1928 – Implementation of the so-called 5-Year Economic Plans begins in the Soviet Union. The Soviet communist government led by Joseph Stalin, through these economic plans would aim at the agricultural, rural, and industrial development of the USSR within a short period of time. But despite the achievements, these plans had an extremely high economic and human cost. In Ukraine alone, 6 million people would die as a result of the Great Famine in the 1930s.
1930 – Birth of world-famous Irish actor Richard Harris. Harris would become famous in international cinema with his outstanding roles in the films Hunchback of Notre Dame, Gladiator, Harry Potter, and The Barber of Siberia. During his career he would be nominated for many awards such as Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, etc. Richard Harris would die in London at the age of 72 in 2002.
1949 – Declared in Beijing’s Tien A Men Square, People’s Republic of China. After a bloody 4-year civil war, Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong, through a resolution before the PKK Central Committee, declares the creation of the People’s Republic as China’s only constitutional form of government in the next 70 years.
1969 – For the first time in the history of world civil aviation, the Concorde 001 aircraft, via a Toulouse-London flight, breaks the record for the speed of sound, reaching a maximum of 2200 km per hour. This new aircraft model will soon become one of the most used worldwide in terms of civil air transport due to the convenience and speed it offers. The Concorde would be withdrawn from circulation in 2003 after several tragic accidents.
1975 – One of the most famous boxing matches in the world takes place in the Philippine capital Manila. Differently labeled as Thriller in Manila, the match between the two undisputed world heavyweight champions Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier would capture the attention of millions of sports fans around the world. Ali would manage to win against Frazier after 14 rounds with Knock Out.
1991 – The so-called 8-month siege of Dubrovnik begins during the Civil War in the former Yugoslavia. The ancient Croatian resort town on the Adriatic Sea would experience fierce 245-day air, sea and land fighting between the Croatian and Serbo-Montenegrin armies. About 500 soldiers and civilians would be killed in the siege, and part of the city’s world cultural heritage would be severely damaged.
2017 – The independence referendum held in the region of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain would be declared illegal by the Constitutional Court of Spain. The aim of this referendum was to separate the region from the Spanish state, and to declare it a separate state, with Barcelona as its capital, in order to finally separate it from the jurisdiction of official Madrid.
2018 – French-Armenian singer, songwriter, and actor Charles Aznavour dies at the age of 94. Also known as Frank Sinatra of France Aznavour, throughout his career he would sell about 180 million records, as well as star in 68 movies. During his 60-year career he would win 25 national and international awards in the genre of music and cinematography.
