26th June - On this Day
What does the 26th June have to offer, well on this day...
The UN bring to us the International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Following a recommendation of the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the General Assembly expressed its determination to strengthen action and cooperation for an international society free of drug abuse and proclaimed June 26 as an annual observance to raise public awareness.
The UN also declares it international day in support of victims of torture.
In Madagascar, it's the national holiday to celebrate their independence from France since 1960.
In 1974 a pack of Wrigley's gum was the first item to be swiped across the first checkout scanner in a supermarket in Ohio and marks the release of the Bar code used to scan product electronically into a till system.
On the 26th of June 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone was published. Bloomsbury published this acclaimed children's fantasy book by Joanne (J.K.) Rowling in the United Kingdom with an initial hardcover print run of 500 copies. The first book in a seven-title series, it became a smash hit almost overnight.