In History, Today on October 8

NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 mission returned to Earth after spending six months at the International Space Station.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Australia and Indonesia on counter-terrorism cooperation.

Hurricane Matthew makes landfall in South Carolina, causing widespread flooding and damage along the southeastern coast of the United States.

Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, dies in Dallas, Texas, highlighting the global Ebola outbreak.

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale strikes the Kashmir region, affecting parts of Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, and resulting in over 86,000 deaths.

U.S. President George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security to coordinate national efforts against terrorism following the September 11 attacks.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to begin impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.

The Croatian War of Independence: The Yugoslav People's Army begins an attack on the Croatian city of Dubrovnik.

Israeli police kill 17 Palestinian worshippers and wound over 100 at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, an event that becomes known as the Al-Aqsa Massacre.

The Soviet Union's Alexander Solzhenitsyn is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work on exposing the Soviet Union's forced labor camp system.

Guerrilla leader Che Guevara and his men are captured in Bolivia by the Bolivian Army, with assistance from the CIA. Guevara is executed the following day.

New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen pitches the only perfect game in World Series history during Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Germany annexes Western Poland, incorporating it into the Third Reich following the invasion of Poland at the start of World War II.

KDKA radio station in Pittsburgh broadcasted the first live sporting event on radio, a boxing match between Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee.

Corporal Alvin C. York leads an attack on a German machine gun nest, capturing 132 German soldiers, an action for which he is awarded the Medal of Honor.

The First Balkan War begins when Montenegro declares war against the Ottoman Empire, leading to a conflict involving several Balkan states.

Edmonton became a city in Canada.

Korean Empress Myeongseong, also known as Queen Min, was assassinated at Okhoru Pavilion inside Gyeongbok Palace by Japanese agents, an event that sparked outrage and significantly influenced Korean-Japanese relations.

The Great Chicago Fire begins, lasting until October 10, 1871, and resulting in the destruction of a large portion of the city of Chicago, Illinois.

The final stage of the Pastry War began when the French demanded compensation for losses incurred due to civil disturbances in Mexico.

The Government Junta of the First Mexican Empire, after its independence from Spain, officially enacted the Declaration of Independence.

The first ever U.S. Patent Act was established, marking a significant step in the protection of intellectual property in the United States.

Captain James Cook, aboard the HMS Endeavour, became the first European to sight New Zealand during his first voyage of exploration.

The Battle of Winceby occurred, a decisive engagement of the First English Civil War, leading to a victory for the Parliamentarians and opening the way for their control over Lincolnshire.

San Marino adopts its written constitution, which is still in effect today, making it the world's oldest constitution still in use.

Thomas Wolsey becomes a cardinal of the Catholic Church, affirming his political and ecclesiastical influence in England under King Henry VIII.

The Great Stand on the Ugra River, a standoff between the forces of the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the Golden Horde, effectively ends without a battle, marking the end of Mongol domination over Moscow.

King John of England granted the town of Bridgnorth in Shropshire, England, its first royal charter, which marked a significant step in its development as a medieval community.

The Synod of Winchester is concluded, highlighting a period of reform within the English church. This synod, under the control of Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, works to align the English ecclesiastical structure with broader Gregorian reforms.

The Battle of Andernach took place, where King Louis the Younger successfully defended his kingdom against a challenge from Charles the Bald. This battle was part of the Carolingian struggle for power within the fragmented territories of the Frankish Empire.

The Council of Chalcedon, a significant ecumenical council in the history of Christianity, commenced. It addressed the nature of Christ and resulted in the Chalcedonian Definition, which became a key point of doctrine for many Christian denominations.

The Council of Arles, a significant early Christian council, concluded. It addressed the Donatist controversy and established several canons concerning church discipline.