On this day: December 6

‘Blood in the Water’: Hungary vs. USSR, 1956 Melbourne Olympics Water Polo Match

At the Melbourne Olympics on December 6, 1956, Hungary defeated the Soviet Union 4–0 in a water polo semi-final that turned violent after the recent Soviet suppression of the Hungarian Revolution; a match became emblematic of Cold War tensions and remains known as the 'Blood in the Water' game.

Supreme Court Bars School-Sponsored Prayer in Landmark 1962 Decision

On December 6, 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that officially sanctioned prayer in public-school classrooms violated the Establishment Clause, marking a major moment in church–state jurisprudence.

French police break up alleged terror cell plotting attacks

On 6 December 1994 French authorities announced they had dismantled a suspected terrorist cell allegedly planning attacks in France. The arrests and searches followed an investigation by national security services amid heightened concerns over Islamist militancy in Europe.

Labour Government on Brink as 1976 Economic Crisis Deepens

In December 1976, Britain’s Labour government confronted a severe economic crisis—rising inflation, mounting public borrowing and sterling weakness—that brought questions about its survival and prompted urgent talks with international lenders.

Altamont Free Concert for Rolling Stones ends in deadly violence

On December 6, 1969, a free Rolling Stones concert at Altamont Speedway in Northern California erupted in violence, culminating in the stabbing death of 18-year-old concertgoer Meredith Hunter and widely criticized security methods.