Important Events From This day in History – 31st October

Today in History

• 2011 Day of Seven Billion

  On this day, the world’s official population surpassed 7 billion. It was designated as the Day of the Seven Billion by the United Nations Population Fund.

• 1999 EgyptAir Flight 990 crash

  EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed off the Eastern coast of the US, killing all 217 people aboard.

• 1992 Catholic church regrets its handling of Galileo Galilee’s case

  Then, in the 17th century, Pope John Paul II acknowledged the Catholic Church’s errors in dealing with Galileo Galilei.

• 1984 Indira Gandhi assassinated

  India’s first female prime minister, Indira Gandhi was murdered by two of her bodyguards. Her death sparked riots in India, particularly in New Delhi, where thousands of Sikhs were killed.

• 1978 South Yemen adopts constitution

  The constitution of the short-lived People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, also known as South Yemen, was adopted. South Yemen merged with North Yemen in 1990 to form what is now known as Yemen.