June 15th Through History

Explanation: This terse phrase, "Veni, Vidi, Vici", was reported by Plutarch and Suetonius. Caesar is said to have used it to sum up his lightning victory over Pharnaces II, king of Pontus, won in just five days of campaigning, which was exceptional even for him.

Explanation: Studio Ghibli, co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, takes its name from an Italian reconnaissance aircraft from World War II, the Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli. The word also refers to a hot wind from the Libyan desert, a symbolic choice for creators who wanted to "blow a new wind" through Japanese animation.

Explanation: Jean-Baptiste Denis, a French physician, carried out this bold transfusion by injecting lamb's blood into a 15-year-old boy suffering from a fever. Although the patient survived, transfusions between different species (xenotransfusions) were quickly banned after several deaths, and the practice fell into oblivion until the 19th century.

Explanation: The Magna Carta, signed by King John under pressure from the English barons, is considered one of the first constitutional texts in Western history. For the first time, it limited the absolute power of the king and guaranteed certain rights to free men. It later inspired the American Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of Man.

Explanation: Johnny Hallyday, whose real name was Jean-Philippe Léo Smet, was born in Paris on June 15, 1943. He died on December 5, 2017. With more than 100 million records sold, he remains the biggest star of French-language rock 'n' roll, having adapted the American genre for French audiences starting in the late 1950s.

Explanation: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) today brings together major powers such as China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Iran. Founded in Shanghai, it represents more than 40% of the world's population and is one of the largest regional blocs in the world, focused on collective security and economic cooperation across Eurasia.

Explanation: Mohamed Salah, nicknamed "the Pharaoh" or "Egyptian King", was born in Nagrig, Egypt. He joined Liverpool FC in 2017 and quickly set goal-scoring records in the Premier League. He is considered one of the best players of his generation and helped turn Liverpool into a dominant club in Europe, notably winning the Champions League in 2019.

Explanation: UEFA was founded on June 15, 1954 in Basel, Switzerland, the same year as the World Cup won by West Germany in Switzerland. It now organizes the Champions League, the Europa League and the European Championship (Euro), bringing together 55 member federations.

Explanation: Through his famous kite experiment during a thunderstorm, Franklin demonstrated that lightning is electrical in nature. Building on this discovery, he designed a pointed metal rod connected to the ground to divert lightning and protect buildings. This invention revolutionized building safety and earned him international fame.

Explanation: The opening of this Carrefour in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, in the Essonne department, marked a revolution in French retail. The concept, bringing together food and non-food products under one roof with low prices and a large parking lot, was immediately embraced by consumers. Carrefour is today one of the world leaders in mass retail.