1981: Rebel army seizes control in Spain.
Soldiers and members of the Civil Guard storm the Spanish Parliament threatening the fledgling democracy, once ruled by dictator General Franco.

1986: Corazon Aquino is Philippines president.
The new Philippines president Corazon Aquino is sworn in today, bringing to an end 20 years of dictatorship under Ferdinand Marcos.

1991: Iraqi troops flee Kuwait City.
The Kuwaiti capital is liberated by the Gulf War Allies after 208 days of Iraqi occupation.

1953: Spelling bill passes second reading.
A proposal to simplify English spelling has cleared its second hurdle in parliament.

2000: Nuclear chief quits over safety scandal.
British Nuclear Fuels confirms its chief executive, John Taylor, has resigned over a safety scandal.

1954: US tests hydrogen bomb in Bikini.
The biggest explosion ever made by man is witnessed in the Pacific when US scientists explode their second H-bomb at Bikini Atoll.

1969: Concorde flies for the first time.
The supersonic airliner Concorde makes a "faultless" maiden flight.

1966: BBC tunes in to colour.
The BBC announces plans to begin broadcasting television programmes in colour from next year.

1975: Comic genius Chaplin is knighted.
Silent film legend Charlie Chaplin has become Sir Charles after a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

1953: Soviet leader 'on brink of death'.
Rumours are circulating in Moscow that Joseph Stalin, the long-time leader of the Soviet Union, is near death.

1987: Hundreds trapped as car ferry capsizes.
Forty-nine people are confirmed dead and dozens are missing as a car ferry capsizes just outside the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

1969: Israel elects first female leader.
Golda Meir has been elected as the first female prime minister of Israel following Levi Eshkol's death.

1950: Gas turbine car gets road test.
Car manufacturers Rover unveil the first car powered with a gas turbine engine.

1973: Northern Ireland votes for union.
The people of Northern Ireland vote overwhelmingly to remain within the United Kingdom.