Soviet troops overthrow Afghan President Hafizullah Amin, install Babrak Karmal 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 27 1979)

1970s, Cold War


Video: 'Former KGB colonel recounts Soviet assault on Afghan president'

(Thursday, December 27, 1979, 7:15 p.m. Afghanistan Time (AFT); during Operation Storm-333, part of the Soviet–Afghan War and the Cold War) — Soviet forces stormed the Tajbeg Palace located about 10 miles south-west outside the center of Kabul today and assassinated Afghan President Hafizullah Amin. Continue reading Soviet troops overthrow Afghan President Hafizullah Amin, install Babrak Karmal 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 27 1979) →

Passengers thwart al-Qaeda underwear bombing attempt aboard Detroit-bound flight 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 25 2009)

2000s


Video: 'Alleged Christmas Day Terrorist Is Charged'

(Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2009, approximately 11:33 a.m. EST) — Passengers aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 foiled an attempt to blow up the plane today as it was landing in Detroit by seizing Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian man who tried to set off chemical explosives sewn to his underwear. Continue reading Passengers thwart al-Qaeda underwear bombing attempt aboard Detroit-bound flight 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 25 2009) →

‘Another Day in Paradise’ by Phil Collins peaks at #1 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1989)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, December 23, 1989) — “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for four consecutive weeks (Dec. 23/30, 1989, Jan. 6/13, 1990). Continue reading ‘Another Day in Paradise’ by Phil Collins peaks at #1 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1989) →

‘Rock and a Hard Place’ by The Rolling Stones peaks at #23 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1989)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, December 23, 1989) — “Rock and a Hard Place” by The Rolling Stones peaked at #23 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks. Continue reading ‘Rock and a Hard Place’ by The Rolling Stones peaks at #23 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1989) →

Lennon, Ono meet Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1969)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, The Beatles 1960s


Video: 'John & Yoko December 1969' (Dec. 23, 1969, at 22:47-22:51/41:07-43:24)

(Monday, December 23, 1969, approximately 10:55 a.m.-noon EST) — John Lennon of The Beatles and his wife, Yoko Ono, met with Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau this morning in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Continue reading Lennon, Ono meet Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1969) →

‘Escape (The Piña Colada Song)’ by Rupert Holmes peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1979)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, December 22, 1979) — “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three non-consecutive weeks (Dec. 22/29, 1979, Jan. 12, 1980). Continue reading ‘Escape (The Piña Colada Song)’ by Rupert Holmes peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1979) →

‘Send One Your Love’ by Stevie Wonder peaks at #4 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1979)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, December 22, 1979) — “Send One Your Love” by Stevie Wonder peaked at #4 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for four weeks. Continue reading ‘Send One Your Love’ by Stevie Wonder peaks at #4 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1979) →

‘Message in a Bottle’ by The Police peaks at #74 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1979)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, December 22, 1979) — “Message in a Bottle” by The Police peaked at #74 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Message in a Bottle’ by The Police peaks at #74 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1979) →

Lennon, Ono depart Toronto for Montreal, Ottawa 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1969)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, The Beatles 1960s


Video: 'John & Yoko December 1969' (Dec. 22, 1969, at 23:41-23:54/39:57-40:06)

(Monday, December 22, 1969, 9:10 a.m. EST) — John Lennon of The Beatles and his wife, Yoko Ono, departed Toronto’s Union Station today for a press conference at the Château Champlain hotel in Montreal to promote their peace campaign and a meeting (on the following day) with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in Ottawa. Continue reading Lennon, Ono depart Toronto for Montreal, Ottawa 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1969) →

Diana Ross makes final TV appearance as a Supreme on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 21 1969)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s


Video: 'Diana Ross & The Supremes - Final TV Appearance (Live on The Ed Sullivan Show, 1969)'

(Sunday, December 21, 1969, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST) — The Supremes made their last TV appearance together with Diana Ross tonight on the CBS-TV variety series The Ed Sullivan Show live from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, singing a medley of their hits and their current smash hit, “Someday We’ll Be Together.” Continue reading Diana Ross makes final TV appearance as a Supreme on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 21 1969) →