Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere


 Leaving shortly for a five day cruise






14 community newspapers due to close, many parts of NZ are becoming news deserts - Conversation

Publisher of raided newspaper delivers advice to journalists: Make democracy great again - Reflector

Is it biased for a newspaper to endorse a candidate? Journalism professor says no - Temple University

Today in Labor History November 19th

 


Joe HillIWW organizer


6,000 members of the United Garment Workers of America struck at 27 wholesale houses in Chicago, which were then members of the National Wholesale Tailors’ Association. – 1904

Joe HillIWW organizer and songwriter was executed by a Utah firing squad after being convicted of murder on trumped-up charges. While in prison, Hill sent a telegram to IWW leader Big Bill Haywood: “Goodbye Bill. I die like a true blue rebel. Don’t waste any time in mourning. Organize!” In a later telegram, he added, “Could you arrange to have my body hauled to the state line to be buried? I don’t want to be found dead in Utah. His ashes were supposedly sprinkled in every state of the union, except Utah. However, it is said that the IWW still keeps a small vial of some of his remaining ashes.  – 1915
The nation’s first automatic toll collection machine was used at the Union Toll Plaza on New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway. – 1954
The National Writers Union was founded, representing freelance and contract writers and others in the trade. In 1992 it merged into and became a local of the United Auto Workers. – 1981

Important Events From This day in History November 19th

 



1967 - Beatles Release "Magical Mystery Tour"
1967 : The Beatles release "Magical Mystery Tour" the LP was released in the US on November 27th.
Side 1 Magical Mystery Tour
Magical Mystery Tour
The Fool on the Hill
Flying
Blue Jay Way
Your Mother Should Know
I Am the Walrus
Side 2 Magical Mystery Tour
Hello Goodbye
Strawberry Fields Forever
Penny Lane
Baby You're a Rich Man
All You Need Is Love
 

1985 - Switzerland - - US / Soviet Leaders Meet
President Reagan and Soviet Leader Gorbachev meet for the first time and had scheduled a 15-minute private meeting. It had gone on for longer than expected-one hour. Also on this Day: A Group of Prominent Women Write to Gorbachev A total of 34 women presented Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev with a letter regarding nuclear disarmament. They were pushing for a ban on nuclear weapons tests.
 


http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/november20th.html


1925 England - - Queen Alexandra
1925 : Dowager Queen Alexandra was in ill health. She had serious heart trouble during this time. She passed away the following day, and her funeral was held about a week later (November 28th, 1925). Queen Alexandra served with King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Her father was Christian IX of Denmark, and her mother was Queen Louise of Hesse (consort to Alexandra's father).
 

1930 - USA - - Vending Machines
With the growth of the use of vending machines to dispense cigarettes many are concerned that it is encouraging smoking by children still in high school as no controls are in place to stop children buying cigarettes.
 

1931 - France - - League of Nations
1931: The United States and other countries involved with the League of Nations decided to aid China in the fight to force Japan to withdraw from Manchuria. Reports had indicated that Japan was in violation of certain treaty agreements that had been made-one of which was Japanese troops were illegally stations in strategic locations.
 

1942 - World War II - - Stalingrad
1942 : Russian General Georgi Zhukov launches Operation Uranus, the Soviet counteroffensive that turned the tide in the Battle of Stalingrad.
More about the Battle of Stalingrad
 

1944 - World War II - - Budapest
Russians had invaded 15 miles northeast of Budapest, along the Danube River north of the capital of Hungary. Within the same time period, Americans were moving in on Japanese forces in the Philippines. This was one of many significant and fierce World War II battle days.
 

1954 - U.S.A. - - Automatic Road Tolls
1954 : The first automatic toll collection machine is used at the Union Toll Plaza on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway.
 

1955 - Morocco - - Sultan
1955: It was a grave (sad and serious) day in Morocco. Political violence took place in the palace courtyard. The Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Youssel was inside in the palace while blood-shed took place. People had shown up at the Sultan's palace to give honor to the monarch, which had recently returned. One of the most prominent of those died was Khalifi Berdadi. One other had died as well, and five were wounded-two of which were not expected to live.

