On this day: October 4
Man survives after being run over by his own car twice
On October 4, 2005, a man in the United Kingdom survived being run over by his own car on two separate occasions during a single incident involving a stuck accelerator and shifting vehicle positions; he suffered injuries but lived. Reports from the time describe an unusual chain of mechanical and situational factors.
French Police Dismantle Secret Cult Compounds in 1995 Sweep
On 4 October 1995 French authorities raided and dismantled several isolated compounds linked to a clandestine religious movement, detaining leaders and removing vulnerable residents amid growing public concern over cult activity.
Shelling of the Russian Parliament Amid 1993 Constitutional Crisis
On October 4, 1993, Russian forces shelled the Russian White House—the seat of parliament—ending a standoff between President Boris Yeltsin and parliamentary opponents and marking a decisive and violent turn in the country's post-Soviet constitutional conflict.
Sputnik 1: Soviet satellite launch that shocked the world
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite, initiating the space age and triggering global political, scientific and public reactions.