In History, Today on May 31

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a debt ceiling bill to suspend the federal debt limit, averting a potential economic crisis.

A mass shooting occurred at a medical clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, resulting in the deaths of several people, including the gunman.

Naomi Osaka, a Japanese professional tennis player, withdrew from the French Open, citing mental health struggles after being fined for refusing to attend mandatory press conferences.

A mass shooting occurred at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia, resulting in the deaths of 12 people and injuries to several others.

World No Tobacco Day 2016 was marked with a significant drive by the World Health Organization urging governments to adopt plain packaging for tobacco products to reduce their attractiveness and curb tobacco use.

U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was released by the Taliban in Afghanistan in exchange for five Taliban detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, sparking controversy and debate in the United States.

The European Union lifted its arms embargo on the Syrian opposition, allowing member states to provide weapons to rebel groups fighting against the Assad regime.

The World Health Organization classified cell phone radiation as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), indicating a potential risk, but not a definitive link between exposure to radiation from wireless phones and increased cancer risk.

Israeli naval forces intercepted a flotilla of ships attempting to break the blockade of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nine activists and international condemnation.

Vanity Fair magazine revealed that former FBI Associate Director Mark Felt was 'Deep Throat,' the secret informant who provided information to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during the Watergate scandal.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Europe free of polio, marking a significant milestone in the global effort to eradicate the disease.

The Millennium Bridge in London was officially opened to the public, but was closed two days later due to unexpected swaying, leading to its nickname, the 'Wobbly Bridge.'

The Confederation Bridge, the longest bridge in Canada, was officially opened, connecting Prince Edward Island to the mainland of New Brunswick.

Benjamin Netanyahu was elected as the Prime Minister of Israel, marking a shift to a more conservative government.

Angola's government and UNITA rebels signed a peace agreement in Lisbon, Portugal, in an attempt to end the long-standing civil war in Angola.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is completed, allowing oil to be transported from the North Slope of Alaska to the port of Valdez.

The 7.9 magnitude Ancash earthquake struck off the coast of Peru, triggering a massive landslide that buried the town of Yungay and killed an estimated 70,000 people.

Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Holocaust, was executed in Israel for crimes against humanity.

South Africa became a republic, officially leaving the Commonwealth of Nations following a referendum in 1960, which marked a significant shift in its political landscape.

The 7.7 magnitude Quetta earthquake strikes the Indian subcontinent, resulting in significant destruction in Quetta, Balochistan. Estimates of casualties range as high as 30,000 to 60,000 people.

A race riot occurs in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as one of the most severe incidents of racial violence in U.S. history. Mobs of white residents attack the Black community of Greenwood, resulting in numerous deaths and widespread destruction.

The Union of South Africa was created from the British colonies of the Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and the Orange Free State, marking the beginning of a unified South African state.

The Treaty of Vereeniging is signed, ending the Second Boer War. The war was fought between the British Empire and the two Boer states, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, over the Empire's influence in South Africa.

The Johnstown Flood occurred in Pennsylvania, United States, when the South Fork Dam collapsed, killing over 2,200 people and causing widespread destruction.

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patents 'flaked cereal', leading to the development of corn flakes as a popular breakfast food.

The Fenian Brotherhood, armed with Irish Americans, begins an invasion of Canada, starting with the Battle of Ridgeway during the Fenian Raids.

The clock tower at the Houses of Parliament, which houses Big Ben, began keeping time for the first time.

The Astor Place Opera House, also known as the Astor Place Theatre, opened in New York City. It became notable for the Astor Place Riot that occurred a decade later.

The United States enacted its first copyright law, the Copyright Act of 1790, which laid the foundation for copyright protection in the country.

The Kingdom of Prussia and the Habsburg Monarchy signed the Treaty of Breslau, ending the First Silesian War. Under this treaty, most of Silesia was ceded to Prussia, significantly increasing its power and influence.

The Treaty of Nijmegen was signed between France and the Dutch Republic, marking the end of the Franco-Dutch War. This treaty expanded French territories and solidified the power of Louis XIV in Europe.

Samuel Pepys, the English naval administrator and Member of Parliament, recorded the last entry in his famous diary, which provides a detailed first-hand account of major events in 17th-century England.

The Battle of Nieuwpoort was in preparation with Maurice of Nassau's Dutch-English army assembling for engagement, significant in the Eighty Years' War.

The Catacombs of Rome were rediscovered by Antonio Bosio, an Italian scholar and archaeologist, marking a significant moment in the study of early Christian history and archaeology.

The Mongol invasion of the Kievan Rus': The Battle of the Kalka River takes place, marking a decisive Mongol victory over the combined forces of several Rus' principalities and their allied forces.

A devastating earthquake struck the city of Antioch, then part of the Byzantine Empire, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The earthquake, one of the deadliest in history, resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and significant damage to the city.

The Sack of Rome by the Vandals began. The Vandal King Genseric led his forces into the city, which was left defenseless after the assassination of Emperor Petronius Maximus. The Vandals looted Rome for two weeks, taking valuable treasures and captives.