2026-05-20

Russo-Ukrainian war: Russia claimed full control of Mariupol after a nearly three-month siege.

A tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, United States, killing 24 people and causing an estimated $2 billion of damage.

The first of two major earthquakes struck Northern Italy, resulting in seven deaths.

In deciding Romer v. Evans, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a constitutional amendment in Colorado that prevented protected status under the law for homosexuals or bisexuals.

"One for the Road", the series finale of American television sitcom Cheers, was watched by 42.4 million American households on its original airing.

A team of researchers led by French virologist Luc Montagnier published their discovery of HIV, but were not then certain that it caused AIDS.

While attempting to land at Cairo International Airport, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705 crashed for unknown reasons, killing all but 6 of the 121 people on board.

The first session of the National Diet opened in Tokyo, Japan.

The Luttra Woman (skull pictured), a bog body from the Early Neolithic period, was discovered near Luttra, Sweden.

World War II: German paratroopers began the Battle of Heraklion on the island of Crete, capturing the airfield and port in Heraklion ten days later.