This day in history

1941: Hitler invades the Soviet Union The German Army takes the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin by surprise as it begins a massive advance on Moscow.

1981: Chapman pleads guilty to Lennon murder Mark Chapman changes his plea to guilty and admits he murdered John Lennon in December 1980.

2004: Child killer Dutroux jailed for life A Belgian court sentences Marc Dutroux to life in prison for the kidnap, rape and murder of young girls.

1979: Thorpe cleared of murder charges A jury clears former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe of the attempted murder of Norman Scott.

2001: Bulger killers to be released The Parole Board decides that the two schoolboy murderers of James Bulger are to be released.

1959: Harrods in £34m merger talks
Directors of Harrods are urging shareholders to vote for a merger with Debenhams department chain.

1974: Labour rift over nuclear test The Labour Government admits Britain exploded a nuclear device in the United States a few weeks ago.

1983: US astronaut Sally Ride returns America's first woman in space, Sally Ride, returns safely in the Challenger space shuttle after a six-day flight.

1968: Rail go-slow begins The country's rail network is thrown into disarray as the National Union of Railwaymen begins its work-to-rule and ban on overtime.

1986: Ian Paisley's battle cry condemned Hard-line unionist leader the Reverend Ian Paisley warns Northern Ireland is on the verge of civil war.

1993: Minister resigns over business links Northern Ireland Minister Michael Mates resigns over his links with fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir.

1997: Hong Kong handed over to Chinese control Hong Kong is handed back to the Chinese authorities - ending more than 150 years of British control.

1963: Philby confirmed as 'third man' Former Foreign Office official Harold Philby is confirmed as the "third man" in the Burgess and Maclean case.

1994: Yasser Arafat ends 27-year exile The chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Yasser Arafat, returns to the Gaza Strip after 27 years in exile.

2004: Cassini captures Saturn's rings International space probe Cassini-Huygens reaches Saturn and sends back the closest photographs yet of the planet's rings.

1987: Stock-broker guilty of corruption One of the City's top investment bankers receives the first conviction for insider dealing since it became illegal.

2000: Ex-Blair ally attacks prime minister
Millionaire novelist Ken Follett levels scathing personal criticism at Prime Minister Tony Blair.

1976: Israelis rescue Entebbe hostages In a dramatic raid Israeli commandos fly to Uganda to save 100 hostages held by pro-Palestinian hijackers at Entebbe airport.

1954: Housewives celebrate end of rationing Fourteen years of food rationing in Britain is over as restrictions on the sale and purchase of meat, and bacon in particular, are lifted.

1995: Major wins Conservative leadership The Prime Minister, John Major, wins his battle to remain leader of the Conservative party.

1985: Teenage genius gets a first Child prodigy Ruth Lawrence achieves a starred first in Mathematics at Oxford University.

1968: Alec Rose sails home Round-the-world yachtsman Alec Rose receives a hero's welcome as he sails into Portsmouth after his 354-day trip.

1977: Manchester United sack manager
Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty is sacked by the club's directors.

2005: Bomb attacks on London A series of bomb attacks on London's transport network kills more than 30 people and injures about 700 others.

2001: Two stabbed in Bradford race riots Two people are stabbed and many more injured in running battles between white and Asian gangs in Bradford.

1976: British grandmother missing in Uganda Ugandan authorities deny knowledge of the whereabouts of missing British-Israeli citizen Dora Bloch.

1985: Boris Becker wins Wimbledon at 17 Tennis unknown Boris Becker becomes the youngest player ever to win Wimbledon at the age of 17.

1969: Brian Jones died of 'drink and drugs' Former Rolling Stones guitarist, Brian Jones, drowned after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs, an inquest is told.

1998: Chief's death sparks turmoil in Nigeria
At least 19 people are killed in riots in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, following the death of the opposition leader.

1940: Luftwaffe launches Battle of Britain The German air force, the Luftwaffe, attacks shipping convoys off the south-east coast of England at the start of the battle to save Britain from invasion.

1996: Girl survives murder of mother and sister The battered bodies of Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan are found near their home in Kent.

