Today in History

2010 Africa hosts the FIFA World Cup for the first time The 19th association football world cup was opened in Johannesburg, South Africa. The winner of this historic edition was Spain. 1959 Christopher Cockerell first presents the hovercraft The amphibious air-cushion vehicle…

1999 The Kosovo War ends Slobodan Milošević, then President of Serbia, agreed to withdraw his troops from the disputed territory following a massive NATO bombing campaign. NATO’s involvement has been criticized for its lack of a U.N. mandate. 1967 The Six-Day War…

1967 Israel captures the Golan Heights from Syria Israel’s occupation of the territory and the establishment of Israeli settlements in the area continue to hamper negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing Middle East conflict. 1957 Four Austrian climbers become…

1989 Thousands die in the Tiananmen Square Massacre Using assault rifles and tanks, Chinese troops massacred unarmed civilians who had taken part in pro-democracy protests. 1989 Poland holds the first free elections after World War II The landslide victory of the Polish…

1980 Mount St. Helens erupts The eruption killed 57 people. A large part of the previously cone-shaped volcano was replaced by a massive crater; its summit is now some 1300 feet (400 meters) lower than before the eruption. 1927 45 people die…