1966: Indira Gandhi leads India
Following the death of Indian Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri Indria Gandhi becomes head of the Congress Party and thus Prime Minister of India. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, who led India from independence in 1947 until his death in 1964.
In 1967, Gandhi won a narrow election victory and, as a result, had to rule with a deputy prime minister until 1971, when she won a resounding reelection victory. That year, she ordered India's invasion of Pakistan in support of the creation of Bangladesh. She initiated new ties with the Soviets, nationalized leading banks, and curbed class privileges, but also faced charges of police-state tactics.
During the nest few years, she presided over increasing civil unrest brought on by food shortages, inflation and regional disputes. In 1975, Gandhi was convicted of a minor election infraction and banned from politics for six years. In response she declared a state of emergency throughout India, imprisoning thousands of political opponents and restricted personal freedoms.
In 1977, national elections were held in which Gandhi was decisively defeated. However, having formed a new political party she quickly returned to office 1980.
In the early 1980’s there were increasing calls from regional states for greater autonomy from the centre. In 1984, matters came to ahead when a group of militant Sikhs, seeking independence for the state of Punjab, occupied their holy temple. Indira Gandhi ordered a controversial government assault that killed hundreds. In retaliation, Sikh members of her own bodyguard group assassinated her on 31 October 1984.
2001
In North Wales, baby twins are taken into care by social services from a couple who bought the children for £8000 from America over the internet.
1990
South African police use strong arm tactics to disperse demonstrations against rebel cricketers who are defying a ban on playing in segregated South Africa.
1988
In Britain, Christopher Nolan wins the Whitbread Book of the Year competition for, ‘Under the Clock.’ Nolan is disabled and cannot move or speak, he writes using a stick attached to his head which he uses to punch the keys of keyboard.
1983
The Nazi war criminal, Klaus Barbie, who was head of the Gestapo in Lyons, France during the Second World War, is arrested in Bolivia.
1981
The U.S.A. and Iran sign the Algiers Accords, which ends the Iran hostage crisis.
1977
American President, Gerald Frod, pardons Iva Toguri D'Aquino, the so called "Tokyo Rose."
1955
In America, President Eisenhower becomes the first president to hold a news conference which is to be filmed on television.
1946
The Charter for the International Military Tribunal for the Far East is proclaimed. The charter creates the legal foundations for the "Tokyo trails", the trials of Japanese war criminals.
1915
The First World War: A German Zeppelin drops bombs on Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn causing the first British casualties from bombing.
1840
Whilst on an exploring expedition, Captain Charles Wilkes sights the coast of eastern Antarctica and claims it for the United States
1839
The British East India Companuy takes control of Aden, Yeman.
1793
French King Louis XVI goes on trial and is sentenced to be executed.1764
In Britain, the radical journalist, John Wilkes is expelled from the House of Commons for seditious libel.
1419
The Hundred Years War: Rouen formally surrenders to King Henry V of England.