Tag: This Day in History
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This Day in history | 1991 Maxwell business empire faces bankruptcy
Administrators have been called in to try to salvage the Maxwell business empire, which is at least £1bn in debt. At 1100 GMT two sons of ... -
This Day in History | 2003 US pulls back from steel trade war
The US President, George W Bush, has withdrawn a punitive tax on imported steel to avoid a damaging trade war between the United States and Europe. ... -
This Day in History | 1984 Hundreds die in Bhopal chemical accident
Hundreds of people have died from the effects of toxic gases which leaked from a chemical factory near the central Indian city of Bhopal. The accident ... -
This Day in History | 1954 – US pledges to defend Nationalist China
US President Dwight D Eisenhower has announced the signing of a pact of mutual security with the Nationalist Chinese Government. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles ... -
This Day in History | 1993 – Secret meetings with IRA revealed
The Conservative government has come under attack in the Commons over the revelations it has had secret contacts with the IRA. Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick ... -
This Day in History | 1990 Tearful farewell from Iron Lady
Britain has a new prime minister for the first time in more than 11 years. Margaret Thatcher formally tendered her resignation to the Queen early this ... -
This Day in History | 1990: Tories choose Major for Number 10
John Major is to be Britain’s new prime minister after winning the Conservatives’ leadership election. Mr Major, 47, will visit the Queen at 1030 BST tomorrow ... -
This Day in History | 1983 – £25m gold heist at Heathrow
An armed gang has carried out Britain’s largest ever robbery at London’s Heathrow Airport. Over £25m worth of gold bullion bound for the Far East was ... -
This Day in History | 1973 Army deposes ‘hated’ Greek president
The Greek Government has been toppled by the country’s armed forces after weeks of unrest. There appears to have been little or no resistance when tanks ... -
This Day in History | 2003 England win Rugby World Cup
England have won the Rugby World Cup, beating Australia 20-17 in a game which is already entering the history books as one of the country’s great ... -
This Day in History | 1995 Balkan leaders agree to peace
A peace settlement for war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina has been brokered in the United States. US President Bill Clinton announced the deal after 21 days of seemingly deadlocked ... -
This Day in History | 1995 Diana admits adultery in TV interview
Diana, Princess of Wales, has spoken openly for the first time about her separation from the Prince of Wales in a frank interview for the BBC’s ... -
This Day in History | 1969 Second Apollo mission lands on Moon
The crew of the latest Apollo mission has carried out the second manned landing on the Moon’s surface. Apollo 12 almost failed before it began because ... -
This Day in History | 1989 – Police crush Prague protest rally
Riot police in Czechoslovakia have arrested hundreds of people taking part in a protest march. More than 15,000 people, mostly students, took part in the demonstration, ... -
This Day in History | 1985 – Anglo-Irish agreement signed
Britain and the Republic of Ireland have signed a deal giving Dublin a role in Northern Ireland for the first time in more than 60 years. ... -
This Day in History | 1977 – Firefighters strike over pay claim
Firefighters are claiming widespread support for their first national strike, over a 30% pay demand. The 30,000-strong Fire Brigades Union claims 97.5% of its members have ... -
This Day in History | 1979 – Times returns after year-long dispute
The Times newspaper has been published for the first time in nearly a year. The paper’s disappearance from news stands followed a dispute between management and ... -
This Day in History | 1997 – ‘Great Train Robber’ escapes extradition again
The so-called ‘Great Train Robber’, Ronnie Biggs, is celebrating after Brazil’s Supreme Court rejected a British request to extradite him. The court in Rio de Janeiro ... -
This Day in History | 1965 – Rhodesia breaks from UK
The Rhodesian Government, led by Prime Minister Ian Smith, has illegally severed its links with the British Crown. Mr Smith made the Unilateral Declaration of Independence ... -
This Day in History | 2000 – Bush and Gore fight to the finish
The result of the American presidential election is still hanging in the balance hours after the last polls officially closed. Votes are still being counted in ... -
This Day in History | 1972 – Nixon takes second term by landslide
President Richard Nixon has won an overwhelming victory in the US presidential elections for a second term in the White House. He took 61% of the ... -
This Day in History | 1996 – ‘Comeback Kid’ wins second term
Bill Clinton is basking in a resounding victory over Republican Bob Dole and the prospect of four more years in the White House. He is the ... -
This Day in History | 1991 – Publisher Robert Maxwell dies at sea
The body of the millionaire newspaper publisher, Robert Maxwell, has been found in the sea off the coast of Tenerife. Mr Maxwell’s body was discovered at ... -
This Day in History | 1995 Israeli PM shot dead
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin has been assassinated. Mr Rabin was shot three times at close range in the stomach and chest by an assailant as ... -
This Day in History | 1990 – Howe resigns over Europe policy
The UK’s deputy Prime Minister, Sir Geoffrey Howe, has resigned. He informed the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of his decision at around 1800 on Thursday. Sir ... -
This Day in History | 2003 End of Mahathir era in Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, has handed over power and stepped down after 22 years in office. The change of leadership to Mohamad’s deputy, ... -
This Day in History | 1981 – Euthanasia chief jailed over suicides
The secretary of the UK’s pro-euthanasia group Exit has been jailed for two and a half years for aiding and abetting suicide. Nicholas Reed was found ... -
This Day in History | 1975 Franco’s 36-year reign ends
General Franco’s dictatorship has effectively ended with the announcement heir designate Prince Juan Carlos will take over as provisional head of state for Spain. The move ... -
This Day in History | 1979 Chairman Hua arrives in London
The first Chinese leader to visit Britain, Chairman Hua Kuo-Feng, has arrived in London at the start of a six-day visit. He was welcomed at Heathrow ... -
This Day in History | 1984 Europe grants emergency aid for Ethiopia
The EEC is donating £1.8 million to help combat the famine in Ethiopia. Officials from Oxfam, Save the Children, Christian Aid and the Red Cross believe ... -
This Day in History | 1945 United Nations Organisation is born
The United Nations Organisation has been formally inaugurated during a short ceremony at the US State Department in Washington. A total of 29 countries ratified the ... -
This Day in History | 1956 Hungarians rise up against Soviet rule
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Hungary to demand an end to Soviet rule. There are believed to have been ... -
This Day in History | 1966 – Double-agent breaks out of jail
One of Britain’s most notorious double-agents, George Blake, has escaped from prison in London after a daring break-out believed to have been masterminded by the Soviet ... -
This Day in History | 1982 Sinn Fein triumph in elections
Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Provisional IRA, has won its first seats in the elections to the new Ulster Assembly. Gerry Adams, vice president ... -
This Day in History | 1963 – Aristocrat is new prime minister
A Scottish Earl has won one of the most bitterly-fought leadership contests in the history of the Conservative Party to become Britain’s next Prime Minister. As ...
