| 1970-11-17
Vietnam War: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai massacre.
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| 1970-09-05
Vietnam War: Operation Jefferson Glenn begins: the United States 101st Airborne Division and the South Vietnamese 1st Infantry Division initiate a new operation in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province.
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| 1970-05-08
The Hard Hat riot occurs in the Wall Street area of New York City as blue-collar construction workers clash with demonstrators protesting the Vietnam War.
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| 1970-09-16
King Hussein of Jordan declares military rule following the hijacking of four civilian airliners by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). This results in the formation of the Black September Palestinian paramilitary unit.
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| 1970-04-26
The Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization enters into force
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| 1970-06-19
The Patent Cooperation Treaty is signed.
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| 1970-05-04
Vietnam War: Kent State shootings: the Ohio National Guard, sent to Kent State University after disturbances in the city of Kent the weekend before, open fire killing four students and wounding nine others. The students were protesting the United States' invasion of Cambodia.
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| 1970-05-28
The formerly united Free University of Brussels officially splits into two separate entities, the French-speaking Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
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| 1970-03-05
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty goes into effect after ratification by 43 nations.
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| 1970-09-06
Two passenger jets bound from Europe to New York are simultaneously hijacked by Palestinian terrorist members of PFLP and taken to Dawson's Field in Jordan.
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| 1970-05-31
The Ancash earthquake causes a landslide that buries the town of Yungay, Peru; more than 47,000 people are killed.
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| 1970-08-29
Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War, East Los Angeles, California. Police riot kills three people, including journalist Ruben Salazar.
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| 1970-10-15
Thirty-five construction workers are killed when a section of the new West Gate Bridge in Melbourne collapses.
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| 1970-10-12
Vietnam War: US President Richard Nixon announces that the United States will withdraw 40,000 more troops before Christmas
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| 1970-09-07
Bill Shoemaker sets record for most lifetime wins as a jockey (passing Johnny Longden).
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| 1970-02-18
The Chicago Seven are found not guilty of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
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| 1970-09-19
The first Glastonbury Festival is held at Michael Eavis's farm in Glastonbury, United Kingdom.
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| 1970-10-05
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is founded.
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| 1970-03-21
Vinko Bogataj crashes during a ski-jumping championship in Germany; his image becomes that of the "agony of defeat guy" in the opening credits of ABC's Wide World of Sports.
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| 1970-11-13
Bhola cyclone: A 150-mph tropical cyclone hits the densely populated Ganges Delta region of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), killing an estimated 500,000 people in one night. This is regarded as the 20th century's worst natural disaster.
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| 1970-10-02
A plane carrying the Wichita State University football team, administrators, and supporters crashes in Colorado killing 31 people.
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| 1970-03-02
Rhodesia declares itself a republic, breaking its last links with the British crown.
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| 1970-02-13
Black Sabbath, arguably the very first heavy metal album, is released.
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| 1970-09-25
Cease-fire between Jordan and the Fedayeen ends fighting triggered by four hijackings on September 6 and 9.
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| 1970-11-04
Genie, a 13-year-old feral child is found in Los Angeles, California having been locked in her bedroom for most of her life.
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| 1970-03-06
Blast at Weather Underground safe house in Greenwich Village kills three.
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| 1970-10-10
In Montreal, Quebec, a national crisis hits Canada when Quebec Vice-Premier and Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte becomes the second statesman kidnapped by members of the FLQ terrorist group.
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| 1970-04-06
Newhall Incident: Four California Highway Patrol officers are killed.
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| 1970-11-18
U.S. President Richard Nixon asks the U.S. Congress for $155 million USD in supplemental aid for the Cambodian government.
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| 1970-12-15
The Illinois State Constitution is adopted at a special election.
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| 1970-10-20
Siad Barre declares Somalia a socialist state.
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| 1970-11-05
Vietnam War: The United States Military Assistance Command in Vietnam reports the lowest weekly American soldier death toll in five years (24).
