1945: Formation of the Arab League
Representatives from
Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan,
Saudi Arabia, Iraq and
Yemen meet in Cairo to establish the
Arab League, a regional organisation of Arab states. Formed to foster
economic growth in the region, resolve disputes between its members, and coordinate political aims, members of the Arab League formed a
council, with each state receiving one
vote. When the State of
Israel was created in 1948, the league countries jointly attacked but were repulsed by the Israelis. Two years later, Arab League nations signed a mutual defence treaty. Fifteen more Arab nations eventually joined the organisation, which established a common market in 1965.
2006
Basque separatist group
ETA announces a permanent ceasefire.
2004
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Palestinian militant group
Hamas, is killed by an Israeli air strike.
2002
In
Britain, a woman paralysed from the neck down wins the legal right to die by having her treatment withdrawn.
1979
The British ambassador to the Netherlands, Sir Richard Sykes, is shot dead by the
IRA outside his Dutch home.
1974
The
Equal Rights Amendment is passed by the U.S. Senate, but in the following years fails to receive ratification by all states.
1968
The Vietnam War: General William Westmoreland is appointed Army Chief of Staff with General Creighton Abrams replacing Westmoreland as commander of U.S. forces in
Vietnam. 1965
Bob Dylan releases 'Bringing It All Back Home', his first album featuring electric instruments.1963
In Britain, the Secretary of State for War, John Profumo denies any impropriety with the model,
Christine Keeler. 1963
The first Beatles album, 'Please Please Me' is released in Britain. 1942
The British politician, Sir Stanford Cripps arrives in
India for talks with Mohandas Gandhi about Indian independence.
1895
Louis and Auguste Lumiere give the first public
demonstration of the cinematograph.
1859
An earthquake hits the capital of
Ecuador, Quito, killing approximately 5,000 people.
1849
Austria defeats Piedmonte at the Battle of Novara. 1622
In America, 347 English settlers in
Jamestown, Virginia are killed by Algonquian Indians in what is known as the Jamestown massacre.
1948
British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.1931
British writer Leslie Thomas1931
American
actor William Shatner.
1923
Mime artist Marcel Marceau1918
American actor Karl Malden.1910
Author Nicholas Monsarratt. 1958
Michael Todd, husband of Hollywood film star
Elizabeth Taylor, dies when his light aircraft, 'Lucky Liz', crashes in New Mexico.
1687
Composer Jean-Baptiste Lully, credited with popularising French opera
