In History, Today on July 18

A devastating arson attack occurred at the Kyoto Animation studio in Kyoto, Japan, resulting in the deaths of 36 people and injuring dozens more. It was one of the deadliest massacres in Japan since World War II.

The Republican National Convention began in Cleveland, Ohio, where Donald Trump was formally nominated as the Republican candidate for President of the United States. This event marked a significant moment in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama began a two-day visit to Kenya, marking his first official trip to his father's homeland during his presidency.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The incident occurred amid the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists, leading to international condemnation and increased tensions between Russia and Western countries.

Detroit, Michigan, filed for bankruptcy, becoming the largest city in U.S. history to do so. The filing was a result of decades of financial mismanagement, population decline, and economic challenges.

A bombing in Damascus, Syria, killed several top Syrian government officials, including the defense minister, as part of the ongoing Syrian Civil War. This event marked a significant escalation in the conflict.

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U.S. President George W. Bush announced the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, which marked a significant step in the strategic partnership between the two nations, allowing India access to civilian nuclear technology despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The 27th G8 summit began in Genoa, Italy, amid widespread protests against globalization and economic inequality. The summit was marked by significant clashes between police and demonstrators, resulting in the death of a protester, Carlo Giuliani.

A terrorist attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killed 85 people and injured hundreds, marking one of the deadliest attacks in Argentine history.

Nadia Comăneci became the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games.

Senator Edward 'Ted' Kennedy drives his car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts, resulting in the death of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne.

Intel Corporation was founded by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore in Mountain View, California, marking a significant development in the technology industry.

The Democratic National Convention nominates Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term as President of the United States.

The Spanish Civil War begins as a revolt led by conservative and fascist elements in the Spanish military against the republican government.

Adolf Hitler published his autobiographical manifesto 'Mein Kampf', outlining his political ideology and future plans for Germany.

The U.S. Congress passes the Aviation Systems Act, which serves as a turning point for the regulation of civil aviation in the United States.

The First Vatican Council decreed the dogma of papal infallibility, asserting that the Pope is preserved from the possibility of error when he solemnly declares a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals.

The Second Battle of Fort Wagner takes place during the American Civil War, featuring the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers.

Coronation of the 15th British monarch, King Edward VII's mother, Queen Victoria, took place.

Jane Austen, the acclaimed English novelist, passed away.

John Paul Jones, a renowned American naval commander in the American Revolutionary War, was appointed a rear admiral in the Russian Navy by Empress Catherine the Great, reflecting his ongoing influence in international naval affairs.

The Russian forces led by Field Marshal Burkhard Christoph von Münnich defeated the Crimean Tatars in the Battle of Stavuchany, securing a decisive victory and enhancing Russian influence in Eastern Europe.

The city of Gdańsk was granted rights to levy taxes by King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland, enhancing its economic independence within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Rudolf II was crowned King of Hungary in Székesfehérvár, an important political event in Hungarian history.

The authority of the Pope was declared void in England as part of King Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church.

King Edward I of England issued the Edict of Expulsion, expelling all Jews from England.

The Battle of the Allia took place, where the Roman Republic suffered a significant defeat against the Senones, a Gallic tribe, near the river Allia, leading to the subsequent sack of Rome.