879 - Pope John VIII gives blessings to duke Branimir and to Croatian people, considered to be international recognition of the Croatian state 1793 - Curacao Island Council forbids criticism of House of Orange 1911 - French troop enter Fez in Morocco to quell anti-European agitation 1943 - Fastest 9 inning AL baseball night game (89 mins), Chicago White Sox beat visiting Washington Senators, 1-0 1972 - Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is damaged by a vandal 1978 - Yamada Mumon Roshi appointed head of Zen Rinzai Sect 1980 - "Star Wars Episode V - Empire Strikes Back", produced by George Lucas opens in cinemas in UK and North America 1990 - 43rd Cannes Film Festival: "Wild at Heart" directed by David Lynch starring Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern wins the Palme d'Or 2001 - French Taubira law officially recognizes the Atlantic slave trade and slavery as crimes against humanity. 2019 - More than 600 people, 75% children, identified as HIV in a month in Sindh province, Pakistan, thought to be due to use of infected needles More Historical Events »