On This Day — 2 May

2000s

2014

Two mudslides in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, leave up to 2,500 people missing.

2014 Badakhshan mudslides

2012

A pastel version of The Scream, by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, sells for $120 million in a New York City auction, setting a new world record for a work of art at auction.

Pastel

2011

Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and the FBI's most wanted fugitive, is killed by the United States Navy SEALs in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Osama bin Laden

2011

An E. coli outbreak strikes Europe, mostly in Germany, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others are taken ill.

2011 Germany E. coli O104:H4 outbreak

2008

Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Burma killing over 138,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless.

Cyclone Nargis

2008

Chaitén Volcano begins erupting in Chile, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,500 people.

Chaitén (volcano)

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2004

The Yelwa massacre concludes. It began on 4 February 2004 when armed Muslims killed 78 Christians at Yelwa, Nigeria. In response, about 630 Muslims were killed by Christians on May 2.

Yelwa massacre

2000

President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military.

Bill Clinton

1900s

1999

Panamanian general election: Mireya Moscoso becomes the first woman to be elected President of Panama.

1999 Panamanian general election

1998

The European Central Bank is founded in Brussels in order to define and execute the European Union's monetary policy.

European Central Bank

1995

During the Croatian War of Independence, the Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina fires cluster bombs at Zagreb, killing seven and wounding over 175 civilians.

Croatian War of Independence

1989

Cold War: Hungary begins dismantling its border fence with Austria, which allows a number of East Germans to defect.

Cold War

1986

Chernobyl disaster: The City of Chernobyl is evacuated six days after the disaster.

Chernobyl disaster

1982

Falklands War: The British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano.

Falklands War

1972

In the early morning hours a fire breaks out at the Sunshine Mine located between Kellogg and Wallace, Idaho, killing 91 workers.

Sunshine Mine

1970

ALM Flight 980 ditches in the Caribbean Sea near Saint Croix, killing 23.

ALM Flight 980

1969

The British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 departs on her maiden voyage to New York City.

Queen Elizabeth 2

1964

Vietnam War: An explosion sinks the American aircraft carrier USNS Card while it is docked at Saigon. Two Viet Cong combat swimmers had placed explosives on the ship's hull. She is raised and returned to service less than seven months later.

Vietnam War

1964

First ascent of Shishapangma, the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the Eight-thousanders.

First ascent

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1963

Berthold Seliger launches a rocket with three stages and a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) near Cuxhaven. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany.

Seliger Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH

1952

A De Havilland Comet makes the first jetliner flight with fare-paying passengers, from London to Johannesburg.

De Havilland Comet

1945

World War II: The Soviet Union announces the fall of Berlin.

Soviet Union

1945

World War II: The surrender of Caserta comes into effect, by which German troops in Italy cease fighting.

Surrender at Caserta

1945

World War II: The US 82nd Airborne Division liberates Wöbbelin concentration camp finding 1,000 dead prisoners, most of whom starved to death.

Wöbbelin concentration camp

1945

World War II: A death march from Dachau to the Austrian border is halted by the segregated, all-Nisei 522nd Field Artillery Battalion of the U.S. Army in southern Bavaria, saving several hundred prisoners.

Death marches during the Holocaust

1941

World War II: Following the coup d'état against Iraq Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah earlier that year, the United Kingdom launches the Anglo-Iraqi War to restore him to power.

World War II

1933

Germany's independent labor unions are replaced by the German Labour Front.

German Labour Front

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1920

The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis.

Negro National League (1920–1931)

1906

Closing ceremony of the Intercalated Games in Athens, Greece.

1906 Intercalated Games

1800s

1889

Menelik II, Emperor of Ethiopia, signs the Treaty of Wuchale, giving Italy control over Eritrea.

Menelik II

1885

Cree and Assiniboine warriors win the Battle of Cut Knife, their largest victory over Canadian forces during the North-West Rebellion.

Cree

1876

The April Uprising breaks out in Ottoman Bulgaria.

April Uprising of 1876

1867

Albert Günther publishes the first study to recognise that the New Zealand tuatara is not a lizard.

Albert Günther

1866

Peruvian defenders fight off the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Callao.

Peruvians

1863

American Civil War: Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning to camp after reconnoitering during the Battle of Chancellorsville. He succumbs to pneumonia eight days later.

American Civil War

1829

After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger declares the Swan River Colony in Australia.

Charles Fremantle

1812

The Siege of Cuautla during the Mexican War of Independence ends with both sides claiming victory.

Siege of Cuautla

1808

Outbreak of the Peninsular War: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation. Francisco de Goya later memorializes this event in his painting The Second of May 1808.

Peninsular War