South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem begins a state visit to the United States, his regime's main sponsor. Date: May 8, 1957 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1957 📅 On This Day (Today)

South Vietnamese soldiers under the Roman Catholic President Ngo Dinh Diem open fire on Buddhists defying a ban on the flying of the Buddhist flag on Vesak, killing nine and sparking the Buddhist crisis. Date: May 8, 1963 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in…

The Philippine province of Davao is split into three: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. Date: May 8, 1967 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1967 📅 On This Day (Today)

The Beatles release their 12th and final studio album Let It Be. Date: May 8, 1970 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1970 📅 On This Day (Today)

Vietnam War: U.S. President Richard Nixon announces his order to place naval mines in major North Vietnamese ports in order to stem the flow of weapons and other goods to that nation. Date: May 8, 1972 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1972 📅…

A 71-day standoff between federal authorities and the American Indian Movement members occupying the Pine Ridge Reservation at Wounded Knee, South Dakota ends with the surrender of the militants. Date: May 8, 1973 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1973 📅 On This Day…

The rollercoaster The New Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Date: May 8, 1976 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1976 📅 On This Day (Today)

The first ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler. Date: May 8, 1978 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1978 📅 On This Day (Today)

The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox. Date: May 8, 1980 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1980 📅 On This Day (Today)

The Thames Barrier is officially opened, preventing the floodplain of most of Greater London from being flooded except under extreme circumstances. Date: May 8, 1984 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on May 8 📅 Events on this day in 1984 📅 On This Day (Today)