Nicosia, Cyprus. June 24 has marked a series of notable events across art, politics, war and disaster over the past century. The date includes developments ranging from Pablo Picasso’s first exhibition to major conflicts and deadly catastrophes.
Early 20th century events
In 1901, the first exhibition by 19-year-old painter Pablo Picasso opened in Paris to critical acclaim.
In 1908, Grover Cleveland, who served twice as U.S. president, died.
In 1916, the first Battle of the Somme began during World War One.
Mid-century political and military developments
In 1948, the Soviet Union began a blockade of Berlin, stopping all land traffic entering the city from West Germany.
In 1973, Eamon de Valera resigned as president of Ireland at the age of 90.
Disasters and conflict in the 21st century
In 2001, the Philippines’ Mayon volcano erupted, sending out flaming ash and boulders described as “as big as trucks” and causing at least 25,000 people to flee.
In 2002, in Tanzania, a passenger train travelling from Dar es Salaam to the northwestern town of Kigoma rolled backwards on the track and crashed into a cargo train, killing 281.
In 2004, Iraqi insurgents launched coordinated assaults on local security forces in five cities, in which more than 100 people were killed and more than 320 were wounded.
In 2007, Saddam Hussein’s cousin, widely known as “Chemical Ali”, was sentenced to hang for masterminding a genocidal military campaign that used poison gas against Iraq’s Kurds in the 1980s.
