June 12: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Air India Flight 171 from Ahmedabad, India, to London crashed 30 seconds after taking off.

Of the 230 passengers and 12 crew members aboard, only one passenger survived the devastating crash. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a medical college's hostel block and exploded, killing another 19 people and injuring over 60 more.

The leaders of North Korea and the USA met for the first time ever.

US President Donald Trump met with North Korea's Kim Jong Un at the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit in Singapore. North Korea's newly-developed nuclear capabilities largely prompted the summit. The two leaders agreed on North Korea's denuclearization in return for greater security guarantees. Further peace talks and friendlier relations were also on the table.

Michael Bay’s Transformers premiered in Sydney, Australia.

Queen Elizabeth II reopened the reconstructed Globe Theatre in London.

The reconstructed theatre, named Shakespeare's globe, was created to be as faithful as possible to the original design, which burnt down in 1613.

Nearly one million people protested for the disarmament of nuclear weapons in Central Park, New York City.

The first Indiana Jones movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” by Steven Spielberg, was released.

The estimated budget for the production was $18 million, and the movie has made over $384 million since its release.

Roy and Gaye Raymond founded Victoria’s Secret and opened its first store in San Francisco.

The US Supreme Court ruled interracial marriage legal.

The idea of the Big Bang Theory being the creation of the universe was supported by scientists.

Nelson Mandela was committed to life in jail.

The epic historical drama movie “Cleopatra” was released.

The movie was the highest growing film of the decade, with a budget of $31.1 million.

Anne Frank received her famous diary.

Her first entry was, "I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support."

American gangster Al Capone was charged with conspiracy to violate Prohibition laws between 1922 & 1931.

Harry Houdini broke free from a straitjacket while hanging upside down 40 feet in New York City, US.

The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, a fountain, was unveiled in Rome.

The famous fountain known as the fountain of the four rivers was built behind curtains at the time, so although residents knew something was being constructed, they had no idea what. This was to emphasize the reveal and create a large-scale event to draw people to Piazza Navona.