Balibo Five Killed: Australian Journalists Murdered in East Timor
Indonesian special forces killed five Australian-based television journalists in the East Timorese border town of Balibo as troops prepared for the full-scale invasion of Portuguese Timor. The murders were covered up for decades, but persistent Australian investigations eventually forced Indonesia to acknowledge the killings, making the Balibo Five enduring symbols of press freedom in conflict zones.
October 16, 1975
51 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on October 16
Ricimer, the barbarian general who commanded Rome's army, defeated Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and forced him to abdicate. Avitus became a bishop and died two mo…
Wu Zetian declared herself emperor of China, not empress. She changed the title. She was 66 years old and had already ruled from behind the throne for years, fi…
fondation du sanctuaire du mont Saint-Michel par l'évêque Aubert d'Avranches.
Abd ar-Rahman III became Emir of Córdoba on October 15, 912, at age 21. He inherited a collapsing emirate — rebels controlled most of Al-Andalus. He spent 20 ye…
King Otto I crushed a Slavic rebellion on October 16, 955, near the Raxa River in what's now northeastern Germany. The Slavs had revolted against forced Christi…
excommunication du roi Philippe Ier, roi des Francs.
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.