mexican baseball player
- 1996: Arthur Melo, Brazilian footballer
- 1996: Samuel Moutoussamy, Congolese footballer
- 1994: Ian Happ, American baseball player
- 1993: Ewa Farna, Czech singer-songwriter
- 1993: Luna, South Korean singer, actress and presenter
- 1992: Cara Delevingne, English model and actress
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2024: Kim Kahana, American actor and stunt performer (born 1929)
- 2021: Una Stubbs, English actress, TV personality, and dancer (born 1937)
- 2020: Bill Yeoman, American college football player and coach (born 1927)
- 2019: DJ Arafat, Ivorian DJ and singer (born 1986)
- 2017: Bryan Murray, Canadian ice hockey coach (born 1942)
- 2016: Juan Pedro de Miguel, Spanish handball player (born 1958)
- 2015: Jaakko Hintikka, Finnish philosopher and academic (born 1929)
- 2015: Stephen Lewis, English actor and screenwriter (born 1926)
- 2015: Meshulim Feish Lowy, Hungarian-Canadian rabbi and author (born 1921)
- 2015: John Scott, English organist and conductor (born 1956)
- 2014: Lauren Bacall, American model, actress, and singer (born 1924)
- 2014: Futatsuryū Jun’ichi, Japanese sumo wrestler (born 1950)
- 2014: Kongō Masahiro, Japanese sumo wrestler (born 1948)
- 2013: Tereza de Arriaga, Portuguese painter (born 1915)
- 2013: Hans-Ekkehard Bob, German soldier and pilot (born 1917)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Euplius - Christian feast day:
Eusebius of Milan - Christian feast day:
Herculanus of Brescia - Christian feast day:
Pope Innocent XI - Christian feast day:
Jænberht - Christian feast day:
Jane Frances de Chantal - Christian feast day:
Muiredach (or Murtagh) - Christian feast day:
Porcarius II - Christian feast day:
August 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Glorious Twelfth (United Kingdom)
- HM the Queen Mother’s Birthday and National Mother’s Day (Thailand)
- International Youth Day (United Nations)
- Russian Air Force Day (Russia)
- Sea Org Day (Scientology)
- World Elephant Day (International)