Unix Timestamp: 1242086400
Tuesday, May 12. 2009, 12:00:00 AM UTC

August 12 ndash The 2012 World Expo takes place in Yeosu, South Korea.ref name =Expo_2012//eng.expo2012.kr/main.html2012 World Expo (English) Retrieved January 23, 2012.

Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 crashes at runway at Tripoli International Airport in Libya, killing 103 of the 104 people on board.

Russia's new Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announces his cabinet. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7395911.stm (BBC News)

Shootings are reported in Khartoum, Sudan, one day after the rebel attack. Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi is released from custody after being interrogated by police. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7395379.stm (BBC News) //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7397087.stm (BBC News)

Over 69,000 are killed in central south-west China by the Wenchuan quake, an earthquake measuring 7.9 Moment magnitude scale. The epicenter is west-northwest of the provincial capital Chengdu, Sichuanprovince.

The U.S. FBI raids the home of Kyle Dusty Foggo, outgoing number three man at the CIA, in an investigation into political corruption, including the use of prostitutes and bribery in connection with lobbyist Brent Wilkes, revealed to be the no. 1 unindicted co-conspirator in the Randy Duke Cunningham scandal. (//www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087sid=ag5Q_Tt4DJMMrefer=top_world_news Bloomberg.com)

Cloning scientist Hwang Woo-Suk is indicted for fraud, embezzlement and violation of bioethics law in a scandal in South Korea over his faked stem cell research. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4763973.stm (BBC) //today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=SEO267991 (Reuters) //edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/05/11/skorea.stemcells.ap/ (CNN)

An American civilian contractor in Iraq, Nick Berg, is shown being decapitated by a group allegedly linked to al-Qaida on a web-distributed video.

Riyadh Compound Bombings: Four simultaneous car bombs detonate in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at various Western enclaves there, killing at least 35 people. U.S. and Saudi officials speculate that the bombs are the work of al Qaeda.

A truck bomb explodes at FSB headquarters in Znamenskoye, Chechnya, killing 59 and wounding some 200 more, in an apparent suicide attack. Official Russian sources blame the incident on Chechen separatist rebels.,

Millennium Force opens at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio as the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster.

The Tate Modern opens in London.

A fireworks factory disaster in Enschede, the Netherlands, kills 23.

The Tate Modern Gallery opens in London.

David Steel becomes the first Presiding Officer (Speaker) of the modern Scottish Parliament.

The Russian-Chechen Peace Treaty is signed.

Ice hockey becomes Canada's official winter sport.

The United States recalls United States Ambassador to Yugoslavia Warren Zimmermann to protest military aggression against Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Nepal holds its first multiparty legislative election since 1959.

The Louisiana World's Fair opens.

May 13 ndash A group of mercenaries led by Bob Denard oust Ali Soilih in the Comoros 10 local soldiers are killed. Denard forms a new government.

In Zaire, rebels occupy the city of Kolwezi, the mining centre of the province of Shaba. The Zairean government asks the U.S., France and Belgium to restore order.

Mayaguez incident: Khmer Rouge forces in Cambodia seize the United States merchant ship SS "Mayaguez" in international waters.

An earthquake in Turkey destroys most of the city of Burdur.

Twelve young men in New York City publicly burn their draft cards to protest the war the first such act of war resistance.

During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, Vice PresidentRichard M. Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators.

French Algerian protesters seize government offices in Algiers, leading to a military coup.

A formal North American Aerospace Defense Command agreement is signed between the United States and Canada.

New York's Third Avenue Elevated runs its last train between Chathem Square in Manhattan and East 149th Street in the Bronx, thus ending elevated train service in Manhattan.

Cold War: The Soviet Union lifts its Blockade of Berlin.

The AFSA (predecessor of the NSA) is established.

The Kuomintang regime declares Taiwan under martial law.

The Cold War begins: In an effort to fight the spread of Communism, President Harry S. Truman signs an Act of Congress that implements the Truman Doctrine. This Act grants $400 million in military and economic aid to Turkey and Greece.

David Lean's film "Great Expectations", based on the novel by Charles Dickens, opens in the United States. Critics call it the finest film ever made from a Charles Dickens novel.

The animated cartoon film "Rabbit Transit", directed by Friz Freleng, is released.

WWII: Soviet troops finalize the liberation of the Crimea.

The Trident Conference begins in Washington, D.C., with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill taking part.

WWII ndash Second Battle of Kharkov: In the eastern Ukraine, the Soviet Army initiates a major offensive. During the battle the Soviets capture the city of Kharkov from the German Army, only to be encircled and destroyed.

WWII The Japanese minelayer Okinoshima is sunk by the American submarine USS S-42 (SS-153).

Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak begins as the New York Yankeecenter fielder goes one for four against Chicago White SoxPitcherEddie Smith.

The first British jet aircraft, the Gloster E.28/39, is flown.