1943: Western Allies invade Sicily British, Canadian and American troops arrive on the Mediterranean island of Sicily - largely unopposed.

1985: Rainbow Warrior sinks after explosion The Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior is blown up in Auckland harbour, New Zealand.

1972: Whitelaw's secret meeting with IRA The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw is involved in secret talks with the provisional IRA in London.

2000: UK tidal wave of web users
One in four British homes is now using the internet according to figures released by the government.

1985: Live Aid makes millions for Africa The Live Aid concert for the starving in Africa, the world's biggest rock festival held in London and Philadelphia, raises £30m.

1955: Ruth Ellis hanged for killing lover Convicted murderer Ruth Ellis is hanged at Holloway Prison, London.

1971: Death for Moroccan rebel leaders Ten army officers involved in an aborted coup in Morocco have been executed.

2001: Family demand inquiry into police shooting The family of a mentally ill man shot dead by police in Liverpool last night demands a public inquiry.

1993: Green light for Manchester Olympics Officials in Manchester bidding to hold the 2000 Olympic Games have been told their chances are "very, very high".

2000: Sarah Payne's body found Police confirm the body they found in a West Sussex field yesterday is that of missing eight-year old Sarah Payne.

1966: Nurses murder suspect charged US police have charged a seaman with the murder of eight student nurses in their hostel in Chicago.

2003: Missing Iraq expert - body found A body believed to be that of government scientist Dr David Kelly is found in Oxfordshire - an inquiry will be held into his death.

1981: Violence erupts at Irish hunger strike protest Nearly 200 people are in hospital in Dublin after a hunger strike demonstration turned violent.

1990: English teenagers held in Thailand over drugs Two teenage girls from the Midlands are arrested for drug smuggling in Thailand.

1974: Turkey invades Cyprus Thousands of Turkish troops invade northern Cyprus after last-minute talks in the Greek capital, Athens, fail to reach a solution.

1944: Hitler survives assassination attempt Adolf Hitler escapes death after a third attempt on his life when a bomb explodes in Rastenberg

1982: IRA bombs cause carnage in London Eight soldiers on ceremonial duty are killed in two IRA bomb blasts in Hyde Park and Regent's Park.

1960: Ceylon chooses world's first woman PM Sirimavo Bandaranaike makes history when she becomes the first-ever female head of government.

1990: IRA bombs Stock Exchange An IRA bomb blows a 10-foot hole in the London Stock Exchange.

1952: Zatopek wins gold at Helsinki Emil Zatopek of Czechoslovakia sets the pace at the start of the Olympic Games in Finland by breaking the 10,000 metres record.

2003: BBC admits Kelly was 'main source'
The BBC confirms weapons expert Dr David Kelly, found dead two days ago, was the source for reports that the government "sexed up" an Iraq dossier.

1969: Man takes first steps on the Moon American Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the Moon.

2005: Tube chaos after more blasts London's underground network is plunged into chaos after explosions on two trains and a bus - exactly a fortnight after four suicide bomb blasts in the capital.

1954: Peace deal ends Indo-China war Eight years of war come to an end as the French cede control of northern Vietnam to the Communist Viet Minh after signing the Geneva Accord.

1994: Labour chooses Blair The MP for Sedgefield, Tony Blair, is confirmed as the new leader of the Labour Party.

1974: Cyprus conflict spills into London Thousands of Greek-Cypriots in London protest about the disputed government of Cyprus.

1982: Homecoming for HMS Hermes
The flagship of the British taskforce to the Falklands, HMS Hermes, arrives back in Portsmouth.

1974: Greek military rule gives in to democracy The military government in Greece collapses and the former prime minister Constantine Karamanlis is invited to return.

2005: Dozens killed in Egypt bomb blast At least 88 people are killed in bomb attacks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh, hospital staff say.

1986: Prince Andrew weds Sarah Ferguson Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson marry at Westminster Abbey.

1984: Sellafield 'not linked' to cancer cluster A government report finds a cancer cluster near the controversial nuclear plant at Sellafield in Cumbria - but says it may not be linked to the plant.

1995: British forces sent to Sarajevo Britain sends 1,200 troops to relieve the besieged Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.