1963 - U.S.A. - - Gettysburg Address
The 100 year celebration of the famous Gettysburg Address delivered by President Lincoln's given during the consecration of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.

 

1963 - Iraq - - War
t may appear that the fighting in Iraq has never really stopped. During this time in history, fierce battles for control took place. The president of Iraq at this time had seized Baghdad at this time. These battles took place not too long after plans regarding forming an Arab union were discussed. Key people that were supporters of this union plans were driven from political office.
 

1967 - England - - The Pound In Your Pocket
The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, defends his decision to devalue the pound by lowering the exchange rate from for the Pound from $2.80 to $2.40 and has told the British people that it does not mean that the pound here in Britain, in your pocket or purse or in your bank, has been devalued, but allows us to sell our goods abroad on a more competitive basis.

 

1969 - U.S.A. - - Apollo 12
1969: The astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad and Alan Bean of Apollo 12 land on the Moon in the area known as the Ocean of Storms with their lunar lander, Intrepid, and become the second set of American astronauts to walk on the moons surface.
 

1969 - Brazil - - Pele
Brazilian soccer great Pele scores his 1,000th professional goal in a game, against Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium.
 

1973 - U.S.A. - - Energy Crisis
Senator Thomas J. McIntyre charged the major American oil companies of incompetence and selfishness. McIntyre alleged that they did not prepare for the upcoming energy crisis, and as a result have betrayed the American people.

 


1977 
- Egypt - - Anwar Sadat

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the first Arab leader to set foot in Israel and received a hero's welcome in Jerusalem but condemnation from the rest of the Arab world.
 

1979 - Iran - - US Embassy Hostage Crisis
1979 : Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and black American hostages quoting these hostages are being released because they are "oppressed minorities" and because of "the special place of women in Islam,".
 

1984 - Mexico - - PEMEX Explosions
A series of explosions at the state owned PEMEX petroleum storage facility at San Juan Ixhuatepec in Mexico City ignites a major fire and kills more than 500
 


1994 - U.S.A. - - Child Molesters
A United States school district was trying to decide what to do about the fact that 23 convicted child molesters lived in the area. Questions about personal privacy came up upon the decision to let the neighborhood know about them.
 

1994 - UK - - UK Lottery
1994: The new UK lottery operated by Camelot has it's first lottery draw with an estimated jackpot of £7m . As part of the franchise awarded to Camelot to run the lottery a percentage of the money raised from ticket sales will help fund the arts, sports, charities, national heritage and millennium celebrations.
 

2002 - Middle East - - Weapons of Mass Destruction
Technology sensors were soon to be planted in various places in order to detect weapons of mass destruction hidden. This particular action had taken place the day after searches for chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons took place. One of the most-suspected culprits was Saddam Hussein. No weapons of mass destruction were found during this time yet. The sensors were implemented in order to make finding them easier.

 

2006 - U.S.A. - - Nintendo
Nintendo releases its newest video game console the Wii in North America with an MSRP of US$249.99 Expected launch in Europe December 8th.


2006 - Gaza - - Human Shield Halts Israeli Bombing
2006: The Israelis will not be running a planned air attack on a house in the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza, which has hundreds of Palestinians forming a human shield aroud it. A spokesman, Mohammedweil Baroud, said that he was warned to leave his home by the Israelis, but that he instead ran to a mosque and summoned his neighbours to help defend the house. Baroud is a commander in the Popular Resistance Committees militant group.
 

2007 - World - - Stocks fall
Global stocks have slumped amid fears of a fallout from the credit crisis, when Goldman Sachs downgraded Citibank and forecast $15bn (£7.3bn) in losses. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 217.86 points, or 1.65%, to end at 12,958.93. This was its lowest level in three months. The Nasdaq shed 1.33%.
 

2008 - New Zealand - - New Zealand's Prime Minister sworn in
2008: John Key becomes New Zealand's 38th prime minister after his centre-right National Party won this month's election. Key and twenty-seven ministers formally take office, and are sworn in by New Zealand's Governor-General Anand Satyanand in a ceremony in Wellington. Satyanand, who was acting as the representative of head of state Queen Elizabeth II, asks Key to confirm he can form a government before taking the oath of office.
 

