Today in 1966, 57 years ago: in southern Africa, Lesotho became independent from the British Empire and became part of the Commonwealth.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1993, 30 years ago: Battle of Mogadishu occurs killing 18 U.S. Special Forces, two UN Peacekeepers and at least 600 Somalian militia men and civilians.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1910, 113 years ago: A large bomb destroys the Los Angeles Times building, killing 21.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1907, 116 years ago: the Malleco National Reserve was created in Chile, one of the first protected wilderness areas in Latin America. In 1903, Argentina (on the initiative of the expert Francisco P. Moreno) had created the Sud National Park.1915: Last publication of La Gazette, a French newspaper founded on May 30, 1631

#OnThisDay

Today in 2004, 19 years ago: Burt Rutan's Ansari SpaceShipOne performs a successful spaceflight, the first of two required to win the Ansari X Prize.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1928, 95 years ago: the Republic of China is recognized by the United States.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1936, 87 years ago: during the Spanish Civil War, the destroyer Admiral Ferrándiz (AF) is sunk by almost impossible fire at the Battle of Cape Spartel, in the fight for control of the Strait of Gibraltar.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1959, 64 years ago: Typhoon Vera, the strongest typhoon to hit Japan in recorded history, makes landfall, killing 4,580 people and leaving nearly 1.6 million others homeless.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1979, 44 years ago: The rock opera Evita premiered on Broadway, inspired by the life of the leading Argentine personality Eva Perón.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1990, 33 years ago: the album The Razors Edge by the hard-rock band AC/DC is released.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1984, 39 years ago: the Barcelona Football Club Museum was inaugurated in Barcelona (Spain).

#OnThisDay

Today in 1645, 378 years ago: The Battle of Rowton Heath in England is a Parliamentarian victory over a Royalist army commanded in person by King Charles.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1985, 38 years ago: the Government of France admits the performance of the French Secret Services in the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, flagship of Greenpeace(state terrorism).

#OnThisDay

Today in 1997, 26 years ago: Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández launches his sixth studio album entitled I'm falling in love, produced by Emilio Estefan, Jr. and co-produced by Kike Santander.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1692, 331 years ago: In the United States, the last victims of the Salem Trial are hanged for witchcraft.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1993, 30 years ago: A barge strikes a railroad bridge near Mobile, Alabama, causing the deadliest train wreck in Amtrak history. Forty-seven passengers are killed.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1990, 33 years ago: Eric Elst discovers the asteroid Turgot (10089).

#OnThisDay

Today in 1980, 43 years ago: Iraq invades Iran, starting a war between the two countries.

#OnThisDay

Today in 2006, 17 years ago: in the United States, the F-14 Tomcat is retired from the United States Navy.

#OnThisDay

Today in 1960, 63 years ago: The Sudanese Republic is renamed Mali after the withdrawal of Senegal from the Mali Federation.

#OnThisDay