1957: Bus dispute turns violent
There have been violent scenes around Britain as the strike by busmen in the English regions enters its fourth day.

1956: Egypt seizes Suez Canal Egypt's president, Colonel Nasser, announces the nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company to provide funding for the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

1945: Churchill loses general election Clement Attlee is Britain's new prime minister after Labour win a sweeping victory over the Conservatives.

1963: Thousands killed in Yugoslav earthquake Thousands of people are feared dead as a massive earthquake rocks the Yugoslavian city of Skopje.

1994: Israel's London embassy bombed A car bomb explodes outside the Israeli embassy in London injuring 14 people.

1952: Eva Peron dies Senora Eva Peron wife of the president of the Argentine Republic, dies from cancer, aged 33.

1983: Mother loses contraception test case A mother of 10 fails to prevent doctors prescribing contraception to under-16s without parental consent.

1996: Bomb rocks Atlanta Olympics A bomb explodes in Atlanta, Georgia, the city hosting this year's Olympic Games leaving two people dead and many more injured.

1965: Heath is new Tory leader Shadow Chancellor Edward Heath beats off his rivals in the Conservative leadership contest.

1982: Seychelles coup leader guilty of hijack Mercenary leader Colonel 'Mad Mike' Hoare is found guilty of hijacking a plane to escape from a failed coup in the Seychelles.

2003: Comic legend Bob Hope dies American icon and legendary comedian Bob Hope dies just two months after celebrating his 100th birthday.

2000: Labour publishes plans to revolutionise NHS The Labour Government announces the most radical re-organisation of the NHS since it was founded in 1948.

1978: Transatlantic balloonists in trouble
Two British balloonists battling to be the first to cross the Atlantic are in difficulties half way across the ocean.

1976: Chinese earthquake kills hundreds of thousands More than 200,000 people are feared dead after an 8.3 magnitude earthquake hits China.

2005: IRA declares end to armed struggle The IRA formally orders an end to its armed campaign and says it will pursue exclusively peaceful means.

2000: Last prisoners leave the Maze Nearly 80 men imprisoned for terrorist offences are freed from the Maze prison in Northern Ireland.

1965: US orders 50,000 troops to Vietnam President Johnson commits a further 50,000 US troops to the conflict in Vietnam.

1972: National dock strike begins Thousands of British dockers begin an official strike to safeguard jobs.

1988: Ashdown to lead Britain's third party
The MP for Yeovil, Paddy Ashdown, is elected the first leader of the new Social and Liberal Democrat Party.

1986: Parents appeal for missing agent The parents of missing London estate agent Suzy Lamplugh make an emotional appeal for her safe return.

1966: Football glory for England England win football's World Cup for the first time since the tournament began in 1930.

1973: Final deal for thalidomide victims An 11-year legal battle ends with more than £20 million compensation for victims of thalidomide.

1974: Peace deal for Cyprus Greek, Turkish and UK foreign ministers sign a peace agreement for Cyprus.

1991: Pavarotti sings in the British rain Italian tenor Pavorotti celebrates 30 years in opera with a huge, free concert in Hyde Park.

1944: Uprising to free Warsaw begins The Polish Underground Army begins battle to liberate Warsaw, the first European city to fall to the Germans.

1971: Apollo 15 finds rock from birth of Moon Astronauts uncover a rock which may date back to the origin of the Moon.

2003: Hutton inquiry begins The judge investigating the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly says his first task is to flesh out "a fuller picture of the facts".

1994: Library fire wipes out historic records Thousands of historic documents and more than 100,000 books are destroyed in a blaze which ripped through Norwich Central Library early today.

1989: Britain's oldest person turns 112 Charlotte Marion Hughes from Cleveland celebrates her birthday - and enters the record books.

2001: Boy 'held prisoner for eight years'
Officers from Scotland Yard's Child Protection Team are investigating a boy's claims he was held captive in his own home for eight years.

1989: Britain's oldest person turns 112
Charlotte Marion Hughes from Cleveland celebrates her birthday - and enters the record books.

2001: Car bomb in west London injures seven A bomb explodes in a busy west London street, injuring seven people.

