Today in History

History Today: When the world woke up and smelled Chanel No. 5

One of the most luxurious perfumes Chanel No. 5 made its entry into the world of fragrances on May 5 , 1921. The perfume was very different from the predominantly floral or musky perfumes of the time, which contributed to its immense popularity. On this day in 1951, Alan B Shepard Jr became the first American to visit space during a 15-minute suborbital flight

History Today: When Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister

On May 4, 1979, Margaret Thatcher was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the UK and Europe. Her leadership marked a transformative period in British politics, characterised by free-market reforms and a bold stance on national and international issues

History Today: When India's first movie 'Raja Harishchandra' premiered on the big screen

It was on May 3, 1913, that Indian cinema came into existence with the release of the first Indian movie 'Raja Harishchandra'. Directed by Dadasaheb Phalke, this was the first full-length silent feature film. On this day in 2007, three-year-old Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal leading to one of the most widely reported missing child cases in modern history

History Today: When Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan in a US Navy SEALs op

On May 2, 2011, US Navy SEALs conducted a covert operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, resulting in the death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and mastermind behind the September 11 attacks. The mission, known as Operation Neptune Spear, was a significant achievement in the global fight against terrorism

History Today: Why Labour Day is celebrated on May 1

On May 1, 1889, May Day was celebrated for the first time as a labour holiday. Since then, Labour Day has grown into a global event, with millions joining marches, rallies, and other activities to honour workers and demand their rights. Also, on this day in 1931, US President Herbert Hoover officially dedicated the Empire State Building in New York City. Standing at 1,250 feet with 102 floors, it was the tallest skyscraper in the world at the time

History Today: How the Vietnam War came to an end

The decades-long Vietnam War came to an end on April 30, 1975 with the North Vietnamese forces taking over Saigon. Meanwhile, Adolf Hitler killed himself by consuming cyanide and shooting himself in the head. On this day in 1993, the world wide web (www) was made public, thus changing the way the internet operated

History Today: When Britain's Prince William tied the knot with Kate and the world watched on

Prince William married his longtime girlfriend Catherine 'Kate' Middleton on April 29, 2011, in Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was attended by nearly 2,000 guests while a whopping two billion witnessed the event on their televisions from across the world. On this day in 1945, German dictator Adolf Hitler married his longtime partner Eva Braun just hours before they died by suicide

History Today: When Kim Jong Un created history by crossing over to the South 

North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un took a bold step on April 27, 2018 and crossed over to South Korea for a historic summit. This was the first time a North Korean leader had entered the South since the Korean War armistice. According to German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler, the universe was created on this day in 4977 BC

History Today: How the worst nuclear accident took place in Chernobyl

One of the turning points in history took place on April 26, 1986, when one of the reactors at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, causing a significant release of radioactive substances into the atmosphere. The effects of the explosion are so pronounced that people who live around the area continue to struggle with medical issues like thyroid cancer

History Today: When a 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook Mt Everest, killing nearly 9,000 in Nepal

In 2015, a 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 and injuring thousands. The earthquake resulted in losses exceeding $5 billion, roughly one-quarter of Nepal’s GDP at the time. In 1953, American biologist James Watson and English physicist Francis Crick described DNA's double helix structure for the first time