Wednesday, October 8, 1681

Anti-government protests calling for free and fair elections began in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Yemen War: A funeral in Sanaa was hit by two consecutive airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition, leaving 143–155 civilians dead and more than 525 injured.

At Linate Airport in Milan, Italy, Scandinavian Airlines Flight SK686 collided on take-off with a Cessna Citation II business jet, killing 118 people.

A new airport for Oslo, Norway, opened at Gardermoen, replacing a smaller one at the same location that had served as a backup to the city's previous main airport at Fornebu.

The Croatian Army and Croatian Defence Council launched Operation Southern Move, their last offensive in the Bosnian War.

Demonstrations organized by the Weather Underground known as the Days of Rage began in Chicago, aimed at ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader Che Guevara was captured near La Higuera, Bolivia.

Major League Baseball pitcher Don Larsen threw the only perfect game in World Series history.

Three trains collided (aftermath pictured) at Harrow & Wealdstone station in London, killing 112 people and injuring 340 others.

The Indian Air Force was founded as an auxiliary air force of the British Royal Air Force.

World War I: After his platoon suffered heavy casualties during the Meuse–Argonne offensive in France's Forest of Argonne, American Corporal Alvin York led the 7 remaining men on an attack against a German machine gun nest; 25...

The Great Chicago Fire (pictured), began and proceeded to destroy much of the city's central business district, killing 300 people and leaving 90,000 others homeless.