2003: Anglican church approves gay bishop The Anglican Church in America votes to approve the appointment of an openly gay bishop, angering religious leaders around the world.

1990: UK temperatures reach record high A weather station in Leicestershire records the highest temperature ever known in Britain.

1978: Queen opens Commonwealth Games The Queen officially opens the 11th Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.

1957: Rahman to lead independent Malaya Tunku Abdul Rahman, a British-educated Malay prince, is elected as head of state ahead of independence from Britain.

1964: Three civil rights activists found dead FBI agents uncover the bodies of three missing civil rights workers at a dam near Philadelphia, Mississippi.

1987: Moors murderer claims more killings Moors murderer Ian Brady claims he was involved in another five killings.

2002: Police 'concerned' for missing girls Police in Cambridgeshire say they are "extremely concerned" over the disappearance of two 10-year-old schoolgirls.

1972: Governor Wallace's attacker jailed The man who tried to assassinate Governor George Wallace is sentenced to 63 years in jail.

2000: Queen Mother celebrates centenary Celebrations take place all over the United Kingdom to mark the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

1991: Beirut hostage John McCarthy freed John McCarthy, Britain's longest-held hostage in Lebanon, is set free after more than five years in captivity.

1974: President Nixon to resign from office Richard Nixon announces he is to step down as president of the United States - the first man ever to do so.

1963: Train robbers make off with millions Thieves ambush the Glasgow to Euston mail train and steal thousands of pounds.

1988: Prince Andrew becomes a father The Duke and Duchess of York announce the birth of their first child.

2001: Hollywood's 'golden couple' divorce The final decree ending the marriage of Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise comes through hours after they attend the premiere of their latest movie, The Others.

1982: Krays let out for mother's funeral The notorious East End gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray have been allowed out of prison for their mother's funeral.

1999: Millions marvel at total eclipse Up to 350 million people in Europe and Asia witness the last total solar eclipse of the century.

1971: Admiral's Cup triumph for Heath Prime Minister Edward Heath steers the British yachting team to Admiral's Cup victory.

1984: Zola Budd in race trip controversy British athlete sparks controversy in the 3,000m Olympics final as American favourite Mary Decker trips over her.

2000: Air rage pair jailed Two men are jailed after an incident of "air rage" on board a holiday jet bound for Jamaica.

1961: Berliners wake to divided city Troops in East Germany seal off the border between East and West Berlin, shutting off the escape route for thousands of refugees from the East.

1966: China announces Cultural Revolution China announces plans for a "new leap forward" after the first meeting in four years of the Communist Party's Central Committee.

1977: Violent clashes at NF march More than 200 protesters are arrested after demonstrations in Lewisham against a National Front march.

1985: Heart-lung transplant makes history A three-year-old boy from Dublin becomes the world's youngest heart and lung transplant patient.

1991: Prince quits in museum design row The Prince of Wales resigns as the patron of Scotland's national museum over a competition to design a new building.

1992: Serbian prison camps condemned Conditions in two Serbian detention camps are condemned as "hell on earth" by the man leading a delegation to inspect them.

1964: South Africa banned from Olympics South Africa are barred from taking part in the 18th Olympic Games in Tokyo over its refusal to condemn apartheid.

1989: Man U sold in record takeover deal Manchester United Football Club is sold for £20m in the biggest takeover deal in the history of British football.

1969: Woodstock music festival ends Three days and nights of sex, drugs and rock and roll come to a peaceful end as the Woodstock music festival winds down.

1971: British Army shot 'unarmed' disabled man The British Army is accused of shooting dead an unarmed, disabled man during disturbances in Northern Ireland.

1987: Gunman kills 14 in Hungerford rampage A man shoots 14 people dead in the Berkshire town of Hungerford.

1991: Hardliners stage coup against Gorbachev Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev is overthrown in a coup as Communist hardliners take over.

2003: UN envoy dies in Baghdad bombing A massive bomb wrecks the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, killing at least 17 people including the UN's chief envoy to Iraq.

1942: Allies launch daring raid on Dieppe Allied troops, mainly Canadian, pull back after nine hours of heavy fighting on the French coast at Dieppe, northwest of Paris.

