2000 White farmer shot dead in Zimbabwe

A white farmer in Zimbabwe has been shot dead by squatters occupying his land. David Stevens was taken from his property 75 miles (120 kilometres) east

1970 Critical explosion cripples Apollo 13

An explosion on board Apollo 13 has caused one of the most critical situations in American space history and put the lives of the three astronauts on

1975 Beirut street battle leaves 17 dead

At least 17 people have been killed and 30 wounded in an ambush by right-wing Lebanese forces on a bus carrying Palestinians in Beirut. Reports are

1998 Northern Ireland peace deal reached

The Northern Ireland peace talks have ended with an historic agreement. The accord - dubbed the Good Friday Agreement - was reached after nearly two years of

1999 President of Niger ‘killed in ambush’

The president of Niger, Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, has been shot dead in an apparent coup attempt. However, his death has been described as a “tragic accident” by

2000 Asylum voucher scheme enforced

Asylum seekers in the UK will now receive vouchers to buy food and clothes, under controversial plans which have come into effect despite months of criticism.

1998 Papon guilty of war crimes

Former French cabinet minister Maurice Papon has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for his part in deporting Jews from France during World War II.

1957 BBC fools the nation

The BBC has received a mixed reaction to a spoof documentary broadcast this evening about spaghetti crops in Switzerland. The hoax Panorama programme, narrated by distinguished

1986 Greater London Council abolished

Thousands of people have taken part in festivities to mark the historic final hours of 97 years of local rule in London. A throng of 250,000

1981 President Reagan is shot

President Ronald Reagan has been shot and wounded after a lone gunman opened fire in Washington. He is currently undergoing emergency surgery at George Washington University

1989 Millions of Russians go to the polls

Millions of Russian voters have gone to the polls, with early results suggesting that a number of Communist candidates have been rejected by the electorate. The

2000 Pope prays for Holocaust forgiveness

Pope John Paul II has prayed for forgiveness of the sins of those involved in the Holocaust. However, he avoided any admission of Church “guilt” over alleged

1975 Saudi’s King Faisal assassinated

King Faisal of Saudi Arabia has died after a gun attack in Riyadh despite the efforts of doctors to save him. The king was rushed to

1992 Punch ends 150 years of satire

Punch, Britain’s oldest satirical magazine, is to close after suffering crippling losses of £1.5m a year. The decision ends a publishing tradition dating back almost 151

1983 Reagan launches Cold War into space

President Reagan has unveiled plans to combat nuclear war in space. The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) proposes a defensive shield, using laser or particle beam technology to “intercept

2003 US launches missiles against Saddam

American missiles have hit the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, signalling the start of the US-led campaign to topple Saddam Hussein. President George Bush delivered a live television

1982 Argentine flag hoisted on S Georgia

A group of Argentines have landed at the British colony of the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic and planted their nation’s flag. About 50 Argentines

1974 Violent border clashes at Golan Heights

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed and three others injured in the worst day of violence along the Golan Heights in three months. Initial reports say

1968 Anti-Vietnam demo turns violent

More than 200 people have been arrested after thousands of demonstrators clashed in an anti-Vietnam war protest outside the United States embassy in London. The St

2001 Teenage woman guilty of rape

An 18-year-old woman has been convicted of rape after she pinned down a victim during a horrific gang sex attack. Claire Marsh is thought to be

1979 Grenada leader ousted by coup

A coup in the Caribbean island of Grenada has toppled the country’s controversial Prime Minister, Sir Eric Gairy. Sir Eric was at the United Nations in New

1969 Paul McCartney weds Linda Eastman

Paul McCartney has married Linda Eastman in a civil ceremony in London. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Marylebone Register Office to catch a glimpse of

1977 Roman Polanski charged with rape

Film director Roman Polanski has been charged with raping a 13-year-old girl at the home of Hollywood star Jack Nicholson. The 43-year-old, who is out on

1990 Observer ‘spy’ sentenced to die

A court in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has imposed the death sentence on The Observer journalist Farzad Bazoft. He has been convicted of spying for Israel

1973 Northern Ireland votes for union

The people of Northern Ireland have voted overwhelmingly to remain within the United Kingdom. In a referendum on the future of the province, 591,280 people or 57%

1957 Ghana celebrates independence

The people of Ghana have been celebrating the end of colonial rule and the dawn of their independence. Most workers have been given the day off

1956 US court victory for black students

The United States Supreme Court has upheld a ban on racial segregation in state schools, colleges and universities. The University of North Carolina was appealing against

1975 Comic genius Chaplin is knighted

Silent film legend Charlie Chaplin has become Sir Charles after a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The star of such films as The Kid and The Great

1966 BBC tunes in to colour

The BBC has announced plans to begin broadcasting television programmes in colour from next year. Britain will be the first country in Europe to offer regular programming

1950 Communist spy jailed for 14 years

A top nuclear scientist has been jailed for fourteen years at the Old Bailey for spying for the Soviet Union. Klaus Emil Julius Fuchs, 38, a

1953 Spelling bill passes second reading

A proposal to simplify English spelling has cleared its second hurdle in parliament. After a second debate MPs in the House of Commons voted by 65

1993 World Trade Center bomb terrorises New York

A suspected car bomb has exploded underneath the World Trade Center in New York killing at least five people and injuring scores more. The bombing has

1986 Corazon Aquino is Philippines president

The new Philippines president Corazon Aquino is sworn in today, bringing to an end years of dictatorship under Ferdinand Marcos. Former leader Mr Marcos, who changed

1959 Macmillan and Khrushchev talk peace

Britain and the USSR have expressed a willingness to expand Anglo-Soviet trade and cultural ties during the first official meeting between British prime minister Harold Macmillan and

1972 Hijackers surrender and free Lufthansa crew

A group of Palestinian hijackers who took over a Lufthansa jet in the skies over India two days ago has released the crew and surrendered at an

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