Konrad Zuse presents the Z3, the world's first working programmable, fully automatic computer, in Berlin.

U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull rejects Russia's offer of a joint defence pact to counter rise of Nazi Germany.

The coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) takes place at Westminster Abbey, London.

A Soviet station becomes the first scientific research settlement to operate on the drift ice of the Arctic Ocean.

As one of the reprisals for the attempted assassination of Italian viceroy Rodolfo Graziani, a detachment of Italian troops massacres the entire community of Debre Libanos, killing 297 monks and 23 laymen.

The Santa Fe railroad in the United States inaugurates the all-Pullman "Super Chief" passenger train between Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California.

Agricultural Adjustment Act is enacted in the USA.

The British police raid the office of the Soviet trade delegation.

May 14 ndash May Coup: Józef Piłsudski takes over in Poland.

A 20-ton meteorite lands near Blackstone, Virginia, USA.

Bombardment of San Juan, the first major battle of the Puerto Rico Caign during the Spanish-American War.

The first ever "official" English County Chionship cricket match begins in BristolYorkshire beats Gloucestershire by 8 wickets.

In North Africa, Tunisia becomes a French protectorate.

The Canadian province of Manitoba is created in response to Louis Riel's Red River Rebellion.

American Civil War ndash Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: The Bloody Angle ndash thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers die.

October 31 ndash Great Industrial Exhibition held in Dublin, Ireland.

First Coalition: Napoleon I of France conquers Venice, ending the city's 1,100 years of independence. The last doge of Venice, Ludovico Manin, steps down.

American Revolutionary War: Charleston, South Carolina is taken by British forces.

History of the Moravian Church: The 18th century renewal: "Brotherly Agreement" adopted by the Moravian Church community at Herrnhut under the influence of Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf, the beginning of the Church's renewal.

Nine Years' War: With England and the Netherlands both now ruled by William III, they join the Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg), thus escalating the conflict, which continues until 1697. This is also the effective beginning of King William's War, the first of four North American Wars until 1763 between English and French colonists, both sides allied to Native American tribes. The nature of the fighting is a series of raids on each other's settlements across the Canadian and New England borders.

Nine Years\\\\\\\\' War: With England and the Netherlands both now ruled by William III, they join the Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg), thus escalating the conflict, which continues until 1697. This is also the effective beginning of King William\\\'s War, the first of four North American Wars until 1763 between English and French colonists, both sides allied to Native American tribes. The nature of the fighting is a series of raids on each other's settlements across the Canadian and New England borders.

Day of the Barricades in Paris: Henry I, Duke of Guise seizes the city, forcing King Henry III to flee.

July ndash Ottomans and Barbary pirates invade the Mediterranean Island of Gozo, enslaving all inhabitants (est. at 5,000 to 6,000), and transporting them to Tarhuna Wa Msalata.

The National University of San Marcos is founded in Lima (Peru), being the first officially established university in the Americas.

September ndash Following the death of Louis I of Hungary and Poland:

Charles of Durazzo executes the imprisoned Joan I of Naples and succeeds her as Charles III of Naples.

The Poles, who do not wish to be ruled by Mary's fiancee, the future Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, choose Mary's younger sister, Jadwiga, to become ruler of Poland. After two years of negotiations, Jadwiga is eventually crowned King in 1384.

Louis' daughter Mary becomes Queen of Hungary.

August ndash The iconic painting The Black Madonna of Czestochowa is brought from Jerusalem to the Jasna Góra monastery in Poland.

The Jagiellonian University is founded in Kraków.

Nicholas V is consecrated at St Peter\\'s Basilica in Rome by the bishop of Venice.

Nicholas V is consecrated at St Peter's Basilica in Rome by the bishop of Venice.

May 14 ndash The Battle of Lewes of the Second Barons' War is fought between Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester and King Henry III of England in Sussex. By the end of the battle, de Montfort's forces capture both King Henry and his son, future King Edward I, making de Montfort the uncrowned king of England for 15 months before Edward escapes captivity and recaptures the throne.

Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor is crowned by Pope Celestine III.

The monks of Glastonbury Abbey announce that they have found the burial sites of King Arthur and QueenGuinevere.

The first reference to the windmill in Europe is made by a Dean Herbert of East Anglia, whose mills are supposedly in competition with the abbey of Bury St Edmunds. This is probably an invention imported from interaction with the Muslim world, since the first windmills were most likely innovated from the Bana Musa brothers in the Islamic Middle East during the middle 9th century. The windmill will spread in the other direction, to be introduced to China by as early as 1219.

After having failed in their endeavor the year before, the Almohads reconquer the city of Silves in Portugal.ref name=Picard1997

Duke Berthold V of Zähringenfounds the city of Bern (present-day Switzerland).

Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre.

Pope Stephen I succeeds Pope Lucius I as the 23rd pope.