On This Day — 14 November

2000s

2019

A mass shooting occurs at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, resulting in three deaths, including that of the perpetrator, and three injuries.

Saugus High School shooting

2017

A gunman kills four people and injures 12 others during a shooting spree across Rancho Tehama, California. He had earlier murdered his wife in their home.

Rancho Tehama shootings

2016

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes Kaikōura, New Zealand, at a depth of 15 km (9 miles), resulting in the deaths of two people.

2016 Kaikōura earthquake

2012

Israel launches a major military operation in the Gaza Strip in response to an escalation of rocket attacks by Hamas.

Israel

2008

The first G-20 economic summit opens in Washington, D.C.

2008 G20 Washington summit

2008

Space Shuttle Endeavour launches on STS-126 to continue assembly of the International Space Station.

Space Shuttle Endeavour

2003

Astronomers discover Sedna, a distant trans-Neptunian dwarf planet.

Sedna (dwarf planet)

2001

War in Afghanistan: Afghan Northern Alliance fighters take over the capital Kabul.

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

2001

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes a remote part of the Tibetan Plateau. It has the longest known surface rupture recorded on land (~400 km) and is the best documented example of a supershear earthquake.

2001 Kunlun earthquake

1900s

📅

1995

A budget standoff between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress forces the federal government to temporarily close national parks and museums and to run most government offices with skeleton staffs.

1995–1996 United States federal government shutdowns

1992

In poor conditions caused by Cyclone Forrest, Vietnam Airlines Flight 474 crashes near Nha Trang, killing 30.

Cyclone Forrest

📅

1991

American and British authorities announce indictments against two Libyan intelligence officials in connection with the downing of the Pan Am Flight 103.

Intelligence assessment

1991

Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk returns to Phnom Penh after thirteen years in exile.

Norodom Sihanouk

1990

After German reunification, the Federal Republic of Germany and Poland sign a treaty confirming the Oder–Neisse line as the border between Germany and Poland.

German reunification

1990

While on approach to Zurich Airport, Alitalia Flight 404 crashes into Stadlerberg Mountain near Weiach, killing 46.

Zurich Airport

1984

Zamboanga City mayor Cesar Climaco, a prominent critic of the government of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, is assassinated in his home city.

Zamboanga City

1982

Lech Wałęsa, the leader of Poland's outlawed Solidarity movement, is released after eleven months of internment near the Soviet border.

Lech Wałęsa

📅

1979

US President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States in response to the hostage crisis.

Executive Order 12170

1978

France conducts the Aphrodite nuclear test as 25th in the group of 29 1975–78 French nuclear tests.

France

1977

During a British House of Commons debate, Labour MP Tam Dalyell poses what would become known as the West Lothian question, referring to issues related to devolution in the United Kingdom.

House of Commons of the United Kingdom

1975

With the signing of the Madrid Accords, Spain abandons Western Sahara.

Madrid Accords

1973

In the United Kingdom, Princess Anne marries Captain Mark Phillips, in Westminster Abbey.

Anne, Princess Royal

1973

The Athens Polytechnic uprising, a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the Greek military junta of 1967–74, begins.

Athens Polytechnic uprising

1971

Mariner 9 enters orbit around Mars.

Mariner 9

1970

Soviet Union enters ICAO, making Russian the fourth official language of organization.

Soviet Union

1970

Southern Airways Flight 932 crashes in the mountains near Huntington, West Virginia, killing 75, including almost all of the Marshall University football team.

Southern Airways Flight 932

1969

Apollo program: NASA launches Apollo 12, the second crewed mission to the surface of the Moon.

Apollo program

1967

The Congress of Colombia, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the death of Policarpa Salavarrieta, declares this day as "Day of the Colombian Woman".

Congress of Colombia

1967

American physicist Theodore Maiman is given a patent for his ruby laser systems, the world's first laser.

Theodore Maiman

1965

Vietnam War: The Battle of Ia Drang begins. This is the first major engagement between regular American and North Vietnamese forces.

Vietnam War

1960

Ruby Bridges becomes the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in Louisiana.

Ruby Bridges

📅

1957

The "Apalachin meeting" in rural Tioga County in upstate New York is raided by law enforcement; many high-level Mafia figures are arrested while trying to flee.

Apalachin meeting

1952

The New Musical Express publishes the first regular UK Singles Chart.

NME

1941

World War II: The aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal sinks due to torpedo damage from the German submarine U-81 sustained on November 13.

Aircraft carrier

1941

World War II: German troops, aided by local auxiliaries, murder nine thousand residents of the Słonim Ghetto in a single day.

Słonim Ghetto

1940

World War II: In England, Coventry is heavily bombed by German Luftwaffe bombers. Coventry Cathedral is almost completely destroyed.

World War II

1938

The Lions Gate Bridge, connecting Vancouver to the North Shore region, opens to traffic.

Lions Gate Bridge

📅

1922

The British Broadcasting Company begins radio service in the United Kingdom.

British Broadcasting Company

1921

The Communist Party of Spain is founded, and issues the first edition of Mundo obrero.

Communist Party of Spain

1920

Pesäpallo, the Finnish version of baseball developed by Lauri Pihkala, is played for the first time at Kaisaniemi Park in Helsinki.

Pesäpallo

1918

The Provisional National Assembly of the new republic of Czechoslovakia meets to devise a constitution.

Czechoslovakia

1914

The Joensuu City Hall, designed by Eliel Saarinen, was inaugurated in Joensuu, Finland.

Joensuu City Hall

1910

Aviator Eugene Burton Ely performs the first takeoff from a ship in Hampton Roads, Virginia, taking off from a makeshift deck on the USS Birmingham in a Curtiss pusher.

Aircraft pilot

1800s

1889

Pioneering female journalist Nellie Bly (aka Elizabeth Cochrane) begins a successful attempt to travel around the world in less than 80 days. She completes the trip in 72 days.

Nellie Bly