2009 - United Kingdom - - Cazenove to be taken over by JP Morgan
JP Morgan annouces that it will buy Cazenove, its UK joint venture partner, for around 1 billion pounds ($1.67 billion). The two firms have been operated their joint venture since 2004 and say that the investment banking business will be continuing under the JP Morgan Cazenove brand, with most of the company's senior executives continuing in their roles. The deal values the combined joint venture at around 2 billion pounds. Cazenove (which is the Queen's stockbroker) isn't listed, but has around 1,500 shareholders, who are mostly current or former employees. Casenove is a 190 year-old company.
 

2009 - European Union - - Van Rompuy chosen for EU Presidency
Herman van Rompuy is unanimously chosen by the European Council, at an informal meeting in Brussels, to be the first full-time President of the European Council. He will be serving in this role from December 1, 2009 until May 31st, 2012. He actually took up his position on 1 January 2010. Van Rompuy is 62, and had crucial French and German support in attaining the presidency.
 

2011 - Libya - - Gaddafi's Son Captured in Libya
2011 : Saif al-Islam, the deposed leader of Libya's (Colonel Gaddafi) son, was captured by militants in Obari according to Libyan officials. Saif al-Islam is the last influential member of Gaddafi's family to be captured or killed since fighting broke out between anti-Gaddafi forces and his supporters. The new prime minister of Libya stated that Saif al-Islam will face a fair trial in the country, he was also wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
 

2012 - Israel - - UN Secretary General Calls for Ceasefire
Ban Ki-moon, the UN's Secretary General, has called for an immediate ceasefire after Israel's bombardment of Gaza entered its sixth day, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that he wanted expand the military operation.

 

2013 - Lebanon - - Iranian Embassy Attacked
The Iranian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon was hit by two suicide bomb attacks. Over twenty people were killed in the attack and nearly 150 people were injured as a result.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Monday Morning in the Blogosphere


 


Media must tell elections' real stories - Advertiser-Tribune





Today in Labor History November 18th

 


American Airlines on Strike



Seattle printers refused to print anti-labor ad in the newspaper. – 1919
Workers at the General Motors plant in Atlanta engaged in one of the many sit-down strikes that occurred during the organizing waves of the 1930s. – 1936
31 men died on Lake Michigan with the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley during one of the worst storms in the lake’s history. The 623-foot ship, carrying limestone, broke in two. Four crewmen survived. – 1958
Flight attendants at American Airlines went on strike over staffing, scheduling and work rules, and health benefits. The strike was quickly settled through binding arbitration in the workers’ favor. – 1993

Important Events From This day in History November 18

  

1978 Guyana - - Cult leader Jim Jones

1978 : The Cult leader Jim Jones instructed over 900 members of his church, "People's Temple", to drink a soft drink brewed in a tub with cyanide and sedatives at a mass meeting at the Jonestown camp, the bodies were later discovered at a camp in the Jungle . The cult leader was being investigated by American Authorities for conditions at the camp and Jones was also being investigated for tax fraud . Prior to the mass suicide Jones had a number of his followers shoot reporters and the head of the investigation team Congressman Ryan.

18 Nov, 1922 Italy - - Mussolini Comes To Power

This was the start of Benito Mussolini's term as the new Italian premier. He received strong support from the Parliament at this time, and served in the premier position until 1943. Mussolini was a strong supporter of fascism, communism, as well as the Nazi Hitler regime.

1928

U.S.A. - - Mickey Mouse

1928 : Mickey Mouse appears for the first time in Steamboat Willie, It was the first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon film produced by Walt Disney and premiered at the Colony Theater in NYC.

1931 Romania - - Royal Marries Commoner

King Carol and Prince Nikolas of Romania had a quarrel over the prince's decision to marry a common woman. King Carol threatened to arrest Prince Nikolas after being defied, and the king had also tore up the prince's marriage certificate. In other words, it was one of the "less happy" days at the castle.

