Today in History: November 23

November 23, 2024 Today In History No Comments

American Representative to the United Nations, George Bush, greets China’s Permanent Representative Huang Hua at the United Nations in New York (AP Photo)

On this day in 1971, the People’s Republic of China took its seat on the United Nations Security Council. This marked a seismic shift in global diplomacy, officially recognizing the Communist government of mainland China over Taiwan. The move redefined alliances during the Cold War and expanded China’s influence in international decision-making.

Turning to 1980, southern Italy faced a devastating catastrophe when a series of powerful earthquakes struck the region, claiming an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 lives. Entire towns were leveled, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. This tragedy led to greater international cooperation in disaster relief and awareness of seismic risks in the Mediterranean.

In aftermath of earthquakes a man makes his way on a street covered with rubble in the small town of Balvano, near Potenza, southern Italy (AP Photo-Gianni Foggia)

In 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 faced a harrowing ordeal when it was hijacked by three Ethiopian men demanding asylum in Australia. The flight, originally bound for Nairobi from Addis Ababa, was forced off course and ultimately ran out of fuel. With no other options, the pilot attempted a controlled crash landing in the Indian Ocean near Grande Comore in the Comoros Islands. Tragically, 125 of the 175 people on board, including the hijackers, lost their lives. This incident marked a historic first: the ditching of a wide-body aircraft in water.

The tail of the hijacked Ethopian Airways jet protrudes from the ocean floor off the northern coast of the Comoros Islands (AP Photo-Cobus Bodenstein)

Now to Liberia, where history was made on November 23, 2005. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first woman elected president of an African nation. Her victory marked a turning point not just for Liberia, recovering from years of brutal civil war, but also for the continent, as it highlighted the potential for women’s leadership in rebuilding nations.

Liberian President elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, center, after she gave an address to the nation in the city of Monrovia, Liberia (AP Photo-Pewee Flomoku)

In 2006, former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko died in London under mysterious and chilling circumstances. Poisoned by radioactive polonium, Litvinenko’s deathbed accusation against Russian President Vladimir Putin sent shockwaves across the globe. His case remains a symbol of the dangers faced by whistleblowers and political dissidents.

Alexander Litvinenko, former KGB spy and author of the book 'Blowing Up Russia - Terror From Within at his home in London (AP Photo-Alistair Fuller) — Alexander Litvinenko, former KGB spy and author of the book ‘Blowing Up Russia – Terror From Within at his home in London (AP Photo-Alistair Fuller)

And in 2011, Yemen saw the end of an era as President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to step down after 33 years in power. Amid the flames of the Arab Spring, this resignation marked a significant victory for Yemeni protesters demanding democratic reform, though the country’s journey to stability continues to this day.