On this day

[Detective Osprey]

1985 - The body of murdered American primatologist Dian Fossey was discovered inside her cabin in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

[Kyng]

Wow, I'd never heard of her. Very sad way for the life of such a good person to end . 

Today marks the second anniversary of the passing of Carrie Fisher, after a week of illness. This really came out of nowhere, and stunned Star Wars fans everywhere; many of them will have heard the news just after seeing Rogue One .

[Kyng]

On this day in 1853, the Gadsden Purchase was signed by representatives from the USA and Mexico:



This was the purchase of around 29,000 square miles of land in New Mexico and Arizona. It was the last significant territorial expansion of the contiguous United States.

[Detective Osprey]

• 1862 – American Civil War: The Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, began in an engagement where both sides would suffer their highest casualty rates of the war.
  

[Detective Osprey]

• AD 62 – Pompeii was severely damaged by a strong earthquake, which may have been a precursor to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed the town 17 years later.
  

[Kyng]

Okay, so if earthquakes can indicate a volcanic eruption soon, is there anyone living near a volcano who has recently had an earthquake, and should be worried ? 

On this day in 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, thus causing their popularity to explode in America.

[Kyng]

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution of 1979, in which the Shah was overthrown - and, shortly thereafter, a theocratic Islamic republic declared:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/harsh-light-ir...itics.html

While the Shah was certainly a murderous tyrant, it has to be said that the regime which replaced it has proven to be no better. Iran is diplomatically isolated; the economy is ailing; and there is a strong desire among the people for accountable government in which they can participate. However, the regime has simply responded with a brutal crackdown on dissent.

I do hope Iranians get a government which actually represents them, sooner rather than later. Mass imprisonments and repression can only keep the Ayatollahs in power for so long.

Though, on a more positive note, today also marks the 29th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from prison .

[Kyng]

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the start of Operation Allied Force - the NATO-led bombing campaign over Serbia in the Kosovo War: 

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/featur...30745.html

Sadly, the issue of Kosovo's political status remains unresolved to this day .

[Moonshroom]

A day like today, in 1976, a military coup took the power in Argentina and started a process in which up to 30.000 people ended up dead or vanished, the press got silenced, newborn kids were kidnapped and sold by the Armed Forces and that led us to a war with the UK and a semi conflict with Chile.

Never again.

[Kyng]

On this day 30 years ago, a catastrophic train crash took place in Ufa (located in what is now Bashkortostan in Russia). All in all, 575 lives were lost, and 800 others were injured:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48510979

It's funny how this disaster isn't more well-known. I suppose it was just overshadowed by the Tiananmen Square protests which were happening at the same time: had it not been for that, then it would surely have been headline news around the world.