May 29, 1953Mount Everest is conquered as Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tensing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, become the first climbers to reach the summit. The expedition is led by John Hunt.

May 30, 1960Boris Pasternak, Russian poet, novelist (Dr. Zhivago) and translator, dies at age 70.

May 31, 1996Benjamin Netanyahu claims victory in Israels election for prime minister, defeating incumbent Shimon Peres by nine-tenths of 1 percent. He becomes t