1960: Moscow jails American U-2 spy pilot The United States pilot, Francis Gary Powers, is sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Soviet military court.

1975: Davis campaigners stop Test match Campaigners calling for the release of robber George Davis from prison vandalise the pitch at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds.

1993: Michael Jackson accused of child abuse Police in Los Angeles are investigating allegations of child abuse made against singer Michael Jackson.

1985: Sleeping boy killed in police raid A five-year-old boy is shot dead in a police raid on his home in Birmingham.

1990: Irish hostage released in Lebanon The Irish hostage, Brian Keenan, is released in Beirut after more than four years in captivity.

1954: Brazilian president found dead Brazilian president Getulio Vargas resigns under pressure from the military and then commits suicide just hours later.

1967: Penguins cool off in heat wave Two penguins from Chessington Zoo are taken on a day trip to a local ice-rink to cool off during sweltering London temperatures.

1959: US to 'stand by' West Germans America will stand by West Germans in their efforts to remain strong and free, the US President pledges.

1975: Rhodesia peace talks fail Talks between the Rhodesian Government and the African National Council collapse acrimoniously.

1985: Budd smashes 5,000m record Controversial athlete Zola Budd breaks the world 5,000m record.

1994: Man gets 'bionic' heart A man is given the world's first battery-operated heart in a pioneering operation in Britain.

1962: Abortion mother returns home An American mother-of-four is on her way home amid a storm of controversy after having an abortion in Sweden.

1997: Princess Diana dies in Paris crash Diana, Princess of Wales, is killed after her car crashes in a Paris underpass - the driver and her friend Dodi Fayed are also dead.

1994: IRA declares 'complete' ceasefire The IRA announces a "complete cessation of military operations" after 25 years of bombing and killing.

1959: Anglo-US TV debate makes history British prime minister Harold Macmillan and American president Dwight Eisenhower give an historic live television broadcast from Downing Street.

1977: Smith keeps power in Rhodesia Ian Smith's ruling Rhodesian Front wins an overwhelming victory in the country's general election.

1989: Royal couple to separate Buckingham Palace confirms that after 16 years of marriage Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips are to live apart.

1957: Malaya celebrates independence
The Federation of Malaya becomes independent from Britain after a midnight handover ceremony.

Whiskers wrote:

I can't believe its 9 years since Diana died 

Kitkat wrote:

Whiskers wrote:

I can't believe its 9 years since Diana died 

Neither can I, Whiskers ...

.....  But I can believe that she died nineteen years ago.

1945: Japan signs unconditional surrender Japanese officials sign the act of unconditional surrender, finally bringing to an end six years of world war.

1979: Ripper suspected of 12th murder Police discover the body of a young woman - thought to be the 12th victim of the "Yorkshire Ripper" - in an alleyway near the centre of Bradford.

1984: Seven killed in Sydney biker shootings A 14-year-old girl and six bikers are killed in a gun battle between rival gangs in a suburb of Sydney, Australia.

1994: Roy Castle loses battle with cancer Entertainer and television presenter Roy Castle dies from cancer at his Buckinghamshire home, just two days after his 62nd birthday.

1951: Designers prepare to dazzle Venice British designers hold a fashion show of 40 outfits they plan to show at the Venice Biennale arts festival.

1940: London blitzed by German bombers The German airforce unleashes a wave of heavy bombing raids on London, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring many more.

1992: Troops kill 24 at ANC rally At least 24 people are killed and 150 injured when soldiers fire on an African National Congress demonstration in South Africa.

1952: Egyptian army ousts prime minister Following the recent coup in Egypt, General Mohammed Neguib forces Aly Maher out of office and assumes control himself.

1978: Callaghan accused of running scared The UK Prime Minister announces he will not call an election this autumn, prompting criticism from the Opposition.

1984: Epidemic 'spreads to second hospital' Three more people die in the food poisoning epidemic at hospitals in Yorkshire, bringing the total number of deaths to 22.

1943: Italy's surrender announced General Dwight D Eisenhower tells the world of the secret capitulation five days ago by the Italian Government.

