Unix Timestamp: 1716249600
Tuesday, May 21. 2024, 12:00:00 AM UTC

Caigners against an immigration law in the U.S. state of Arizona adopt children's cartoon character Dora the Explorer as a symbol of their cause. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8698065.stm (BBC) //abcnews.go.com/US/dora-explorer-labeled-illegal-immigrant/story?id=10711944 (ABC News) //www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052100863.html ("The Washington Post")

Kingda Ka opens at Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park in Jackson, New Jersey as the world's tallest and (at the time) fastest roller coaster.

An earthquake in northern Algeria measures 6.7 on the Richter scale at least 1,600 are feared dead and 7,000 injured.

The US State Department releases a report naming 7 state sponsors of terrorism: Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.

Suharto resigns, after 32 years as President of Indonesia and his 7th consecutive re-election by the Indonesian Parliament (MPR). Suharto's hand-picked Vice President, B. J. Habibie, becomes Indonesia's third president.

Pope John Paul IIcanonizesJohn Sarkander during his visit to Olomouc, the Czech Republic.

Italian former minister and Christian Democrat leader Giulio Andreotti is accused of Mafia allegiance by the court of Palermo.

China detonates the largest nuclear bomb it has ever tested, sparking a protest from U.S. President Bush.

In the Colombian presidential election, César Gaviria is elected President of Colombia he takes office on August 7.

Cold War: The leaders of the Yemen Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen announce the unification of their countries as the Republic of Yemen.

Mikhail Gorbachev arrives in Ottawa for a 29-hour visit.

Cold War: The leaders of the Yemen Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen announce the unification of their countries as the Republic of Yemen.

Microsoft releases Windows 3.0.

In the Burmese general election, Burma's first multiparty election in 30 years, the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi wins in a landslide, but the State Law and Order Restoration Council nullifies the election results.

In Kashmir, a Kashmiri Islamic leader is assassinated and Indian security forces open fire on mourners carrying his body, killing at least 47 people.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) founded.

Boris Yeltsin is elected as the first ever elected president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Falklands War: British landings sparked the Battle of San Carlos

Falklands War: HMS "Ardent" is sunk by Argentine aircraft, killing 22 sailors.

International Maritime Organization (IMO).

In France, Socialist François Mitterrand becomes President.

"Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" is released.

In Rome, Laszlo Toth attacks Michelangelo's Pietà statue with a sledgehammer, shouting that he is Jesus Christ.

Ferit Melen forms the new (interim) government of Turkey (35th government)

Ceylon becomes the republic of Sri Lanka under prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, when its new constitution is ratified.

"Rosariazo": Civil unrest breaks out in Rosario, Argentina, following the death of a 15-year-old student.

The largest teach-in to date begins at Berkeley, California, attended by 30,000.

American civil rights movement: Alabama Governor John Patterson declares martial law in an attempt to restore order after race riots break out.

"Gypsy: A Musical Fable", starring Ethel Merman in her last new musical, opens on Broadway and runs for 702 performances

United Kingdom Postmaster GeneralErnest Marples announces that from December, Subscriber Trunk Dialling will be introduced in the Bristol area.

The Ninth Street Show, otherwise known as the 9th Street Art Exhibition, a gathering of a number of notable artists, marks the stepping-out of the post war New York avant-garde, collectively known as the New York School.

At the Los Alamos Laboratory, Dr. Louis Slotin saves his coworkers but receives a fatal dose of ionizing radiation (the incident is initially classified).

WWII: Mexico declares war against Nazi Germany after the sinking of the Mexican tanker "Faja de Oro" by the German U-boat, U-160, off Key West.

A U-boat sinks .

Matsuo Toi kills 30 people in a village in Okayama, Japan, in the Tsuyama massacre, the world's worst spree killing by an individual until 1982.

University of Chicago students Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, Jr. murder 14-year-old Bobby Franks in a thrill killing.

