Today's The Day - 3rd October

3rd October 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of St Hesychius,
St Thomas Cantelupe of Hereford,
St Attilanus,
St Gerard of Brogne,
St Froilan,
St Ewald the Fair,
and St Ewald the Dark.

History Test for October 3rd

Which Gilbert and Sullivan operetta featuring the characters Colonel Fairfax and Jack Point was premiered today in 1888? -`The Yeoman Of The Guard'

Veterinary surgeon James Herriot was born today in 1916. Who played him in the TV drama series `All Creatures Great and Small'? -Christopher Timothy

Which classic film, starring Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade, was premiered in New York today in 1941? -`The Maltese Falcon'

Sir Malcolm Sargent died today in 1967. With which specific branch of music is he most associated? -Conducting

In which London restaurant did a five-day siege end today in 1975? -Spaghetti House, Knightsbridge

Events today...

1226 Death of St Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order who received the wounds of Christ (the stigmata) and endured great pain during the first two years of his life.

1811 The first inter-county women's cricket match took place -- between Hampshire and Surrey. The encounter was held at Newington.

1863 President Lincoln officially designated the last day in November a national holiday, to be called Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving originated in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the first English colony was established. After the colonists' first autumn harvest in 1621, Governor William Bradford called for a day of prayer and thanksgiving. This became a regular feature of life in the colony after 1630 and was gradually taken up by other colonies in New England. The South was slower still and only adopted the custom eight years previous.

1867 Death of Elias Howe, who patented the sewing machine and made $2 million (£1.1 million) from it.

1888 Gilbert and Sullivan's “Yeomen of the Guard” was performed for the first time, at London's Savoy Theatre.

1893 The motorised vacuum cleaner was patented by JS Thurman of St Louis in the U.S.

1896 William Morris, the author and designer, died at his Hammersmith home, Kelmscott House, aged 62. He had recently returned from a sea voyage to Norway intended to revive his failing health. In 1861 Morris founded the firm of Morris & Co to produce wallpapers, furniture, tapestries, carpets, furnishing materials and stained glass windows (many of them by Burne-Jones). This association of "fine art workmen" held to the principle that the artist-designer should "honour" his material. Morris put much of his considerable energy into promoting Socialist ideals through his writings and, latterly, the formation of the Socialist League.

1899 The motor-driven vacuum cleaner was patented.

1906 SOS was established as the international distress call, replacing the call sign CDQ (sometimes interpreted as "Come Damn Quick!").

1929 The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was renamed Yugoslavia.

1941 In a speech Adolf Hitler declared that Russia was a broken nation and would never rise again.

1952 The first British atomic weapon was exploded off the Monte Bello Islands, west of Australia. The test was designed to assess the effect of an atomic bomb exploding in a harbour. The ship in which the weapon was exploded, the 1370-ton frigate HMS Plym, vaporised except for a few fragments which landed on the nearby islands and started fires in the vegetation. Watching newsmen felt the force from 65 miles (104km) or so away about four minutes after the flash.

1956 The Bolshoi Ballet performed in Britain, at Covent Garden, for the first time.

1957 The Berlin city assembly made history by voting in its youngest ever Oberburgermeister, or Mayor. The man entrusted with this difficult office was 44-year-old Willy Brandt. He was elected unopposed by 86 out of the 118 members who voted. Herr Brandt's Social Democratic Party (SPD) was the only party to put up a candidate. Speculation that he would face a challenge by fellow SPD politician Willi Kressmann proved groundless. The composition of the Berlin senate remained unchanged, with the SPD maintaining its one-seat advantage over the Christian Democratic Union party.

1959 Post codes were introduced in Britain.

1962 Anthony Newley won rave reviews on Broadway when he opened in the play "Stop the World, I want to Get Off.

1967 Death of Pinto Colvig, aged 75, the voice of Goofy and Pluto.

1967 Death of Sir Malcolm Sargent, hugely popular British conductor perhaps best-loved for his Promenade concerts.

1967 The world speed record for a fixed wing aircraft was broken by Pete Knight when he flew at 4534 miles per hour (7297 kph) (Mach 6.72).

1967 Woody Guthrie, American singer and songwriter of "This Land is Your Land" died from Huntington's Chorea, aged 55.

1980 An embarrassed Bruce Springsteen forgot the words to "Born To Run" when he opened one of his shows in the U.S.

1981 Irish Nationalist prisoners ended their hunger strikes which had claimed 10 lives and had lasted for seven months in the Maize prison.

1986 Cinema audiences were surprised when the movie "Tough Guys" opened starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas in comedy roles. Both had previously played only serious roles.

1987 Death of French dramatist Jean Anouilh, whose works include Antigone and L'Alouette.

1990 East and West Germany were officially reunified, with Berlin as the capital.

1991 Sir Allan Green, QC, the British Director of Public Prosecutions, resigned after being stopped by police for alleged kerb crawling. He had been seen talking to prostitutes in the red light district around King's Cross station on more than one occasion, it was claimed. Sir Allan, 56, was an able and popular DPP and his fall from grace was greeted with disbelief tinged with sadness by those who worked with him. During his four years as DPP head, Sir Allan reorganised the service with the aim of making it "fair, competent and nation-wide". Prostitute Lindi St Clair, the leader of the Conective Party, had urged Sir Allan to back her calls for the legalisation of prostitution.

1991 Bill Clinton, then Governor of Arkansas, entered the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

1992 Sinead O'Connor tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on 'Saturday Night Live'.

1995 The world was stunned when the Jury in the OJ Simpson murder took less than 4 hours to return a verdict of not guilty.

1996 UEFA announce an extra place for clubs in England -- and seven other countries as the top European competitions continue to expand.

1997 UEFA ordered Spartak Moscow to replay their UEFA Cup match against Sion after a complaint was made about the size of their goals. The crossbars were 12cm too low.

2003 White House staff were asked to hand in documents related to claims that they leaked the name of a CIA agent.

2003 Sweden's PM appoints former justice minister Laila Freivalds to replace the assassinated foreign minister.

2003 The heads of 25 European countries gathered in the Italian capital to discuss the future shape of the EU.

2003 Singer Courtney Love was admitted to hospital following an overdose, shortly after being arrested and freed on bail for an earlier incident.

2003 Dido's latest album became the fastest selling British record in six years, according to industry figures.

2003 Wigan beat St Helens 40-24 in the Super League elimination play-off at the JJB Stadium.

2003 The FA Premier League announced a three-year £57m sponsorship deal with Barclays.

2004 French police said they had arrested two of the most important members of the Basque separatist group, ETA.

2004 A tremor at Mount St Helens volcano in the US state of Washington prompted fresh warnings of an eruption.

2004 Robert Kilroy-Silk said he would bid to lead the UK Independence Party if its rules allowed him to.

2004 Movie critics cited "Get Carter", the 1971 gangster film starring Michael Caine, as the greatest British film.

2005 President George Bush nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers for the US Supreme Court.

2005 Footballing legend George Best was in a "serious but improving" condition, as he was treated for a kidney infection.

BIRTHDAYS (for 03 October 2006)

Eleanora Duse, 147 (born 03 October 1859)
Italian actress for whom the play La Gioconda was specially written by her lover, D'Annunzio.

Pierre Bonnard, 139 (born 03 October 1867)
French painter mainly of Paris scenes who also developed the type of intimate domestic interior scene to which the term Intimiste is applied.

Louis Aragon, 109 (born 03 October 1897)
French poet

Leo McCarey, 108 (born 03 October 1898)
Died 1969. Producer and screenwriter of many Charlie Chase and Laurel and Hardy films.

Michael Hordern, 95 (born 03 October 1911)
Died 1995. Actor.

James Herriot, 90 (born 03 October 1916)
Died 1995. Scottish author - 'All Creatures Great and Small'.

Ray Lindwall, 85 (born 03 October 1921)
(Cricket) Australian Test captain and fast bowler

Gore Vidal, 81 (born 03 October 1925)
American satirical author and critic who wrote Myra Breckinridge and the screenplay of Suddenly Last Summer.

Albert Collins, 74 (born 03 October 1932)
Died 1993. Blues guitarist.

Neale Fraser, 73 (born 03 October 1933)
(Tennis) 1960 Wimbledon champion

Steve Reich, 70 (born 03 October 1936)
composer

Eddie Cochran, 68 (born 03 October 1938)
Died 1960. Rock and Roll singer - biggest UK hit 'Three Steps to Heaven'.

Chubby Checker (Ernest Evans), 65 (born 03 October 1941)
American singer whose `The Twist' became an international dance hit and was followed by more hits such as `Let’s Twist Again' and `Slow Twistin'.

Rik Kenton, 61 (born 03 October 1945)
Bass player with Roxy Music.

Viktor Saneyev, 61 (born 03 October 1945)
(Athletics) Russian triple jumper won 1968 72 and 76 Olympic golds

Lindsey Buckingham, 59 (born 03 October 1947)
Singer - member of Fleetwood Mac - biggest UK solo hit 'Trouble'.

Ronnie Laws, 56 (born 03 October 1950)
Jazz Saxophonist.

Franz Klammer, 53 (born 03 October 1953)
(Skiing) Austrian 1976 Olympic downhill champion

Stevie Ray Vaughan, 52 (born 03 October 1954)
Died 1990. Blues singer and guitarist.

Fred Couples, 47 (born 03 October 1959)
(Golf) 1992 US Masters champion

Robbie Jaymes, 45 (born 03 October 1961)
Modern Romance

Tommy Lee, 44 (born 03 October 1962)
Drummer of Motley Crue and Pamela Anderson's hubby.

Gwen Stefani, 37 (born 03 October 1969)
Lead singer with No Doubt.

Neve Campbell, 33 (born 03 October 1973)
Actress - 'Scream'.

Darren Holloway, 29 (born 03 October 1977)
(Soccer) Sunderland and England under-21 defender

Today's The Day - 2nd October

2nd October 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of The Guardian Angels,
St Leger or Leodegarius,
and St Eleutherius of Nicomedia.

History Test for October 2nd

Which comic strip, created by Charles Schultz, first appeared today in 1950? -`Peanuts'

Born today in 1904, who is the author of the novels 'The Power and the Glory' and 'The Heart of the Matter'? -Grahame Greene

Today in 1836, Charles Darwin returned from his five-year survey of South American waters - aboard which ship? -HMS Beagle

Born today in 1951, Gordon Sumner is better known by which name? -Sting

Groucho Marx was born today in 1890. Name two of his comic brothers. -Chico, Harpo, Gummo, Zeppo

QUOTE “There are many reasons why novelists write, but they all have one thing in common - a need to create an alternative world.” - John Fowles, British novelist, 1977.

Events today...

322 BC The great Greek philosopher Aristotle died of a stomach illness.

1187 Saladin, the Muslim sultan, captured Jerusalem after its 88-year occupation by the Franks.

1608 The prototype of the telescope was offered to the Dutch government by Johannes Lippershey.

1700 The death was announced of the Spanish king, Charles II. He was 39. Alarm bells would have rung in England, Austria and Holland with the announcement that before his death, Charles, who left no heir, named Philip, Duke of Anjou, as his successor. In 1698 the nations with an interest in the succession agreed that Joseph Ferdinand, the electoral prince of Bavaria, should get the crown. Spanish territory was to be ceded to pay off the rival French and Austrian claimants - Philip, the second grandson of Louis XIV, and the, Archduke Charles, the second son of the Hapsburg emperor Leopold I. This ingenious plan went awry when Joseph Ferdinand inconveniently predeceased Charles, leaving the physically and mentally handicapped Spanish monarch susceptible to the blandishments of the French party at his court. War looked inevitable.

1780 British officer John André, who negotiated with the treacherous American revolutionary General Benedict Arnold for the surrender of West Point, was executed as a spy.

1803 Death of Samuel Adams, American statesman and one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence.

1836 Charles Darwin returned from his five-year survey of South American waters aboard the HMS Beagle.

1866 The tin can opener using a key was patented.

1870 The meeting of the Vatican Council in Rome, the first general assembly of the Church of Rome for 300 years, was drawing to a close amid mounting criticism at home and abroad. Of the decrees issued by the Council during its 10-month sitting, the one relating to papal infallibility on matters of faith and morals raised the most hackles. Secular governments feared that this would lead to clerical interference in politics. The papacy had lost all territorial power since Italian forces invaded Rome. The Papal States no longer existed and Rome was set to become the capital of a united Italy. The pope, Pius IX, regarded himself as a virtual prisoner in his own palace, but would continue to wield what little power he had left.

1871 Mormon leader Brigham Young was arrested for bigamy.

1901 The British Royal Navy's first submarine, built by Vickers, was launched at a Barrow.

1909 The first rugby football match was played at Twickenham, between Harlequins and Richmond.

1920 Death of Max Bruch German composer.

1925 London's first almost entirely enclosed red double-decker buses began service.

1931 Tea tycoon and yachtsman Sir Thomas Lipton died in London at 81. Glasgow-born Sir Thomas was a grocer, expanded and sought a cost-effective way of supplying his shops: he bought tea, coffee and cocoa plantations in Ceylon and farms, bakeries and bacon-curing establishments in England. The one success which eluded him was victory in the America's Cup yacht race.

1935 Italian forces invaded Abyssinia - Mussolini's bombers had already pounded border towns.

1940 Child evacuees sailing to Canada in the Empress of Britain came under attack from a German submarine - most of the 634 crew and passengers were rescued.

1942 The British cruiser “Curacao” sank with the loss of 338 lives, after colliding with the liner Queen Mary off the coast of Donegal.

1950 The cartoon strip "Peanuts" featuring Charlie Brown and Peanuts appeared in nine newspapers as "Li'l Folks". They were created by Charles M Schulz.

1956 The "Automicron" was unveiled as the world's first atomic powered clock.

1958 The former French colony of Guinea in the West Indies proclaimed independence.

1958 Death of Marie Stopes, Scottish birth-control campaigner.

1968 Death of Marcel Deschamp, French painter.

1975 Japanese Emperor Hirohito was welcomed to the U.S. by President Gerald Ford.

1977 The bodies of Elvis Presley and his mother Gladys were moved from Forest Hills Cemetery to Graceland after unsuccessful attempts were made to steal Elvis' coffin.

1983 Neil Kinnock was elected leader of Britain's Labour Party.

1985 Screen star Rock Hudson died at his Beverly Hills mansion. Ten months earlier the 59-year-old star had told the world that he was dying of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Pushed as the all-American boy in the 50s, Hudson quickly established himself as a Hollywood heartthrob. However, the public image of Rock Hudson bore no resemblance to reality. The Hollywood publicity machine helped him to hide his homosexuality. Hudson spent the last two years of his life denying his illness and refusing to believe that it would prove fatal. News of Rock Hudson's death hit the media barely 40 minutes after it occurred. A horde of photographers was at the scene before the mortuary van had departed with the body which was to be immediately cremated - Rock had not wanted a funeral.

1986 The Everley Brothers received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1987 Death of Sir Peter Medawar, British biologist and Nobel Prize-winner for his work on skin grafting.

2003 The archbishop of Vienna said Pope John Paul II was "approaching the last days and months of his life".

2003 California candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted "offensive" behaviour after allegations of harassment.

2003 David Blunkett promised to tackle gun crime in the wake of the murder of jeweller Marian Bates.

2003 ITV announced that it was to move its late news bulletin to a regular slot at 10.30pm after winning approval from TV regulators.

2004 Two men died and four people were left with serious injuries after shootings in London and Bristol.

2004 Tony Blair relaxed at Chequers after heart treatment. Gordon Brown issued a plea to get on with the job.

2004 Mel Gibson took out a restraining order against a man he said stalked him and demanded they pray together.

2004 Lawyers for the estate of author John Steinbeck's widow faught back in a £9.7m royalty and copyright case.

2005 Singer Pete Doherty was bailed by police after a drugs raid in Shropshire.

2005 Celebrities attended the British premiere of the Wallace and Gromit movie, Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

BIRTHDAYS (for 02 October 2006)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 137 (born 02 October 1869)
Died 1948. Indian leader who used civil disobedience in his campaign for Indian independence.

Cordell Hull, 135 (born 02 October 1871)
American statesman, diplomat and secretary to Franklin D. Roosevelt who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945.

Groucho Marx, 116 (born 02 October 1890)
Died 1977. Comedy actor of Marx Brothers Fame

Charlie Chase, 113 (born 02 October 1893)
Died 1940. Comedian

Bud Abbott, 111 (born 02 October 1895)
Died 1974. Comedian - Abbott and Costello

Roy Campbell, 105 (born 02 October 1901)
South African poet whose vigorous and often aggressively satirical work includes The Flaming Terrapin and his autobiography Light on a Dark Horse.

Graham Greene, 102 (born 02 October 1904)
Died 1991. British novelist, playwright, short story writer and Times journalist whose novels include Our Man in Havana and Brighton Rock, which was made into a film.

Anna Ford, 63 (born 02 October 1943)
Newscaster

Don McLean, 61 (born 02 October 1945)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Vincent'

Mike Rutherford, 55 (born 02 October 1951)
Musician with Genesis, and Mike and The Mechanics

Sting, 55 (born 02 October 1951)
Singer - member of Police - biggest solo hit 'When we Dance'

Lorraine Bracco, 52 (born 02 October 1954)
Actress

Phil Oakey, 51 (born 02 October 1955)
Member of Human League - biggest UK hit 'Don't You Want Me'

Freddie Jackson, 50 (born 02 October 1956)
Soul singer - biggest UK hit 'Rock me Tonight'

Robbie Nevil, 45 (born 02 October 1961)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'C'est La Vie'

Tiffany, 35 (born 02 October 1971)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'I Think We're Alone Now'

Dress to Impress on Jeans for Genes Day, Friday October 6th

Jeans for Genes Day is on Friday 6th October 2006, so make sure you wear your jeans, dress to impress and make an impression on the lives of children suffering from genetic disorders. How you can help

VISIT - Website

Jeans for Genes Appeal

160 Queen Victoria Street

London EC4V 4LA

Tel: 020 7163 6901

Direct Line: 020 7163 6911

Fax: 020 7163 6909

Madonna breaks earnings record

Madonna performed at Wembley during her Confessions tour

Pop star Madonna has been awarded a Guinness World Record for being the highest paid female singer.