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| 1970-11-04
Vietnam War: Vietnamization – The United States turns control of the Binh Thuy Air Base in the Mekong Delta over to South Vietnam.
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| 1970-12-17
Polish 1970 protests: In Gdynia soldiers fire at workers emerging from trains, killing dozens.
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| 1970-09-17
Fighting breaks out along the Syria-Jordanian border between Jordanian troops and the fedayeen.
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| 1970-04-01
President Richard Nixon signs the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, requiring the Surgeon General's warnings on tobacco products and banning cigarette advertisements on television and radio in the United States, starting on January 1, 1971.
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| 1970-10-28
Gary Gabelich sets a land speed record in a rocket-powered automobile called the Blue Flame, fueled with natural gas.
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| 1970-08-26
The then new feminist movement, led by Betty Friedan, leads a nation-wide Women's Strike for Equality.
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| 1970-01-15
After a 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria, Biafra surrenders.
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| 1970-12-23
The North Tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York City is topped out at 1,368 feet (417 m), making it the tallest building in the world.
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| 1970-11-26
In Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) of rain fall in a minute, the heaviest rainfall ever recorded.
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| 1970-12-03
October Crisis: In Montreal, Quebec, kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross is released by the Front de libération du Québec terrorist group after being held hostage for 60 days. Police negotiate his release and in return the Canadian government grants five terrorists from the FLQ's Chenier Cell their request for safe passage to Cuba.
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| 1970-09-07
An anti-war rally is held at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, attended by John Kerry, Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.
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| 1970-09-07
A Roman army under Titus occupies and plunders Jerusalem.
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| 1970-05-15
Philip Lafayette Gibbs and James Earl Green are killed at Jackson State University by police during student protests.
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| 1970-01-16
Buckminster Fuller receives the Gold Medal award from the American Institute of Architects.
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| 1970-06-04
Tonga gains independence from the United Kingdom.
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| 1970-09-30
Jordan makes a deal with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) for the release of the remaining hostages from the Dawson's Field hijackings.
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| 1970-03-04
French submarine Eurydice explodes.
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| 1970-12-02
The United States Environmental Protection Agency begins operations.
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| 1970-11-12
The Oregon Highway Division attempts to destroy a rotting beached Sperm whale with explosives, leading to the now infamous "exploding whale" incident.
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| 1970-08-17
Venera Program: Venera 7 launched. It will later become the first spacecraft to successfully transmit data from the surface of another planet (Venus).
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| 1970-11-25
In Japan, author Yukio Mishima and one compatriot commit ritualistic suicide after an unsuccessful coup attempt.
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| 1970-05-30
Siege of Jerusalem: Titus and his Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. The Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans build a circumvallation, cutting down all trees within fifteen kilometres.
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| 1970-11-10
The Soviet Lunar probe Lunokhod 1 is launched.
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| 1970-11-17
Douglas Engelbart receives the patent for the first computer mouse.
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| 1970-03-31
Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit.
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| 1970-07-14
first riots and barricades during the Reggio revolt (Italy).
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| 1970-10-17
Montreal, Quebec: Quebec Vice-Premier and Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte murdered by members of the FLQ terrorist group.
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| 1970-07-01
President General Yahya Khan abolishes One-Unit of West Pakistan restoring the provinces.
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| 1970-11-09
Vietnam War: The Supreme Court of the United States votes 6 to 3 against hearing a case to allow Massachusetts to enforce its law granting residents the right to refuse military service in an undeclared war.
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| 1970-06-05
Titus and his Roman legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem.
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| 1970-04-17
Apollo program: The ill-fated Apollo 13 spacecraft returns to Earth safely.
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| 1970-07-03
The Troubles: the "Falls Curfew" begins in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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| 1970-07-08
Richard Nixon delivers a special congressional message enunciating Native American Self-Determination as official US Indian policy, leading to the Indian Self-Determination Act.
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| 1970-12-15
South Korean ferry Namyong Ho capsizes off Korean Strait killing 308.
