2021-05-16

At least 12 people were killed and 70 others injured when two bombs exploded in a market in Nairobi, Kenya.

The first Chuck E. Cheese location, the first family restaurant to integrate food, animated entertainment (example pictured), and an indoor arcade, opened in San Jose, California.

Based on the results of a referendum held about one month earlier, the Kingdom of Sikkim (flag pictured) abolished its monarchy and was annexed to become the 22nd state of India.

Japanese climber Junko Tabei (pictured) became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Led by Park Chung Hee, the Military Revolution Committee carried out a bloodless coup against the government of Yun Po-sun in Seoul, ending the Second Republic of Korea.

American physicist Theodore Maiman operated the first working laser at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu.

The Tritons' Fountain in Valletta, one of Malta's most important Modernist landmarks, was turned on for the first time.

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, a supersonic interceptor aircraft, set a world flight airspeed record of 1,404.012 mph (2,259.538 km/h).

Second World War: The Royal Air Force's "Dambusters" squadron embarked on an attack on German dams using bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis.

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California.