The star, famous for constantly re-inventing her image, knocked singer Britney Spears from the top spot she had held since 2001.

It is thought Madonna made an estimated $50m (£26.7m) in 2004.

Billboard magazine recently reported the singer broke another record for having the highest earning tour for a female performer.

Judging record

Other acts who will also feature in the 2007 Guinness World of Records book include James Blunt and the Arctic Monkeys.

Blunt's Back to Bedlam scooped the record for the most albums sold in a year in the UK with 2.36m copies in 2005.

The Arctic Monkeys have won their place in the record book for the fastest selling UK debut album with Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, which sold 363,735 copies in its first week and 113,000 on its first day.

Madonna's bank account is not the only one to have broken records.

Simon Cowell, who is currently taking part in X Factor, is the highest paid TV talent show judge with earnings of £18m.

Jamie Oliver, who last year led a national campaign to improve school dinners, is the highest paid TV chef with an estimated annual income of £4.8m.

10 things we didn't know last week

1. There are more than 600 full-time creative writing degree courses at UK universities. More details

2. Lionesses favour balder lions, with less of a hairy mane.

3. Ubuntu, espoused by Bill Clinton, is the African philosophy which means "I am because you are”. More details

4. Menthol cigarettes are harder to give up than normal cigarettes.

5. The brain is soft and gelatinous - its consistency is something between jelly and cooked pasta. More details

6. People suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome can be helped by talking about it, say researchers. More details

7. China executes more prisoners than the rest of the world put together. More details

8. One in eight children in primary schools in England have English as a second language. More details

9. Europe has a Buddhist state - the Russian republic of Kalmykia.

10. The Mona Lisa used to hang on the wall of Napoleon’s bedroom. More details

[2. Times, 27 September; 4. Guardian, 26 September; 9. Daily Telegraph, 29 September].

Des Lynam quits Countdown hotseat

Des Lynam will leave TV quiz Countdown at Christmas, his agent has confirmed.

Des Lynam will step down after a year as Countdown's host

Jane Morgan said Lynam - who took over as presenter following the death of Richard Whiteley - had "thoroughly enjoyed" being on the Channel 4 show.

Lynam, 64, told the Daily Mirror he would go now to "save the wear and tear". Co-host Carol Vorderman said he was "amazing" and was a hit with fans.

Discussions about moving filming from Leeds to London, to make it easier for Lynam, have now been scrapped.

Many fans of the show had been angered by the possibility that the word and numbers quiz would leave its original home in West Yorkshire.

'Good shape'

Mrs Morgan said: "There was talk about moving it to London as both of the presenters live in the South but he was very concerned about how it would disrupt people who had been working on the show for many years.

"He is very sad as he has thoroughly enjoyed it and has had a great time. He has done it for nearly a year and a half and is leaving the show in pretty good shape, I think."

Vorderman and Whiteley's double act was a hit with afternoon viewers

Lynam travelled 250 miles from his home in Worthing, West Sussex, to the studios in Leeds.

He told the Mirror: "We do five shows in a day which everybody finds extremely tiring. It's the sort of schedule I don't want to commit myself to any more."

The quiz was the first show on Channel 4 when it launched in 1982.

Whiteley - who was the host for 23 years - died days after undergoing heart surgery last June.

Vorderman said it had been "lovely" to work with Lynam.

She said: "He has done an amazing job since taking over following our dreadful loss when Richard died.

"Countdowners have stayed loyal and supportive of the Countdown family and for that we are eternally grateful."

No names have yet been suggested for a replacement.

Archives open up centuries of British sex

The 17th century punishment for sex crimes was public humiliation and 1930s Britons pretended to be drunk so they could get away with sex on the beach.

Historical attitudes to sex in Britain will be laid bare for all to see this week in archives which reveal a nation rich in sexual experience and enthusiasm.

The historical documents, to be given a public outing by the Centre for Archive Studies at Liverpool University, include the nation's first ever sex survey, conducted 57 years ago but deemed too shocking for publication at the time.

The survey shows many of the nation's men had homosexual experiences, many were frequent visitors to prostitutes and many wives pursued sex outside marriage.

The archives also have details of public displays of sexual behaviour in the 1930s on the west coast's famous Blackpool Beach as well as in cinemas and dance halls, and show how many Britons threw sexual caution to the wind during World War Two.

According to archivists, who will debate the papers on Saturday, Britons "tended to pretend they were drunk or playing a joke" in order to get away with sexual behaviour in public.

Caroline Williams, of the Centre for Archive Studies, says the documents show that attitudes have broadened over the years.

Dorothy Sheridan, a fellow archivist from the University of Sussex, has looked at decades of extracts from personal diaries, letters and autobiographical accounts of experiences in which people describe the most intimate aspects of their lives.

"Materials in our archive range from holiday makers enjoying themselves on the beach at Blackpool to the experiences of the Second World War when many people, fearing they may not survive the war, were more sexually active," she said.

Despite the taboos of the time, the 1949 sex survey, originally meant for national newspapers but never published due to its content, found one in five men had homosexual experiences and a quarter admitted to having sex with prostitutes. One in five women confessed to extra-marital affairs.

Alan Crosby, a historian at Liverpool University, said the archives also show how attitudes to sex crimes have changed.

"Sexual offences in the past were recognised as serious crimes, just as they are today," he said, but the punishment system was very different.

Documents detail how a man convicted of a sex crime in a northern town in 1630 was punished by being paraded through the streets and humiliated in front of fellow citizens.

Today's The Day - 1st October

1st October 2006
National Sarcastics Month

National day of China, Nigeria, and Cyprus.

Religious events today...
Feast day of St Romanus the Melodist,
St Melorus or Mylor,
St Bavo or Allowin,
and St Therpse of Lisieux.

History Test for October 1st

Name the world's largest amusement park, opened today in 1971. -Disney World

Julie Andrews celebrates a birthday today. Who is her film director husband? -Blake Edwards

What famous car was launched by Henry Ford today in 1908? -The Model `T' Ford

Which artist, responsible for sculpting the lions at the foot of Nelson's Column, died today in 1873? -Sir Edwin Landseer

Former American President Jimmy Carter was born today in 1924. Who was his Vice President during his term of office? -Walter Mondale

Events today...

331BC Alexander the Great defeated Darius III at Arbela.

1595 The Duke of Norfolk was imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth for trying to marry Mary Queen of Scots.

1684 Death of Pierre Corneille French dramatist.

1708 Death of John Blow, British composer.

1795 Belgium became part of the French Republic.

1843 The “News of the World”, Britain's most popular Sunday newspaper, was first published.

1868 Mongkut, king of Siam, died in Bangkok, aged 64. In only 17 years as ruler he implemented sweeping political, economic and social changes with western help. Mongkut's decision to reverse centuries of isolation was formulated during the 27 years he spent as a Buddhist priest. During this time he travelled widely and saw that radical steps were needed to solve the country's problems. Siam had one large and venerable commodity to offer the US in return for all their advice - elephants. These, Mongkut thought, could be used in the development of the USA. Siam's experience of imperialism was soured a year before his death, when France forced him to relinquish his vassal state, Cambodia, and make it a French protectorate.

1869 Postcards were introduced for the first time.

1873 Death of Edwin Landseer, English painter.

1880 The Edison Lamp Works began operations in New Jersey to manufacture the first electric light bulbs.

1903 European railways linked with Russia.

1908 The first of the mass produced Ford Model T automobiles were introduced by Henry Ford at a cost of $825.00.

1911 Death of Wilhelm Dilthey, German philosopher.

1918 British officer T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and the Arab forces of Emir Faisal captured Damascus from the Turks.

1936 General Francisco Franco Bahamonde, 44, was proclaimed "Chief of the Spanish State" by the nationalist military junta that was trying to seize power in Spain. His elevation came a month after the death in a plane crash of the former leader, General Sanjurjo. The nationalists were looking for a speedy end to the chaos gripping the country- which was unlikely because the capital, Madrid, and the east of the country were firmly in control of government forces.

1936 The BBC began regular television broadcasts from Alexandra Palace in London.

1938 German forces entered Sudetenland, once part of Czechoslavakia which, ironically, Hitler claimed he had liberated.

1949 China was proclaimed a People's Republic under the leadership of Mao Tse-tung, as Chairman, and Chou-En-Lai, as Prime Minister. The defeat of the Nationalist forces of Chiang-Kai-shek left the Communists with a clear path for the implementation of their radical social and economic policies. A few months earlier the new leaders warned that the struggle ahead would be as difficult as the revolutionary armed struggle that was just coming to an end. One of the primary objectives of Chairman Mao was the industrialisation of his Republic, which he hoped would raise China to the status of a great power. His ultimate goal of seeing the rise of Communism throughout the world would begin with the creation of a socialist society in China.

1957 B52 bomber aircraft began full time flying alert in case of attack from the U.S.S.R.

1969 The sound barrier was broken by Concorde 001 for the first time, during a test flight in France.

1970 Jimi Hendrix was buried in his home town of Seattle

1971 Disney World, the world's largest amusement resort, was opened in Florida.

1972 The controversial archaeologist and anthropologist Louis Leakey died in London, aged 69. Leakey will be remembered for the discoveries of the 1,750,000-year-old Zinjanthropus fossil at Olduvai Gorge and the contemporaneous Homo habilis at Lake Natron in Tanzania between 1959 and 1964. Leakey believed that Homo habilis was a human ancestor of man but Zinjanthropus was not. This brought him into conflict with those scholars who classifed Zinjanthropus as an Australopithecine, the fossil widely thought to be most closely related to man, and disputed the existence of a Homo habilis lineage. Leakey's wife, Mary, and their son, Richard, continued his work piecing together the jigsaw of human evolution.

1973 Production began on "The Godfather Part 2".

1974 The Watergate trial began.

1975 Death of Al Jackson Jr (aged 39) of Booker T and the MGs fame.

1975 Mohammed Ali successfully defended his heavyweight title when he defeated Joe Frasier with a technical knockout in the 14th round. The fight was billed as the "thriller in Manila".

1979 Death of Roy Harris US composer.

1982 The Epcot Centre was opened in Florida by the Disney Company.

1985 The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) headquarters in Tunisia were attacked by Israeli aircraft.

1987 An earthquake rocked Los Angeles for 20 seconds, killing seven people and injuring at least 100, 12 seriously. The quake struck at 7.40am, the height of the morning rush hour. Traffic snarled up as freeways were closed due to structural damage. Frightened office workers poured out of their skyscrapers and on to even more hazardous streets. The area of the city worst hit was downtown Whittier, where some 50 businesses and 100 homes suffered extensive damage. The earthquake registered 6.1 on the Richter scale and was felt 200 miles (321km) away in Las Vegas. It.was the strongest tremor to hit the area since February 1971, when a quake in the Sylmar community in the San Fernando Valley resulted in 64 deaths.

1987 Forty-eight-year-old surrogate grandmother Mrs Pat Anthony gave birth to triplets for her daughter Karen Ferriera-Jorge in Johannesburg, South Africa.

1988 Mikhail Gorbachev became President of the U.S.S.R.

2000 England finished tenth out of the 200 countries who took part in the Sydney Olympics. The final medal count was 10 Golds, 11 Silvers and 4 Bronze.

2003 Ford workers braced themselves for up to 12,000 job cuts, as the firm detailed its cost-cutting plans around the world.

2003 It was announced that the NHS may have to pay for more longer-waiting patients to go abroad for treatment following a High Court ruling.

2003 The defence secretary appealed for Labour Party to end divisions over the Iraq war and unite around a vision for the country's future.

2003 Two women lost their High Court battle to use their frozen embryos against the will of their former partners.

2003 Hollywood star Renee Zellweger attended the London première of her new film "Down With Love".

2003 VFB Stuttgart beat Manchester United 2-1 to leave Group E of the Champions Leaguewide open, and Chelsea suffered their first defeat of the season as they lost 2-0 at home to Besiktas.

2004 The US military said it killed more than 100 insurgents in a major offensive in the Iraqi town of Samarra.

2004 At least 25 people were killed and dozens injured in a bomb blast at a Shia mosque in eastern Pakistan.

2004 Tony Blair said he was "absolutely fine" after hospital treatment to correct an irregular heartbeat.

2004 A father of a seriously ill premature baby pleaded with the High Court not to allow doctors to let her die.

2004 British singer Jamelia won three awards at the Mobos, which were overshadowed by protests.

2004 Uefa charged Hungarian side Ferencvaros for missile throwing and racism during the Uefa Cup tie with Millwall.

2005 At least 25 people died and more than 100 were injured as the Indonesian resort island of Bali was hit by bomb blasts.

2005 EastEnders actor Joe Swash, who plays wheeler-dealer Mickey Miller in the BBC soap, was in hospital after falling ill.

2005 Reggae star Buju Banton was to go on trial in Jamaica for his alleged role in an attack on a group of gay men.

BIRTHDAYS (for 01 October 2006)

Annie Besant, 159 (born 01 October 1847)
English social reformer and theosophist who together with radical atheist Charles Bradlaugh promoted birth control, for which they were prosecuted.

Paul Dukas, 141 (born 01 October 1865)
Died 1935. Composer - 'The Sorceror's Apprentice'

Stanley Holloway, 116 (born 01 October 1890)
Died 1982. English actor and entertainer who was Oscar-nominated for his Alfred Doolittle in the film My Fair Lady, a role he created for the original New York stage production.

Vladimir Horovitz, 102 (born 01 October 1904)
Russian concert pianist with an enormous repertoire who once gave a series of 25 recitals which included more than 200 works.

Walter Matthau, 86 (born 01 October 1920)
(Died 2000) American actor who won an Oscar for his part in The Fortune Cookie and was the leading man in the Broadway and, later, film productions of The Odd Couple.

Jimmy Carter, 82 (born 01 October 1924)
39th American president and peanut farmer, who was instrumental in getting Israel and Egypt to sign the Camp David agreement, ending hostilities between the two countries.

Sandy Gall, 79 (born 01 October 1927)
Newsreader

Tom Bosley, 79 (born 01 October 1927)
Actor - Howard Cunningham in 'Happy Days'

Laurence Harvey, 78 (born 01 October 1928)
Died 1973. Actor

George Peppard, 78 (born 01 October 1928)
Died 1994. Actor 'Breakfast at Tiffanys' 'Banacek' 'A-Team'

Richard Harris, 76 (born 01 October 1930)
(Died 2002) Actor 'Man Called Horse' 'Juggernaut'

Julie Andrews, 71 (born 01 October 1935)
Singer actress 'Sound of Music' 'Mary Poppins' Married to Blake Edwards

Stella Stevens, 70 (born 01 October 1936)
Actress

Duncan Edwards, 70 (born 01 October 1936)
(died 21/2/1958) Manchester United Great

Scott McKenzie, 62 (born 01 October 1944)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'San Francisco'

Donny Hathaway, 61 (born 01 October 1945)
Died 1979. Singer

Rob Davies, 59 (born 01 October 1947)
Member of Mud - biggest UK hit 'Tiger Feet'

Randy Quaid, 56 (born 01 October 1950)
Actor 'Last Picture Show' 'Independence Day'

Howard Hewett, 49 (born 01 October 1957)
Shalamar

Today's The Day - 30th September

30th September 2006
Ask a "Stupid" Question Day.

National Day of Botswana.

Religious events today...
Feast day of St Jerome
St Simon of Crepy,
St Gregory the Enlightener,
and St Honorius of Canterbury.

History Test for September 30th

Angie Dickinson was born today in 1931. In which TV series did she star as Sergeant `Pepper' Anderson? -`Police Woman'

Today in 1967, who became the first DJ to be heard on Radio 1? -Tony Blackburn

Which 'moody' actor was killed in a car crash today in 1955? -James Dean

In which cult TV programme did the Tracy brothers make their debut today in 1965? -`Thunderbirds'

Born today in 1935 who had fifties chart hits with `A Certain Smile' and 'Winter Wonderland'? -Johnny Mathis

Events today...

1630 John Billington was executed in New Plymouth for murder-the first capital crime in America.

1772 Death of James Brindley, British canal engineer.

1791 The first performance of Mozart's Magic Flute (Die Zauberflote) took place in Vienna.

1792 French troops took Speyer in the Rhineland.

1841 The stapler was invented by Samuel Slocum.

1882 Water power was first used to produce electricity at a plant on the Fox River near Appleton, Wisconsin, USA.

1888 Jack the Ripper murdered two more prostitutes in the streets of London's East End. His first victim was Liz Stride, in her late 30s. Her body was found at 1am. The mad killer had left her with a cut throat. An hour later he struck again a mile away, killing Cathy Eddows, also in her 30s. The Ripper slit her throat expertly and then performed his dreadful ritual on the corpse, disembowelling her with all the skill of a surgeon. That morning's victims were his third and fourth. London was aghast at the latest killings, and the city's prostitutes were terrified. There seemed no doubt that unless he was caught the maniac would strike again. The police had made little headway in the case: they were not even certain that the man who wrote the taunting letter signed "Jack the Ripper" was indeed the killer. The murderer's surgical skills suggested an upper class background, and dark rumours were circulating of conspiracy in high places.

