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SMS Kaiser

The Kaiser class was a German ship class that were built in Germany prior to World War I and served in the Kaiserliche Marine. They were the third class of German dreadnoughts, and the first to feature turbine engines and superfiring turrets. The five ships were Kaiser, Friedrich der Grosse, Kaiserin, Prinzregent Luitpold, and König Albert. All five ships saw action in the North Sea during war; they served together as VI Division of III Battle Squadron. Four were present during the Battle of Jutland. The ships also took part in Operation Albion in the Baltic Sea; during the operation they were reorganized as IV Battle Squadron, under the command of Vice Admiral Wilhelm Souchon. At the end of the war, all five ships were interned at the British naval base in Scapa Flow. On 21 June 1919, they were scuttled to prevent their seizure by the Royal Navy. The ships were subsequently raised and broken up for scrap between 1929 and 1937. (Full article...)

Flag of Nigeria

Independence Day is an annual public holiday in Nigeria observed on 1 October to commemorate the country's independence from the United Kingdom in which the formal transfer of sovereignty that took place in Lagos at midnight on 1 October 1960, when the Union Jack was lowered and replaced with Nigeria's green–white–green flag. Princess Alexandra of Kent, representing Elizabeth II, presented the constitutional instruments of independence, and the new federal government formally assumed authority. Since then, Independence Day has been a key date in Nigeria's civic calendar. The President delivers a national broadcast, state governments organise parades and cultural programmes. The anniversary has occasionally been marked by national incidents, such as the suspension of festivities following the 1992 Nigerian Air Force C-130 crash and the October 2010 Abuja bombings. The holiday is legally recognised under the Public Holidays Act 1979, which designates 1 October as Nigeria's national day. (Full article...)

Half-length official portrait

The Hongwu Emperor (21 October 1328 – 24 June 1398), personal name Zhu Yuanzhang, was the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty of China, reigning from 1368 to 1398. Born into a peasant family in Anhui, Zhu Yuanzhang grew up amid famine, epidemics, and unrest under the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. Orphaned at 16, he briefly lived as a novice monk before joining the Red Turban rebels in 1352. Rising rapidly, he captured Nanjing in 1356, established a regional regime, and defeated rival rebels. In 1368, he proclaimed the Ming dynasty, adopted the era name Hongwu, and expelled the Yuan from China proper. During his 30-year reign, he restored stability after decades of war, strengthened state institutions, promoted agriculture, and maintained a disciplined army while seeking to limit civilian suffering. He died in 1398 and was succeeded by his grandson, the Jianwen Emperor, who was overthrown in 1402 by Zhu Di, later known as the Yongle Emperor. (Full article...)

Mookie Wilson's two-run at-bat in the tenth inning won Game 6 of the 1986 World Series for the Mets.

The 1986 New York Mets season began on April 8, 1986. It concluded on October 27 with a Mets victory in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series, for their second and most recent World Series title. The Mets had narrowly missed winning the NL East in 1985, but in 1986 were not seriously challenged, winning the division by 21½ games. They defeated the Houston Astros in six games in the NLCS, with the Mets erasing a three run ninth-inning deficit and winning Game 6 in sixteen innings. They played the Boston Red Sox in the World Series, and in Game 6 of that series, trailing three games to two, rallied from two runs down with two outs and none on base in the tenth inning. They won that game on an error by Bill Buckner, winning Game 7 two days later. The 1986 Mets have been described as one of the best teams in MLB history, but their failure to sustain their success has marred the team's legacy. Many team members drank heavily and the 1986 Mets became known for their lifestyle off the field. (Full article...)