Nicosia, Cyprus. The following are some of the major events that occurred on May 19, spanning infrastructure, politics, conflict, and disasters.
Infrastructure and science
In 1906, the Simplon Tunnel opened, connecting Italy and Switzerland through the Alps. In 2004, the world’s first embryonic stem cell bank opened in Britain.
Notable deaths
In 1935, T. E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, died after a motorcycle accident. He described his military exploits during World War One in the book “Seven Pillars of Wisdom”. In 2002, John Gorton, former prime minister of Australia, died.
Diplomacy, politics, and conflict
In 2001, Arab foreign ministers meeting in Egypt recommended the suspension of political contacts with the Israeli government until it halted military assaults against the Palestinians. In 2003, Indonesia’s military launched a big offensive on rebel bases in Aceh after peace talks failed the day before. In 2007, a Romanian referendum rejected an attempt by parliament to impeach reformist President Traian Basescu.
Accidents and spills
In 2015, a pipeline rupture spilled some 21,000 gallons of oil along the California coastline. In 2016, Egypt Air flight 804 en route from Paris to Cairo crashed in the Mediterranean Sea.
Which of these May 19 events do you want to learn more about?