1902 Rayon, or artificial silk, was patented.

1927 Babe Ruth slugged his way to immortality when he hit his 60th home run of the season, an all-time record. The New York Yankees star smashed the record on a Tom Zachary pitch playing the Washington Senators. The "Sultan of Swat" broke his own previous record of 59 home runs set in 1921- which in turn broke the record 54 he hit the previous year, his first with the Yankees. Before he joined the Yankees, George Herman Ruth broke records as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Ruth had breathed fresh life into the game. When he first took the bat for the Yankees, baseball was at a low ebb, deep in the "Black Sox" bribery scandal. It was a pitcher's game without much running: Ruth takes most of the credit for the exciting slugger's game it has become today.

1928 Alexander Fleming announced his discovery of penicillin.

1931 Pay cuts in the British Navy prompted mutinous protest by 12,000.

1933 Franklin D Roosevelt announced $700 million New Deal aid to the American poor.

1935 George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess was first performed in Boston.

1936 Pinewood Film Studios were opened by J. Arthur Rank.

1938 British prime minister Neville Chamberlain returned from the crisis conference in Munich and told cheering crowds at the airport "I believe it is peace for our time." Chamberlain and French premier Edouard Daladier flew to Munich to meet Germany's Adolf Hitler and Italian premier Benito Mussolini to find a solution to the Czechoslovakian crisis. Hitler had demanded immediate German occupation of German-speaking Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia following a series of staged riots. France was treaty-bound to defend Czechoslovakia, but Daladier, under pressure from Chamberlain, agreed to the German occupation, and Chamberlain agreed to withdraw British support for the Czechs in return for Hitler's promise that this would be his last bid for more territory. Now Chamberlain called the agreement "peace with honour". The Czechs were calling it treachery.

1939 The USSR and Germany agreed on the partition of Poland.

1943 Death of Richard Austin Freeman, British crime writer.

1949 The Berlin Airlift came to an end.

1949 Victorious communist Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung was elected Chairman of the new People's Republic of China in Peking. Chou En-lai was elected foreign minister. After three years of civil war, Mao's guerrillas had roundly defeated Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's US-backed Nationalist army and the communists were now in control of the huge country. Chiang was a spent force, the remnants of his regime bottled up in the south.

1952 "Cinerama" was introduced for the first time and the first film to use the process was appropriately called "This is Cinerama".

1955 Screen rebel James Dean was killed in a car crash. The 24-year-old star died like he lived - too fast. He crashed his high-powered Porsche sports car while on his way to compete in a motor race. Dean starred in only three movies: the first, East of Eden, was based on John Steinbeck's novel. His second role was as the misunderstood teenager in Rebel Without a Cause, released that year. It instantly made him the object of mass teenage adulation and his death caused widespread heartbreak. Dean's third film, Giant, in which he played opposite Rock Hudson, was to be released the following year; a rags-to-riches tale of an oil millionaire.

1967 Radio in Britain changed as out went the Home, Light and Third Services to be replaced by BBC Radio 1, 2, 3, and 4.

1970 Britain swapped hijack hostages for Palestinian terrorist Leila Khaled.

1978 Death of Edgar Bergen (aged 75) Ventriloquist.

1980 Iran (Ayatollah Khomeini) rejected peace talks with Iraq (Saddam Hussein).

1982 Jay Colburn and H. Ross Perot completed their circumnavigation of the world by helicopter.

1985 Death of Simone Signoret (aged 64) French film actress.

1987 Keith Best, MP, was sentenced to four months in prison for trying to obtain British Telecom shares by deception.

1987 Mikhail Gorbachev surprised the Soviet Union by retiring President Andrei Gromyko and firing other long time leaders.

1989 Death of Virgil Thomson, American composer, music critic and conductor.

1990 The British Army shot dead two joy-riding teenagers in Belfast.

1998 Manchester United drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich. The first time the teams had played each other since the match which preceded the aircrash. This time, the United team had a delayed return flight due to a technical problem. Local noise level restrictions meant they had to stay overnight in a nearby hotel.

1999 It was announced that comedian Dudley Moore was suffering from an incurable brain disease.

1999 In the early hours of the morning a lorry overturned near Knutsford (junction 19) on the M6, and totally blocked the southbound carriageway.

2003 President Bush welcomed a formal inquiry into claims that White House staff leaked the name of a CIA agent.

2003 A major trial of 23 suspected al-Qaeda militants in Belgium ended with convictions for all but five of the accused.

2003 A Moroccan court sentenced two teenage girls to five years in a correctional centre for plotting terrorist attacks.

2003 France announced 10,000 new health jobs and 15,000 extra hospital beds in response to the summer heatwave crisis.

2003 PM Tony Blair vowed to ride out his "rough patch" and told Labour members he was determined to push ahead with reform at home and abroad.

2003 A Millennium Dome performer injured when her safety harness opened was awarded £510,000 compensation.

2003 The first of the "Kill Bill" films - marking the return of Quentin Tarantino after six years - premièred in the US.

2003 Paintings, tablecloths, gold discs and Versace pillows belonging to pop star Sir Elton John raised more than £1.4m at auction.

2003 At least 15 people were hurt, three of them seriously, when a stage collapsed at a Birmingham theatre.

2003 Arsenal created several chances but were held to a 0-0 draw by Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League.

2003 Amidst media speculation, Newcastle United insisted Sir Bobby Robson had not resigned as boss at St James' Park.

2004 British singer Jamelia won three awards at the Mobos, which were overshadowed by protests.

2004 Media watchdog Ofcom proposed a new TV channel to broadcast public service programmes in the UK.

2004 Global music sales were showing signs of recovery for the first time in four years thanks to DVD sales.

2004 Alan Shearer scored a hat-trick as Newcastle thrashed Bnei Sachnin 5-1 (7-1 on aggregate).

2004 An English-speaking man was seriously injured in Budapest ahead of a football match between Ferencvaros and Millwall. In the match itself three first-half goals ended Millwall's European hopes.

2004 The British GP at Silverstone was omitted from the provisional F1 calendar for 2005.

BIRTHDAYS (for 30 September 2006)

Lewis Milestone, 111 (born 30 September 1895)
Russian-born American film director who won an Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front.

David Olstrakh, 98 (born 30 September 1908)
Russian violinist most renowned for his interpretations of the Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev concertos.

Truman Capote, 82 (born 30 September 1924)
American novelist and short story writer whose books include Breakfast at Tiffany's and the "non-fiction novel" In Cold Blood.

Angie Dickinson (Angeline Brown), 75 (born 30 September 1931)
American actress and star of the TV series Police Woman. Her films include Dressed to Kill and Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen.

Johnny Mathis, 71 (born 30 September 1935)
American ballad singer who had a hit with "Wonderful! Wonderful!" in 1957 and continued to record best-sellers over the next 20 years.

Frankie Lymon, 64 (born 30 September 1942)
Singer

Basia, 52 (born 30 September 1954)
Singer

Patrice Rushen, 52 (born 30 September 1954)
Singer

Today's The Day - 29th September

29th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of Saints Rhipsime Gaiana and Companions,
St Theodota of Philippolis,
St Michael,
St Raphael,
and St Gabriel, archangels.

History Test for September 29th

Which terpsichorean TV show made its first appearance today in 1950? -'Come Dancing'

Born today in 1935, which rock'n'roller is known as `The Killer'? -Jerry Lee Lewis

Born today in 1810, which novelist was the first to write a biography of Charlotte Bronte? -Elizabeth Gaskell

Which record breaking athlete and Tory MP was born today in 1956? -Sebastian Coe

Which Soviet politician caused a stir by banging his shoe on the table at the UN today in 1960? -Nikita Khrushchev

QUOTE “Long Island represents the American's idea of what God would have done with Nature if he'd had the money.” - Peter Fleming, British writer, 1929.

QUOTE “No one owes Britain a living.” - James Callaghan, British Labour prime minister, 1976.

Events today...

48BC The Roman General Pompey the Great was assassinated, stabbed to death as he landed in Egypt on the orders of Egyptian King Ptolemy XIII. Caesar was not impressed.

480 BC Though outnumbered two to one, the Greeks routed a huge Persian war fleet in the straits of Salamis. Themistocles of Athens led the Greek fleet and won as much by trickery as valour, with a strategy of feints and about-turns that left the Persian fleet divided and exposed. The lines of ram-prowed Greek ships, each propelled by 200 oarsmen, ploughed into King Xerxes' Persians with devastating effort, sinking scores of galleys outright. After fierce fighting, the remnants of the invading Persian fleet fled, leaving more than 200 wrecked galleys and thousands of casualties. The Greeks lost 40 ships. Earlier in the year Xerxes invaded and burnt the city of Athens. Now Athens had her revenge .Without naval support, the Persian army's chances of conquering the Greeks were slim.

490BC The Greeks defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon.

1399 The first monarch to abdicate, Richard II, was replaced by Bolingbroke who ascended the throne as Henry IV.

1650 The first marriage bureau was opened by Henry Robinson.

1650 A border pact was signed which recognised the English claims to parts of the Long Island coastline.

1829 The first regular police force in London was inaugurated; the officers became known as `bobbies' after Robert Peel, the Home Secretary who founded the modern police force.

1902 French writer Emile Zola died, accidentally gassed by charcoal fumes.

1911 Alleging mistreatment of Italians in Libya, Italy declared war on the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire.

1913 Death of Rudolf Diesel, German engineer.

1913 Ireland edged one step closer to civil war as the Protestant majority in Ulster province vowed to fight rather than be ruled by Catholic Dublin. At a meeting in Belfast, the Ulster Unionist Council agreed to set up a provisional government if the British parliament approved Irish home rule, and council chairman Sir Edward Carson promised to make Ulster ungovernable by Dublin. Meanwhile the Protestant Ulster Volunteer Force held a military parade near the city. Britain's Liberal prime minister Herbert Asquith needed the Irish nationalist votes to stay in power. Under pressure from nationalist leader John Redmond, he introduced the Irish Home Rule Bill in parliament the previous year. But Ulster's Protestants were committed to British rule to avoid becoming a small minority in an Irish state.

1916 Medical history was made when X-rays were announced for the first time.

1916 John D. Rockefeller became the world's first billionaire during the share boom in the USA.

1918 During World War 2, Allied forces made a decisive breakthrough of the Hindenburg Line in Germany.

1925 British roads were made safer by the introduction of white lines.

1927 Death of Willem Einthoven, Dutch physiologist.

1930 George Bernard Shaw turned down a peerage.

1935 Death of Winifred Holtby, English novelist.

1938 The Munich Conference began, attended by Neville Chamberlain, Edouard Daladier, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

1939 The BBC’s Home service began broadcasting.

1941 A special Nazi death squad murdered thousands of Russian Jews in Kiev, machine-gunning them systematically in Babi Yar ravine. The shooting continued all day, and more than 30,000 men, women and children were feared dead. Nazi Gestapo secret police chief Heinrich Himmler sent four Einsatzgruppen (strike squads) into Russia behind the advancing German war machine with the express mission of exterminating Soviet Jewish civilians and other "undesirables". Kiev fell to the Nazis 10 days earlier, and Leningrad was under siege. Meanwhile some 700,000 Jews had died in the Polish ghettoes since the Nazi occupation in 1939. Himmler and his henchmen, Reinhard Heydrich and Adolph Eichmann, were reported to be planning a "final solution" to the Jewish "problem".

1944 Soviet troops entered Yugoslavia.

1946 Launch of the BBC’s Light Programme.

1950 The first automatic telephone answering machine was tested by the US Bell Telephone Company.

1952 John Cobb, British and world waterspeed record holder, was killed on Loss Ness in Scotland when his vessel Crusader disintegrated after hitting waves at a speed of 240 mph (384 kph).

1959 Death of Bruce Bairnsfather, British cartoonist.

1970 Death of Edward Everett Horton (aged 84) Actor.

1976 A broke Britain asked the International Monetary Fund for a $3.9 billion (£2.1 billion) loan - the limit of its entitlement. Britain needed the money to prop up the ailing pound, which collapsed earlier in the week following market jitters caused by loud left-wing noises at the ruling Labour Party's annual conference. Meanwhile inflation was soaring, fuelled by poor productivity, high government spending and an energy crisis, while rising prices brought embarrassing wage demands by unions which supported the Labour Party. Prime minister James Callaghan ruled out left-wing demands for lower taxes and a bigger welfare budget.

1977 Members of James Brown's band walked out on him whilst on tour saying they were under paid and overworked.

1986 The Soviet Union freed American journalist Nicholas Daniloff, jailed in August on improbable spying charges. His release followed US agreement to drop charges against Russian diplomat Gennadi Zakharov, previously arrested for spying in New York.

1987 John M. Poindexter officially resigned from the Navy over the Iran-Contra scandal.

1988 Florence Griffith Joyner won the gold medal for the 200 metres race in the Seoul Summer Olympics. Florence became known as "Flo Jo" and had incredibly long finger nails. She died in 1998 of a heart condition.

1988 The 26th space shuttle mission took place when Discovery was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre. This was the first flight after the disastrous Challenger launch in which the crew were killed in an explosion shortly after launch.

1989 Don Henley was joined by former Eagles colleague Glen Frey on stage in Los Angeles. It was the first time they had performed together since the Eagles had split up in 1981.

1991 Haiti's first freely elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was ousted in a military coup.

1992 Death of Paul Jabara (aged 44) Actor and songwriter - 'Last Dance' for Donna Summer.

1992 Death of William Douglas-Home, British playwright.

1997 Death of Roy Lichtenstein (aged 73) Painter of pop art.

1998 China’s Human Rights were questioned as eight people were executed.

1998 Tony Blair advocated zero tolerance on crime at the Labour Party Conference in Blackpool.

1998 After 211 years, women were given the right to enter the Long Room at Lords.

2000 Shirley Robertson sailed to win Britain’s seventh gold of the Sydney Olympics.

2003 The US administration rejected allegations that it illegally revealed to journalists the name of an undercover CIA agent.

2003 Nigeria pulled out of the race to host the 2010 World Cup finals.

2003 Italian public prosecutors launched an inquiry after the worst blackout in the country's history.

2003 Air France agreed an alliance with KLM, while Alitalia said it wanted to be involved in any move towards Europe's first major airline merger.

2003 A Muslim man who cut his 16-year-old daughter's throat after learning she planned to run away with her Christian boyfriend was jailed.

2003 According to a study by British scientists, sunscreen lotions may not protect against skin cancer.

2003 US film director Elia Kazan, who produced such classics as On the Waterfront and East of Eden, died aged 94.

2003 It was announced that cheaper CD singles - with only two tracks - would be eligible for the UK charts as the industry tried to boost sales.

2003 IN cricket, England selected Richard Johnson to replace James Anderson for the Test series in Bangladesh.

2003 Jockey Frankie Dettori was fined £250 after breaching controversial mobile phone restrictions.

2004 A Palestinian rocket attack on an Israeli town killed two children, and provoked a response by Israeli helicopters.

2004 An Italian politician said $1m was paid to free two women in Iraq as new footage appears of a UK hostage, Ken Bigley. Tony Blair said the government would respond "immediately" if his captors make contact.

2004 Rock star Bono urged Labour to "get real" and end world poverty in a speech to the party's conference.

2004 Critics gave Kevin Spacey's debut play as artistic director disappointing reviews at London's Old Vic theatre.

2004 Jose Mourinho's Chelsea beat his former side, and European champions, Porto 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw in Norway against Rosenborg, despite Freddie Ljungberg's sixth-minute opener.

2005 Moderate conservative John Roberts was sworn in as the youngest US Supreme Court chief justice in 200 years.

2005 Reports claimed that actress Renee Zellweger was to play Beatrix Potter in a film about the author's life.

BIRTHDAYS (for 29 September 2006)

Tintoretto, 488 (born 29 September 1518)
Italian painter, one of the most important of the Venetian school, whose works include The Ascension and the ceilings at the Prado, Madrid.

Miguel de Cervantes, 459 (born 29 September 1547)
Spanish playwright best known for his novel Don Quixote.

Viscount Horatio Nelson, 248 (born 29 September 1758)
British naval commander who became a national hero despite the scandal of his love affair with Emma, Lady Hamilton.

William Wrigley, 145 (born 29 September 1861)
Died 1932. The chewing gum guy

Sir Billy Butlin, 107 (born 29 September 1899)
Died 1980. Holiday camp man

Greer Garson, 103 (born 29 September 1903)
Died 1996. Actress 'Goodbye Mr Chips'

Michael Powell, 101 (born 29 September 1905)
Died 1990. Producer/Director

Gene Autry, 99 (born 29 September 1907)
American singing cowboy and actor who wrote and recorded more than 200 songs.

Stanley Kramer, 92 (born 29 September 1914)
American film producer and director whose films include Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

Buddy Rich, 89 (born 29 September 1917)
Died 1987. Drummer

Deborah Kerr, 85 (born 29 September 1921)
Actress 'King and I' 'From Here to Eternity'

Bum Phillips, 83 (born 29 September 1923)
football coach.