1940 U.S.A. - - Mad New York Bomber

1940 : George P. Metesky ( New York Mad Bomber ) leaves his first bomb on a Consolidated Edison power plant window sill which failed to go off. Between 1940 and 1956, he planted at least 33 bombs, of which 22 exploded, injuring 15 people before he was caught.

1944 Yugoslavia - - Marshal Tito

1944: An announcement was made during the Marshal Tito's National Committee of Liberation meeting. One of the main orders of business discussed at this event was the establishment of a regency to be resolved in Yugoslavia.

1945 Germany - - Belsen Trial

1945: A report was made regarding the completion of the Belsen Trial the day before. Joseph Kramer and Irma Grese, the monarchs of Belsen were two of the people hanged for Nazi concentration camp crimes. Nine other concentration staff members were also hanged on the same day.

1953 Korea - - Peace Talks

An effort was made to learn what part will be assigned to neutral representatives during the Korean peace conference. One person active in learning more what the communists want is U.S. Envoy Arthur H. Dean. Envoy Dean has learned that communists intended on having countries such as India, Russia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Burma involved. They were to be neutral representatives during the peace talks.

1963 U.S.A. - - John F. Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy conducted a tour in five cities in Florida, and his administration described a little of the nature of this mission. In essence, President Kennedy was said to not be "out to soak the rich", regardless of the attitudes of business people.

1966 U.S.A. - - Fridays Fish

U.S. Roman Catholic bishops did away with the rule against eating meat on Fridays.

1967 Great Britain - - Foot and Mouth

1967 : More than 80,000 cattle, pigs and sheep are slaughtered today following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease and a ban is placed on the movement of farm animals across the whole of England and Wales.

18 Nov, 1973 Europe - - Oil Supplies

Arab oil companies have announced a shortage of supply. However, they have decided that Europe will not be affected

1982 U.S.A. - - Duk Koo Kim

1982 : Duk Koo Kim dies from injuries sustained during a 14-round match boxing match against Ray Mancini in an arena outside Caesar's Palace on November 13th, 1982 minutes after the fight was over, Kim collapsed into a coma never to recover and the life support equipment was turned off on this day in history.

1985 Switzerland - - US / Soviet Summit

A two-day summit was planned with Mikhail Gorbachev and Reagan present. The main order of concern during this meeting was to find a way to "relieve mankind of the treat of nuclear war." The Swiss President Kurl Furgler was also involved in these negotiations.

1987 England - - Kings Cross Fire

1987: A fire in a King's Cross underground station kills 30 commuters and injures dozens of others. It is the worst fire in the history of the city's underground rail system and was believed to have been caused by rubbish and grease underneath an escalator and a discarded cigarette starting the fire.

1990 Iraq - - Hostages

Hostages held in Iraq would be freed by Christmas Day, according to a recent report. This news was made known after the adjournment of a meeting held between Saddam Hussein and other government officials.


Saturday, November 16, 2024

Saturday Morning in the Blogosphere


 




Norwich University student newspaper in standoff with administration - VTDigger


Hootsuite's Newspaper Stunt Led to Most Content Downloads of Any Influencer - Adweek

Today in Labor History November 16th, 2024

 


The Ravensdale coal mine



The Ravensdale coal mine explosion killed 31 workers in Washington state. The mine was well known for excessive coal dust. – 1916
A county judge in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania granted an injunction requested by the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Company forbidding strikers from speaking to strikebreakers, posting signs declaring a strike is in progress, or even singing hymns. Union leaders termed the injunction “drastic.” – 1927

Important Events From This day in History November 16

  

1945 U.S.A. - - German V-2 Scientists To Work on Space Program

The United States brings 88 German scientists who had been working on the V-1 and V-2 rockets for Germany to work on the American Space / Defense program . Video shows a US built V2 rocket built by German Scientists working for America

16 Nov, 1923 U.S.A. - - Savings Increase

A brief summary of statistics findings regarding saving money was printed. According to one news source, Americans were saving approximately double the amount of money than they were within the previous 10 years.

1931

China - - China / Japan Conflict

1931 : General Honjo warned press that Japan's next move was possibly all the way to Tsitsihar. Japan was currently engaged in war against Chinese forces over the territory of Manchuria, which was currently cut off from the rest of China.

