On this day

64 B.C.E. - The Great Fire of Rome started and within 9 days, two-thirds of the city was destroyed.

1290 – King Edward I of England issues the Edict of Expulsion, banishing all Jews (numbering about 16,000) from England.

1817 - Jane Austen, English novelist of Pride and Prejudice died, aged 41.

1872 - Britain introduced the concept of voting by secret ballot.

1920 - The unveiling of the Cenotaph War memorial in Whitehall, London to commemorate the war dead. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and takes its name from the Greek words kenos and taphos meaning empty tomb.

1936 - The Spanish Civil War began. It was the first major military contest between left-wing forces and Fascists led by General Francisco Franco, and has been called the first chapter of World War II.

1942 – World War II: the Germans test fly the Messerschmitt Me-262 using only its jet engines for the first time.

1955 – The first Disneyland theme park, in Anaheim, California, officially opens to the public.

1968 – The Intel Corporation is founded in Santa Clara, California.

1995 – On the Caribbean island of Montserrat, the Soufriere Hills volcano erupts. Over the course of several years, it devastates the island, destroying the capital and forcing most of the population to flee.

2003 - The body of government scientist Dr David Kelly was found in woodland, in Oxfordshire. Dr Kelly had been at the centre of a row between the British Government and the BBC about the use of intelligence reports in the run up to the war against Iraq.

(18-07-2011 09:40 )bombshell Wrote:  The News of the World supported Sara and Michael Payne in their campaign for "Sarah's Law" and public access to the sex offenders' register.

Pressure for a so-called Sarah's Law has been maintained. But the government has resisted calls saying there would be a risk of the public taking the law into their own hands.

Although it's often believed to be an urban legend, the story of a doctor's house being attacked by vigilantes who couldn't tell the difference between a paedophile and a paediatrician is true.

The then 30-year-old Dr Yvette Cloete returned home to her house on the outskirts of Newport, Monmouthshire, to find graffitti daubed on the walls and threatening letters pushed through her letterbox.

There was never the slightest suspicion that Dr Cloete was anything but a caring doctor and the police and community groups roundly condemned the idiots. Dr Cloete's secondment at the local hospital was due to end shortly afterwards and she had already made arrangements to leave the area, but she was unable to return to the house and you wonder what might have happened had she been at home at the time of the attack.

Link to BBC Wales news report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/901723.stm

(18-07-2011 12:52 )skully Wrote:  ~~~~
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1942 – World War II: the Germans test fly the Messerschmitt Me-262 using only its jet engines for the first time.
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Interesting vid here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4EASQJ0vJk

Births:
1940 – James Brolin, American actor
1947 – Steve Forbes, American entrepreneur and politician
1948 – Carlos Colón, Sr., Puerto Rican professional wrestler (Carlito and Primo's dad)
1949 – Dennis Lillee, Australian cricketer
1950 – Sir Richard Branson, British entrepreneur
1957 – Sir Nick Faldo, English golfer
1961 – Alan Pardew, English Football Manager
1963 – Al Snow, American professional wrestler
1967 – Vin Diesel, American actor
1978 – Annie Mac, British DJ
1979 – Jason Weaver, American actor
1979 – Joey Mercury, American professional wrestler
1980 – Kristen Bell, American actress
1985 – Chace Crawford, American actor

1997: IRA declares ceasefire
The IRA has announced its second ceasefire in three years starting at noon tomorrow.
It follows a statement by republican political party Sinn Fein last night urging the IRA to call a truce, but the speed of response has surprised politicians.

Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam MP will monitor IRA activity over the next six weeks to decide whether Sinn Fein will be admitted to the all-party peace talks scheduled for 15 September.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he supported a ceasefire because of a "commitment by the two governments (UK and Republic of Ireland) to inclusive peace talks".

British Prime Minister Tony Blair had underlined this resolve by making his first big speech as head of the new government from Belfast on 16 May.

In June he set out the conditions for Sinn Fein's inclusion in the all-party talks in a speech to the Commons.

He offered a clear timetable for talks - to be completed by May 1998 - within six weeks of a ceasefire.


I don't expect anyone to take a ceasefire declaration at face value

Ken Maginnis, UUP Security Spokesman

Mr Blair also suggested weapons' decommissioning was not a pre-condition for negotiation.

Many unionists in Northern Ireland believe IRA disarmament is essential to any peace process and are angered by British concessions on the issue.

Security spokesman for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Ken Maginnis said: "I don't expect anyone to take a ceasefire declaration at face value."

"There will have to be a definite commitment to a permanent, complete and universal ceasefire with an indication that disarmament and the disbandment of the terrorist organisation can take place," he added.

The Irish peace process reached a stalemate under the last British Government which made concessions to unionists over decommissioning, in return for their support in Parliament.

Mr Blair is to meet UUP leader David Trimble in the next couple of days to ensure unionists' participation in September's multi-party talks.



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Children play in peace


Talks of commitment as IRA declares ceasefire






In Context
The ceasefire came into force on 20 July in an atmosphere of muted determination rather than celebration.
A new round of peace talks, including Sinn Fein, resumed on 15 September at Stormont, near Belfast.

None of the five unionist or loyalist parties attended and attempted to get Sinn Fein excluded.

Talks continued at Stormont as David Trimble and the UUP began to participate.

In October 1997 Tony Blair shook Gerry Adams' hand and became the first British PM for 70 years to meet a Sinn Fein delegation.

