1946: Bikinis introduced
On 5 July 1946, French designer Louis Reard unveils a daring two-piece swimsuit at a swimming pool in
Paris. Micheline Bernardini, a Parisian showgirl who didn’t object to appearing nearly
nude in public, modelled the new fashion. Unsure of what to call his creation, Reard spontaneously dubbed it bikini, inspired by news-making U.S. nuclear tests taking place off the
Bikini Atoll that week. Before long, bold young women in bikinis were causing a sensation along the Mediterranean coast. For a time in
Spain and
Italy, the wearing of the swimsuit on public beaches was banned.
2003
The World Health Organisation announces that all person-to-person transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has ceased.2000
A mass airlift of Jackass penguins from Dassen Island, 50 miles north of Cape Town,
South Africa is carried out following an oil slick from a Panamanian tanker.
1989
U.S. Army Colonel
Oliver North, found guilty of being involved in the Iran-Contra affair, is fined $150,000 and given a suspended jail sentence.
1981
In England, the police are attacked as youths go on the
riot in Toxteth, Liverpool.
1979
Queen
Elizabeth II presides over the 1000th opening of the
Tynwald, the Isle of Man’s Parliament.
1977
In a bloodless coup in
Pakistan, General Mohammad Zia overthrows the Government of Ali Bhutto.
1975
American Arthur Ashe beats fellow American Jimmy Connors to become the first black tennis player to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon.1954
The
BBC broadcasts its first daily television news programme.
1950
The
Korean War: Private Kenneth Shadrick, a 19-year-old infantryman from Skin Fork, West Virginia, becomes the first American reported killed in the war.
1950
The Israeli parliament, the
Knesset, passes the Law of Return, granting any
Jew the right to settle in
Israel. 1914
In what became known as the “blank cheque”,
Kaiser Wilhelm II of
Germany pledges his country’s unconditional support for whatever action Austria-Hungary chooses to take in its conflict with Serbia.
1814
War of 1812: An American forces defeat British troops at the Battle of Chippawa in
Canada. 1687
Isaac Newton’s book, ‘Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy’ (Principia Mathematica) is published. The book contains Newton’s laws of motion. 1953
British dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel - co-designer of the wedding dress for Diana, Princess of Wales.1911
French President Georges Pompidou (1969-1974).1879
American tennis player and politician Dwight Davis. Founder of the Davis Cup
competition and US Secretary of War (1925-1929) under President Coolidge.
1853
South African statesman Cecil Rhodes - founder of Rhodesia.1810
American
circus owner and entertainment showman Phineas Taylor Barnum
1781
British colonial administrator Sir Stamford Raffles - founder of
Singapore. 