1950: Miners trapped underground by landslide Rescuers say 116 miners trapped in Knockshinnoch Castle colliery in Scotland following a landslide are safe.

1998: Real IRA announce ceasefire The dissident republican group behind Northern Ireland's worst atrocity declares its violence at an end.

2000: French fuel protests spread to UK The fuel protests which have been crippling France for the past week reach Britain with a series of actions across the country.

1986: Pinochet survives rebel ambush The president of Chile escapes an attempt on his life in a fierce attack killing five of his bodyguards and wounding 11 more.

1998: Real IRA announce ceasefire
The dissident republican group behind Northern Ireland's worst atrocity declares its violence at an end.

1971: British diplomat freed after eight months The British Ambassador, Geoffrey Jackson, is released eight months after being captured by extreme left-wing guerrillas in Uruguay.

1987: Liverpool fans to stand trial in Belgium Twenty-five English football fans involved in the Heysel stadium disaster are extradited to Belgium.

1999: Report urges sweeping reform of RUC The Royal Ulster Constabulary should undergo wholesale reform, a Police Review Commission report recommends.

1976: Chairman Mao Zedong dies The leader of the Chinese revolution Chairman Mao Zedong dies at the age of 82.

1988: Indian cricket tour 'cancelled' English cricket captain Graham Gooch and seven other members of his squad are refused visas to travel to India.

2001: US declares war on terror The President of the United States describes the destruction caused in New York and Washington as an act of war against all freedom-loving people.

1977: Steve Biko dies in custody The leader of the black consciousness movement in South Africa, Steve Biko, dies in police custody.

2005: England win the Ashes England take the Ashes from Australia for the first time since 1987 after the "best ever" series.

1970: Hijacked jets destroyed by guerrillas Palestinian militants blow up the three planes they have been holding at an airfield in the Jordanian desert.

1959: Soviets launch rocket at the Moon A massive Russian rocket, carrying 860lb (391kg) of scientific instruments, is successfully launched at the Moon.

1997: Scots say 'Yes' to home rule Scotland votes decisively for home rule in a referendum on how they want the country to be governed.

2003: Johnny Cash dies
One of the great legends of country music, Johnny Cash, dies after a short illness.

1986: Kinross Miners 'killed where they stood' At least 177 people die during a lethal fire in a South African gold mine.

1978: Thousands dead in Iran earthquake An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale hits south-east Iran demolishing a major city and dozens of surrounding villages.

1977: T-Rex singer killed in car smash Pop star Marc Bolan is killed in a car crash in south-west London.

1992: UK crashes out of ERM The government suspends Britain's membership of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

1968: Post Office backs first class service The new two-tier postal service proves confusing for customers, but the Post Office says it will raise extra cash.

1985: Mexico suffers devastating earthquake A massive quake under Mexico City kills and injures thousands, devastating three states along the Pacific coast.

1997: Six dead in Southall train disaster An Intercity 125 ploughs into a freight train in west London, killing six and injuring more than 150.

1972: Parcel bomb attack on Israeli embassy A diplomat at the Israeli embassy in London is killed by a letter bomb.

1986: Two dead in Midlands rail crash Two passenger trains crash in Staffordshire, killing two people and injuring almost a hundred more.

2003: Washington DC swept by hurricane Hurricane Isabel hits the east coast of the United States and sweeps through the capital.

1952: US Immigration slams door on Chaplin
The United States prevents film legend Charlie Chaplin from returning to Hollywood until he is investigated by the Immigration Services.

1998: Clinton's Grand Jury testimony released Bill Clinton's testimony about his relationship with a young female assistant is released to the United States public.

1979: Harrier crash kills three An RAF plane crashes onto houses in a Cambridgeshire town, killing two men and a young boy.

1955: Britain claims Rockall Britain has annexed a rocky islet 300 miles west of Scotland to stop the Soviets spying on missile tests, the Admiralty announces.

1984: Maltby picket sparks violence Police and miners clash at a pit in South Yorkshire in one of the biggest pickets since the strike began.

1969: Police storm squat in Piccadilly Police raid a 100-room mansion in Piccadilly and evict squatters who have occupied the building for the last six days.