Negotiations and sporadic violence by loyalist and republican splinter groups continued until the Good Friday Agreement was signed in May 1998.


Stories From 19 Jul
1997: IRA declares ceasefire
1996: 'War criminal' Karadzic resigns
1983: Flesh-eating dinosaur resurrected
1976: Fight for fishing rights in Europe
1965: S Korea's first president dies in exile

64 B.C.E. – Great Fire of Rome: a fire begins to burn in the merchant area of Rome and soon burns completely out of control. According to a popular, but untrue legend, Nero fiddled as the city burned.

1545 - The Mary Rose, the pride of Henry VIII's battle fleet, sank in the Solent with the loss of 700 lives.

1553 - Lady Jane Grey was replaced by Mary I as Queen of England after having the title for just nine days.

1799 - During Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign, a French soldier discovered the Rosetta Stone, a black basalt slab inscribed with ancient writing, about 35 miles north of Alexandria.

1843 – Brunel's steamship the SS Great Britain is launched, becoming the first ocean-going craft with an iron hull or screw propeller and also becoming the largest vessel afloat in the world.

1941 - Winston Churchill introduced his 'V for Victory" campaign which rapidly spread through Europe.

1969 - Apollo 11 and its astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins, went into orbit around the Moon.

1982: IRA bombs cause carnage in London
Eight soldiers on ceremonial duty have been killed in two IRA bomb blasts in central London.
The first blast, in Hyde Park, killed two soldiers and injured 23 others and the second explosion, in Regents Park, less than two hours later killed six soldiers instantly and injured a further 24 people.

The IRA admitted carrying out the attacks in a statement echoing Margaret Thatcher's declaration of war on Argentina over the disputed Falklands.

It repeated her phrase about the right of self-determination and continued: "The Irish people have sovereign and national rights which no task or occupational force can put down."

In the first incident a nail bomb in a blue Austin car was detonated as members of the Household Cavalry made their way to the changing of the guard from their barracks in Knightsbridge.

Seven horses were killed or so badly maimed they had to be destroyed.

Second attack

Another device exploded underneath the bandstand in Regents Park as the Royal Green Jackets played music from Oliver to 120 spectators.

It was the first of a season of lunchtime concerts for tourists and nearby office workers, four of whom were amongst the injured.

Anti-terrorist experts believe the second bomb had been planted some time ago and was triggered by a timer.

But they think the first explosion was operated by remote control to cause the maximum devastation.

Bystanders and people in neighbouring shops and hotels rushed to help, but the police were keen to clear the area as they searched for further devices.

Most of the injured were treated in Westminster Hospital as striking hospital workers called off their action to deal with the casualties.

Detectives from the anti-terrorism squad were interviewing survivors and witnesses and security has been stepped up across the British capital.

The British and Irish prime ministers have condemned the attacks as "callous and cowardly crimes" and "inhuman acts".

Police say MPs were warned of a renewed IRA bombing campaign two weeks ago after an eight month lull in their activities.


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Horses were amongst the victims in Hyde Park


Disturbing scenes as IRA bombs a London park






In Context
The final death toll was 11 and a total of 50 people were injured.
In October 1987 physics graduate Gilbert McNamee, 27, was sent to jail for conspiracy to cause explosions between 1982 and 1984.

The judge at the Old Bailey found him guilty of bombing offences that included the Hyde Park bomb and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

He was released in 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Later that year Mr McNamee's conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal, who ruled it had been unsafe.


Stories From 20 Jul
1974: Turkey invades Cyprus
1944: Hitler survives assassination attempt
1982: IRA bombs cause carnage in London
1960: Ceylon chooses world's first woman PM
1990: IRA bombs Stock Exchange
1952: Zatopek wins gold at Helsinki
2003: BBC admits Kelly was 'main source'
1957: Britons 'have never had it so good'

1981 - Botham at Headingley, I remember it well.
From today's TV mag.

1304 – The fall of Stirling Castle – King Edward I of England takes the stronghold using the War Wolf.

1810 - Colombia declared its independence from Spain.

1837 - London’s first railway station opened, in Euston Grove. The new Euston station was described as 'mightier than the pyramids of Egypt'.

1881 - Sioux Indian leader Sitting Bull, a fugitive since the Battle of the Little Big Horn, surrendered to federal troops.

1940 – California opens its first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway.

1944 - World War II: Adolf Hitler escaped death after a third attempt on his life when a bomb exploded in Rastenberg.

1960 – The Polaris missile is successfully launched from a submarine, the USS George Washington, for the first time.

1969 – Apollo Program: Apollo 11 successfully makes the first human-crewed landing on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. The first Moonwalk EVA follows almost 7 hours later.

1976 - America's Viking I robot spacecraft made a successful, first-ever landing on Mars.

1977 – The Central Intelligence Agency releases documents under the Freedom of Information Act revealing it had engaged in mind control experiments.

50 years ago tomorrow (July 21st), Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American astronaut when he went into space in Mercury 4. Upon splashdown the emergency explosive bolts blew unexpectedly on his Liberty Bell capsule, the hatch flew off, Grissom had to bale out (and nearly drowned), the Atlantic poured in and the capsule sank five miles to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

The reason I'm telling you this a day early is because a documentary series telling the story of the attempt to locate and recover the capsule from the seabed starts tonight at 21.00 on the Quest channel (on Sky its ch 154, +1 on 167 and ch 38 on Freeview).

For those of you interested in the early days of the space programme it's fascinating viewing with a lot of rarely seen archive material.