1934 Great Britain - - Japanese Navy

A report from Great Britain revealed that a proposal was made to provide Japan with Theoretical naval equality. However, Americans and British were attempting to convince Japan to agree to build a number of ships less than allowed by them (U.S. and Britain).

1944 World War II - - Rhineland Offensive

1944 American first and ninth armies launched an offensive in the Rhineland, West Germany area. This action was taken in retaliation against German forces, which had rapidly moved in on Northeast Aachen .

1953 U.S.A. - - Nixon

1953: Vice-President Nixon announced he would be going to Iraq. This decision was made while Nixon was still in Tokyo, as part of Eisenhower's "personal contact" initiative implemented during this time.

1959 U.S.A. - - The Sound of Music

The last Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The Sound of Music" opens at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway. Shortly after The Sound Of Music opened on broadway Oscar Hammerstein died from cancer. The Sound Of Music was made into an Academy Award winning movie in 1965 starring Julie Andrews.

1965 Soviet Union - - Venera 3

1965 : The Soviet Union launches the Venera 3 space probe from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The mission was to land on the surface of the planet Venus. The mission was successful when Venera 3 crash-landed on Venus on 1st March 1966 becoming the first spacecraft to land on another planet's surface.

1966 Vietnam - - Rain Heavier Fighting

Battle between North and South Vietnam accompanied by U.S. troops prevailed. In fact, it seemed that the heavier the rain feel, the fiercer the North Vietnam-South Vietnam battle became. There was essentially no mercy on either side. This severe wartime conflict occurred in the so-called demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam-in an area that was supposed to be neutral.

1973 Israel - - POW set free

It was a miraculous day for a former Israel prisoner of war (POW). He was returned, and was fighting tears while he greeted Premier Golda Meir at the airport in Tel Aviv. He was held in Cairo, Egypt for some time.

1973 U.S.A. - - Alaska Oil Pipeline

1973 : President Richard Nixon urges Congress to pass Senate Bill 1081, which would authorize the construction of a pipeline to access oil from the North Slope of Alaska, thus reducing American reliance on foreign oil.

1979 England - - Sir Anthony Blunt

The forth man involved in the Cambridge spy ring is named as Sir Anthony Blunt.

1983 Luxembourg - - Soccer Hooliganism

Soccer hooliganism continues to feature in matches involving English clubs and the National Team with the latest trouble by English fans in Luxembourg who went through the city fighting and stealing after England was knocked out of the European Championship.

1985 Germany - - Stop Smoking Campaign

This was a day set aside for an international "smokeout", similar to that of the Great American Smokeout. Germany actively participated in this campaign. They were urged to hide their cigarettes, get rid of their lighters, get rid of their ashtrays, or whatever else seemed necessary to successfully observe this day. This was one effort towards promoting a smoke-free lifestyle.

1988 Pakistan - - Benazir Bhutto Elected

Benazir Bhutto is elected in a democratic election to be Prime Minister of Pakistan

1990 Middle East - - Peace Campaign

A daily anti-military campaign was being launched in the Middle East. A peace activist organization was working to persuade Pat Barracks commuters that the action occurring in the Persian Gulf area was not right.


Friday, November 15, 2024

Friday Morning in the Blogosphere


 







Trump Threatens New York Times, Penguin Random House over Critical Coverage - CJR





Today in Labor History November 15th, 2024

 


John L Lewis


The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada was founded in Pittsburgh.  FOTLU was the predecessor organization to what became the American Federation of Labor in 1886.  Its goal was to “organize a systematic agitation to propagate trades union principles…to elevate trades unionism, and to obtain for the working classes, that respect for their rights, and that reward for their services, to which they are justly entitled.”- 1881

The main headquarters of the New York City Wobblies (IWW) was ransacked and destroyed by agents acting under the US Attorney General Palmer. The Palmer raids were part of the first U.S. communist witch hunt, starting well before the more well known McCarthy purges. It was also where J. Edgar Hoover cut his baby teeth. – 1919
To “organize workers into a powerful industrial union”, United Mine Workers of America President, John L. Lewis called a meeting in Pittsburgh’s Islam Grotto, founding the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). – 1938
Four workers were killed and one was injured during a hazardous chemical (methyl mercaptan) leak at a DuPont industrial plant in suburban Houston. DuPont had ignored safety standards to increase profits. – 2014

Important Events From This day in History November 15th

  

1934 England - - Oswald Mosley

Sir Oswald Mosley and Black-Shirt fascist followers were put on Trial. They were arrested and charged of "riotous assembly" after a fascist meeting on October 9th.

