Today in History-May 18

Natural Disaster in the Pacific Northwest (1980)

Our top story takes us back 46 years to Washington State. In a catastrophic display of geological power, Mount St. Helens erupted this morning in 1980. The blast, triggered by a massive earthquake, caused the largest landslide in recorded history and sent a column of ash 80,000 feet into the atmosphere.
Furthermore, 57 lives were lost, and over 200 square miles of forest were leveled instantly.

Science & Technology

In 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test, becoming the world’s sixth nuclear power.

In 2012, Facebook launched its massive public stock offering, raising about $16 billion.

World & Politics

In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was declared Emperor of France, changing European history forever.

In 1899, the first Hague Peace Conference opened in the Netherlands, an early global effort to promote international law and peace.

Sports: The Birth of a Blue Era (2008)

Turning to the pitch, we look back at a pivotal moment in English football. On this day in 2008, the managerial carousel took a significant turn as Chelsea FC parted ways with Avram Grant just days after their Champions League Final defeat in Moscow.
​While a heartbreak for the club at the time, this transition marked the beginning of a high-stakes era of “win-now” management that has defined the club’s modern identity and contributed to its massive trophy cabinet over the following two decades.

Entertainment

In 2019, Game of Thrones aired its final episodes period, dominating global entertainment conversations.

Quote of the day

“Victory belongs to the most persevering.”
— Napoleon Bonaparte

Related

Ibuka criticizes French court decision to close Bisesero case

The President of Ibuka, Dr. Philbert Gakwenzire, has criticized a decision by France’s highest court to close a case involving French soldiers accused of failing to protect Tutsi victims who had sought refuge in the Bisesero hills during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Kagame joins global leaders at Paris space summit

Rwandan President Paul Kagame is in Paris for the first International Space Summit, where world leaders and space industry representatives are meeting to discuss the future of space cooperation.