On August 11th 1984, President Ronald Reagan made a joking but controversial off-the-cuff remark about bombing Russia while testing a microphone before a scheduled radio address. While warming up for the speech, Reagan said "My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin … Continue reading August 11 1984 Ronald Reagan jokes about bombing Russia
Tag: United States
August 8 1974 Richard Nixon resigns as president
On August 8th 1974, in an evening televised address, President Richard M. Nixon announced his intention to become the first president in American history to resign. With impeachment proceedings underway against him for his involvement in the Watergate affair, Nixon was finally bowing to pressure from the public and Congress to leave the White House. … Continue reading August 8 1974 Richard Nixon resigns as president
August 7 2005 Trapped Russian sub rescued
On this day in 2005, a Russian Priz AS-28 mini-submarine, with seven crew members on board, is rescued from deep in the Pacific Ocean. On August 4, the vessel had been taking part in training exercises in Beryozovaya Bay, off the coast of Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka peninsula, when its propellers became entangled in cables that … Continue reading August 7 2005 Trapped Russian sub rescued
July 31 1975 Jimmy Hoffa disappears
On July 31st 1975, James Riddle Hoffa, one of the most influential American labour leaders of the 20th century, disappeared in Detroit, Michigan, never to be heard from again. Though he is popularly believed to have been the victim of a Mafia hit, conclusive evidence was never found, and Hoffa's death remains shrouded in mystery … Continue reading July 31 1975 Jimmy Hoffa disappears
July 29 1900 Italian American assassinates Italian king
On July 29th 1900, in Monza, Italy, King Umberto I was shot to death by Gaetano Bresci, an Italian-born anarchist who resided in America before returning to his homeland to murder the king. Crowned in 1878, King Umberto became increasingly authoritarian in the late 19th century. He enacted a program of suppression against the radical … Continue reading July 29 1900 Italian American assassinates Italian king
July 27 1980 Ousted shah of Iran dies in exile
On July 27th 1980, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the former shah of Iran, died of cancer while in exile in Egypt. Mohammad Reza was enthroned as shah of Iran in 1941, after his father was forced to abdicate by British and Soviet troops. The new shah promised to act as a constitutional monarch but often meddled … Continue reading July 27 1980 Ousted shah of Iran dies in exile
July 26 1847 Liberian independence proclaimed
On July 26th 1847, the Republic of Liberia, formerly a colony of the American Colonisation Society, declared its independence. Under pressure from Britain, the United States hesitantly accepted Liberian sovereignty, making the West African nation the first democratic republic in African history. A constitution modelled after the U.S. Constitution was approved, and in 1848 Joseph … Continue reading July 26 1847 Liberian independence proclaimed
July 22 2003 Jessica Lynch gets hero’s welcome
On July 22nd 2003, U.S. Army Private Jessica Lynch, a prisoner-of-war who was rescued from an Iraqi hospital, received a hero's welcome when she returns to her hometown of Palestine, West Virginia. The story of the 19-year-old supply clerk, who was captured by Iraqi forces in March 2003, gripped America; however, it was later revealed … Continue reading July 22 2003 Jessica Lynch gets hero’s welcome
July 20 1969 Neil Armstrong walks on moon
On July 20th 1969, at 10:56 p.m. American EDT, American astronaut Neil Armstrong, 240,000 miles from Earth, spoke these words to more than a billion people listening at home: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Stepping off the lunar landing module Eagle, Armstrong became the first human to walk on … Continue reading July 20 1969 Neil Armstrong walks on moon
July 14 1963 Rupture between USSR and China grows worse
On June 14th 1963, according to a public statement made by the Chinese government, a much more militant and aggressive policy was needed in order to spread the communist revolution worldwide. There could be no "peaceful coexistence" with the forces of capitalism, and the statement chided the Russians for trying to reach a diplomatic understanding … Continue reading July 14 1963 Rupture between USSR and China grows worse
July 11 1979 Skylab crashes to Earth
On July 11th 1979, parts of Skylab, America's first space station, come crashing down on Australia and into the Indian Ocean five years after the last manned Skylab mission ended. No one was injured. Launched in 1973, Skylab was the world's first successful space station. The first manned Skylab mission came two years after the … Continue reading July 11 1979 Skylab crashes to Earth
July 2 1839 Mutiny on the Amistad slave ship
On July 2nd 1839, early in the morning, Africans on the Cuban schooner Amistad rose up against their captors, killing two crewmembers and seizing control of the ship, which had been transporting them to a life of slavery on a sugar plantation at Puerto Principe, Cuba. In 1807, the U.S. Congress joined with Great Britain … Continue reading July 2 1839 Mutiny on the Amistad slave ship
June 29 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
Qiao Shi’s book rouses demand for judicial independence in China Posted by chankaiyee2 ⋅ June 29, 2012 ⋅ Leave a Comment I hailed recent publication of Qiao Shi’s book “Qiao Shi on Democracy and Legal System” in my post “Chinese rule of law and democracy advocator Qiao Shi returns”. Qiao Shi, though retired, has been striving … Continue reading June 29 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