Whiskers wrote:

1955: Britain claims Rockall Britain has annexed a rocky islet 300 miles west of Scotland to stop the Soviets spying on missile tests, the Admiralty announces.

The issue of Rockall has in the past been a source of some public and political controversy in both Ireland and in the United Kingdom.  Much of that controversy was due to unresolved fears on either side regarding the division as between the two countries in the sea area around that rock.  ...In particular, jurisdiction over Rockall  was thought to be central to the mineral rights in the adjacent seabed,  as well as to national fishing rights in the surrounding seas

1975: First Britons conquer Everest Dougal Haston and Doug Scott become the first Britons to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain.

1980: Iraq bombs Iran as hostilities increase Iraqi planes bomb and set on fire Iran's Kharg Island crude oil export terminal.

1976: White rule in Rhodesia to end The Rhodesian Government agrees to introduce black majority rule to the country within two years.

1992: Mellor resigns over sex scandal David Mellor resigns as heritage minister, blaming his departure on a constant barrage of hostile stories in the tabloid press.

1988: Gold for Johnson in 100m sprint Ben Johnson wins the 100m gold at the Seoul Olympics and reaffirms his position as the world's fastest man.

1944: Airborne troops retreat from Arnhem British and Polish soldiers withdraw from Arnhem after days of fierce fighting with little food or water.

1960: Kennedy and Nixon clash in TV debate Almost 70 million Americans tune in to watch the first ever televised debate between the two presidential candidates.

1984: UK and China agree Hong Kong handover Britain and China finalise proposals to end 150 years of British rule in Hong Kong.

1997: Earthquakes rock central Italy Two earthquakes kill 10 people and severely damage priceless art treasures in central Italy.

1973: Concorde slashes Atlantic flight time Concorde makes its first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic in record-breaking time.

1979: Pope calls for peace in Ireland Pope John Paul II calls on the people of Ireland to end all violence and return to "the ways of peace".

1960: Khrushchev anger erupts at UN Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschchev thumps his desk and interrupts UN speeches to show disapproval.

1978: Catholics mourn Pope's death The leader of the Roman Catholic Church dies after the shortest papal reign in history.

1988: Shuttle blasts US back into space The United States successfully launches its first manned space mission since the Challenger disaster two and a half years ago.

1997: Scientists confirm brain diseases link British scientists say they have established a link between a human brain disease - vCJD - and one found in cows - BSE.

1957: Sputnik satellite blasts into space A Russian satellite has been launched into space - the first man-made object ever to leave the Earth's atmosphere.

1992: El Al jumbo crashes in Amsterdam An Israeli Boeing 747 cargo plane crashes in the outskirts of Amsterdam killing dozens of people.

1993: US forces killed in Somali gun battle At least five US soldiers die and two Blackhawk helicopters are shot down in a firefight with Mogadishu warlords.

1976: New train speeds into service British Rail begins its new 125mph Intercity 'High Speed Train' service today.

1965: Immigrants feel at home with BBC The BBC announces it will begin broadcasting a new programme for immigrants from next week.

1981: Egypt's President Sadat assassinated President Sadat of Egypt dies after being shot by gunmen at a military parade.

1986: Nuclear technician missing after secrets leak Fears grow for the missing nuclear technician who has disappeared in London.

1973: Arab states attack Israeli forces Heavy fighting erupts between Arab and Israeli forces along two fronts as Egypt and Syria attempt to re-take land occupied since 1967.

1985: Policeman killed in Tottenham riots A police officer is hacked to death by a mob during riots at the Broadwater Farm housing estate in North London.

2000: Milosevic quits, street celebrations continue Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic resigns under mounting pressure after allegations of vote-rigging.

1953: Britain sends troops to Guiana
Naval and military forces are on their way to British Guiana in response to what the UK Government says is a threat to the administration of the British colony.

1976: China's 'Gang of Four' arrested The new head of the Communist Party, Hua Goufeng, snuffs out a coup led by Chairman Mao's widow Jiang Qing and three others party members.

1974: Labour scrapes working majority Harold Wilson's Labour government wins a second term in office - but only just.