Donald Swann, 83 (born 29 September 1923)
Died 1994. Lyracist - one half of Flanders and Swann

Steve Forrest, 82 (born 29 September 1924)
Actor - 'The Baron'

Truman Capote, 82 (born 29 September 1924)
Died 1984. Novelist - 'Breakfast at Tiffanys'

Anita Ekberg, 75 (born 29 September 1931)
Actress - 'La Dolce Vita'

Angie Dickinson, 75 (born 29 September 1931)
Actress - 'Police Woman' 'Dressed to Kill'

Robert Benton, 74 (born 29 September 1932)
Director - 'Kramer vs Kramer'

James Villiers, 73 (born 29 September 1933)
Died 1998. Actor - 'For Your Eyes Only' 'The Ruling Class'

Freddie King, 72 (born 29 September 1934)
Died 1976. Blues performer

Jerry Lee Lewis, 71 (born 29 September 1935)
American rock 'n' roll star who first appeared on stage at the age of just 14. His first big hit was `Great Balls of Fire'.

Johnny Mathis, 71 (born 29 September 1935)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'When a Child is Born'

Jean-Luc Ponty, 64 (born 29 September 1942)
Violinist composer

Madeline Kahn, 64 (born 29 September 1942)
Actress - many Mel Brooks movies

Britt Ekland, 64 (born 29 September 1942)
Actress - former wife of Peter Sellers

Ian McShane, 64 (born 29 September 1942)
Actor - 'Lovejoy'

Gus Dudgeon, 64 (born 29 September 1942)
Music producer - Elton John

Frankie Lymon, 64 (born 29 September 1942)
Died 1968. Singer - biggest UK hit 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love'

Marilyn McCoo, 63 (born 29 September 1943)
Singer - Fifth Dimension - biggest solo hit (with hubby Billy Davis) 'You Don't Have to be a Star'

Ian Ogilvy, 63 (born 29 September 1943)
Actor 'Return of the Saint'

Mike Post, 62 (born 29 September 1944)
Composer - 'Hill Street Blues' 'Rockford Files' 'NYPD Blue'

Patricia Hodge, 60 (born 29 September 1946)
Actress - 'Life and Loves of a She Devil'

Rula Lenska, 59 (born 29 September 1947)
Actress - 'Rock Follies'

Marc Bolan, 59 (born 29 September 1947)
Died 1977. Singer - T Rex - biggest UK hit 'Hot Love'

Jack Wild, 54 (born 29 September 1952)
Actor - 'H.R.Puffnstuff'

Victoria Tennant, 53 (born 29 September 1953)
Actress - Steve Martin's ex-wife - 'LA Story'

Patrice Rushen, 52 (born 29 September 1954)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Forget Me Nots'

Sebastian Newbold Coe OBE, 50 (born 29 September 1956)
Former athlete and now politician

Basia, 50 (born 29 September 1956)
Polish singer - member of Matt Bianco / solo

Mari Wilson, 49 (born 29 September 1957)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Just What I Always Wanted'

Andrew "Dice" Clay, 49 (born 29 September 1957)
Comedian

Eric Stoltz, 45 (born 29 September 1961)
Actor 'Mask' 'Single White Female'

Matt and Luke Goss, 38 (born 29 September 1968)
The Bros boys - biggest UK hit 'I Owe You Nothing'

Emily Lloyd, 36 (born 29 September 1970)
Actress - 'Wish You Were Here'

Today's The Day - 28th September

28th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Eustochium of Bethlehem,
St Annemund or Chamond,
St Faustus of Riez,
St Feneolus of Vienne,
St Lioba,
St Wenceslaus of Bohemia,
and St Exuperius or Soupire of Toulouse.

History Test for September 28th

Which patriotic English song was first performed today in 1745? -'God Save the King/Queen'

American author Kate Wiggins was born today in 1856. She wrote a story about Rebecca Randall, who lived on which farm? -Sunnybrook

Which Pope died today in 1978 after just 33 days in office? -Pope John Paul I

Which battle ended today in 490BC and gave its name to a very long race? -Marathon

Played by Richard Chamberlain, which medic made his TV debut today in 1961? -Dr. Kildare

Events today...

1066 The start of the Norman Conquests of England began when William the Conqueror and his troops invaded England by landing at Pevensey.

1530 Death of Andrea del Sarto Italian painter.

1665 The bubonic plague of London broke out. Thousands died. It was the worst plague for over 200 years.

1745 At the Drury Lane Theatre, London, God Save the King, the national anthem, was sung for the first time.

1794 Britain, Russia, and Austria formed the Alliance of St Petersburg against France.

1864 The First International was founded in London, when Karl Marx proposed the formation of an International Working Men's Association.

1865 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became the first qualified woman physician in Britain.

1868 Rebel generals ousted Queen Isabella in Spain.

1891 Death of Herman Melville, American author of Moby Dick.

1894 Simon Marks and Tom Spencer opened their Penny Bazaar in Manchester, the first of what would become a nation-wide chain of stores.

1895 Death of Louis Pasteur aged 72, French chemist and micro-biologist who developed vaccines for anthrax and rabies.

1902 Death of Emile Zola, French Novelist.

1904 A woman was arrested for smoking a cigarette in an open car on Fifth Avenue in New York!!!.

1923 The Radio Times was first published.

1937 A million people gathered at a floodlit rally in Berlin to hear Nazi leader Adolph Hitler and Italy’s Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini deliver a message of Peace.

1956 RCA Records reported sales of over 10 million copies of Elvis Presley's records in his first year.

1963 A New York disc jockey "Murray the K" was believed to be the first person in the U.S. to play a Beatles record on air.

1964 Death of Harpo Marx aged 75, the mute harp-playing member of the Marx Brothers.

1970 Anwar Sadat replaced Egyptian President Nassar who had died aged 52 from a heart attack.

1973 Death of W. H. Auden, English poet.

1975 Death of Sid Fields (aged 77) Comedian.

1975 Dictator General Franco executed five Basque terrorists.

1978 Pope John Paul I died of a heart attack. He had only been Pope for 34 days.

1982 American president Ronald Reagan sent marines into Beirut on a Peace-keeping mission.

1986 British welterweight boxer Lloyd Honeyghan became world champion in just six rounds with American boxer Donald Curry, who was forced to retire with a badly cut eye.

1987 Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted on American television with a two hour special.

1989 Ferdinand Marcos, ex-president of the Philippines, died in exile.

1991 Following the “death of Soviet communism”, American president George Bush proposed sweeping nuclear arms cuts that went far deeper than the 30% cuts agreed in Moscow earlier in the year.

1991 Death of Miles Davies (aged 65) Jazz performer.

1994 The Estonian Ferry capsized in the Baltic Sea and 909 people drowned.

1997 Mary Whitehouse (clean up television campaigner) broke her back at the age of 87 in an accident in her garden when she fell off her swing.

1998 In Britain, a new law was passed to allow curfews to be imposed on children.

1998 Hurricane Georges battered America’s Gulf coast.

2000 The parents of the Maltese Siamese twins Jodie and Mary born in Manchester decided not to appeal against the judges decision to separate them. This would mean certain death for Mary.

2003 Power slowly returned to Italy after the worst blackout in its history, apparently triggered by a failure in Switzerland.

2003 Arabic TV stations broadcast an audiotape attributed to Osama Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.

2003 A top Chechen politician was poisoned, ahead of elections in the troubled Russian republic.

2003 Entertainer Donald O'Connor, best known for his role in the musical “Singin' in the Rain” died at the age of 78.

2004 Two Italian female aid workers held hostage in Iraq for three weeks were freed and return to Italy.

2004 US crude oil prices eased slightly from 21-year highs reached amid concern about supplies from Nigeria.

2004 It was announced that the FBI had a backlog of hundreds of thousands of hours of untranslated audio recordings, an audit finds.

2004 Pop producer Phil Spector was indicted on a charge that he murdered an actress at his home 19 months earlier.

2004 US musicians, including Bruce Springsteen and REM, began a tour to persuade voters to oust President George Bush.

2004 In the Champions League, Wayne Rooney scored a brilliant hat-trick as Manchester Utd beat Fenerbahce 6-2. And Liverpool suffered defeat against Greek opposition as 10-man Olympiakos beat them 1-0.

2004 Athens staged a low-key but emotional Paralympics closing ceremony.

2004 World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff signed for Blackburn until January.

2005 Tom DeLay, one of America's most powerful Republican politicians, stepped down over charges of illegal financing.

2005 It was announced that Quadrophenia star Phil Daniels was to join BBC soap EastEnders as regular character Kevin Wicks.

2005 A life portrait of Prince William in existence, showing him aged 17, went on display at a London gallery.

BIRTHDAYS (for 28 September 2006)

Confucius, 2556 (born 28 September 551BC)
Died 479BC. Philosopher

Caravaggio, 433 (born 28 September 1573)
Italian baroque painter noted for his dramatic canvasses of light and shade.

`Gentleman John' Jackson, 237 (born 28 September 1769)
English pugilist who managed to get boxing accepted as a legitimate sport, and after retirement as English boxing champion, set up a self-defence school in Bond Street, where his pupils included Lord Byron.

Georges Clemenceau, 165 (born 28 September 1841)
French prime minister from 1917 to 1920.

Ed Sullivan, 104 (born 28 September 1902)
Died 1974. TV Host

Al Capp (Alfred Gerald Caplin), 97 (born 28 September 1909)
American cartoonist who drew the `Li’l Abner' strip which first appeared in 1934.

Peter Finch, 90 (born 28 September 1916)
Died 1977. Australian actor of stage and screen whose appearances in the films Sunday, Bloody Sunday and Network, for which he was awarded a posthumous Oscar, won him a new audience.

Marcello Mastroianni, 82 (born 28 September 1924)
Died 1996. Italian actor

Sir Jeremy Isaacs, 74 (born 28 September 1932)
general director Royal Opera House

Brigitte Bardot, 72 (born 28 September 1934)
French actress and sex symbol who first caused a stir in And God Created Woman.

Heather Sears, 71 (born 28 September 1935)
Actress

Ben E King, 68 (born 28 September 1938)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Stand By Me'

Madeline Kahn, 64 (born 28 September 1942)
actress

J T Walsh, 63 (born 28 September 1943)
Died 1998. Actor

Helen Shapiro, 60 (born 28 September 1946)
Sixties star who made the big time with `Walking back to Happiness'

Peter Egan, 60 (born 28 September 1946)
Actor -'Ever Decreasing Circles'

Jon Snow, 59 (born 28 September 1947)
Newsreader

John Sayles, 56 (born 28 September 1950)
Director

Sylvia Kristel, 54 (born 28 September 1952)
Dutch actress - Emmanuelle

Jim Diamond, 53 (born 28 September 1953)
Scottish singer - biggest UK hit 'I Shoulda Known Better'

Jennifer Rush, 46 (born 28 September 1960)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'The Power of Love'

Peter Hooton, 44 (born 28 September 1962)
Member of The Farm - biggest UK hit 'All Together Now'

Mika Hakkinen, 38 (born 28 September 1968)
racing driver

Mira Sorvino, 36 (born 28 September 1970)
Actress - 'Mighty Aphrodite'

Gwyneth Paltrow, 33 (born 28 September 1973)
Actress - 'Sliding Doors'

Quiztime 240906

1. What is the name of the hangover cure which consists of a raw egg and Worcester Sauce?
Prairie Oyster
2. Where is the worlds largest permanent circus?
Las Vegas
3. What decides the winner on Mastermind if contestants are level on points at the end of the quiz?
Least number of passes
4. What symbol is used by Paramount at the start of their productions?
A snow covered mountain
5. Who played the leader of the gang in the film ‘The Dirty Dozen’?
Lee Marvin
6. What traditionally rectangular British apeture did Brussels want to change to a 26cm square to fit with the French?
Letterbox
7. True or False - The Roman leap year had the same number of days as ordinary years but January 23rd lasted for 48 hours?
True
8. What was Princess Diana’s second name?
Frances
9. The London tube station Gillespie Road was renamed in the 1930’s in honour of the local football club, by what name is it now known?
Arsenal
10. Who was the first boxer to beat Mike Tyson in a professional fight and by doing so won the world heavyweight title?
James ‘Buster’ Douglas
11. Which was the only chocolate bar supplied to British troops during WWII?
Mars Bar
12. What form of transport is a Sea Wasp?
Helicopter
13. What sort of creature is an Eggar - a bird, a fish or an insect?
Insect - type of Moth
14. In which district of London is the south end of the Thames Barrier?
Woolwich
15. What does the red polka-dot jersey signify in the Tour de France?
King of the mountains
16. Devil’s Tower codenamed ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ was used to contact UFO’s in which film?
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
17. Other than tennis, at which other sport is Martina Navratilova proficient?
Skiing
18. What hallmark indicates English Sterling Silver?
A Lion
19. Which car manufacturer ended the Porsche domination of sports car events in 1987?
Jaguar
20. Quiztime Survey Question - Name a food that does not go well with kissing?
Garlic / Onions / Curry / Kippers / Chillies

21. Which Year - J. R. R. Tolkien, Oxford scholar of mediaeval English, died aged 81 / Former dictator Juan Perón was re-elected president of Argentina after nearly 20 years’ exile whilst Chile’s democratically elected Marxist government was overthrown in a US-backed military coup / Death of Gustav VI, King of Sweden / Three astronauts landed in the Pacific having spent 59 days aboard Skylab II Space Laboratory?
1973
22. Which animal has been the symbol of medecine since ancient times?
Snakes
23. In which dance is the main step a frenzied kicking in the air from the knee?
Charleston
24. In which game can you not raise a blind man?
Brag
25. Merullus Lacrymans is the least popular domestic fungus - how is it better known?
Dry Rot
26. Could a woman high jumper clear a volleyball net?
No - 2.24m is above high jump record
27. From noon to midnight, how many times does the minute hand overtake the hour hand on a clock? Eleven - big hand overtakes the little hand 23 times a day
28. What was the most expensive form of anti-siege warfare in medieval times?
Hot Oil
29. What is the common name for your Buccal Cavity?
Mouth
30. Which game is known as Tric Trac in France, Puff in Germany and Tavola Reale in Italy?
Backgammon
31. From what age were Morecambe & Wise in partnership - 14, 17 or 20?
Fourteen
32. What game was forbidden by James II of Scotland because it interfered with military training?
Golf
33. What is a female hedgehog called?
Sow
34. If you spotted the Raven Flag from a cliff top in around 878ad why would you run?
The Vikings are coming!
35. Which element can be 235 or 238?
Uranium - U238 is the more active isotope
36. Which sport was first observed by Captain Cook in Polynesia?
Surfing
37. Brookfield, Home Farm, Bridge Farm and Grange Farm can all be found in which soap?
The Archers
38. In which well known game does one of the players use nothi9ng all of the time?
Noughts & Crosses
39. Tango music originated in which South American country?
Argentina
40. What do Steptoe Jnr, Eliza Doolitle and Lonnie Donegan have in common?
Their Dads collected Rubbish!!!

Tiebreaker - Record distance for a woman to throw a rolling pin?
175ft 5ins (1979)

Today's The Day - 27th September

27th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of St Elzear of Sabran,
St Banog or Bamoch,
and St Vincent de Paul.

History Test for September 27th

Who made her TV debut on `Ready Steady Go' today in 1963, singing a Lennon and McCartney song 'Love of the Loved'? -Cilla Black

Born today in 1907, who founded London's Mermaid Theatre? -Bernard Miles

Who was the engineer on the Stockton-Darlington railway, opened today in 1825? -George Stephenson

Whose murder did the Warren Commission report on today in 1964? -John F.Kennedy's

In the contest for deputy leader of the British Labour Party, today in 1980, who did Denis Healey defeat? -Tony Benn

Events today...

1672 A new British company chartered on this day was given a monopoly of the African slave trade. The Royal African Company was arranging shipments of slaves from the African coast to the markets in the Americas, offering special terms for entire shiploads. A healthy slave cost less than £20 on delivery in America. The new company's chief competition was the Dutch West India Company, which had had a monopoly of the West African slave trade for 50 years. Britain and France were at war with Holland, and a month earlier a Dutch fleet attacked New York. Regardless of European hostilities, the number of slave ships plying the Atlantic grew. The New World plantations could not operate without slaves and enormous profits were to be made from the trade in "black gold".

1791 Jews were granted French citizenship.

1821 Mexico achieved independence through the efforts of General Hubride, who declared himself Emperor Augustin I.

1826 The Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first passenger rail service, opened, with its first steam locomotive travelling at 10 mph.

1854 The first major disaster involving an Atlantic Ocean liner. The steamship "Arctic" sank with 300 people aboard.

1888 The Central News Agency in London received a letter which began "Dear Boss, I keep on hearing the police have caught me, but they won't fix me just yet..." It was signed Jack the Ripper, the first time the name had been used.

1891 Death of Ivan Alexandrovich Goncharov, Russian novelist.

1917 Death of Edgar Degas, French painter and sculptor who initially painted portraits in the style of the old masters, but in the mid-1860s began painting contemporary scenes, particularly of ballet and racecourses.

1919 Death of Adelina Patti, Italian-born coloratura soprano.

1921 Death of Engelbert Humperdinck, German composer who wrote the well-loved opera Hansel and Gretel.

1922 Constantine I, King of Greece, abdicated following the Greek defeat in Turkey.

1930 American golfer Bobby Jones completed the first-ever golfing grand slam when he won the US National Amateur Championships.

1938 "Thanks for the Memory" made its debut when Bob Hope sang it for the first time on his show on the NBC Radio Network. The song became Hope's theme song.

1938 The 80,000-ton liner Queen Elizabeth was launched at John Brown's Yard in Clydebank.

1939 Warsaw, the capital of Poland, surrendered to the German forces.

1940 Imperial Japan signed a 10-year economic and military alliance with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in Berlin. The Tripartite Pact formalised the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis which began in 1936 when Japan signed the Pact with Germany; Italy signed a year later. This pact was a coup for Nazi leader Adolph Hitler, whose Blitzkrieg in Europe had gained him conquests, but no allies other than Italy and an increasingly reluctant Spain. Japan was also a useful buffer against the United States. Japan and Russia, however, had been bitter enemies since their war over Manchuria in 1905.

