This Day In History
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2003 The Terminator takes on California
The film star Arnold Schwarzenegger has been elected governor of California, ousting the incumbent, Gray Davis, three years before his term was due to ... -
1985 Gunmen hijack Italian cruise liner
Palestinian militants have hijacked an Italian cruise liner, the Achille Lauro, in the Mediterranean and threatened to blow it up. The gunmen are demanding ... -
1973 Arab states attack Israeli forces
Heavy fighting has erupted between Arab and Israeli forces along two fronts. To the south, Egyptian armoured forces have broken the Israeli line on ... -
1975 Muhammad Ali wins ‘Thrilla in Manila’
US boxer Muhammad Ali has retained the world heavyweight boxing championship after defeating his arch-rival, Joe Frazier, in their third and arguably greatest fight. ... -
1955 James Dean killed in car smash
The Hollywood film star James Dean has been killed in a road accident in California, USA. The 24-year-old actor was behind the wheel of ... -
1979 Pope calls for peace in Ireland
Pope John Paul II has called on the people of Ireland to end all violence and return to “the ways of peace”. The 57-year-old ... -
1980 Iraq bombs Iran as hostilities increase
Iraqi planes have bombed and set on fire Iran’s Kharg Island crude oil export terminal. Iranian officials have confirmed oil exports from the terminal, ... -
1952 Charlie Chaplin comes home
World famous film actor and director Charlie Chaplin has returned to England for the first time in 21 years. He arrived with his wife ... -
1978 Kenya’s founding father dies
Kenya’s president, Jomo Kenyatta, has died at his home in Mombasa. An official announcement on Voice of Kenya radio said Mr Kenyatta died peacefully ... -
1998 Clinton’s Grand Jury testimony released
Bill Clinton’s testimony about his relationship with a young female assistant has been released to the United States public. The video of the American ... -
1970 Rock legend Hendrix dies after party
Guitarist Jimi Hendrix has died after collapsing at a party in London. Police say there was no question of foul play. A number of ... -
1993 Shock as racist wins council seat
The British National Party has won its first council seat in a by-election in East London, provoking fear in the local Asian community. Unemployed ... -
1986 Kinross Miners ‘killed where they stood’
At least 177 people have died during a lethal fire in a South African gold mine. Poisonous gas spread rapidly through the shafts and ... -
2000 UK fuel protesters go back home
The fuel protests which have paralysed Britain for seven days, causing a crisis in the NHS, emptying supermarkets shelves and closing schools, have ended. ... -
1981 Queen’s ‘fantasy assassin’ jailed
A teenage boy who fired blank shots at the Queen during a Trooping of the Colour ceremony has pleaded guilty to a charge under ... -
2001 US rocked by day of terror
The United States is in a state of shock after a day of attacks which have left thousands dead and New York’s World Trade ... -
1963 American Express comes to Britain
American Express, one of the world’s largest banking houses, has opened a credit card service in Britain. Holders of the cards will be able ... -
1976 Chairman Mao Zedong dies
The chief architect of the Chinese revolution, Chairman Mao Zedong, has died at the age of 82. His death – at 10 minutes past ... -
1986 Pinochet survives rebel ambush
The president of Chile has escaped an attempt on his life in a fierce attack which killed five of his bodyguards and wounded 11 ... -
1984 Epidemic ‘spreads to second hospital’
Three more people have died in the food poisoning epidemic at hospitals in Yorkshire bringing the total number of deaths to 22. The outbreak ... -
1957 Homosexuality ‘should not be a crime’
A report sponsored by the government has suggested homosexual behaviour between consenting adults should no longer be a criminal offence. The proposal is the ... -
1976 Hull prison riot ends
The last protesting imates at Hull’s top-security prison have finally surrendered after 67 hours on the rampage. The protest ended peacefully after negotiations with ... -
1945 Japan signs unconditional surrender
Japanese officials have signed the act of unconditional surrender, finally bringing to an end six years of world war. In the presence of 50 ... -
1939 Germany invades Poland
German forces have invaded Poland and its planes have bombed Polish cities, including the capital, Warsaw. The attack comes without any warning or declaration ... -
1997 Princess Diana dies in Paris crash
Diana, Princess of Wales, has died after a car crash in Paris. She was taken to hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning ... -
1963 King’s dream for racial harmony
The fight for racial equality in the United States moved a step closer to victory today as Martin Luther King spoke of his dream ... -
1979 Soldiers die in Warrenpoint massacre
At least 18 soldiers have been killed in two booby-trap bomb attacks at Warrenpoint, South Down, close to the border with the Irish Republic. ... -
1959 US to ‘stand by’ West Germans
America will stand by West Germans in their efforts to remain strong and free, the United States President has pledged. President Dwight D Eisenhower ... -
1967 ‘American Hitler’ shot dead
The leader of the American Nazi party, George Lincoln Rockwell, has been shot and killed by a sniper at a shopping centre in Arlington, ... -
1993 Michael Jackson accused of child abuse
Police in Los Angeles are investigating allegations of child abuse made against singer Michael Jackson. They have refused to give details but it has ... -
1968 Russia brings winter to ‘Prague Spring’
Dozens of people have been killed in a massive military clampdown in Czechoslovakia by five Warsaw Pact countries. Several members of the liberal Czechoslovak ... -
1978 Two dead after El Al crew ambushed
Two people have died and nine have been injured during an attack on a bus carrying Israelis in central London. The bus was taking ... -
2003 UN envoy dies in Baghdad bombing
A massive bomb has wrecked the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, killing at least 17 people including the UN’s chief envoy to Iraq, Sergio ... -
1989 Man U sold in record takeover deal
Manchester United Football Club has been sold for £20m in the biggest takeover deal in the history of British football. The new owner is ... -
1998 Clinton admits Lewinsky affair
President of the United States Bill Clinton has admitted having an inappropriate relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. In a televised address ...
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