On this day: July 6

1992: A Year of Royal Separations Shakes the British Monarchy

In July 1992, the British royal family faced a wave of separation and divorce announcements that exposed private strains and prompted public debate about the monarchy’s role and resilience.

Japan Executes Aum Shinrikyo Leader Shoko Asahara

On July 6, 2018, Japan executed Shoko Asahara, founder of the Aum Shinrikyo cult convicted for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack and other crimes; six other cult members were also executed that day.

Riverboat Collision on the Thames Kills Dozens in 1989

On 6 July 1989 a passenger riverboat on the River Thames near central London collided with another vessel and sank, resulting in multiple deaths and prompting safety reviews of commuter and leisure services on the river.

U.S. Imposes Trade Embargo on Cuba Amid Rising Cold War Tensions

On July 6, 1960, the United States imposed an economic embargo on Cuba that curtailed most exports to the island, intensifying Cold War confrontation after the Cuban Revolution and Havana’s alignment with the Soviet Union.