Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was killed by U.S. Navy SEALs in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The operation was a major milestone in the global war on terror.
đź“Ť Abbottabad, Pakistan
NASA launched the Space Shuttle Endeavour on its final mission, STS-134. The mission delivered equipment to the International Space Station and marked one of the last flights of the Space Shuttle program.
đź“Ť Kennedy Space Center, Florida, United States
The European Union saw its largest single expansion as ten countries, including Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, officially joined, marking a major step in European integration and post-Cold War reconciliation.
đź“Ť Brussels, Belgium / Across EU
Nelson Mandela was formally confirmed as South Africa’s first Black president following the end of apartheid and the country’s first multiracial elections, symbolizing a new era of democracy and reconciliation.
đź“Ť Pretoria, South Africa
Meteorologists successfully used radar to observe and track a tornado in real-time for the first time in Union City, Oklahoma. This breakthrough advanced weather forecasting and severe storm warning systems.
đź“Ť Union City, Oklahoma, United States
Construction of the Tokyo Tower began as a symbol of Japan’s post-war recovery and technological ambition. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, it would become a national icon and major broadcasting hub.
đź“Ť Tokyo, Japan
Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels committed suicide along with his wife after poisoning their six children, just one day after Hitler’s death. Their actions marked the final collapse of the Nazi regime.
đź“Ť Berlin, Germany
Following Japan’s impending defeat in World War II, the puppet state of Manchukuo was formally dissolved by Chinese authorities. It had served as a symbol of Japanese imperialism in East Asia.
đź“Ť Changchun, Manchukuo (now China)
The Battle of the Coral Sea began between Allied and Japanese forces. It was the first naval battle fought entirely by aircraft and marked a strategic victory for the Allies in the Pacific theater.
đź“Ť Coral Sea, South Pacific Ocean
Anastasio Somoza GarcĂa assumed the presidency of Nicaragua, inaugurating a dynastic dictatorship that would control the country for over four decades and become a focus of U.S. Cold War policy in Latin America.
đź“Ť Managua, Nicaragua
James Chadwick presented his findings on the neutron to the scientific community, a breakthrough that fundamentally altered atomic theory and paved the way for nuclear power and weapons development.
đź“Ť Cambridge, United Kingdom
The Empire State Building was officially opened in New York City. Standing at 1,454 feet, it held the title of the world’s tallest building for nearly 40 years and became an enduring symbol of American ambition.
đź“Ť New York City, United States
A general strike involving over 1.7 million workers began in the United Kingdom in support of coal miners. It remains one of the most significant labor movements in British history.
đź“Ť United Kingdom
The U.S. Navy decisively defeated Spanish forces in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War. The victory marked the emergence of the United States as a global naval power.
đź“Ť Manila Bay, Philippines
The Second International declared May 1 as International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket affair and labor struggles. It became a global day of protest, solidarity, and labor rights advocacy.
đź“Ť Paris, France (declaration) / Global
The Coca-Cola Company was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, by pharmacist John Pemberton. Originally intended as a medicinal tonic, it grew into the world’s most recognized beverage brand.
đź“Ť Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Austria-Hungary issued the world’s first official postal card, a simple and low-cost way to send brief messages. It revolutionized communication and led to the rise of the global postcard industry.
đź“Ť Vienna, Austria-Hungary
The UK’s Meteorological Office issued the first public weather forecast, published in The Times newspaper. It marked the beginning of daily forecasting for public use based on scientific observation.
đź“Ť London, United Kingdom
Paris hosted the first Exposition Universelle, a world's fair showcasing industrial innovation and arts. Inspired by London’s Great Exhibition, it symbolized 19th-century progress and France’s global stature.
đź“Ť Paris, France
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was chartered as the first commercial railroad in the United States, marking the beginning of a transportation revolution that would transform commerce and industry.
đź“Ť Baltimore, Maryland, United States