1982: Mary Rose rises after 437 years The Mary Rose, flagship of King Henry VIII, rises to the surface after 437 years at the bottom of the Solent.

1967: Harold Wilson wins Moving apology The Move pop group apologises in the High Court to the Prime Minister for a "violent and malicious personal attack".

1987: Search ends for Loch Ness monster A huge sonar exploration of Loch Ness fails to find the world famous monster known affectionately as Nessie.

1976: Bolivian plane crashes in Santa Cruz Dozens die on the ground when a Boeing 707 crashes into a busy city street in the west of Bolivia.

1994: Loyalists announce a ceasefire Three main loyalist paramilitary groups announce a ceasefire in Northern Ireland following the IRA announcement seven weeks ago.

1992: Thousands of miners to lose their jobs The government announces plans to close one third of Britain's deep coal mines, putting 31,000 miners out of work.

1988: Government loses Spycatcher battle The British Government fails to stop publication of the controversial book Spycatcher, written by a former secret service agent.

1971: Army blasts N Ireland border roads British Army engineers are blowing up minor border roads in Northern Ireland to crack down on IRA gun-running.

1969: Millions march in US Vietnam Moratorium Americans take part in peace initiatives across the United States to protest against the continuing war in Vietnam.

1964: Khrushchev 'retires' as head of USSR News of the sudden departure of flamboyant Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev comes as a surprise to the West.

1999: Police award Silcott damages The Metropolitan Police announces a huge out-of-court settlement to Winston Silcott, wrongly accused over the murder of a policeman during riots in north London in 1985.

1976: UDR men jailed for Showband killings Two men from the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) are jailed for 35 years in connection with the murders of members of the Miami Showband.

1987: Fiji one step closer to a republic The Queen accepts the resignation of the Governor-General of Fiji at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Vancouver.

1989: East Germany leader ousted The Communist leader of East Germany, Erich Honecker, is forced to step down as leader of the country after a series of health problems.

1963: Aristocrat is new prime minister A Scottish Earl, Lord Home, wins a bitter contest for the leadership of the Conservative Party to become Britain's new prime minister.

1967: Soviets glimpse beneath clouds of Venus The Soviet Union sends a space probe beneath the cloud cover around Venus for the first time.

1976: Funeral of Mafia boss held in NY The funeral of Carlo Gambino takes place in New York following his death on Friday.

2000: Hurley mocked at premiere Liz Hurley has been greeted by protesters at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film Bedazzled.

1967: Thousands join anti-war movement Thousands of demonstrators in Oakland, California, hold the biggest protest yet against the Vietnam War.

1983: Grenada's prime minister 'assassinated' Eyewitnesses say the prime minister and seven of his colleagues have been killed during a hardline military coup.

2000: British activist freed from Burma Human rights activist James Mawdsley is released from prison in Burma where he has been held since 1999.

1973: Dalai Lama makes first UK visit The leader of Tibet's Buddhists arrives in Britain where he will stay for 10 days to "administer vows".

1988: New law could erode right to silence The British Government announces plans to change the law so that remaining silent could incriminate rather than protect a suspect.

1994: Israel and Jordan make peace At a ceremony in the desert witnessed by US President Clinton, Jordan and Israel sign a peace agreement ending 46 years of war.

1979: South Korean President killed The President of South Korea, Park Chung Hee, is "accidentally" shot dead by the chief of his intelligence service, Kim Jea Kyu.

1956: Fighting spreads in Hungary revolution The Hungarian Prime Minister, Imre Nagy, appeals for calm as demonstrators battle with Soviet troops.

2000: Ministers 'misled' public on BSE The long awaited report into the spread of BSE or "mad cow disease" and its fatal human equivalent, vCJD, criticises officials, scientists and government ministers.

1951: Churchill wins general election The Conservatives defeat Labour in the general election by a small majority making Winston Churchill prime minister for the second time.

Whiskers wrote:Sorry for missing days. Not been around, busy busy.  I can relax now!
Here is todays This day in History---

ps Did anyone miss me?  

1994: Israel and Jordan make peace
At a ceremony in the desert witnessed by US President Clinton, Jordan and Israel sign a peace agreement ending 46 years of war.