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Malcolm X (May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an African-American Muslim minister, public speaker, and human rights activist. To his admirers, he advocated for the rights of African Americans and indicted white America for their actions against black Americans. His detractors accused him of preaching racism and violence. After living in foster homes, Malcolm X was involved in criminal activity in Boston and New York. In 1945, he was sentenced to prison, where he became a member of the Nation of Islam. After parole, he became one of the Nation's leaders, its chief spokesman, and its public face. Tension between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, head of the Nation of Islam, led to Malcolm X's departure from the organization in March 1964. Afterwards, he became a Sunni Muslim and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. He founded Muslim Mosque, Inc., a religious organization, and the secular, black nationalist Organization of Afro-American Unity. He was assassinated while giving a speech in New York. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

Javier Domínguez

... that Javier Domínguez (pictured), the current Magic: The Gathering world champion, likes to play more than he likes to win?
... that the author of The Perfect Prince Loves Me, His Rival?! used the concept of leveling up in role-playing video games to show that a character was improving in magic?
... that the two women athletes Liechtenstein sent to the 1976 Summer Olympics were twins?
... that a 2023 coal mine workers' union election in Yellandu had a turnout of 98 percent?
... that William Arthur Ganfield often wore a red tie when Carroll College was running a deficit and a black tie when it was running a surplus?
... that Proceratosaurus is one of the oldest tyrannosaurs?
... that researcher Daniel Kokotajlo predicts that AI will be better than humans at "everything" by the end of 2027?
... that writer Jilly Cooper named a goat in her novel Jump! after a critic who revealed spoilers for an earlier work?

In the news

JJ

Austria, represented by JJ (pictured) with the song "Wasted Love", wins the Eurovision Song Contest.
Former president of Uruguay José Mujica dies at the age of 89.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party announces its dissolution, ending its insurgency against Turkey.
Robert Francis Prevost is elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first Catholic pope born in the United States.

On this day

May 19: Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in Turkey (1919); Victoria Day in Canada (2025)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

1655 – Anglo-Spanish War: England invaded Spanish Jamaica, capturing it a week later.
1743 – French physicist Jean-Pierre Christin published the design of a mercury thermometer using the centigrade scale, with 0 representing the melting point of water and 100 its boiling point.
1828 – The United States Congress passed the largest tariff in the nation's history, which resulted in severe economic hardship in the American South.
1915 – First World War: Australian and New Zealand troops repelled the third attack on Anzac Cove, inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Ottoman forces.
2018 – The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (both pictured) took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, England.

Alcuin (d. 804)
Claude Vignon (b. 1593)
Nora Ephron (b. 1941)
John Gorton (d. 2002)

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From today's featured list

Jeremy Allen White, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series winner

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards honored the best in American prime time television programming from June 1, 2023, until May 31, 2024, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The awards ceremony was held live on September 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles and was preceded by the 76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 7 and 8. During the ceremony, Emmy Awards were handed out in 25 different categories. At the main ceremony, Baby Reindeer, The Bear, and Shōgun tied for the most wins at four apiece, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series for Baby Reindeer and Outstanding Drama Series for Shōgun. Including Creative Arts Emmys, Shōgun led all programs with 18 wins, a record for a show in one year; FX led all networks and platforms with 36 total wins. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

Chester Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of England and the mother church of the Diocese of Chester. It is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly the abbey church of a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Werburgh, is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since 1541, it has been the seat of the Bishop of Chester. This photograph shows the interior of the Lady Chapel at Chester Cathedral, built between 1265 and 1290 in the Early English Gothic style. It contains the Shrine of St Werburgh, dating from the 14th century, and also has a sedilia and a piscina. It is decorated with carved roof bosses representing the Trinity, the Madonna and Child, and the murder of Thomas Becket.

Photograph credit: David Iliff

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