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| 1970-09-26
The Laguna Fire starts in San Diego County, California, burning 175,425 acres (710 km²).
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| 1970-10-22
Tunku Abdul Rahman resigns as Prime Minister of Malaysia.
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| 1970-10-30
In Vietnam, the worst monsoon to hit the area in six years causes large floods, kills 293, leaves 200,000 homeless and virtually halts the Vietnam War.
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| 1970-04-28
Vietnam War: U.S. President Richard M. Nixon formally authorizes American combat troops to fight communist sanctuaries in Cambodia.
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| 1970-05-15
President Richard Nixon appoints Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington the first female United States Army Generals.
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| 1970-04-08
Bahr el-Baqar incident: Israeli bombers strike an Egyptian school. 46 children are killed.
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| 1970-05-11
The Lubbock Tornado, a F5 tornado, hits Lubbock, Texas, killing 26 and causing $250 million in damage.
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| 1970-09-07
Fighting between Arab guerillas and government forces in Amman, Jordan.
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| 1970-11-21
Vietnam War: Operation Ivory Coast – A joint Air Force and Army team raids the Son Tay prison camp in an attempt to free American prisoners of war thought to be held there.
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| 1970-05-26
The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2.
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| 1970-12-07
The first ever general election on the basis of direct adult franchise is held in Pakistan for 313 National Assembly seats.
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| 1970-07-23
Qaboos ibn Sa’id becomes Sultan of Oman after overthrowing his father, Sa’id ibn Taimur initiating massive reforms ;modernisation programs and end to a decade long civil war.
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| 1970-08-04
The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans.
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| 1970-01-15
Muammar al-Qaddafi is proclaimed premier of Libya.
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| 1970-09-12
Palestinian terrorists blow up three hijacked airliners in Jordan, continuing to hold the passengers hostage in various undisclosed locations in Amman.
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| 1970-11-14
Soviet Union enters ICAO, making Russian the fourth official language of organization.
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| 1970-10-09
The Khmer Republic is proclaimed in Cambodia.
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| 1970-05-01
Protests erupt in Seattle, Washington, following the announcement by U.S. President Richard Nixon that U.S. Forces in Vietnam would pursue enemy troops into Cambodia, a neutral country.
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| 1970-09-08
Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem.
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| 1970-03-10
Vietnam War: Captain Ernest Medina is charged with My Lai war crimes.
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| 1970-02-24
National Public Radio is founded in the United States.
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| 1970-04-22
The first Earth Day is celebrated.
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| 1970-03-18
Lon Nol ousts Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.
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| 1970-11-12
The 1970 Bhola cyclone makes landfall on the coast of East Pakistan becoming the deadliest tropical cyclone in history.
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| 1970-01-22
The Boeing 747, the world's first "jumbo jet", enters commercial service for launch customer Pan American Airways with its maiden voyage from John F Kennedy International Airport to London Heathrow Airport.
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| 1970-11-17
Luna program: The Soviet Union lands Lunokhod 1 on Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) on the Moon. This is the first roving remote-controlled robot to land on another world and is released by the orbiting Luna 17 spacecraft.
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| 1970-07-31
Black Tot Day: The last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy.
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| 1970-05-10
Siege of Jerusalem: Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, opens a full-scale assault on Jerusalem and attacks the city's Third Wall to the northwest.
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| 1970-09-01
Attempted assassination of King Hussein of Jordan by Palestinian guerrillas, who attacked his motorcade.
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| 1970-03-21
The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.
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| 1970-04-13
An oxygen tank aboard Apollo 13 explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the spacecraft while en route to the Moon.
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| 1970-03-17
My Lai Massacre: The United States Army charges 14 officers with suppressing information related to the incident.
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| 1970-09-22
Tunku Abdul Rahman resigns as Prime Minister of Malaysia.
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| 1970-01-01
Unix epoch time begins at 00:00:00 UTC/GMT.
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| 1970-11-01
Club Cinq-Sept fire in Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, France kills 146 young people.
