Pakistan conducts another nuclear test

Two days after testing five nuclear devices in the Chagai region of Balochistan, Pakistan tests a separate device on May 30, 1998 in the Kharan desert of Balochistan.

Conducted under the codename Chagai-II, the test was different from the first as it tested a plutonium device unlike the uranium devices in the first test. The operation was led by Dr Samar Mubarakmand of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). Kharan desert was selected as the site for the test due to extreme weather conditions and because it was completely uninhabited.

The controlled explosion occurred at 1:10 pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST).

A thousand bombers descend upon Cologne during World War II

Codenamed Operation Millennium, the British Royal Air force (RAF) deploys more than a 1,000 bombers for a bombing raid on the Germany city of Cologne on the night of May 30/31, 1940 in what became the first ever thousand-bomber raid. Closing to 1,500 tonnes of bombs were dropped by the bombers, a major portion of which were incendiary devices sparking fires across the city. A total of 3,300 non-residential buildings and more than 13,000 homes were destroyed, primarily from fires while the RAF lost 43 bombers.

Joan of Arc is burnt at the stake

Joan of Arc, who led French forces in lifting the Seige of Orleans against English troops, is burnt at the stage on May 30, 1431 at the age of 19 on charges of heresy.

The English, who could not stomach a 17-year-old peasant girl defeating its army, thought that she was possessed by the devil. In 1430, one year after her victory at Orleans, she was ambushed, captured, put to trial by a pro-English bishop and sentenced to death.

Joan of Arc has been celebrated in France as a Heroine and has been an integral part of popular culture ever since.

Goddess of Democracy statue is erected in China

The Goddess of Democracy statue is assembled and revealed at Tiananmen Square by protesters on May 30, 1989 in front of 300,000 protesters.

Made with Papier-mâché and foam in a period of four days by the students protesting for democracy, the statue was dismantled by government forces on June 4, 1989.

Since then, a number of replicas have been constructed in honour of the original.

Like what you read?

Did you know Pakistan test Five nuclear devices on May 28? Find out what else happened!