History gives answers only to those who know how to ask questions. Hajo Holborn, German-American historian (1902-1969)
1. Oscar Pistorius Convicted
On this day in history in 2014 Oscar Pistorius, a renowned South African Paralympic Champion, was convicted of culpable homicide for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Initially, he received a five-year sentence but was released on parole in October 2015 for good behavior. However, his conviction was later upgraded to murder by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal in December 2015.
2. Redefining the Meter
On this day in history in 1983 The 17th General Conference on Weights and Measures redefined the meter as the distance light travels in a vacuum during a specific time interval, approximately three hundred millionths of a second. Previously, the meter had multiple definitions, including one based on the Earth’s equator to North Pole distance in 1793 and another definition in 1960 relating to krypton 86 atom radiation wavelengths.
Read also: October 20th this day in history
3. Somali Coup
On this day in history in 1969 Siad Barre staged a military coup in Somalia, overthrowing the government just a day after President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke’s death.
4. The Guggenheim Opened
On this day in history in 1959 The iconic Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, opened its doors in Manhattan, New York. Initially established in 1939 as the Museum of Non-Objective.
5. Provisional Government of Free India
On this day in history in 1943 Subhas Chandra Bose, an exiled Indian nationalist, declared the creation of Azad Hind or Free India during a Singapore rally. Bose was appointed Head of State, Prime Minister, and Minister for War. The government-in-exile governed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, provided by Japan, and declared war on the Allies.