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| 1970-04-24
The first Chinese satellite, Dong Fang Hong I, is launched.
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| 1970-11-14
Southern Airways Flight 932 crashes in the mountains near Huntington, West Virginia, killing 75, including members of the Marshall University football team.
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| 1970-10-16
In response to the October Crisis terrorist kidnapping, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau of Canada invokes the War Measures Act.
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| 1970-05-17
Thor Heyerdahl sets sail from Morocco on the papyrus boat Ra II to sail the Atlantic Ocean.
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| 1970-04-29
Vietnam War: United States and South Vietnamese forces invade Cambodia to hunt Viet Cong.
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| 1970-02-21
Swissair Flight 330: A mid-air bomb explosion and subsequent crash kills 38 passengers and nine crew members near Zürich, Switzerland.
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| 1970-08-07
California judge Harold Haley is taken hostage in his courtroom and killed during in an effort to free George Jackson from police custody.
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| 1970-10-15
The domestic Soviet Aeroflot Flight 244 is hijacked and diverted to Turkey.
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| 1970-10-08
Vietnam War: In Paris, a Communist delegation rejects US President Richard Nixon's October 7 peace proposal as "a maneuver to deceive world opinion".
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| 1970-07-21
After 11 years of construction, the Aswan High Dam in Egypt is completed.
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| 1970-10-05
Montreal, Quebec: British Trade Commissioner James Cross is kidnapped by members of the FLQ terrorist group.
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| 1970-09-02
NASA announces the cancellation of two Apollo missions to the Moon, Apollo 15 (the designation is re-used by a later mission), and Apollo 19.
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| 1970-09-09
A British airliner is hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and flown to Dawson's Field in Jordan.
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| 1970-09-20
Syrian tanks roll into Jordan in response to continued fighting between Jordan and the fedayeen.
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| 1970-07-20
First Jewish-Roman War: Siege of Jerusalem - Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, storms the Fortress of Antonia north of the Temple Mount. The Roman army is drawn into street fights with the Zealots.
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| 1970-04-21
The Hutt River Province Principality secedes from Australia.
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| 1970-07-03
A British Dan-Air De Havilland Comet chartered jetliner crashes into mountains north of Barcelona, Spain killing 113 people.
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| 1970-10-13
Fiji joins the United Nations.
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| 1970-04-24
The Gambia becomes a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, with Dawda Jawara as the first President.
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| 1970-05-14
The Red Army Faction is established in Germany.
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| 1970-04-11
Apollo 13 is launched.
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| 1970-01-12
Biafra capitulates, ending the Nigerian civil war.
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| 1970-02-15
A Dominican DC-9 crashes into the sea during takeoff from Santo Domingo, killing 102.
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| 1970-06-11
After being appointed on May 15, Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington officially receive their ranks as U.S. Army Generals, becoming the first females to do so.
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| 1970-07-05
Air Canada Flight 621 crashes near Toronto International Airport killing 109 people.
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| 1970-04-14
Siege of Jerusalem: Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, surrounds the Jewish capital, with four Roman legions.
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| 1970-10-10
Fiji becomes independent.
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| 1970-02-26
National Public Radio incorporates as a non-profit corporation.
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| 1970-03-31
Nine terrorists from the Japanese Red Army hijack Japan Airlines Flight 351 at Tokyo International Airport, wielding samurai swords and carrying a bomb.
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| 1970-11-10
Vietnam War: Vietnamization – For the first time in five years, an entire week ends with no reports of American combat fatalities in Southeast Asia.
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| 1970-09-08
Hijacking (and subsequent destruction) of three airliners to Jordan by Palestinians; the events to follow would later become known as Black September
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| 1970-06-13
"The Long and Winding Road" becomes the Beatles' last Number 1 song.
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| 1970-05-09
Vietnam War: In Washington, D.C., 75,000 to 100,000 war protesters demonstrate in front of the White House.
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| 1970-05-24
The drilling of the Kola Superdeep Borehole begins in the Soviet Union.
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