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On This Day

May 09

YEAR 2023

The May 9 riots following the arrest of Imran Khan in Pakistan.

The May 9 riots following the arrest of Imran Khan in Pakistan.

YEAR 2022

Russo-Ukrainian War: United States President Joe Biden signs the 2022 Lend-Lease Act into law, a rebooted World War II-era policy expediting American...

Russo-Ukrainian War: United States President Joe Biden signs the 2022 Lend-Lease Act into law, a rebooted World War II-era policy expediting American equipment to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries.

YEAR 2020

The COVID-19 recession causes the U.S. unemployment rate to hit 14.9 percent, its worst rate since the Great Depression.

The COVID-19 recession causes the U.S. unemployment rate to hit 14.9 percent, its worst rate since the Great Depression.

YEAR 2018

Barisan Nasional, the coalition that had governed Malaysia since the country's independence in 1957, suffer an historic defeat in the 2018 Malaysian g...

Barisan Nasional, the coalition that had governed Malaysia since the country's independence in 1957, suffer an historic defeat in the 2018 Malaysian general election.

YEAR 2002

The 38-day stand-off in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem comes to an end when the Palestinians inside agree to have 13 suspected terrorists amo...

The 38-day stand-off in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem comes to an end when the Palestinians inside agree to have 13 suspected terrorists among them deported to several different countries.

YEAR 2001

In Ghana, 129 football fans die in what became known as the Accra Sports Stadium disaster. The deaths are caused by a stampede (caused by the firing o...

In Ghana, 129 football fans die in what became known as the Accra Sports Stadium disaster. The deaths are caused by a stampede (caused by the firing of tear gas by police personnel at the stadium) that followed a controversial decision by the referee...

YEAR 1992

Armenian forces capture Shusha, marking a major turning point in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Armenian forces capture Shusha, marking a major turning point in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.

YEAR 1992

Westray Mine disaster kills 26 workers in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Westray Mine disaster kills 26 workers in Nova Scotia, Canada.

YEAR 1988

New Parliament House, Canberra officially opens.

New Parliament House, Canberra officially opens.

YEAR 1987

LOT Flight 5055 Tadeusz Kościuszko crashes after takeoff in Warsaw, Poland, killing all 183 people on board.

LOT Flight 5055 Tadeusz Kościuszko crashes after takeoff in Warsaw, Poland, killing all 183 people on board.

YEAR 1980

In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, making a 430-meter (1,400 ft)...

In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, making a 430-meter (1,400 ft) section of the southbound span collapse. Thirty-five people in six cars and a Greyhound bus fall 46...

YEAR 1980

In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out and one of the largest pursuit...

In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out and one of the largest pursuits in California history. Two of the gunmen and one police officer are killed and thirty-three police...

YEAR 1979

Iranian Jewish businessman Habib Elghanian is executed by firing squad in Tehran, prompting the mass exodus of the once 100,000-strong Jewish communit...

Iranian Jewish businessman Habib Elghanian is executed by firing squad in Tehran, prompting the mass exodus of the once 100,000-strong Jewish community of Iran.

YEAR 1974

Watergate scandal: The United States House Committee on the Judiciary opens formal and public impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon.

Watergate scandal: The United States House Committee on the Judiciary opens formal and public impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon.

YEAR 1969

Carlos Lamarca leads the first urban guerrilla action against the military dictatorship of Brazil in São Paulo, by robbing two banks.

Carlos Lamarca leads the first urban guerrilla action against the military dictatorship of Brazil in São Paulo, by robbing two banks.

YEAR 1960

The Food and Drug Administration announces it will approve birth control as an additional indication for Searle's Enovid, making Enovid the world's fi...

The Food and Drug Administration announces it will approve birth control as an additional indication for Searle's Enovid, making Enovid the world's first approved oral contraceptive pill.

YEAR 1955

Cold War: West Germany joins NATO.

Cold War: West Germany joins NATO.

YEAR 1950

Robert Schuman presents the "Schuman Declaration", considered by some to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.

Robert Schuman presents the "Schuman Declaration", considered by some to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.

YEAR 1948

Czechoslovakia's Ninth-of-May Constitution comes into effect.

Czechoslovakia's Ninth-of-May Constitution comes into effect.

YEAR 1946

King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy abdicates and is succeeded by Umberto II.

King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy abdicates and is succeeded by Umberto II.

YEAR 1945

World War II: the Channel Islands are liberated from Nazi occupation.

World War II: the Channel Islands are liberated from Nazi occupation.

YEAR 1942

The Holocaust in Ukraine: The SS executes 588 Jewish residents of the Podolian town of Zinkiv (Khmelnytska oblast. The Zoludek Ghetto (in Belarus) is...