1944 Death of Aristide Maillol, French painter and sculptor.

1951 The movie "An American in Paris" received it premier.

1960 Bank Underground station in London opened the first travelator, or "moving pavement", in Europe.

1962 Secretary Martha Reeves recorded for the first time with the Vandellas. The song was called "I'll Have to Let Him Go".

1965 Death of Clara Bow (aged 59) Silent movie actress - The "It" girl.

1968 Just one day after the end of theatre censorship in Britain, 13 naked actors faced a London audience as the rock musical Hair opened in the West End to a packed house. The nude bit only lasted one short scene and impressionistic stage lighting left most of the crucial details discreetly shadowed, but the show was nonetheless a big hit with the audience.

1975 Jamaica's big reggae stars, Bob Marley and the Wailers, had their first European hit as "No Woman No Cry" entered the UK Charts.

1979 BBC's Question Time was broadcast for the first time, with Robin Day in the chair. He stayed with the show for 10 years.

1979 Elton John collapsed whilst on stage in concert in Hollywood. He was suffering from flu.

1979 Wings guitarist Jimmy McCullough was found dead. He was 26 and had only just left the band.

1979 Death of Dame Gracie Fields aged 81, singer and entertainer whose songs include "The Biggest Aspidistra in the World" and "Sally" (her theme song).

1980 Arista Records in the UK signed unknown rockabilly New York band "The Stray Cats" for £100

1990 Glamorous British model Caroline Cossey failed to overturn a law that didn't let her get married- because her birth certificate said she was male. And so she was, until a sex-change operation 15 years earlier transformed her into the beautiful and successful model "Tula". She appealed against the ruling in terms of the European Convention on Human Rights, but the European court upheld the British law.

1992 Nigel Mansell won the Portuguese Grand Prix and also broke the record for nine wins in a Grand Prix season.

1994 Death of Harry Saltzman (aged 78) Movie Producer - Bond.

1996 Damon Hill, sacked by Williams, shocked the Formula One world by signing for the lowly Arrows team.

1997 Bob Dylan met Pope John Paul II when he played for the Catholic Youth Rally in Bologna in Italy.

1998 Gerhart Schroeder became the new Prime Minister of Germany. Helmut Kohl’s Christian Democrats were defeated and replaced by Social Democrats.

1999 Dave Jones, the Manager of Southampton and former Everton player was charged with nine offences against children.

2003 US President Bush and Russia's President Putin called on Iran to abandon any plans to develop nuclear weapons.

2003 Residents in Hokkaido in Japan were told to remain alert after the previous day's big earthquake, as severe aftershocks were felt.

2003 Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qureia appointed a new cabinet under Yasser Arafat.

2003 A Eurostar train set a new journey time from London to Paris, using the newly-opened first part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

2003 Leicester were thrashed 4-1 at home by Man Utd with Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbing a hat-trick at the Walkers Stadium.

2004 EastEnders beat arch-rival Coronation Street to the title of best soap at the Inside Soap awards.

2004 Everton chief Bill Kenwright claimed manager David Moyes could have up to £30m in transfer funds.

2004 Warwickshire's Graham Wagg admitted using cocaine after failing a drugs test.

2004 Iain Dowie put pen to paper on a new four-year contract at Crystal Palace.

2005 Pensioner Sylvia Hardy was freed early from a seven-day jail term for refusing to pay part of her council tax.

2005 Lizzie Dripping author Helen Cresswell died at her home in Nottinghamshire aged 71 after a battle with cancer.

2005 Guy Ritchie's crime thriller Revolver failed to knock Pride and Prejudice off the top of the UK box office chart.

2005 Ruud van Nistelrooy's late strike gave Man Utd a crucial Champions League win against Benfica.

BIRTHDAYS (for 27 September 2006)

Samuel Adams, 284 (born 27 September 1722)
American revolutionary who was involved in planning the Boston Tea Party, an anti-taxation raid on British ships.

George Cruikshank, 214 (born 27 September 1792)
British political cartoonist who also illustrated more than 850 books, including Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist.

Louis Botha, 144 (born 27 September 1862)
South African prime minister, the first of the Union of South Africa, who encouraged reconciliation between the British and the Boers.

Vincent Youmans, 108 (born 27 September 1898)
American composer of popular music whose hits included `I Want to Be Happy' and `Tea for Two'.

William Conrad, 86 (born 27 September 1920)
Died 1994. Actor - 'Cannon'

Greg Morris, 72 (born 27 September 1934)
Died 1996. Actor - Barney in 'Mission Impossible'

Gordon Honeycombe, 70 (born 27 September 1936)
broadcaster/writer

Don Cornelius, 70 (born 27 September 1936)
Host of USA Soul Train

Josephine Barstow, 66 (born 27 September 1940)
soprano

Baroness Blackstone, 64 (born 27 September 1942)
Education Minister

Alvin Stardust, 64 (born 27 September 1942)
Singer (born Shane Fenton) - biggest UK hit 'Jealous Mind'

Randy Bachman, 63 (born 27 September 1943)
Member of Bachman Turner Overdrive - biggest UK hit 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet'

Robin Nedwell, 60 (born 27 September 1946)
actor

Cheryl Tiegs, 59 (born 27 September 1947)
model/actress

Barbara Dickson, 59 (born 27 September 1947)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'I Know Him So Well'

Meatloaf, 59 (born 27 September 1947)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'I'd Do Anything for Love'

Denis Lawson, 59 (born 27 September 1947)
Actor 'Kit Curran Radio Show'

Michele Dotrice, 58 (born 27 September 1948)
Actress best-known as Frank Spencers wife Betty in `Some Mothers do 'Ave 'Em'

Diane Abbott, 53 (born 27 September 1953)
Labour MP

Robbie Shakespear, 53 (born 27 September 1953)
Sly and Robbie

Greg Ham, 53 (born 27 September 1953)
Member of Men at Work - biggest UK hit 'Down Under'

Glen Matlock, 50 (born 27 September 1956)
rock musician

Bill Athey, 49 (born 27 September 1957)
cricketer

Shaun Cassidy, 48 (born 27 September 1958)
Teen heartthrob and actor

Brett Anderson, 39 (born 27 September 1967)
Member of Suede

Mark Aston, 39 (born 27 September 1967)
rugby league player

Steve Chettle, 38 (born 27 September 1968)
footballer

Lee Brennan, 31 (born 27 September 1975)
Member of 911

Quiztime Quiz Vault

1 What place had the Roman name Granta? Cambridge
2 In which Shakespearian play does Caliban appear? The Tempest
3 Which month's name is derived from the two-faced god of gates? January
4 What is the reserve crew of Cambridge called in the Boat race? Goldie
5 What is the Character Mrs Martins real name? Caroline Aherne
6 "Other than Psalms, which other Book of the Old Testament begins with ‘P’?" Proverbs
7 Who manufactured Amigo computers? Commodore
8 Which 11th-century wizard became trapped in the 20th century? Catweazle
9 What are Map Makers called? Cartographers
10 What actor has a tattoo on his right wrist saying 'Scotland Forever'? Sean Connery
11 What was the surname of Professor Bernard whose name has become synonymous with early TV sci-fi? Quatermas
12 What planet's moons include Gallist, Ganymede and Io? Jupiter's
13 The Punic Wars were fought between whom? Romans &Carthaginians
14 Which famous singer had a pudding named after her? Dame Nellie Melba
15 What is H2SO4? Sulphuric acid
16 What ceased to be legal tender in the UK in March 1983? Pound note
17 What Greek letter is used to denote a galaxy's second-brightest star? Beta
18 In which county is Darlington? Durham
19 How many possible different first moves can a player make in chess? Twenty
20 In which sci-fi series did Joanna Lumley and David McCallum star? Sapphire and Steel
21 Who was snooker world champion in 1987? Steve Davis
22 Who pilots Thunderbird 1? Scott Tracey
23 What do you call an 8-sided polygon? Octagon
24 Who directed 'Seven Samurai' the film upon which 'The Magnificent Seven' was based? Kurosawa
25 What is the capital of Sudan? Khartoum

1 What mammals fly? Bats
2 What nationality was Chopin? Polish
3 Which horse won the Grand National in 1982? Grittar (Mr. Dick Saunders)
4 At what major sporting event are the diamond challenge sculls competed for. Henley regatta
5 Who had a hit in early 1992 with ‘Stay’? Shakespeare's sister
6 What alloy do copper and zinc form? Brass
7 How many originals of the Magna Carta are in existence? Four (two in the British Museum, one each at Salisbury and Lincoln cathedrals).
8 In which film did Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood sing? Paint your wagon
9 What colour are French letterboxes? Yellow
10 What multiple births occurs on average once every 490,000 births? Quadruplets
11 Which country lost to Italy in the 1982 World Cup final? West Germany
12 Who was the Roman goddess of the hearth? Vesta
13 Who sits on the Woolsack? Lord Chancellor
14 Fruit of the Blackthorn? Sloe
15 Sitting Bull was the chief of which North American Indian tribe? Sioux
16 In which month of 1945 were atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? August
17 Who is Snoopy's bird friend in "Peanuts"? Woodstock
18 What followed Ready Steady in the title of the pop show? Go
19 What is the most common colour that appears in the flags of the world? Red
20 Who wrote Brave New World? Aldous Huxley
21 In photographic terms for what does SLR stand? Single Lens Reflex
22 Where was Dick Turpin hanged? York
23 Who created Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress in 1947? Norman Hartnell
24 Where is the Wind in the story about Toad and Badger? The Willows
25 What colour is the mineral malachite? Green

Quiztime UK Quiz Vault

Today's The Day - 26th September

26th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of Saints Cosmas and Damian,
St Nilus of Rossano,
St Colman of Lann Elo,
St Teresa Couderc,
and St John of Meda.

History Test for September 26th

Which Sondheim-Bernstein musical, based on 'Romeo and Juliet', was premiered on Broadway today in 1957? -`West Side Story'

Launched today in 1934, what was the largest liner of her time? -The Queen Mary

Today in 1974, Kenneth More played Father Brown on TV for the first time. Who created the character? -G.K.Chesterton

Name the author of the 'Dr. Dolittle' books, who died today in 1947. -Hugh Lofting

Today in 1960, which Caribbean politician made the longest ever speech at the United Nations? -Fidel Castro (The speech lasted 4 hours and 29 minutes)

Events today...

1580 Sir Frances Drake returned to Plymouth having successfully circumnavigated the globe in 33 months in the Golden Hind. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in April 1581.

1687 The masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture, the Parthenon, became a casualty of war. Turkish forces that besieged the Acropolis were using the old temple as a powder magazine, and the attacking Venetian army scored a direct hit on it with a mortar bomb. The powder exploded, blowing off the roof, ruining the frieze-covered walls and damaging much of the marble sculpture. But still the battle continued. The Parthenon was the temple of Athena, Goddess of War. It was designed by Ictinus and Callicrates under the direction of the great sculptor Phidias and completed in 432 BC. Phidias's huge image of Athena was destroyed by the Crusaders. Over the years the Parthenon has been used as a Catholic church, a mosque and a harem.

1789 The first Postmaster General (Samual Osgood) was appointed.

1815 The Holy Alliance was signed by Tsar Alexander I of Russia, Francis I of Austria (formerly Holy Roman Emperor Francis II), and Frederick William III, King of Prussia.

1820 Death of Daniel Boone (aged 85) Explorer.

1829 The first police force in Britain was established by Sir Robert Peel.

1887 German-born US scientist, Emile Berliner patented the first gramophone.

1892 The Diamond Match Company patented book matches.

1892 The Liberty Bell March was performed for the first time by John Philip Sousa in the U.S.

1902 Death of Levi Strauss (aged 73) Inventor of Jeans!.

1903 Women got the vote in the Connecticut state elections.

1907 New Zealand became a Dominion.

1915 Death of James Keir Hardie, Scottish Labour Party pioneer.

1934 The liner Queen Mary was launched at Clydebank, Scotland, by Queen Mary.

1937 The Empress of the Blues Bessie Smith died. Her friends said she would still be alive if she'd been white: Miss Smith was hurt in a car smash in racist Mississippi, and bled to death waiting for an ambulance that simply didn't bother to hurry. She was 43. Bessie Smith learnt to sing in a gospel church in Tennessee, and started her singing career in honky tonk bars: She got her big chance in 1923 when she went to New York to make a "race record" for sale in the black communities. She was an instant sensation, and her success quickly spilled across the race barrier. Bessie Smith was a household name, her records were landmarks of blues and jazz singing. And now she had died, a victim of prejudice and stupidity. That's how the blues were born, and that's why people like Bessie Smith sung them.

1945 Hungarian composer Bela Bartok died in poverty in the USA; his stage works included the opera Duke Bluebeard's Castle, and his most popular work was Concerto for Orchestra.

1953 Sugar rationing in Britain came to an end.

1955 Movie star Debbie Reynolds married singer Eddie Fisher. They divorced in 1959.

1955 Frozen Birds Eye fish fingers first went on sale in Britain.

1957 The first performance of the Bernstein-Sondheim musical West Side Story was given in New York. It ran for 734 performances.

1961 Bob Dylan made his debut in New York's Greenwich Village, at Gerdie's Folk City.

1969 "Abbey Road" was released by the Beatles in the UK with probably one of the most famous album covers in the world of the fab four walking across the zebra crossing outside the EMI studios in Abbey Road.

1977 270 people paid only £59 ($109) to fly from London to New York on the first flight in Freddie Laker's Skytrain. They had queued for 24 hours at London's Gatwick airport to save £131 ($241). Single fares cost £190 ($350) on other airlines. This was no-frills travel, with few comforts and meals extra. The big airlines had tried to stop the new service. Laker called it the beginning of a new air travel era.

1983 Alan Bond's Australia II won the America's Cup, the first non-US winner for 132 years.

1984 Britain and China agreed that Hong Kong would revert to Chinese rule when lease expired in 1997.

1986 Record television audiences in America tuned in to watch "Dallas" to see the return of Bobby Ewing (played by Patrick Duffy) who had been previously killed off but returned in the famous shower scene and was all a nasty dream (for a whole season).

1988 Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson flew home in disgrace from the Seoul Olympics, stripped of his gold medal after failing a drugs test. Two days earlier Johnson was a hero after winning the 100 metres with a new world record. But tests proved that he'd taken anabolic steroids to boost his strength. The scandal hit the world's front pages, but Johnson wasn't the only one to have failed the drugs tests - so had nine other athletes. Following the US-led boycott of the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and the inevitable Eastern-bloc boycott of the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, this was the first Olympics since 1976 where east and west had met, and the west hadn’t shone. Russia swept up most of the medals, and the heroes were the East German swimmers and African long-distance runners.

1989 The last Vietnamese troops pulled out of Cambodia.

1990 Death of Albeno Moravia, Italian writer.

1994 The so called trial of the century got underway in Los Angeles when OJ Simpson stood accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole and her friend.

2003 German Police cracked an international child porn ring with links to thousands of people in at least 166 countries.

2003 Two Jewish settlers - one a baby girl - and a Palestinian gunman were killed in an attack near Hebron.

2003 A British backpacker who escaped armed kidnappers in the Colombian jungle flew home to an emotional family reunion.

2003 Singer Robert Palmer - best known for songs like Addicted to Love - died of a heart attack aged 54.

2003 A man was charged with criminal damage for allegedly throwing pink paint at illusionist David Blaine.

2003 It was announced that a new series of the cult science fiction drama Doctor Who was to be made, 14 years after it was axed.

2003 A Thierry Henry penalty gave Arsenal a 3-2 victory over Newcastle at Highbury.

2004 A Palestinian militant group Hamas blamed Israel as a car bomb in the Syrian capital killed one of its leaders.

2004 The brother of Ken Bigley said he had new information the British hostage was alive and appealled to Tony Blair to help save him.

2004 An Olympic Airlines flight on its way from Athens to New York was diverted to Stansted Airport after a security alert.

2004 Singer Donny Osmond scored his first solo top 10 single in over 30 years with new song Breeze On By.

2004 Rolf Harris led a team of artists painting a huge version of Constable's Hay Wain in London's Trafalgar Square.

2004 Alicia Keys and Cyndi Lauper appeared at a special concert at the foot of the Great Wall of China.

2004 Stefan Koubek beat Greg Rusedski as Austria defeated Britain in the Davis Cup.

2004 Marlon King's last-gasp goal sunk West Ham as Forest won 2-1 on a day of tributes to former boss Brian Clough.

2005 The head of the decommissioning body said the IRA had put all of its weapons beyond use.

2005 A settlement was reached in the dispute between airline caterer Gate Gourmet and the unions.

2005 Ofcom criticised the BBC for broadcasting images of a man critically injured in the 7 July London bombings.

BIRTHDAYS (for 26 September 2006)

John Chapman (a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed), 232 (born 26 September 1774)
frontier nurseryman.

Theodore Gericault, 215 (born 26 September 1791)
French painter

Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, 157 (born 26 September 1849)
Russian physiologist

T. S. Eliot, 118 (born 26 September 1888)
Died 1965. American-born poet, playwright and highly influential critic whose poem The Waste Land established him as one of the most important 20th century poets and who went on to develop a more lyrical style, as in The Four Quartets, in which to treat t

George Raft, 111 (born 26 September 1895)
Died 1980. American actor who specialised in gangster and tough-guy roles which were not far from his real-life experience with the Mafia, with whom he had close associations; his films include Scarface and Some Like It Hot.

