11 June, 2010 – Africa hosts the FIFA World Cup for the first time

The 19th association football world cup was opened in Johannesburg, South Africa. The winner of this historic edition was Spain.

12 June, 1994 – The world's largest twinjet takes off on its maiden flight

The Boeing 777, or Triple Seven, typically transports up to 451 passengers. It is one of Boeing's commercially most successful planes.

13 June, 1971 – The New York Times publishes the Pentagon Papers

The secret study of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War revealed the government's lies concerning the scale of U.S. activities in Vietnam and neighbouring countries. Daniel Ellsberg, an employee leaked the documents.

14 June, 2002 – A large asteroid just misses the Earth

2002 MN, a 73-metre lump, was three times closer to Earth than the Moon. It was first discovered three days after its closest approach.

15 June, 1991 – Mount Pinatubo explodes

The stratovolcano's eruption was one of the most violent of the 20th century. About 800 people died, but the event had also global consequences. It caused a global temperature drop of 0.5°C.

16 June, 1963 – Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space

The Soviet cosmonaut completed 48 orbits on board the spaceship “Vostok 6” before returning safely to Earth. The former textile worker was declared “Hero of the Soviet Union” and received the UN Gold Medal of Peace.

17 June, 1885 – The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York

Hundreds of thousands of spectators welcomed the emblematic statue, which was a gift to the United States from the people of France and has become one of the country's most recognised symbols.