A tragic accident claimed the lives of 20 people when a U.S. military jet cut through the cables of a cable car in Cavalese, Italy.
a U.S. military aircraft struck the cables of a cable car in Cavalese, Italy, causing the aerial tramway to crash to the ground from a height of 80 meters. The collision was the result of a tragic and preventable error, and it devastated the local community.

Paraguay’s long-standing dictator, Alfredo Stroessner, was finally overthrown by a military coup after 35 years of rule.
Stroessner had come to power in 1954 by staging his own coup, and he had ruled the country with an iron fist ever since. His fall from power ushered in a new era for Paraguay, but his legacy of repression and corruption would take years to overcome.

The deadliest snowstorm in history struck the country of Iran
Killing approximately 4,000 people. The Iran Blizzard, as it would come to be known, lasted for an entire week, blanketing the country in snow and ice. Entire villages were buried under the snow, and many people died from exposure or suffocation.

Yasser Arafat becomes leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
While he was widely celebrated by many Arabs as a leader in the struggle for Palestinian statehood, he was also condemned by many Israelis as a terrorist who incited violence and condoned attacks on civilians.

Luna 9 touches down on the Moon
The Luna 9 spacecraft landed on the surface of the Moon, marking the first soft landing by any spacecraft on another celestial body. The Soviet probe successfully touched down on the Moon’s surface and began transmitting data and photographs to Earth, paving the way for future robotic and crewed missions to the Moon. Luna 9’s historic feat demonstrated the potential for space exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.