Time: 2024-08-16
On August 16 , 2012 , the Ecuadorean government granted political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange , avoiding extradition to Sweden for a sexual assault investigation . This decision led to a series of events that eventually resulted in his arrest by London police in April 2019.
In 1896 , the North Country gold rush began with the discovery of gold in the Klondike region of Canada 's Yukon Territory . This event sparked a significant migration of people seeking fortune in the gold fields , shaping the region 's history and economy.
People born on August 16 include a diverse range of individuals . Among them are French physicist Gabriel Lippmann , inventor of color photography , British soldier / writer T.E. Lawrence , and former Israeli Prime Minister / Nobel Peace Prize laureate Menachem Begin . This date also marks the birth of singer Madonna , filmmaker Taika Waititi , and Olympic swimmer Caeleb Dressel.
On August 16 , 1977 , the music world mourned the loss of Elvis Presley , who died of heart failure at age 42 in Memphis . His legacy as the king of rock ' n ' roll continues to influence musicians and fans around the world.
August 16 has also been marked by tragic incidents . In 1954 , the first edition of Sports Illustrated was published , bringing sports news and stories to readers worldwide . However , the day also saw the Northwest Airlines jet crash in Detroit in 1987 , resulting in the loss of 156 lives , with a 4 - year - old girl as the sole survivor.
In 2013 , the MV Thomas Aquinas ferry sank off the Philippines after colliding with a cargo ship , leading to the deaths of approximately 60 people . The aftermath of this maritime disaster highlighted the importance of safety measures in sea transportation.
On August 16 , 2020 , Japan reported its greatest economic contraction on record , with a 27.8 % shrink in gross domestic product in the second quarter . This significant downturn in the economy had far - reaching consequences on the country 's financial stability and prompted efforts to address the challenges faced.
In 2021 , the U.S. government declared its first - ever water shortage in the Colorado River Basin , leading to mandatory water consumption cuts in the Southwest . The decreasing water levels in Lake Mead revealed multiple sets of skeletal remains , underscoring the environmental and societal impacts of the water scarcity issue.
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