History
On this day in 1975: Egyptian singer Umm Kulthūm died
Umm Kulthūm was more than a singer. She was a national institution, a political symbol, and a unifying cultural force...
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On this day in 1971: Idi Amin declared himself president of Uganda
In January 1971, Uganda entered one of the darkest chapters in its modern history when army commander Idi Amin overthrew...
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On this day in 2020: Britain steps out of the European Union
The United Kingdom formally left the European Union on 31 January 2020, ending nearly half a century of political, economic...
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On this day in 1969: Beatles perform together for the last time – Video
On a cold January lunchtime in 1969, the Beatles stepped onto a London rooftop and unknowingly delivered their last public...
Read moreDetailsOn this day in 1860: Russian author Anton Chekhov was born
Anton Chekhov remains one of the most influential figures in world literature, not because of grand plots or heroic protagonists,...
Read moreDetailsOn this day in 2002: Astrid Lindgren died at age 94
Astrid Lindgren remains one of the most influential children’s authors of the twentieth century, a writer whose stories reshaped how...
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On this day in 2018: Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, died at age 91
Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, was one of the most influential entrepreneurs of the twentieth century. From modest beginnings...
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On this day in 1905: World’s largest diamond discovered in South Africa
In January 1905, the world’s largest gem-quality diamond was discovered in South Africa, an event that reshaped the global diamond...
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On this day in 1554: Jesuit missionaries founded the city of São Paulo
On 25 January 1554, a small Jesuit mission laid the foundations for what would become one of the world’s largest...
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Gold discovery in California in 1848 sparks a global rush
On 24 January 1848, a routine construction project in northern California triggered one of the most transformative economic events of...
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