Discover · History

On this day — October 26

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

2015

Disaster

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes in the Hindu Kush mountain range in South Asia

killing 399 people and leaving 2,536 people injured.

2012

Milestone

Microsoft made a public release of Windows 8 and made it available on new PCs.

2004

Sport

Rockstar Games releases Grand Theft Auto

San Andreas for the PlayStation 2 in North America, which sold 12 million units for the PS2, becoming the console's best-selling video game.

2003

Disaster

The Cedar Fire

the third-largest wildfire in California history, kills 15 people, consumes 250,000 acres (1,000 km2), and destroys 2,200 homes around San Diego.

2002

Sport

Approximately 50 Chechen terrorists and 150 hostages die when Russian special forces troops storm a theater building in Moscow, which had been occupied by the terrorists during a musical performance three days before.

2001

Milestone

The United States passes the USA PATRIOT Act into law.

2000

Politics

A wave of protests forces Robert Guéï to step down as president after the Ivorian presidential election.

1999

Politics

The United Kingdom's House of Lords votes to end the right of most hereditary peers to vote in Britain's upper chamber of Parliament.

1995

Milestone

Mossad agents assassinate Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Fathi Shaqaqi in his hotel in Malta.

1995

Milestone

An avalanche hits the Icelandic village of Flateyri

destroying 29 homes and burying 45 people, and killing 20.

1994

Politics

Jordan and Israel sign a peace treaty.

1991

Politics

Three months after the end of the Ten-Day War

the last soldier of the Yugoslav People's Army leaves the territory of the Republic of Slovenia.

1989

Milestone

China Airlines Flight 204 crashes after takeoff from Hualien Airport in Taiwan

killing all 54 people on board.

1985

Milestone

The Australian government returns ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara Aboriginals.

1979

Politics

Park Chung Hee

President of South Korea, is assassinated by Korean CIA head Kim Jae-gyu.