A report was released declaring no evidence of weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. (2004) Charles Duelfer, an arms inspector for the US, released the report. Iraq’s presumed possession of such weapons was a major influence behind the start of the Iraq War in 2003.
Anwar Sadat, the President of Egypt, was assassinated. (1981) President Sadat became a target of Muslim terrorists when he negotiated a peace agreement with Israel and became the first leader of an Arab nation to recognize Israel as an independent country. Twenty-five terrorists were tried for the crime; seventeen were sent to prison and five were executed.
The world’s first “talkie” movie was released. (1927) The Jazz Singer was released in New York City at the Warner Bros. theater, marking the end of the silent movie era.
Thomas Edison demonstrated his first motion picture for audiences. (1889) Edison was the inventor of the motion picture camera, called a “Kinetograph,” and demonstrated it on this day in front of an audience.
The first moving train robbery in US history took place. (1866) Demonstrating major crime innovation, the “Reno gang” robbed a moving train traveling through Indiana, stealing more than $10,000 US Dollars. Prior train robberies only occurred on halted trains waiting in freight yards or train stations.
Mordechai Vanunu, who had released details regarding Israel’s nuclear weapons arsenal the day before, was kidnapped by a Mossad agent. (1986) Vanunu was drugged and taken by freighter back to Israel He was convicted of treason and sentenced to 18 years in prison. After his release in 2004, he was forbidden from leaving the country.
The Yom Kippur War started, nearly causing a war between the US and the Soviet Union. (1973) In a surprise attack on the Jewish highest holiday of Yom Kippur — the Day of Atonement — Syrian and Egyptian armies invaded Israel. The US came to Israel’s aid, but as Israel began winning the war, Israel wouldn’t back down from the siege brought on by the Egyptian troops to the south. The Soviet Union threatened to intervene on Egypt’s behalf, causing high tensions between the US and Soviet Union that caused lasting damage to the relationship between two. Eventually, all parties came to a peace agreement.
The first star with an orbiting planet, aside from the Sun, was discovered. (1995) Swiss astronomers Didier Queloz and Michel Mayor discovered 51 Pegasi — the first sun-like star discovered to have a planet in its orbit. Several such stars have since been discovered.
The US Naval War College was founded. (1884) The college, located in Rhode Island, is an educational institute that performs strategic military research for the US Navy. It was founded in the abandoned buildings of the Newport Asylum for the Poor.
The Moulin Rouge opened. (1889) The cabaret theater, built by Joseph Oller, opened in Paris. The theater became famous for being the first to showcase the can-can dance, which was performed by courtesans. The Moulin Rouge still entertains visitors today and has become a popular tourist destination.