Army Aviation Section separated from Signal Corps and divided into the Division of Military Aeronautics and the Bureau of Aircraft Production.

Over 300 acres (73 blocks) are destroyed in the Great Atlanta fire of 1917.

Britain initiates daylight saving time.

Mexican Revolution: A peace treaty is signed between Madero' rebels and government troops in Ciudad Juarez.

The International Federation of Association Football, FIFA, is established.

Russia invades Manchuria.

The Manchester Ship Canal and Docks are opened by Queen Victoria.

The United States Tennis Association is established by a small group of tennis club members.

The American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton.

(May 9 O.S.) ndash Romania declares itself independent from the Ottoman Empire (recognized in 1878 after the end of the Romanian independence war).

Opening of the first rack railway in Europe, the Vitznau – Rigi Railway on Mount Rigi in Switzerland.

The Russian Empire commits the Circassian Genocide. More than 1.5 Million Circassians are murdered and surviving Circassians were driven from their homeland to the Ottoman Empire, ending the Russian-Circassian War.

Lawrence, Kansas is captured and burned by pro-slavery forces (the Sacking of Lawrence).

New Zealand is declared a British colony.

The Maryland Democratic Party is founded by supporters of Andrew Jackson in Baltimore and hosts its first meeting at the Baltimore Atheneum.

Battle of Aspern-Essling: Austrian troops under Archduke Karl beat the French under Napoleon in a hard fought battle.

Siege of Acre ends after two months: Napoleon's attempt to widen his Middle Eastern caign into Syria is frustrated by Ottoman forces, and he withdraws to Egypt.

An old lava dome collapses in Kyūshū, Japan when Mount Unzen volcano erupts the resulting avalanche and tsunami kills about 14,300 people.

The trial of the Necklace Affair ends in Paris.

Seven Years' War ndash French and Indian War: Mary Cbell is abducted from her home in Pennsylvania by Lenape.

Seven Years\\\' War ndash French and Indian War: Mary Cbell is abducted from her home in Pennsylvania by Lenape.

The Order of Alexander Nevsky is instituted in Russia by Empress Catherine I.

John III Sobieski is elected by the nobility as King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (to 1696).

The Treaty of Istanbul is signed.

Portuguese navigator João da Nova discovers the uninhabited island of Saint Helena.

Christian I, King of Denmark and Norway dies and is succeeded by his son John (1481–1513).

Treaty of Troyes: With the Burgundian faction dominant in France, King Charles VI of France acknowledges Henry V of England as his heir and as virtual ruler of most of France.

Kublai sends his envoy Hao Jing to negotiate with Song Dynasty Chancellor Jia Sidao, after the small force left by Kublai south of the Yangzi River is destroyed by a Chinese army of the Southern Song Dynasty. Chancellor Jia Sidao imprisons the entire embassy of Kublai. This slight will not be forgotten by Kublai, but he is unable to assault the Song due to the civil war with his rival brother Ariq Böke.

First Barons' War: Prince Louis of France, the future King Louis VIII, invades England in support of the barons, landing in Thanet. Entering London without opposition, he is proclaimed, but not crowned, King of England at Old St Paul's Cathedral.ref name=CBH/

Sixteen-year-old Otto III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by his cousin Pope Gregory V.

The excommunication of the later Pope Formosus is lifted.

The city of Belgrade is first mentioned.

Rhodri, the first King of Wales to be known as the Great, is killed in battle.

Alfonso III of Leon conquers Coimbra from the Umayyads.ref name=picard2000

After a siege of eight months, Syracuse is captured by the Aghlabids of Ifriqiya.

Eochu MacRunn and Girig MacDungal jointly succeed Aed I of Scotland.

The Treaty of Wedmore divides England between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes.

A Mesoamerican ballgame court is dedicated at the Mayan city of Chinkultic.

Jnanagupta translates the Vimalakirti Sutra into Chinese.