George Gershwin, 108 (born 26 September 1898)
Died 1937. American composer who worked chiefly with his brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin, to produce songs and musicals such as Funny Face and Porgy and Bess.

Trevor Howard, 90 (born 26 September 1916)
Died 1988. Actor - 'Brief Encounter'

Marty Robbins, 81 (born 26 September 1925)
Died 1982. Country singer

Julie London, 80 (born 26 September 1926)
Actress and singer

Patrick O'Neal, 79 (born 26 September 1927)
Died 1994. TV movie actor

Neil Coles, 72 (born 26 September 1934)
Golfer. Winner of 26 European tournaments.

Lennie Bennett, 68 (born 26 September 1938)
Comedian

Ricky Tomlinson, 66 (born 26 September 1940)
Actor - Bobby Grant in Brookside

David Frizzell, 65 (born 26 September 1941)
Country singer

Ian Chappell, 63 (born 26 September 1943)
Australian cricketer. Former test captain.

Bryan Ferry, 61 (born 26 September 1945)
British pop singer, pianist and composer who was lead singer of Roxy Music.

Lynn Anderson, 59 (born 26 September 1947)
Country singer - biggest UK hit 'Rose Garden'

Olivia Newton-John, 58 (born 26 September 1948)
British singer who starred with John Travolta in the film Grease.

Stuart Tosh, 55 (born 26 September 1951)
Drummer with Pilot, 10CC, Alan Parson's etc

Carlene Carter, 51 (born 26 September 1955)
Country singer

Linda Hamilton, 50 (born 26 September 1956)
Actress - 'Terminator 1 and 2' 'Dante's Peak'

Tracey Thorn, 44 (born 26 September 1962)
Singer with Everything But the Girl - biggest UK hit 'Missing'

Cindy Herron, 41 (born 26 September 1965)
Member of En Vogue

Paul Warhurst, 37 (born 26 September 1969)
Crystal Palace midfielder

Shawn 'Slim' Stockman, 34 (born 26 September 1972)
Singer with Boyz II Men

Shamu the killer whale, 21 (born 26 September 1985)
Mammal star

Today's The Day - 25th September

25th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Sergius of Radonezh,
St Vincent Strambi,
St Aunacharius or Aunaire,
St Albert of Jerusalem,
St Firminus of Amietus,
St Ceolfirth,
and St Fibar or Bairre.

History Test for September 25th

Which Sherlock Holmes story about a fearsome dog was first published today in 1888? -`The Hound of the Baskervilles'

Which actress and `Darling Bud' was born in Swansea today in 1969? -Catherine Zeta Jones

Bishen Bedi was born today in 1946. In which sport did he achieve fame? -Cricket

In which country did the secret tribal organisation - the Mau Mau - carry out its first major cattle attack today in 1952? -Kenya

Who reached Number One in the UK pop charts today 1965 with `Make it Easy on Yourself'? -The Walker Brothers

Events today...

1066 King Harold II defeated the King of Norway, Harald Hardrada, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

1513 Vasco Balboa, Spanish explorer, became the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean after crossing the Darien isthmus.

1680 Death of Samuel Butler, English writer.

1818 The first blood transfusion using human blood, as opposed to earlier attempts with animal blood, took place at Guy's Hospital in London.

1849 Death of Johann Strauss the Elder, Austrian composer.

1851 More than 20,000 Taiping rebels chose the Christian prophet Hung Hsiu Chuan as king at their mountain stronghold in China. Invasions, droughts, floods, famines and lawlessness had left China ripe for rebellion. Some years ago Hung, 39, read a Christian pamphlet entitled Good Advice to the World. Later he fell into a 40-day coma and awakened to claim he had met God and Jesus and that he was "Jesus' younger brother". God had ordered him to "kill the demon Manchus", he said. He planned to abolish property ownership, redistribute the land to everyone (including women, who were to have equal status), educate everybody, share everything, and end poverty, famine and injustice. Western missionaries, however, condemned Hung as a heretic.

1888 London's Royal Court Theatre, in Sloane Square, opened.

1897 Britain's first motor bus service started in Bradford.

1909 The French battleship Liberté exploded in Toulon Harbour, killing 226 people.

1915 The Battle of Loos, in World War I, began; it would continue into October.

1924 Donald Campbell set the first of his nine land speed records and achieved the speed of 146.16 miles per hour. (see 1997 below).

1932 Catalonia in Spain became autonomous: it has its own parliament, language and flag.

1933 More than 25,000 believers gazed in awe at a miraculous image of Jesus Christ. Church custodians at the cathedral of Turin in Italy showed the famous Turin Shroud to the public for the first time in 400 years. The stained, 14-ft (4.2 m) long cloth was believed to have been the burial shroud of Jesus Christ. At the cathedral it was impossible not to be moved by the cloth's imprint of a body, front and back, and the clear picture of a man's face, eyes closed. Scientific opinion was that the image was the actual imprint of the body of a man. The crowd had no doubt about whose face it showed.

1943 Russian troops liberated their city of Smolensk from German occupation.

1954 "Papa" Doc (Dr François Duvalier) won the presidential elections in Haiti.

1957 Protected by a thousand army paratroopers with fixed bayonets, nine black children took their places in the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Meanwhile angry whites demonstrated outside the school, and eight were arrested. The Federal district court in Little Rock ruled that the nine students be admitted to the Central High following a Supreme Court ruling that segregated schools contravened the Fourteenth Amendment. But Arkansas Governor Orville Faubus flouted the order, and when the black children arrived at the school they were barred by armed National Guardsmen while whites jeered "Niggers go home!". President Eisenhower intervened, and the troopers were withdrawn - only to be replaced by a white mob. In an unprecedented move, Eisenhower removed the National Guard from Faubus's control and sent in the 101st Airborne Division. Furious southern governors demanded their withdrawal.

1959 Sri Lankan prime minister Solomon Bandaranaike was assassinated. Bandaranaike led the People's United Front leftist alliance which won the 1956 election. His Sinhalese nationalism has angered the large Tamil Hindu minority-Sinhalese was now the sole national language. Yet he was shot by a Sinhalese Buddhist monk. He was to be succeeded by his wife, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, a radical socialist.

1960 Death of Emily Post, American columnist and writer on etiquette.

1964 The movie debut of Julie Andrews as 'Mary Poppins'.

1970 Death of Erich Maria Remarque, German author of All Quiet on the Western Front.

1973 Three astronauts landed in the Pacific having spent 59 days aboard Skylab II Space Laboratory.

1974 Scientists reported that freon gases from aerosol sprays were destroying the ozone layer.

1978 144 people died following a mid air collision over San Diego between a private Cessna and a Pacific Southwest Airlines aircraft.

1980 Death of John Henry Bonzo Bonham (aged 32) Drummer with Led Zeppelin.

1984 Death of Walter Pidgeon (aged 87) US film actor.

1986 In Wales a British police constable was jailed for biting off part of a colleague's ear during a rugby match.

1987 Death of Mary Astor (aged 81) Actress 'The Maltese Falcon'.

1987 A Nigerian herdsman who cut off the legs of his 12-year-old wife to stop her from running away was sent to prison for life.

1991 Former hostage Jackie Mann returned to Britain.

1993 A federal Judge ruled that a child, Gregory Kingsley, was legally entitled to a divorce from his biological parents.

1995 Ross Perot announced that he would form his own Independence Party to field its own candidate for the White House.

1997 The world land speed record was well and truly broken by pilot Andy Green driving the 'Thrust SSC' jet car. He achieved the remarkable average speed of 714 miles per hour. The vehicle was designed in Britain, and earlier in the week failed to achieve the feat on a technicality.

1998 Angela Griffin, Fiona the hairdresser, departed Coronation Street.

1998 The residents of Florida prepared themselves for Hurricane Georges.

2003 Pope John Paul II returned to Rome from his summer residence following concerns that his health was failing.

2203 Dr David Kelly's family accused the government of a "cynical abuse of power" as the inquiry into the scientist's death ended.

2003 Rap star 50 Cent swept the board at the Mobos, winning three prizes including best hip-hop act.

2003 Rock band Stereophonics parted company with drummer Stuart Cable, blaming "commitment" issues.

2003 It was announced that David Blaine could be forced to pay for the cost of policing his starvation stunt on the Thames. He was locked in a clear box with only water and would be presented with the bill when he was due to come out.

2003 Alex McLeish committed himself to managing Rangers until 2007.

2004 A judge questioned Chile's former military ruler Augusto Pinochet over allegations of human rights abuses.

2004 Actress Dame Julie Andrews said she had no hope of her voice returning - despite singing in Princess Diaries 2.

2004 Best-selling French novelist Francoise Sagan died at the age of 69 after suffering heart and lung failure.

2004 A judge in Seattle ruled that Jimi Hendrix's brother could not share in royalties from the rock legend's music.

2004 The West Indies claimed the ICC Champions Trophy with a two-wicket win over England.

2005 Fernando Alonso became the youngest ever Formula One champion, finishing third behind Juan Pablo Montoya in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

BIRTHDAYS (for 25 September 2006)

Jeanne Philippe Rameau, 323 (born 25 September 1683)
French composer best known for his opera Castor et Pollux.

William Faulkner, 109 (born 25 September 1897)
Died 1962. American novelist and 1949 Nobel Prize-winner for literature.

Mark Rothko, 103 (born 25 September 1903)
Russian-born American painter who was one of the pioneers of Abstract Expressionism.

Dmitri Shostakovich, 100 (born 25 September 1906)
Russian 20th century composer who began his first opera, The Gypsies, at the age of nine and whose other famous works include his seventh symphony, The Leningrad.

Sir Robert Muldoon, 85 (born 25 September 1921)
New Zealand prime minister from 1975 to 1984.

Sir Colin Davis, 79 (born 25 September 1927)
Conductor.

Ronnie Barker OBE, 77 (born 25 September 1929)
Died 2005. Comedian/actor with many credits, Open all hours, Porridge, The Two Ronnies.....

Barbara Walters, 75 (born 25 September 1931)
American newsreader.

Winnie Mandela, 70 (born 25 September 1936)
Political activist - Nelson's wife.

Juliet Prowse, 70 (born 25 September 1936)
(Died 1996) Actress and dancer.

Michael Douglas, 62 (born 25 September 1944)
American actor and producer who, like his father Kirk, has established himself as a major star. He starred in, produced and co-scripted The China Syndrome.

Onnie McIntyre, 61 (born 25 September 1945)
Member of Average White Band - biggest UK hit 'Pick up the Pieces'.

Felicity Kendal CBE, 60 (born 25 September 1946)
Actress best-known as Barbara Good in The Good Life

Mark Hamill, 55 (born 25 September 1951)
Actor, Luke Skywalker in 'Star Wars'.

Pedro Almodovar, 55 (born 25 September 1951)
Spanish director.

Christopher Reeve, 54 (born 25 September 1952)
Died 2004. American actor best known for his role as Superman.

Colin Friels, 54 (born 25 September 1952)
Scottish actor.

Steve Severin, 51 (born 25 September 1955)
Siouxie and the Banshees

Heather Lockyear, 45 (born 25 September 1961)
Actress.

Will Smith, 38 (born 25 September 1968)
Rap performer and actor 'Fresh Prince' 'Independence Day' 'Men in Black'.

Catherine Zeta Jones, 37 (born 25 September 1969)
Actress 'Darling Buds of May'.

Today's The Day - 24th September

24th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of St Pacifico of San Severino,
St Robert Flower of Knaresborough,
St Geremarus or Germer,
and St Gerard of Csanad.

History Test for September 24th

Born Vera Jayne Palmer, which blonde actress married for the third time today in 1964? -Jayne Mansfield

Born today in 1936, who created the Muppets? -Jim Henson

Which reclusive billionaire was born in Texas today in 1905? -Howard Hughes

Released today in 1993 which film stars Harrison Ford as Dr Richard Kimble? -`The Fugitive'

Today in 1983, which song provided Culture Club with a Number One UK chart hit? -`Karma Chameleon'

QUOTE “India is a geographical term. It is no more a united nation than the Equator.” - Winston Churchill, 1931.

Events today...

768AD Death of Pepin III (the Short), King of the Franks.

1143 Death of Pope Innocent II.

1541 Death of Paracelsus, Swiss physician, alchemist, and scientist.

1776 The St Leger horse race was run for the first time at Doncaster.

1842 The brother of the Bronte sisters died of drugs and drink: Bramwell Bronte was the model for the drunkard Hindley Earnshaw in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.

1849 Death of Johann Strauss (aged 45) Composer 'The Blue Danube'.

1852 A hydrogen-filled airship, the first of its kind, made its maiden flight at Versailles, powered by a 3 hp steam engine built by Henri Giffard.

1853 The Cornelius Vanderbilt successfully completed the final leg of its round the world trip and it was the first yacht to achieve this.

1862 The Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck rescued his beleaguered king from a losing battle with the Liberal government. Vetoed because of his militarist budget proposals, King William appointed Bismarck chancellor. Bismarck defied the Chamber of Deputies, took control of taxes, completely ignored the budget, and forced through King William's military reforms. It was Prussia's power that won respect, he said, not Prussia's Liberals. "The great questions of the age were not settled by speeches and majority votes, but by iron and blood," he told the deflated Democrats in the Chamber on this day.

1869 Panic hit Wall Street as the bottom fell out of the gold market- and the entire stock market followed it down. Thousands of gold speculators led the plunge towards bankruptcy. The blow fell when President Ulysses S. Grant told the US Treasury to release its gold. The sudden glut knocked the price down, killing a bid by financiers Jay Gould and James Fisk to corner the gold market. They had said they'd succeeded in stopping the president selling government gold, and many believed them. But Grant had simply been slow to react. Fisk and Gould were not noted for integrity. Now they fled in a storm of acrimony.

1877 Japan's modern army crushed a rebellion by 40,000 feudal samurai warriors fighting for their old way of life and their honour. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 broke the closed military rule of the Shoguns as Japan moved to transform itself into a modern world power. Thus ended 700 years of unchanging feudalism and warfare. The samurai armies and their bushido code of honour were an anachronism. The new Meiji government cut their pay, stopped them carrying swords - and six months earlier refused to invade Korea. At this the incensed samurai rebelled. Now their leader committed ritual suicide amidst the fallen; many of the survivors followed suit.

1915 The early movie 'The Lamb' saw the debut of the suave Douglas Fairbanks.

1930 Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence starred in Coward's new stage comedy Private Lives, about two lovers who abandon their spouses.

1934 Baseball hero Babe Ruth played his last game for the New York Yankees.

1938 The first Grand Slam was achieved by tennis player Dennis Bulge when he won the American, Australian, British and French titles.

1939 Death of Carl Laemmle (aged 72) German movie producer who founded Universal.

1940 The George Medal and the George Cross were introduced for valour and outstanding gallantry.

1941 The Siege of Leningrad began: the British RAF supported the Red Army.

1947 A trainload of Muslim refugees fleeing to Pakistan was massacred by Sikhs at Amritsar in the Punjab, with at least 1200 defenceless people shot and hacked to death. This was the worst single incident so far in the communal violence that had swept the sub-continent since the partitioning of India on August 15. Millions of refugees caught on the wrong side of the Hindu-Muslim divide were fleeing to safety - some estimates put the number as high as 15 million. Nobody knew how many had died as sectarian hatred spilled over, creating a vicious cycle of retaliation. Sikhs in the western Punjab in Pakistan, were slaughtered by rioting Muslims, and more than two million fled east to India. Hindus caught in Pakistan were in the same desperate position, with killings in most towns.

1953 “The Robe”, the first Cinemascope film, premiered in Hollywood.

1955 President Eisenhower was taken ill with a heart attack and hospitalised for three weeks.

1960 Death of Melanie Klein, Austrian-born child psychoanalyst who spent the last 34 years of her life living in London and who wrote The Psychoanalysis of Children.

1960 The first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, was launched at Newport, Virginia.

1964 The Munsters made its debut on television.

1973 Former dictator Juan Perón was re-elected president of Argentina after nearly 20 years' exile. Perón's second wife, Eva, an actress, was the mainstay of his first rule. "Evita", idolized by the people, was virtually co-president, and Perón's regime never recovered after she died in 1951. Perón returned from exile in Spain following a Perónist election victory. His third wife, Isabel, was his vice-president.

1975 The first all-British team reached the summit of Mount Everest, having also made the first ascent of the steep south-west face of the mountain.

1976 Patricia Hearst was sent to prison for seven years for her involvement in a bank robbery. She was a newspaper heiress and her sentence was reduced by President Jimmy Carter to 22 months as an act of clemency.

1980 Iraq invaded Iran in force and destroyed the huge oil refinery at Abadan as months of border incident flared into full-scale war. Iraq, taking advantage of the domestic chaos in fundamentalist Iran, hoped for a quick victory over its bigger neighbour. The prize was dominance in the Persian Gulf.

1983 Death of Isobel Baillie, Scottish oratorio singer.

1983 Italy jailed chemicals executives responsible for the Seveso dioxin disaster, when a poisonous gas cloud escaped from a factory in Seveso contaminating a wide radius of land.

1988 Athlete Ben Johnson won the 100 metre race in 9.79 seconds in the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul. However he was stripped of the medal after he tested positive for drugs.

1991 The Shiite Muslim Revolutionary Justice Organisation freed British hostage Jackie Mann, kidnapped in May 1989.

1991 Death of Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr Seuss (aged 87) Author of the 'Cat in the Hat' and 'Green Eggs and Ham'.