15 Nov, 1922 China - - Missionary

Reverend Bord Breen, an American Lutheran Missionary was reportedly kidnapped by bandits while working in China. The reverend was living in the province of Honan at the time. Another American was also declared to being held hostage.

1922

Germany - - Cabinet Resigns

1922 : German Chancellor Wirth's cabinet had fallen apart. Resignations were signed the night before, and announced on this day. Wirth's failure to reach an agreement with allied forces of World War I regarding war reparation payments was one of the main reasons for the failure of his administration. The assassination of Dr. Rathenau was also another factor to the downfall of this sector of German government.

1926 U.S.A. - - NBC launches

1926 : Radio network National Broadcasting Co ( NBC ) launches with a radio network of 24 stations and one of the earliest remote musical broadcasts.

1940 World War II - - Coventry Bombed

1940: The German Luftwaffe bombs Coventry in a massive raid raising many parts of the city to the ground.

1942 World War II - - Battle of Guadalcanal

1942: The American fleet during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal had a decisive victory over the Japanese fleet sinking 23 Japanese ships and killing an estimated 30,000 Japanese troops.

1943 World War II - - Concentration Camps

Heinrich Himmler orders that all Gypsies and those of mixed Gypsy blood are to be put on the same level as Jews and placed in concentration camps

1944 Russia - - World Leaders

General Charles De Gaulle was invited to Moscow by Premier Joseph Stalin. U.S. President Roosevelt and British Prime Minster Winston Churchill were also invited, and President Chiang Kaishek of China was considering attending. This would make the first assembly of the United Nations, which was formed less than a year later.

1953 Egypt - - Court Marshal

1953: At first, Doubt had risen whether or not the court marshal in charge of the trial of ex-Premier Mohammed Mossadegh was competent. However, the court had just been ruled legitimate, as well as the trial against Mossadegh, who was charged with treason.

1956 U.S.A. - - Elvis Presley

1956 : Love Me Tender, Elvis Presley's first movie, opens in New York.

1959 U.S.A. - - Murder

1959: Four members of the Clutter family were murdered on their farm in Holcomb, Kansas . The men who murdered them were two ex-convicts, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, who had entered the rural Kansas home looking for a safe containing thousands of dollars. Truman Capote published a book based on the murders "In Cold Blood" in 1965 after they were hung, in 2005 the movie "Capote" based on Truman Capote's life during the writing of the novel was released.

1968 Soviet Union - - Imports Vodka From US

Russia has long been known for its Vodka. However, during this time in history it had turned to the U.S., requesting for supplies of this alcohol to cover its shortage. The embarrassing thing was that Soviet Premier Krushechev (a.k.a. Krushchev) had not too long ago boasted about how much Russia's Vodka is better. However, the fact that Russia ran out of Vodka had more to do with grain and potatoes to produce food, which was a priority over strong drink during this time.

1969 U.S.A. - - Vietnam Protests

Co-ordinated peaceful protests against the war in Vietnam in Washington D.C. and San Francisco attract crowds estimated up to half a million people.

1971 U.S.A. - - World's First 4004

1971 : Intel releases world's first commercial complete central processing unit ( CPU ) on one chip "a single-chip microprocessor" the 4004.

1979 U.S.A. - - UnaBomber

The so called UnaBomber strikes for the first time when a bomb explodes in the cargo cabin of an American Airlines 727 on its way from Chicago to Washington, forcing it to make an emergency landing.

