On this day in 1990, Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to lessen Cold War tensions and open up his nation.
On this day 2003, China launched Shenzhou 5, its first manned space mission.
On this day in 2006, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake rocked Hawaii, causing property damage, injuries, landslides, power outages, and the closure of Honolulu International Airport.