Worldcrunch
Updated August 22, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. The Alan Kurdi photograph was taken on this day in 2015. What is the Alan Kurdi picture by Nilüfer Demir? The Alan Kurdi picture is a photograph taken by Turkish photojournalist Nilüfer Demir. It depicts the lifeless body of two-year-old Syrian toddler Alan Kurdi lying face down on […]
Updated August 30, 2024 at 11:20 a.m. American business magnate Warren Buffet was born on this day in 1930. Who is Warren Buffet? Warren Buffett is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a multinational conglomerate holding company. Buffett is often regarded as one of the […]
September 2 – September 8, 2024
Updated July 23, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. on this day in 2005. What was Hurricane Katrina? Hurricane Katrina was a Category 3 hurricane at the time of its landfall, with sustained winds of around 125 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour). It was […]
Updated July 28, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on this day in 1963. Who was Martin Luther King Jr.? Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister, activist, and leader in the civil rights movement. He led peaceful protests and advocated for nonviolent resistance […]
Updated Aug. 27, 2024 at 12:20 pm Twenty years ago, Argentina beat the star-studded U.S. basketball team at the Athens Olympics in a major upset. Who were the key players for Argentina in the game against the United States? Several key players contributed to Argentina’s victory against the United States, including Manu Ginóbili, Andrés Nocioni, […]
Updated Aug. 26, 2024 at 11:20 am Mother Teresa was born on this day in 1910. Who was Mother Theresa? Mother Teresa, born as Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje (now North Macedonia), was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation that provided care and assistance to […]
Updated Aug. 25, 2024 at 11:45 am Happy 55 to German supermodel Claudia Schiffer, who was born on this day in 1970. Who is Claudia Schiffer? Claudia Schiffer is a supermodel who was born in Rheinberg, Germany. She rose to fame in the 1990s when she was discovered by a modeling agent in a nightclub […]
Updated Aug. 24, 2024 at 2:45 pm An earthquake of 6.2 magnitude hit Italy on this day in 2016. Where did the earthquake strike in Italy? The earthquake struck central Italy — in particular the regions of Lazio, Marche, Umbria, and Abruzzo. The epicenter was near the town of Accumoli in the province of Rieti. […]
Updated August 23, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. Italian anarchists Ferdinando Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed on this day in 1927. Why were Sacco and Vanzetti executed? Sacco and Vanzetti were executed for the murder and robbery of a shoe factory paymaster and his guard in South Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1920. However, their guilt […]
Summer Special – Innovation Edition – August 26- September 1, 2024
Updated August 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Michael Collins, Commander in Chief of the Irish Free State, is shot in an ambush on this day in 1922. What was Michael Collins’ role in Irish history? Michael Collins was a key figure in Irish history. He played a significant role in the Irish War of Independence […]
Updated August 21, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Brazil reports fires burning in the Amazon Rainforest at unprecedented rate on this day in 2019. How extensive were the fires in the Amazon rainforest? The fires in the Amazon rainforest of 2019 were widespread, affecting multiple countries in the region. The exact extent of the fires varied, […]
It’s been weeks since Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s killing in Tehran. Will Iran end up striking Israel, as it promptly said it would, or persist in an unnerving waiting game, leaving the rest of the word in the dark as to its plans, resolve and capabilities?
Updated August 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. The Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact troops in an invasion of Czechoslovakia on this day in 1968. Why did the Soviet Union invade Czechoslovakia? The Soviet Union, along with other Warsaw Pact countries, invaded Czechoslovakia to suppress the reforms of the Prague Spring. The Prague Spring was a […]
Updated Aug. 19, 2024 at 11:20 a.m. Paris was liberated from Nazi Germany occupation on this day in 1944. How did the liberation of France unfold? The liberation of France involved a series of military campaigns and battles. It began with the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed on the beaches […]
Updated August 18, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. Steve Biko, a leader of the Black Consciousness Movement, is arrested on this day in 1977 in South Africa. Why was Steve Biko arrested? Steve Biko was arrested at a police roadblock under the Terrorism Act, for breaching a banning order. As an anti-apartheid activist and the co-founder […]
Updated August 17, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. Indonesia declared its independence on this day in 1945. Who declared Indonesia’s independence? Indonesia’s independence from Dutch Colonial rule was declared by Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, who were the leaders of the Indonesian nationalist movement at the time. Did the declaration lead to immediate independence? While the declaration […]
Updated August 16, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. Usain Bolt set a new world record of 9.58 seconds for the 100-meter dash on this day in 2009. Who is Usain Bolt? Usain Bolt is a Jamaican former sprinter and widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters in the history of athletics. He specialized in the […]
Updated August 15, 2024 at 8:50 a.m. The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, mostly known as Woodstock, opened on this day in 1969. The famous music event took place on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York, in the United States. How many people attended Woodstock? Estimates vary, but it is believed that approximately 400,000 […]
Updated August 14, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. Lech Wałęsa led strikes at the Gdańsk shipyards in Poland on this day in 1980. A Polish electrician and labor activist, he led the movement to protest against the oppressive Communist regime in Poland. What were the key demands of the strikes led by Lech Wałęsa? The strikes […]
Updated August 13, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. The construction of the Berlin Wall began on this day in 1961. It was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) to prevent residents from escaping to West Berlin. It was intended in particular to halt the mass exodus of skilled laborers, professionals, and intellectuals from East […]
Updated August 12, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. The largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton, named “Sue,” was found on this day in 1990, in South Dakota, United States, on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Who discovered the T-Rex skeleton? The T-Rex skeleton was discovered by Sue Hendrickson, a paleontologist and fossil collector. She was part […]
Updated August 11, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. Al-Qaeda was formed on this day in 1988 by Osama bin Laden, Abdullah Azzam, and other key individuals. What was the purpose or ideology of al-Qaeda? Al-Qaeda’s main objective was to establish a global jihadist movement based on its extremist interpretation of Sunni Islam. It aimed to resist […]
Iranian authorities have been fining young men for wearing shorts. But while this may be an effort to show they are unbiased in their drive to safeguard public decency, reports suggest the men are treated less harshly than women.
