On This Day, May 31: Mark Felt reveals ID as Watergate figure 'Deep Throat'
1 of 6 | On May 31, 2005, Mark Felt (pictured) admitted that, while No. 2 man in the FBI, he was "Deep Throat," the shadowy contact whose help to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the 1972 Watergate break-in led to U.S. President Richard Nixon's resignation. File Photo courtesy of the FBI
On this date in history:
In 1790, President George Washington signed a bill creating the first U.S. copyright law.
In 1859, construction concluded and bells rang out for the first time from London's Big Ben clock tower.
In 1889, a flood in Johnstown, Pa., left more than 2,200 people dead.
In 1902, Britain and South Africa signed a peace treaty ending the Boer War.
In 1916, the Battle of Verdun passed the 100-day mark. It would continue for another 200 days, amassing a casualty list of an estimated 800,000 soldiers dead, injured or missing.
In 1921, the Tulsa race massacre was set off when a mob of White residents attacked the Black residents and businesses in the Greenwood District. The total number of those killed in the violence is unknown, with an Oklahoma commission established in 2001 estimating between 75 to 100 people dead. The number of displaced Black residents was far greater.
In 1940, a thick fog hanging over the English Channel prevented the German Luftwaffe from flying missions against evacuating Allied troops from Dunkirk.
Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, England, on May 31, 1940. File Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum
In 1985, seven federally insured banks in Arkansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Oregon were closed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. It was a single-day record for closings since the FDIC was founded in 1934.
In 1996, Israeli voters elected opposition Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister.
In 2003, Eric Robert Rudolph, the long-sought fugitive in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and attacks on abortion clinics and a gay nightclub, was arrested while rummaging through a dumpster in North Carolina. Rudolph, whose bombings killed two people and injured many others, was sentenced to four life terms in prison.
In 2005, Mark Felt admitted that, while No. 2 man in the FBI, he was "Deep Throat," the shadowy contact whose help to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the 1972 Watergate break-in led to U.S. President Richard Nixon's resignation.
File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI
In 2012, John Edwards of North Carolina, former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, was acquitted on a charge of taking illegal campaign contributions, and a judge declared a mistrial on five other charges against him.
In 2014, U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, captured in Afghanistan nearly five years earlier, was released by the Taliban in exchange for five detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. In March 2015, the Army announced that Bergdahl had been charged with desertion.
In 2019, a shooting a a Virginia Beach, Va., municipal center left 12 victims and the shooter -- a disgruntled former employee -- dead.
In 2021, China announced plans to allow couples to have a third child, scrapping its controversial two-child policy amid a slumping birth rate and aging population.
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Newsweek
6 minutes ago
- Newsweek
World Responds to Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Sites
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. B-2 bombers hit three of Iran's nuclear complexes on Saturday, pulling America into the Middle Eastern conflict, world leaders across the globe have reacted to the escalation. Late on Saturday night, Trump said the sites were "fully obliterated," calling the raids essential to halt Iran's push for a nuclear bomb. Tehran condemned what it called a "criminal" act and said the U.S. had "launched a dangerous war." In a post shared on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, part of Iran's Armed Forces, wrote in Farsi, "Now the war has begun for us." Why It Matters After Saturday's development, concern over an international expansion on the Israel-Iran conflict has ramped up. The strikes follow weeks of rising tensions between Iran and Israel, after an Israeli attack earlier this month on Iranian nuclear and military sites. While the U.S. had previously held back, its direct involvement marks a new phase in the conflict. President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington D.C. on June 21, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington D.C. on June 21, 2025. Carlos Barria/Pool via AP What To Know Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas have condemned the U.S. strikes, vowing to support Iran in its fight against "the Zionist and American aggression." The Iraqi government, which has close relations with both Washington and Tehran, condemned the strikes, saying the military development threatened peace and security in the Middle East. "The continuation of such attacks risks dangerous escalation with consequences that extend beyond the borders of any single state, threatening the security of the entire region and the world," government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement. While it did not condemn the move, Saudi Arabia expressed "deep concern" about the U.S. attacks. "The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation," the kingdom's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Qatar also refraining from condemning the attacks, but said it "regrets" escalating tensions in the Israel-Iran war. Doha's Foreign Ministry urged the countries involved to "avoid escalation, which the peoples of the region, burdened by conflicts and their tragic humanitarian repercussions, cannot tolerate." Condemning the airstrikes, Oman said they threatened "to expand the scope of the conflict and constitute a serious violation of international law and the United Nations charter." Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the U.S. bombing could lead to a regional conflict that no country could bear and called for negotiations. "Lebanon, its leadership, parties, and people, are aware today, more than ever before, that it has paid a heavy price for the wars that erupted on its land and in the region," Aoun said in a statement on X. "It is unwilling to pay more, and there is no national interest in doing so, especially since the cost of these wars was and will be greater than its ability to bear." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Iran's nuclear facilities "represented a danger for the entire area," adding he would speak with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, on Sunday, "to understand the consequences that there may be from a security point of view." British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called for Iran to return to the negotiating table to diplomatically end the crisis—the U.K., along with the European Union, France and Germany, tried unsuccessfully to find a solution in Switzerland last week with Iran. Winston Peters, New Zealand's foreign minister, also called for peace talks, saying the crisis is "the most serious I've ever dealt with." South Korea's presidential office held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the economic and political impacts of the strikes, while Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters Sunday it was crucial to calm the situation as soon as possible. Australia's government, which closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff on Friday, said in a statement: "We have been clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. We note the U.S. President's statement that now is the time for peace." What People Are Saying European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on social media: "I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation." U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, wrote on X: "I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge—and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control—with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on member states to de-escalate." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X: "Last week, we were in negotiations with the U.S. when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the | decided to blow up that diplomacy. What conclusion would you draw?" The E3 refers to member states Germany, France and Italy. What Happens Next While a number of leaders have called for Iran to return to the negotiating table, the country's foreign minister has suggested it is unlikely that it will. "To Britain and the EU High Rep, it is Iran which must 'return' to the table. But how can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?" Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X. This story contains reporting from The Associated Press.
CNN
9 minutes ago
- CNN
Bodies of three hostages - an IDF soldier and two civilians - recovered from Gaza
The bodies of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier and two civilians killed in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks have been recovered from Gaza in a military hostage recovery operation. In a special operation carried out by the Israel Security Agency (ISA) and the IDF, the bodies of civilians, Ofra Keidar and Yonatan Samerano, and soldier Shay Levinson were recovered from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the ISA and IDF said in a joint statement Sunday. Ofra Keidar, from the kibbutz Be'eri community, was killed by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023. The 71-year-old's body was taken to Gaza, where it had been held since. Keidar was a wife and mother of three. Her husband was also killed in Hamas' attack. 'On that dark Saturday Ofra went, as usual, for a walk in the fields she loved - and never returned,' her kibbutz said in a statement. 'Ofra was one of the women leading Be'eri to be the flourished kibbutz it has become, and set an example for other women while showing strength and leadership skills. She left three children and seven grandchildren.' Samerano, 21, from Tel Aviv, was killed by Hamas militants who took his body after fleeing the Nova music festival. Levinson, a dual German-Israeli national and tank commander, was killed in combat on October 7, the joint ISA-IDF statement said. The 19-year-old's body was then taken to Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said: 'Alongside the grief and pain, the return of their bodies provides some comfort to the families who have waited in agony, uncertainty, and doubt for 625 days.' The forum also called for the return of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza to be a priority as Israel continues its conflict with Iran. 'Particularly against the backdrop of current military developments and the significant achievements in Iran, we want to emphasize that bringing back the remaining 50 hostages is the key to achieving complete Israeli victory,' it said. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his 'heartfelt condolences' to the families of Keidar, Samerano and Levinson and thanked Israeli soldiers for a 'successful operation.'