The Holocaust in Ukraine: The SS executes 588 Jewish residents of the Podolian town of Zinkiv (Khmelnytska oblast. The Zoludek Ghetto (in Belarus) is destroyed and all its inhabitants executed or deported.

YEAR 1941

World War II: The German submarine U-110 is captured by the Royal Navy. On board is the latest Enigma machine which Allied cryptographers later use to...

World War II: The German submarine U-110 is captured by the Royal Navy. On board is the latest Enigma machine which Allied cryptographers later use to break coded German messages.

YEAR 1936

Italy formally annexes Ethiopia after taking the capital Addis Ababa on May 5.

Italy formally annexes Ethiopia after taking the capital Addis Ababa on May 5.

YEAR 1927

The Old Parliament House, Canberra, Australia, officially opens.

The Old Parliament House, Canberra, Australia, officially opens.

YEAR 1926

Admiral Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett claim to have flown over the North Pole (later discovery of Byrd's diary appears to cast some doubt on the c...

Admiral Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett claim to have flown over the North Pole (later discovery of Byrd's diary appears to cast some doubt on the claim.)

YEAR 1920

Polish–Soviet War: The Polish army under General Edward Rydz-Śmigły celebrates its capture of Kiev with a victory parade on Khreshchatyk.

Polish–Soviet War: The Polish army under General Edward Rydz-Śmigły celebrates its capture of Kiev with a victory parade on Khreshchatyk.

YEAR 1918

World War I: Germany repels Britain's second attempt to blockade the port of Ostend, Belgium.

World War I: Germany repels Britain's second attempt to blockade the port of Ostend, Belgium.

YEAR 1915

World War I: Second Battle of Artois between German and French forces.

World War I: Second Battle of Artois between German and French forces.

YEAR 1901

Australia opens its first national parliament in Melbourne.

Australia opens its first national parliament in Melbourne.

YEAR 1877

Mihail Kogălniceanu reads, in the Chamber of Deputies, the Declaration of Independence of Romania. The date will become recognised as the Independence...

Mihail Kogălniceanu reads, in the Chamber of Deputies, the Declaration of Independence of Romania. The date will become recognised as the Independence Day of Romania.

YEAR 1873

Der Krach: The Vienna stock exchange crash begins the Panic of 1873 and heralds the Long Depression.

Der Krach: The Vienna stock exchange crash begins the Panic of 1873 and heralds the Long Depression.

YEAR 1865

American Civil War: President Andrew Johnson issues a proclamation ending belligerent rights of the rebels and enjoining foreign nations to intern or...

American Civil War: President Andrew Johnson issues a proclamation ending belligerent rights of the rebels and enjoining foreign nations to intern or expel Confederate ships.

YEAR 1865

American Civil War: Nathan Bedford Forrest surrenders his forces at Gainesville, Alabama.

American Civil War: Nathan Bedford Forrest surrenders his forces at Gainesville, Alabama.

YEAR 1864

Second Schleswig War: The Danish navy defeats the Austrian and Prussian fleets in the Battle of Heligoland.

Second Schleswig War: The Danish navy defeats the Austrian and Prussian fleets in the Battle of Heligoland.

YEAR 1761

Exhibition of 1761, the inaugural exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain opens at Spring Gardens in London.

Exhibition of 1761, the inaugural exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain opens at Spring Gardens in London.

YEAR 1726

Five men arrested during a raid on Mother Clap's molly house in London are executed at Tyburn.

Five men arrested during a raid on Mother Clap's molly house in London are executed at Tyburn.

YEAR 1671

Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.

Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.

YEAR 1662

The figure who later became Mr. Punch makes his first recorded appearance in England.

The figure who later became Mr. Punch makes his first recorded appearance in England.

YEAR 1540

Hernando de Alarcón sets sail on an expedition to the Gulf of California.

Hernando de Alarcón sets sail on an expedition to the Gulf of California.

YEAR 1450

Timurid monarch 'Abd al-Latif is assassinated.

Timurid monarch 'Abd al-Latif is assassinated.

YEAR 1386

England and Portugal formally ratify their alliance with the signing of the Treaty of Windsor, making it the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world w...

England and Portugal formally ratify their alliance with the signing of the Treaty of Windsor, making it the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world which is still in force.

YEAR 1009

Lombard Revolt: Lombard forces led by Melus revolt in Bari against the Byzantine Catepanate of Italy.

Lombard Revolt: Lombard forces led by Melus revolt in Bari against the Byzantine Catepanate of Italy.

YEAR 328

Athanasius is elected Patriarch of Alexandria.

Athanasius is elected Patriarch of Alexandria.