1992 Following stories about his affair with Antonia de Sancha, minister David Mellor resigned his post.

1998 James H. Reeve walked out of BBC GMR in Manchester following accusations of Rascism.

1999 The Bank of Scotland revamped its bid of £20billion for NatWest Bank.

1999 A cat called Modhu was elected leader of the Monster Raving Looney Party following the death earlier that year of Screaming Lord Sutch.

2003 Swedish police set free a man held on suspicion of murdering Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, but announced a fresh arrest.

2003 Germany's top court said a Muslim teacher could wear a headscarf in class - but said laws could be passed banning the practice.

2003 Simultaneous raids carried out in London and Colombia crushed the biggest drugs gang to target Britain.

2003 A British tourist escaped from his kidnappers after two weeks in the Colombian jungle.

2003 Arsenal and six of their players, plus two Man Utd players, faced FA charges after the Old Trafford brawl the previous weekend.

2003 Madonna's children's book "The English Roses" hit number 17 in the UK book chart in its first week.

2003 Stamps designed by John Lennon to support striking postal workers sold for £1,260 in London.

2003 Sarah Parkinson, the writer and producer wife of comedian Paul Merton, died of cancer at the age of 41.

2003 Michael Owen became Liverpool's leading scorer in Europe as he earned a 1-1 draw with Olimpija Ljubliana.

2003 Man City came from behind to secure a 3-2 win at home to Lokeren in the UEFA Cup. And Blackburn faced an early exit after a 3-1 defeat at Genclerbirligi.

2004 Indian premier Manmohan Singh hailed "historic" talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in New York.

2004 The Muslim Council of Britain sent representatives to Iraq to try to secure the release of British hostage Ken Bigley.

2004 The BBC's deputy head of news Mark Damazer was made the new controller of BBC Radio 4 and BBC7.

2005 The Foreign Office said that emergency plans were in place to help Britons in the US caught up in Hurricane Rita.

2005 Playwright Alan Bennett revealed in his autobiography that he fought a private battle against cancer.

2005 Czech film Something Like Happiness won the top award at Spain's San Sebastian festival.

2005 Morten Gamst Pedersen's double earned Blackburn a shock win at Man Utd.

2005 Two goals from Frank Lampard kept Chelsea's 100% record intact against a game Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

BIRTHDAYS (for 24 September 2006)

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, 110 (born 24 September 1896)
Died 1940. American novelist and short story writer whose first success was with his autobiographical novel This Side of Paradise.

Anthony Newley, 75 (born 24 September 1931)
British actor, co-author and lyricist who made his name as a child in the film Oliver Twist, in which he played the Artful Dodger, and who also wrote musicals with Leslie Bricusse, such as Stop the World, I Want to Get Off.

Svetlana Beriosova, 74 (born 24 September 1932)
Russian prima ballerina with the Grands Ballets de Monte Carlo and the Sadler's Wells Ballet, creating the leads in Le Baiser de la Fee and Persephone.

Jim Henson, 70 (born 24 September 1936)
(Died 1990) Creator of The Muppets - he WAS Kermit.

Linda McCartney, 64 (born 24 September 1942)
Died 1998. American photographer married to ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and campaigner for animal rights.

Gerry Marsden, 64 (born 24 September 1942)
Singer with Gerry and the Pacemakers - biggest UK hit 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.

Gordon Clapp, 58 (born 24 September 1948)
Actor - 'NYPD Blue'.

Ally McCoist, 44 (born 24 September 1962)
Footballer - 'A Question of Sport'.

M C Miker G, 39 (born 24 September 1967)
Rap performer.

Peter Salisbury, 35 (born 24 September 1971)
Drummer with The Verve.

Quiztime Quiz Vault

1 Which country has the airline Alitalia? Italy
2 What is the collective noun for a group of lions? A pride.
3 What is the state capital of Massachusetts? Boston
4 In the phonetic alphabet, what word represents the letter B? Bravo.
5 Who teamed up with La Na Nee Nee Noo Noo to take their Comic Relief version of the Beatles' 'Help!' to the Top Three in 1989? Bananrama
6 What novel's first line is: "[She] was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charms as the Tarlatan twins were."?“Gone with the Wind"
7 Which singer went solo after performing with the Commodores? Lionel Richie
8 What clothes designer said: "A woman is as old as her knee"? Mary Quant
9 Who wrote "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1947? Tennessee Williams
10 Whose first British hit was 'Making Your Mind Up' ?Bucks Fizz
11 What oriental game comprises 144 tiles? Mah-jong
12 In the phonetic alphabet, what word represents the letter H? Hotel
13 What is the collective noun for a group of ducks? A flight or team
14 On which Beatles album does the hit "Ticket to Ride" appear? Help!
15 What is Frigophobia the fear of? Cold
16 What can a professional boxer wear no more than 36 feet of? Bandages
17 Who had a hit with 'So Macho’? Sinitta
18 What is the national airline of Israel? El Al
19 What is the sea between Arabia and Africa called? The Red Sea
20 What is Europe's largest island? Great Britain
21 Which record company passed over The Beatles in favour of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes? Decca Records
22 The largest state in the U.S.A. is? Alaska
23 Where did Connie Francis find her best friend's Lipstick? 'Lipstick On Your Collar'
24 Which Alfred Hitchcock film starring James Stewart is about a man obsessed with a woman who throws herself from the top of a bell tower in the first reel? Vertigo
25 What is the capital of Denmark? Copenhagen

1 What is the national symbol of USA ? The Bald Eagle
2 What is the currency of Columbia? peso
3 The name of which medical aid is derived from the French for "a turning instrument"? Tourniquet
4 The KNLA have waged a military campaign against the Burmese govenment. What does the 'K' stand for in KNLA? Karen
5 Po is the chemical symbol for which element ? Polonium
6 The plant Larkspur is also known as what? Delphinium
7 Of which US state is Columbia the capital ? South Carolina
8 What is the capital of Brunei? Bander Seri Begawan
9 In the world of Enid Blyton fiction who collectively owned a dog called Scamper? The Secret Seven
10 What is the capital of Madagascar? Antananarivo
11 What is Iron Oxide more commonly referred to as? Rust
12 In which year was the Battle of the Somme ? 1916
13 Who invented the exploding shell ? Henry Shrapnel
14 Who had a hit in early 1992 with 'Stay' ? Shakespeare's sister
15 Who was the Footballer of the Year in 1966? Bobby Charlton
16 What is the fear of Horses called ? Hippophobia
17 What was the name of the resident doctor on the starship 'Enterprise'? Dr McCoy
18 Who received a Nobel Prize, declined a peerage from the first Labour government and wrote, "We learn from history that we learn nothing from history" ? G.B.Shaw
19 Charlie Parker became a jazz legend playing which instrument? Saxophone
20 Which alkaloid stimulant is found in coffee, tea and kola nuts? Caffeine
21 What is the fear of Riding in cars called ? Amaxphobia
22 What is the currency of Zambia? kwacha
23 Switzerland is made up of 23 subdivisions or states. What name is given to one of these political divides? Canton
24 Which popular hit refers to "Father McKenzie writing the word of a sermon that no one will hear"? Eleanor Rigby
25 What infamous judge judged at the Bloody Assizes? Judge Jeffries

Quiztime UK Quiz Vault

Wales planning to go early on smoking ban

First minister reveals plans for April 2 2007 start-date

The Welsh Assembly is planning to bring in its blanket smoking ban from April 2 next year.

First minister Rhodri Morgan will announce the ban, which will include all pubs and private members' clubs, to the assembly in Cardiff this afternoon 19/09/06

Assembly members are expected to be given a free vote on the date, but with most members in support of the ban, the date is expected to become set in stone.

The ban in England is not expected to brought in until later next summer, although the Department of Health has yet to confirm the start-date.

Today's The Day - 23rd September

23rd September 2006 - National day of Saudi Arabia

Religious events today...
Feast day of Saints Andrew, John, Peter and Antony,
and St Adamnan or Eunan of Iona.

History Test for September 23rd

Born today in 1943, who had a hit in the UK pop charts with 'Begin the Beguine'? -Julio Iglesias

First seen today in 1955, which TV cop show featured Sergeant Joe Friday? -`Dragnet'

Name the inventor of psychoanalysis, who died today in 1939. -Sigmund Freud

Discovered today in 1846, which is the fourth largest planet in the solar system? -Neptune

Which TV show invited contestants to 'open the box' for the first time today in 1955? -'Take Your Pick'

Events today...

480BC The Persians were defeated by the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis.

1666 Death of Nicholas Francois Mansart, French architect.

1779 In the American War of Independence, a French and American fleet commanded by John Paul Jones, captured the British ship Serapis in the Battle of Flamborough Head.

1803 The British under Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) defeated Scindia and the Rajah of Berar at Assaye in India.

1846 Two German astronomers discovered another planet, the eighth in distance from the Sun, about a billion miles beyond Uranus. Johann Galle and Heinrich d'Arrest of the Berlin Observatory were told just where to look by the young French astronomer Urbain Leverrier. He had concluded that the irregular orbit of Uranus could only be explained by the gravitational pull of another planet, and calculated its position to within one degree. The announcement brought a protest from 24-year-old English astronomer John Adams, who claimed he made the same prediction in January that year, and the credit should have been his. British scientists scoffed at his findings at the time. Further controversy surrounded a name for the new planet. Leverrier wanted to call it "Leverrier", but others favoured Neptune.

1848 Chewing gum was first commercially produced in the USA by John Curtis in his home, and was called `State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum'.

1870 The siege of Paris began during the Franco-Prussian War.

1879 The audiophone was invented by Richard S Rhodes and was the first hearing aid.

1889 Death of Wilkie Collins, English novelist.

1912 King of comedy Mack Sennet's new slapstick short “Cohen Collects a Debt” was released and was an instant success. The film featured policemen known as the Keystone Cops, whose antics had the audience in stitches.

1914 The German submarine U-9 sunk three British cruisers off the Dutch coast, with 1500 lives lost. The war at sea started in earnest on August 28, when a British fleet raided the Heligoland Bight and sank four German ships. The battle off Holland showed the new shape of sea warfare; powerful warships were helpless against the silent attack of one small submarine. The German fleet was outnumbered and blockaded in the North Sea, but the U-boats were not so easily stopped. German mines claimed several British ships.

1939 Death of Dr Sigmund Freud (aged 83) Austrian psychoanalyst.

1940 The George Cross and the George Medal for civilian acts of courage were instituted.

1942 Australian troops under US general Douglas MacArthur started an offensive in New Guinea to drive back the Japanese.

1952 Rocky Marciano became world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott.

1964 In New York, the first performance of “Fiddler on the Roof” saw Zero Mostel singing "If I Were a Rich Man".

1969 The Daily Mirror published a story stating that Paul McCartney had died.

1969 The premier of the movie 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' in the U.S. starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

1971 Death of Billy Gilbert (aged 77) Comedy actor, who starred in some Laurel and Hardy films.

1973 Death of Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet.

1973 Juan Peron was re-elected President of Argentina; he had a been ousted in 1955.

1974 The world's first Ceefax teletext service began on BBC television in Britain.

1974 Death of Robbie McIntosh (aged 24) Drummer with Average White Band.

1979 A special US satellite used for monitoring nuclear explosions reported a brilliant double flash over the south Atlantic between South Africa and Antarctica. A South African Navy ship had been seen in the area. US analysts said South Africa had exploded a clandestine nuclear bomb, but South Africa denied the charge. The US Vela high-altitude satellites were built to detect nuclear detonations in the Earth's atmosphere and in deep space; they could spot a nuclear blast 100 million miles away.

1987 Death of Bob Fosse (Aged 60), American dancer who became a director, and produced the autobiographical film All that Jazz, which he also choreographed.

1987 Spycatcher, the memoirs of former British intelligence officer Peter Wright, was to be published in Australia in spite of top-level British efforts to have the book suppressed. MI5 man Wright retired to Australia in 1977. In 1986 a High Court judge banned British newspapers from publishing extracts from the book and the British government brought a court case against Wright in Australia - unsuccessfully. Britain appealed, and lost the appeal on this day. London's Sunday Times was in court for contempt after publishing extracts from the book, many copies of which had been smuggled into Britain, and which was openly on sale in the US. Wright insisted there was nothing new in his book.

1990 Iraq threatened to blow up oil fields in the Middle East and attack Israel if there was pressure from other nations to force it to withdraw from Kuwait.

1991 It was announced that the World Bank took more money from Third World countries than it gave them the previous year, according to the bank's annual report. Interest and capital repayments were $1.56 billion more than the bank paid in new loans and assistance. The African countries were net recipients, but the Caribbean and Latin America paid out $2 billion more than they received. The figures brought bitter criticism from the poorer countries, which are anxious not to lose out as the bank shifted its focus to the needs of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

1996 The long standing mystery about Inspector Morse's first name was solved when the name was revealed as 'Endeavour' by author Colin Dexter.

1997 In the Nevada Dessert, the British designed vehicle ‘Thrust’ beat the land speed record, recording 687.9mph, but failed to go into the record books on a technicality. For an official entry, a second run had to be made in an hour; the British team took 20 minutes too long.

2003 A member of the US Air Force in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba was charged with espionage and aiding the enemy.

2003 Copenhagen and parts of Sweden were hit by huge power cuts, causing chaos and leaving people stuck in lifts and tunnels.

2003 Former boxing champion Frank Bruno, who had just been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, received hundreds of goodwill messages.

2003 A 5,000-year-old sculpture looted during the Iraq war was returned to the Baghdad Museum.

2003 Birmingham City suffered a shock 1-0 Carling Cup defeat at Second Division Blackpool. And Nathan Ellington got the winner as First Division Wigan knocked out Premiership Fulham.

2004 The 86-year-old mother of a Briton held hostage in Iraq asked his captors to "send him home alive".

2004 Actor Johnny Briggs - Coronation Street's Mike Baldwin - said reports he had been sacked were "ludicrous".

2004 BBC Three boss Stuart Murphy axed a cartoon set in a fictional Vatican over fears it would offend Catholics.

2004 Uefa suspended Newcastle's Nicky Butt for three European matches following his red card against Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin.

2005 As the number of E.coli cases reached 75 in 29 schools, an official inquiry was announced into Wales' worst outbreak.

2005 Former sports presenter Des Lynam was named as new host of Channel 4's daytime quiz show Countdown.

2005 Switzerland took a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup tie against Great Britain after Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Andy Murray.

BIRTHDAYS (for 23 September 2006)

Euripides., 2485 (born 23 September 480BC)

Gaius Octavius Caesar Augustus, 2068 (born 23 September 63BC)
Died 14AD. First Roman emperor, the adopted son and heir of Julius Caesar, a powerful genius who brought stability to the Roman empire and defeated Julius Caesar's assassins at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC.

Armand Hyppolyte, 187 (born 23 September 1819)
French physicist who first measured the speed of light.

Walter Pidgeon, 109 (born 23 September 1897)
(Died 1984) Actor 'Forbidden Planet'.

Mickey Rooney, 86 (born 23 September 1920)
American actor who was particularly popular in the late 30s, when he starred in a series of films as Andy Hardy.

John Coltrane, 80 (born 23 September 1926)
American tenor saxophonist.

Wanda Jackson, 80 (born 23 September 1926)
Country Singer

Ray Charles, 76 (born 23 September 1930)
Died 2004. Singer - biggest UK hit 'I Can't Stop Loving You'.

Colin Blakely, 76 (born 23 September 1930)
(Died 1987) Actor.

Ray Charles, 74 (born 23 September 1932)
American singer of classics like "Georgia on My Mind" and "I Can't Stop Loving You".

Ben E King, 68 (born 23 September 1938)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Stand by Me'.

Roy Buchanan, 67 (born 23 September 1939)
(Died 1988) Singer.

Julio Iglesias, 63 (born 23 September 1943)
Spanish popular romantic singer - biggest UK hit 'Begin the Beguine'..

Wallace and Walter Scott, 63 (born 23 September 1943)
The Whispers

Bruce Springsteen, 57 (born 23 September 1949)
American singer-songwriter who achieved great success in 1975 with his album Born to Run.

Nicholas Witchell, 53 (born 23 September 1953)
Newsreader.

Cherie Booth QC, 52 (born 23 September 1954)
Tony Blair's wife.

Jason Alexander, 47 (born 23 September 1959)
Actor - George in 'Seinfeld'.

John Rocca, 46 (born 23 September 1960)
Freeeze

Today's The Day - 22nd September

22nd September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of St Felix II, pope,
St Landus,
St Bodo,
St Emmeramus,
St Maurice of Agaunum,
St Thomas of Villanova, The Theban Legion,
St Phocas the Gardener,
and St Salaberga.

History Test for September 22nd

Which Bond film, starring Sean Connery and Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, was premiered today in 1964? -'Goldfinger'

Born today in 1791 which English physicist invented the electrical battery? -Michael Faraday

Who was the first leader of the trade union Solidarity, founded today in 1980? -Lech Walesa

Which irascible TV and radio star set a world record for kissing today in 1978? -James Whale - he kissed 4049 girls in 8 hours. His record has since been beaten!

Born today in 1915 who played Leonard Swindley in `Coronation Street' before finding greater fame as Captain Mainwaring in 'Dad's Army'? -Arthur Lowe

QUOTE “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” - Nathan Hale, hero of the American Revolution, in a speech before being hanged by the British as a spy, 1776.

Events today...

1735 Sir Robert Walpole occupied the new prime minister's residence at No.10 Downing Street, just five minutes' walk from the Houses of Parliament.