1985 Columbia - - Volcano Erupts

Military personnel and Red Cross members left for Columbia to rush in emergency supplies to volcano disaster victims. It was estimated that up to 20,000 people from the city of Armero in Columbia had lost their lives as a result of this disaster. The total population of this city was 50,000.

1985 Northern Ireland - - Anglo-Irish agreement signed

Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Prime Minister Garret FitzGerald sign The Anglo-Irish Agreement which for the first time in history provides a framework for involvement by Ireland in working with Britain on finding a long term solution.

1987 U.S.A. - - Plane Crash

Continental Airlines Flight 1713 flipped on the runway of Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado with the loss of 26 people from the 77 on the aircraft 

1988 Palestine - - Independence

The Palestinian National Council headed by Yasser Arafat at a meeting in Algiers declare the independence of the Arab State of Palestine.

1990 U.S.A. - - Milli Vanilli

The Milli Vanilli duo's producer, Frank Farian revealed that the Grammy winning pop duo were lip synching in the songs on the album which gained them the award.

1990 Iran - - Desert Shield

Operation Desert Shield (a.k.a. Operation Desert Storm, Persian Gulf War) brought up issues of faith for former hostages. Kathryn Koob-one of the 52 persons held captive by Iran ten year priors to this time-spoke out. She believed that her Christian faith, along with prayers, had provided her courage during her time as a hostage.

1998 Iraq - - Bombing Averted

Following the threat by Great Britain and the United States to bomb Iraq military installations unless UN weapons inspectors are given full co-operation by Iraq to look for weapons of mass destruction . Iraq's letter accepting the terms is delivered to the United Nations Security Council and the bombing is averted. After the UN weapons inspectors return in later in the month they face similar lack of cooperation and leave in mid December when US forces began drop hundreds of cruise missiles on Iraq.

2002 Israel - - Sabbath Attacks

There was a time when it was considered uncouth to work on the Sabbath. However, this fact didn't stop Palestinian forces from keeping busy sniping people walking home from Sabbath Day prayers. It was unclear how many of these were Jewish civilians and how many of them were soldiers. However, it was reported that 15 teens had been wounded, among others.

2003 Turkey - - Bomb Attacks

Members of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda drive two trucks packed with explosives and bombs into the Bet Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey killing 27 and injuring 300 more.

2006 United States - - General Abizaid

The commander of US forces in the Middle East has said that he is optimistic that 'we can stabilize Iraq.' General Abizaid, the head of the US Central Command, has rejected a call from some Democrats for a phased redeployment of forces to begin in four to six months. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, he said such a move would result in an increase in sectarian violence.

2007 Bangladesh - - Cyclone Sidr

Cyclone Sidr with winds reaching 160 MPH strikes coastal areas of Bangladesh, the authorities had evacuated over 2 million people to emergency shelters prior to the cyclone, but the cyclone still claimed between 4 and five thousand lives. The cyclone also destroyed over 1/4 of the world heritage mangrove forest Sunderban

2007 United States - - Chinese cyber-spying

2007 : A panel tells Congress that Chinese espionage poses "the single greatest risk" to the security of US technology. China has been pursuing new technology "aggressively", it says. It has been doing so through legal research and business deals as well as illegally through industrial espionage. China has also "embraced destructive warfare techniques" that might enable it to carry out cyber attacks on other countries' infrastructure. A foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing denies any spying activities by China.

2011 Hong Kong - - Officials Seize Record Haul of Rhino Horns and Ivory

15th November, 2011 : Customs officials in Hong Kong seized a record haul of 190 lbs of rhino horns and ivory in a container coming from South Africa. They found 33 horns, 758 ivory chopsticks, and 127 ivory bracelets worth about $2 million.

2012 Europe - - Eurozone Returns to Recession

2012 : The Eurozone economies fell back into recession after growth rates shrunk over three months. The news was revealed soon after workers in Europe held protests over austerity measures.

2013 Gambia - - Gambia Ends Ties With Taiwan

Gambia announced that it would cut ties with Taiwan in a strategic move that it hoped would help its national interests. It is thought that the move might further the nation's relationship with China as China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. Gambia was one of only a few African countries to recognize Taiwan.