Updated August 10, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice on this day in 1993. She was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, following Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, appointed in 1981. Ginsburg was nominated by President Bill Clinton. How long did Ruth Bader […]
Updated August 9, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Nagasaki was bombed on this day in 1945, towards the end of World War II. Was Nagasaki the first choice for the bombing? The primary target for the second atomic bomb was the city of Kokura. However, due to poor visibility caused by clouds and smoke from a […]
Summer Special – Travel Edition – August 12 – August 18, 2024
Updated August 8, 2024 at 11:50 a.m. In the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon resigned from the U.S. presidency on this day in 1974. Why did Richard Nixon resign? Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal, which was a series of illegal activities conducted by members of his administration. The scandal involved a […]
Updated August 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Philippe Petit, a French high-wire artist, performed a daring tightrope walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City on this day in 1974. How high were the twin towers and how long was the tightrope walk? The twin towers of the World […]
Updated August 6, 2024 at 11:45 a.m. The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by the United States on this day in 1945, during World War II. Why was Hiroshima a target for the atomic bomb? Hiroshima was chosen as a target for the atomic bomb due to its military significance and its dense population. […]
Updated August 5, 2024 at 12:20 a.m. The master illusionist, Harry Houdini, spent 91 minutes underwater on this day in 1929 during a performance at the Shelton Pool in New York City. This feat would be Houdini’s last great escape: The famed magician died two months later from peritonitis due to a rupture in his […]
Updated August 2, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Iraq invaded Kuwait on this day in 1990. This surprise invasion marked the beginning of a major international conflict and set the stage for the Gulf War. What were the reasons behind Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait? One key factor was Iraq’s desire to control Kuwait’s vast oil reserves, as Iraq was struggling with significant debt from the Iran-Iraq War. Additionally, territorial disputes, economic grievances, and claims of Kuwaiti overproduction of oil were cited by Iraq as reasons for the invasion. What were the major events of the Gulf War? Significant events included the […]
August 5 – August 11, 2024
Updated Aug. 1, 2024 at 1 p.m. On this day in 1966, a group of Red Guard factions clashed with the local authorities and army units in the city of Wuhan during China’s Cultural Revolution. The Red Guards, consisting primarily of students and young activists, had been encouraged by Mao Zedong to challenge and disrupt […]
Updated July 31, 20244 at 11:20 a.m. Fidel Castro officially handed over power to his brother Raúl Castro on this day in 2006. Why did Fidel Castro decide to transfer power to his brother? Fidel Castro’s decision to transfer power to his brother Raúl Castro was prompted by his declining health. Fidel underwent intestinal surgery […]
Updated July 30, 2024 at 10:55 a.m. Caitlyn Jenner, then known as Bruce Jenner, won the Men’s decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics on this day. How did Bruce Jenner perform in the men’s decathlon at the Montreal Olympics? Bruce Jenner delivered an outstanding performance, winning the gold medal in the Men’s decathlon at the […]
Updated July 29, 2024 at 10:35 a.m. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married on this day in 1981 at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England. How did Prince Charles and Princess Diana meet? Prince Charles and Lady Diana met in 1977 when Charles was dating Diana’s older sister, Sarah. Their paths crossed again […]
July 29 – August 4, 2024
Updated July 26, 2024 at 11:20 a.m. The Solar Impulse 2 completed its historic circumnavigation of the Earth on this day in 2016, after a journey that spanned approximately 26,000 miles (42,000 kilometers) and took over a year to complete. It demonstrated the feasibility of long-duration, solar-powered flights, encouraging further research and innovation in renewable […]