What happened on May 1st?

The EU welcomed ten new faces

2004 EU Expands to Include 10 New Member States

On May 1, 2004, the European Union expanded to include Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. This enlargement, the largest in EU history, brought countries from Central and Eastern Europe, along with Malta and Cyprus, closer to Western Europe. It strengthened the EU politically and economically, fostering regional stability and integration.

This map shows the European Union in 2004. The countries are marked as follows: blue for member states before 2004, red for candidates selected at the European Council in Luxembourg, yellow for candidates selected at the European Council in Helsinki, and green for candidates selected at the European Council in Helsinki but officially joining in 2007.

🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on May 1:

1999 — Climbers discovered the body of British mountaineer George Mallory on Mount Everest, 75 years after his disappearance during a summit attempt in 1924.

1961  A gunman hijacked a commercial airliner flying from Miami to Key West and forced the crew to divert to Cuba, making it the first major airplane hijacking in the United States.

1960  A Soviet missile shot down a US U-2 spy plane over Soviet airspace, leading to the capture of pilot Francis Gary Powers and escalating Cold War tensions.

1931 The Empire State Building officially opened in New York City, becoming the tallest building in the world at the time.

1924  Iodized salt went on sale for the first time in the United States to combat widespread iodine deficiency and prevent goiter.

1889 May Day became an international workers’ holiday in the United Kingdom, commemorating the labor movement’s fight for fair wages and an eight-hour workday.

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On May 1, we’re singing to:

Calamity Jane (1852)  American frontierswoman and sharpshooter known for her tough persona and involvement in the American Old West, especially in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Judy Collins (1939) American singer and songwriter celebrated for her contributions to the folk music scene and her iconic renditions of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.”

 🪦Who Died Today?

On May 1, we’re saying goodbye to:

Arcadius (408) Roman emperor remembered for his reign during a period of decline in the Western Roman Empire, which he ruled alongside his brother Honorius.

David Livingstone (1873) Scottish explorer and missionary renowned for his exploration of Africa and his efforts to end the slave trade.

Joseph Goebbels (1945) — German propaganda minister under the Nazi regime, notorious for his role in spreading anti-Semitic rhetoric and supporting Adolf Hitler until the end of World War II.

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