Newsweek
14 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Exclusive: Hezbollah Says It Won't Join Fight After US Attacks Iran
"Iran is a strong country capable of defending itself, logic dictates that it can confront America and Israel," a Hezbollah spokesperson said in a message to Newsweek late Saturday. "Hezbollah remains committed to all matters agreed upon since the ceasefire." Hezbollah signed a ceasefire with Israel last November, just over a year after the Palestinian Hamas movement launched a surprise attack against Israel, sparking a regional conflict that drew in the Iran-led Axis of Resistance coalition. Israel and Hezbollah have since continued to accuse one another of violating the truce. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out strikes in recent days against the group's leadership, special forces and military infrastructure in Lebanon, citing "intelligence indicating Hezbollah's attempts to rebuild its capabilities." "Despite the attacks carried out by the Israeli enemy," the Hezbollah spokesperson added, "the party has remained committed to the agreement." Hezbollah had previously indicated to Newsweek that the group would not intervene directly in support of Tehran after Israel launched a sweeping series of strikes against Iran last week, setting off daily exchanges of fire between the longtime foes. Yet Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Friday that Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem "hasn't learned from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel." He urged that "the Lebanese proxy be careful and understand that Israel has lost patience with the terrorists who threaten it." The Hezbollah spokesperson with whom Newsweek spoke the following day emphasized that Qassem, who assumed the helm after Israel killed longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah last September, has "supported" Iran through his statements, and that future actions may affect the group's calculus. "Therefore, the issue remains subject to developments," the Hezbollah spokesperson said. "However, Iran certainly has its own military capabilities." Trump first announced via Truth Social late Saturday, early Sunday local time in Iran, that the U.S. had completed a "very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan." The strikes came after more than a week of speculation of forthcoming U.S. military intervention, fueled by aircraft movements, the evacuation of nonessential staff and U.S. citizens in the region as well as Trump's own threats to the Islamic Republic and its leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant had particularly been in focus given that current and former Israeli officials had long assessed only the U.S. military's Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) "bunker buster" bombs would be capable of destroying the heavily fortified underground facility located beneath a mountain around 20 miles from the city of Qom. Addressing the nation from the East Room late Saturday, Trump said that "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated." He indicated that he was not immediately planning to pursue further military action against Iran but threatened to do so "if peace does not come quickly." Iran has always denied seeking a nuclear weapon, but the country has substantially ramped up uranium enrichment since Trump abandoned a multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran and major powers during his first administration in 2018. Since Trump assumed office again in January, Tehran and Washington have engaged in five rounds of talks toward securing a new agreement through which Iran's nuclear program would be subject to restriction in exchange for sanctions relief. A sixth round of negotiations had been scheduled for last Sunday, but was canceled after Israel launched its unprecedented series of attacks against Iran, killing senior commanders and nuclear scientists as well as targeting military sites and nuclear facilities. Shortly after the Israeli campaign began, Israeli officials alleged that Iran had obtained enough nuclear material to produce 15 nuclear bombs. Iran has responded to Israeli attacks by launching hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel over the past week. Iranian officials had warned that U.S. bases in the region could be subject to retaliatory action as well if the U.S. became directly involved in the conflict. Other Axis of Resistance groups in the Middle East, including Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah and Yemen's Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthi movement, have also warned of potential attacks against U.S. positions in the region in the event of a U.S. strike against Iran. About an hour after Trump announced the U.S. operation against Iran on social media, the IDF issued a heightened state of alert for Israel, restricting the public from engaging in all but "Essential Activity." Iran later conducted a new around of missile strikes against Israel, followed by an IDF report of Israeli strikes being conducted in western Iran. Reached for comment, the Iranian Mission to the United Nations shared with Newsweek a social media statement alongside a letter in which Iranian Permanent Representative to the U.N. Amir Saeid Iravani expressed to U.N. leadership his condemnation of what he called "unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression" by the U.S. and urged the U.N. Security Council to take action. "The United States and the bloodthirsty Zionist Regime of Israel shall be held fully accountable for these flagrant violations of international law and must face the grave consequences thereof," the Iranian Mission said.