June 20 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
Ai Weiwei barred from Chinese court in tax case Posted by China Daily Mail ⋅ June 20, 2012 ⋅ 2 Comments The Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was denied his day in court on Wednesday after dozens of police officers barricaded first his home in Beijing and then the court house itself. Mr Ai, 54, claims that … Continue reading June 20 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
June 18 1983 First American woman in space
On June 18th 1983, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the space shuttle Challenger is launched into space on its second mission. Aboard the shuttle was Dr. Sally Ride, who as a mission specialist became the first American woman to travel into space. During the six-day mission, Ride, an astrophysicist from Stanford University, operated the shuttle's robot … Continue reading June 18 1983 First American woman in space
Jun 16 1963 First woman in space
On June 16th 1963, aboard Vostok 6, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to earth, having spent more time in space than all U.S. astronauts combined to that date. Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova was born to a peasant family in Maslennikovo, Russia, … Continue reading Jun 16 1963 First woman in space
June 12 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
China could impound European planes Posted by China Daily Mail ⋅ June 12, 2012 ⋅ Leave a Comment China will take swift counter-measures that could include impounding European aircraft if the European Union punishes Chinese airlines for non-compliance with a scheme to curb carbon emissions, the China Air Transport Association (CATA) said on Tuesday. Chinese airlines, … Continue reading June 12 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
June 12 1898 Philippine independence declared
On June 12 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines after 300 years of Spanish rule. By mid-August, Filipino rebels and U.S. troops had ousted the Spanish, but Aguinaldo's hopes for independence were dashed when the United States formally annexed the Philippines as part of … Continue reading June 12 1898 Philippine independence declared
June 7 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
Bizarre “suicide” in Hunan of June 4 leader is suspected murder Posted by chankaiyee2 ⋅ June 7, 2012 ⋅ Leave a Comment Singtao Daily gives a comprehensive report today that Li Wangyang, a June 4 democracy movement leader who was imprisoned for 21 years, was found dead in a bizarre manner in a hospital in Hunan. … Continue reading June 7 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
June 7 1866 Chief Seattle dies near the city named for him
On June 7th 1866, thirteen years after American settlers founded the city named for him, Chief Seattle died in a nearby village of his people. Born sometime around 1790, Seattle (Seathl) was a chief of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes who lived around the Pacific Coast bay that is today called Puget Sound. He was … Continue reading June 7 1866 Chief Seattle dies near the city named for him
June 6 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
Chinese scientist convicted of stealing Merck drug formula Posted by China Daily Mail ⋅ June 6, 2012 ⋅ Leave a Comment A Chinese scientist employed by one of the country’s primary pharmaceutical research firms was found guilty of stealing and selling patented medical compounds owned by Merck & Co., according to a court document. The Shanghai … Continue reading June 6 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
June 5 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
180,000 mourners in Hong Kong for June 4 remembrance, a new record Posted by chankaiyee2 ⋅ June 5, 2012 ⋅ Leave a Comment Hong Kong media Ming Pao and SCMP report that 180,000 people attended the candle light vigil in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park, to commemorate those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. However police put … Continue reading June 5 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
June 4 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre takes place
On June 4th 1989, Chinese troops stormed through Tiananmen Square in the centre of Beijing, killing and arresting thousands of pro-democracy protesters. The brutal Chinese government assault on the protesters shocked the West and brought denunciations and sanctions from the United States. In May 1989, nearly a million Chinese, mostly young students, crowded into central … Continue reading June 4 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre takes place
June 3 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
Asia to be base for 60 pc of U.S. fleet; China welcomes move Posted by China Daily Mail ⋅ June 3, 2012 ⋅ Leave a Comment Most of America’s warships will be stationed in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said yesterday. He revealed about 60 per cent of the US naval … Continue reading June 3 2012 China Daily Mail Headlines
June 3 1990 Bush and Gorbachev end second summit meeting
On June 3rd 1990, President George Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ended their three-day summit meeting with warm words of friendship, but without any concrete agreement concerning German reunification.Bush and Gorbachev held their second summit conference in Washington, D.C. The main topic of conversation was the future of a reunified Germany. Communist rule … Continue reading June 3 1990 Bush and Gorbachev end second summit meeting
Craig Hill 