Today in History

After Mwai Kibaki is declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential elections, rioting begins in Mombasa, precipitating an economic, humanitarian and political crisis.

 Radiation reaches Earth from the brightest extrasolar event ever witnessed, an explosion of magnetar SGR 1806-20.

China receives permanent normal trade relations with the US.

Taliban forces retake strategic Bagram Airfield during Afghan civil war.

Palestinian guerrillas kill 18 people at airports in Rome and Vienna.

Four Polish officers are tried for the slaying of Reverend Jerzy Popieluszko.

President Reagan takes all responsibility for the lack of security in Beirut that allowed a terrorist on a suicide mission to kill 241 Marines.

President Hafizullah Amin of Afghanistan is ousted and murdered in a coup backed by the Soviet Union, beginning a war that will last more than 10 years.

Heather O’Rourke, child actress discovered at age 5 by Stephen Spielberg; she died at age 12 (Poltergeist film series).

Savannah Guthrie, journalist; co-host of NBC’s The Today Show.

The United States agrees to sell F-4 Phantom jets to Israel.

Bill Self, college men’s basketball coach; named the National Coach of the Year in 2000, 2009 and 2011 by The Sporting News and Associated Press National Coach of the Year 2009.

Segregation on buses in Tallahassee, Florida, is outlawed.

The United States and Spain resume relations for the first time since the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s.