1776 Death of Nathan Hale, American revolutionary patriot, hanged.

1780 A gruesome bit of history occurred, when the first recorded `lynching’ took place. It was named after William Lynch who terrorised British loyalists and sympathisers.

1792 The French Republic was proclaimed.

1828 Shaka, King of the Zulus, was murdered at Dukuza, his capital in Natal, by his half-brothers Dingaan and Mhlangana. Dingaan took the throne. Shaka was a great and terrible king, a military genius who had been compared with Napoleon. The Zulu were a small clan when Shaka became their chief, but through bloody conquest he welded them into the mightiest nation in Southern Africa. Shaka abandoned the traditional light throwing spear and adopted a short, broad-bladed stabbing spear for his regiments, along with a tall shield of tough hide. Ardent disciplined warriors, his troops ran barefoot into battle, the flanks separating to attack from three sides. None could stand against them. Shaka's revered mother, Nandi, died the year before, and the grief-stricken king lost his mind. Thousands of Zulus had been executed for showing insufficient grief - Shaka ordered an entire regiment to march off a cliff to their deaths, and they did so to a man. Now the bloodbath had ended.

1860 China's Emperor fled Peking as Anglo-French forces advanced.

1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in the South.

1869 Wagner's opera Das Rheingold was first performed in Munich.

1903 The ice cream cone was patented by Italio Marchionay.

1914 Three British cruisers, Aboukir, Hogue, and Cressy, were torpedoed and sunk by German U-boats.

1920 'The Flying Squad' (part of the Metropolitan Police) was formed.

1927 World heavyweight champion Gene Tunney won his return bout with ex-champion Jack Dempsey in a sensational fight. In a furious attack, Dempsey, the "Manassa Mauler", knocked down Tunney in the seventh round. Tunney fell - but the referee refused to start the count because Dempsey hadn't retired to a neutral corner. Five seconds elapsed before the count began, giving Tunney time to stagger to his feet. Ringside experts said he'd been down for 13 seconds. Tunney went on to win. Dempsey said he'd been robbed of the title and promised to appeal against the decision. The Chicago fight was the richest ever, with a purse of $2.6 million (£1.4 million).

1937 Death of Ruth Roland (aged 40) Actress.

1955 Argentinian leader Juan Peron was deposed in a military coup.

1955 Independent TV began operating; Britain's first commercial and first woman newsreader were transmitted.

1961 Death of Marion Davies (aged 64) Actress.

1964 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. made its debut on television, starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallam.

1972 Idi Amin gave the 80,000 Asians in Uganda 48 hours to leave the country.

1973 Henry Kissinger became the first Jewish as well as first naturalised citizen to be installed as Secretary of State in the U.S.

1980 At John Aspinall's private zoo a tiger was shot dead after it claimed its second victim.

1980 John Lennon signed a new record deal with Geffen Records. He was to have only one album released 'Double Fantasy' before he was murdered by Mark Chapman.

1980 Polish workers exercised the new freedom they had wrested from the Communist government and formed an independent labour union. The new Solidarity union's leader, electrician Lech Walesa, led the Gdansk inter-factory committee which coordinated the massive shipyard strikes in the summer. The wave of work stoppages forced the government to concede, allowing independent unions, freeing jailed dissidents and lifting press censorship. Party leader Edward Gierek was replaced on this day by security chief Stanislaw Kania.

1980 The war between Iraq and Iran began in the Gulf.

1985 Farm Aid was staged to help hard up farmers in middle America. Taking part were Neil Young, John Cougar Mellencamp and Willie Nelson.

1985 A severe earthquake hit Mexico, killing 2,000 people.

1985 Death of Axel Springer, German publisher.

1985 French prime minister Laurent Fabius admitted that the Rainbow Warrior was sunk by French agents. A crew member was killed when the Greenpeace ship was rocked by two explosions in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand, on July 10. She had been due to lead a flotilla of peace ships into the French nuclear test zone at Muroroa Atoll in French Polynesia in a protest action. The incident brought international condemnation. The French defence minister resigned amid a storm of protest and demanded for the head of the secret service to be sacked. In New Zealand, Labour PM David Lange's anti-nuclear stance had gained wide support from the public indignation at the French action.

1986 The youngest heart and lung transplant patient, a two-and-a-half-month-old baby, was given new organs at the Harefield Hospital, Middlesex.

1987 Death of Dan Rowan (aged 65) Comedian of Rowan and Martin fame.

1987 Death of Jaco Pastorius, US bass guitarist.

1987 Death of Louis Kentner, English pianist.

1988 Two women crawled out of their grave in a village in South Sumatra, having been buried by robbers in the belief they were dead.

1989 Death of Irving Berlin (aged 101) Songwriter 'Easter Parade' 'White Christmas' 'There's No Business Like Show Business'.

1989 A powerful IRA bomb blasted the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal in Kent, England, killing 10 bandsmen and injuring 22. Twelve marines were in hospital. The IRA admitted responsibility. Britain was shocked by the attack; the men were musicians, not combatants.

1995 Turner Broadcasting was bought by Time Warner Inc for $7.5 billion.

1996 Death of Dorothy Lamour (aged 81) Actress who starred in the ‘Hope and Crosby’ films.

2003 The ringleader in the killing of an Australian missionary in India was sentenced to death while 12 others got life terms.

2003 Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was chosen to replace the UK's Lord Robertson as secretary general of Nato.

2003 The French government drew up a new rescue package for industrial giant Alstom, safeguarding 118,000 jobs.

2003 Police officers escorted former world heavyweight champion boxer Frank Bruno from his home to a mental hospital.

2003 The death of an actress at the home of the record producer Phil Spector was ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles coroner.

2003 Glenn Hoddle insisted he would manage at the highest level again after being sacked by Spurs.

2003 Former Italian international striker Fabrizio Ravanelli signed a two-year contract with Dundee.

2004 A Palestinian suicide bomber blew herself up at a bus stop in Jerusalem, killing two people and injuring 15.

2004 Legendary cult director Russ Meyer, the man behind 1960s hit Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, died in Los Angeles.

2005 Kate Moss apologised to "people I let down" and admitted to having personal issues after drug-taking claims.

BIRTHDAYS (for 22 September 2006)

Anne of Cleves, 491 (born 22 September 1515)
(Died 1557) Henry VIII's fourth wife.

Michael Faraday, 215 (born 22 September 1791)
Died 1867. English physicist who invented the dynamo and formed many of the principles of electricity.

Dame Christabel Pankhurst, 126 (born 22 September 1880)
English suffragette and daughter of Emmeline, who led the suffragette movement.

Erick von Strohelm, 121 (born 22 September 1885)
Austrian-born Hollywood film director and actor whose eccentric leather-clad image and autocratic ways won him the title `The Man You Love to Hate', and whose desire for perfection frequently led him to go wildly over budget.

Paul Muni, 111 (born 22 September 1895)
(Died 1967) Actor.

John Houseman, 104 (born 22 September 1902)
Romanian-born producer, actor, writer, stage director and founder, with Orson Welles, of the famous Mercury Theatre in New York. He became a star actor in his seventies.

Arthur Lowe, 91 (born 22 September 1915)
(Died 1982) Actor - 'Dad's Army'.

Tom Lasorda, 79 (born 22 September 1927)
baseball player and manager.

Fay Weldon, 75 (born 22 September 1931)
English author brought up in New Zealand whose novels include The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.

Frazer Hines, 62 (born 22 September 1944)
Actor - 'Dr Who'.

Captain Mark Phillips, 58 (born 22 September 1948)
Former husband of HRH Princess Anne.

David Coverdale, 55 (born 22 September 1951)
Member of Deep Purple and Whitesnake - biggest UK hit 'Black Night'.

Joan Jett, 46 (born 22 September 1960)
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (born Joan Larkin)

Scott Baio, 45 (born 22 September 1961)
Actor 'Happy Days'.

Eric Stoltz, 45 (born 22 September 1961)
Actor - 'MASK' 'Single White Female'.

Liam Gallagher, 34 (born 22 September 1972)
Singer with Oasis.

Today's The Day - 21st September

21st September 2006 - National day of Malta

Religious events today...
Feast day of St Theodore of Chemigov,
The Martyrs of Korea,
St Michael of Chemigov,
St Matthew,
and St Maures of Troyes.

History Test for September 21st

Which TV quiz show, hosted by Bamber Gascoigne, first appeared today in 1962? -`University Challenge'

Born today in 1866, who wrote the science fiction novels 'The Time Machine' and `The War of the Worlds'? -H.G. Wells

Who became the first member of the British Royal Family to be banned from driving today in 1987? -Viscount Linley (for speeding)

Today in 1949, England's football team lost at home to a foreign country for the first time. Who were their opponents? -Ireland

Born today in 1931, who played J.R. in TV's `Dallas'? -Larry Hagman

Events today...

19BC Death of Virgil, Roman poet.

1327 King Edward II was murdered in prison. It is thought that his queen, Isobella of France was responsible armed with a red-hot poker.

1529 The Turkish army under Suleiman the Magnificent was defeated at Vienna.

1745 The Battle of Prestonpans in Scotland was won by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army, defeating the English.

1784 The Pennsylvania Packet and General Advertiser, the first successful US daily newspaper, was published.

1792 France abolished the monarchy.

1832 Sir Walter Scott died in Edinburgh, at the age of 61. His health had been ruined by overwork as he struggled to pay off debts, brought about by the collapse of his printing firm.

1857 British forces retook Delhi from Indian Mutineers.

1860 Death of Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher.

1903 The first recorded Western film opened in America, titled Kit Carson - it was 21 minutes long.

1915 Stonehenge was sold at auction to Mr C. H. Chubb for £6,600. Mr Chubb presented it to the nation three years later.

1917 Latvia proclaimed its independence.

1938 The Anglo-French plan to cede Sudetenland to Germany was accepted by the Czech cabinet.

1944 US general Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines, attacking the Japanese near Manila.

1949 The Republic of Ireland beat England 2-0 at Goodison Park - England's first home defeat by a foreign football team.

1954 'Nautilus' was the first nuclear submarine to be commissioned.

1957 Super lawyer Perry Mason made his television debut and was played by actor Raymond Burr.

1957 Death of King Haakon VII, the first king of Norway, following the restoration of its independence.

1964 Malta gained independence from Great Britain.

1966 Jimi Hendrix arrived in the UK with his new manager Chas Chandler.

1973 Death of William Plomer, South African author.

1974 Death of Walter Brennan, US film actor.

1974 Over 8,000 people were killed by floods caused by hurricanes in Honduras.

1974 Death of Jacqueline Susann (aged 53) Novelist 'Valley of the Dolls'.

1976 A three picture deal was signed by John Travolta for the Robert Stigwood Organisation. The first movie had the title 'Tribal Rights of the new Saturday Night' which later became 'Saturday Night Fever'.

1981 Death of Nigel Patrick (aged 68) British actor.

1981 Belize was granted independence.

1985 Michael Spinks made history when he became the first light heavyweight to defeat a reigning heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes.

1989 The Bangles split up.

1989 A Tennessee judge awarded divorcee Mary Sue Davis, custody of seven frozen embryos which had been fertilised by her former husband, who had complained that he did not want to become a father again against his will.

1989 Hurricane Hugo struck the US coastal states of Georgia and South Carolina, causing widespread damage and loss of life.

1991 Boxer Michael Watson suffered severe injuries during the super middleweight title fight with Chris Eubank and collapsed in the 12th round and was rushed to hospital.

1994 Golden Boy Gary Lineker announced his retirement following a glittering career which included being Captain of the England Football Team.

1998 Florence Griffith-Joyner, the american sprinter known as `Flo-Jo’ died of a seizure, aged 38.

1998 Celebrations took place in Manchester’s Albert Square as the Commonwealth Games drew to a close in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Manchester became the official hosts for the games in 2002.

1998 The four hour video of President Clinton’s testimony in the `Monica Lewinski Affair’ was broadcast on TV across America.

1999 David Bowie became the first pop artist to release the first e-album “Hours” on the Internet, two weeks before being released in the shops.

2003 The 14-year mission of the Galileo space craft finally ended as the probe plunged to destruction in the atmosphere of Jupiter.

2003 Home Secretary David Blunkett's plans to push on with ID cards were criticised as 'half-baked' and a threat to civil liberties.

2003 Glenn Hoddle parted company with Tottenham after a poor start to the season.

2003 Victoria and David Beckham issued a statement denying reports their relationship was in trouble since their move to Madrid.

2003 Man Utd's Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a late penalty in a controversial 0-0 draw with Arsenal. Arsene Wenger accused van Nistelrooy of cheating during the draw.

2004 Haiti's president appealled for help for the flood-stricken island, as aid workers warned the death toll could rise.

2004 Militants holding Briton Ken Bigley in Iraq repeat a threatened to kill him after the reported death of a second US hostage.

2004 Television presenter Des O'Connor became a father at the age of 72, after his fiancee gave birth to a boy.

2004 Manchester United captain Roy Keane was charged with assault and public order offences.

2005 Houston residents were told to leave as the approaching Hurricane Rita strengthened to a Category Five storm.

2005 Substitute goalkeeper Jan Budtz was the hero as Doncaster sent Manchester City out of the Carling Cup.

BIRTHDAYS (for 21 September 2006)

John London MacAdam, 250 (born 21 September 1756)
Scottish engineer and inventor of the macadam road surface.

Herbert George (H.G.) Wells, 140 (born 21 September 1866)
Died 1946. English author who pioneered science fiction when he wrote The Time Machine, his first work.

Gustav Holst, 132 (born 21 September 1874)
Died 1934. British composer and teacher whose best-known work, The Planet Suite, is also one of the most popular orchestral pieces with audiences.

Sir Allen Lane, 104 (born 21 September 1902)
English publisher who founded Penguin Books and brought about the paperback revolution.

Chuck Jones, 94 (born 21 September 1912)
Animation Director - creator of Road Runner and other Warner cartoons.

Jimmy Young OBE, 83 (born 21 September 1923)
Disc Jockey singer - biggest UK hit 'Unchained Melody'.

Dawn Addams, 76 (born 21 September 1930)
(Died 1985) Actress.

Larry Hagman, 75 (born 21 September 1931)
American actor and director best known for his role as mean oil tycoon JR Ewing in the TV series Dallas,

Leonard Cohen, 72 (born 21 September 1934)
Canadian poet and singer whose gloomy songs, which include `Suzanne' and `That’s No Way to Say Goodbye', and growling delivery won him a cult following in the 1960s and 70s.

Henry Gibson, 71 (born 21 September 1935)
Comedian - 'Rowan and Martin's Laugh In'.

Don Felder, 59 (born 21 September 1947)
Member of The Eagles - biggest UK hit 'Hotel California'.

Stephen King, 59 (born 21 September 1947)
Novelist - 'The Shining' 'Carrie'.

Bill Murray, 56 (born 21 September 1950)
Comedian actor - 'Saturday Night Live' 'Ghostbusters' 'Groundhog Day' 'Caddyshack'.

Keith Harris, 53 (born 21 September 1953)
Ventriloquist with Orville the duck

Ethan Coen, 49 (born 21 September 1957)
Movie producer/writer - 'Fargo' 'Hudsucker Proxy'.

Trugoy the Dove, 38 (born 21 September 1968)
Singer with De La Soul.

Jon Brookes, 38 (born 21 September 1968)
Drummer with The Charlatans - biggest UK hit 'One to Another'.

Ricky Lake, 38 (born 21 September 1968)
Talk show host.

Today's The Day - 20th September

20th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of Saints Fausta and Evilasius,
St Candida of Carthage,
St Vincent Madelgarius,
and Saints Theodore, Philippa, and their Companions.

History Test for September 20th

Born today in 1927, which jazz musician is married to Cleo Laine? -Johnny Dankworth

First seen today in 1984, which TV sitcom features the characters Cliff and Clair Huxtable? -`The Cosby Show'

Born today in 1934, which Italian actress was jailed for tax evasion? -Sophia Loren

Composer Jean Sibelius died today in 1869. What was his nationality? -Finnish

Born today in 1869, which comedian was known as 'The Prime Minister of Mirth'? -Sir George Robey

Events today...

451AD The Romans defeated the Huns under Attila at Chalon-sur-Mame.

1519 Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Seville in Spain with a fleet of five small ships in an attempt to circumnavigate the world.

1580 Francis Drake made landfall in Plymouth, his ship laden with treasure and spices. Drake, the first captain to sail round the world, has captured tons of silver, gold, coins and jewels from Spanish galleons in the Americas. Spain had complained bitterly and wanted Drake hanged for piracy, and Queen Elizabeth I launched an inquiry. But Drake was a public hero and Elizabeth herself backed his expedition. Drake set off three years beforehand with five small ships, but only his Golden Hind survived the treacherous Straits of Magellan to reach the Pacific. His first prize was a Spanish treasure galleon and others followed. Drake landed at San Francisco Bay and claimed it for England, then crossed the Pacific to trade in the Spice Islands before setting course for home, via the Indian Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope.

1792 France's untried army defeated the Duke of Brunswick's, attacking Prussian troops at Walmy.

1803 Death of Robert Emmet, Irish nationalist, executed.

1842 Sir James Dewar, Scottish physician and chemist, and inventor of the vacuum flask, was born in Fife.

1854 The Russian army was defeated by the Allied armies at the Battle of Alma in the Crimean War; the first six Victoria Crosses to be awarded to the British Army were won at this battle.

1863 Death of Jakob Karl Grimm, German philologist.

1917 The first RSPCA animal clinic was opened in Liverpool.

1928 The Fascist Party took over the supreme legislative body in Rome, replacing the Chamber of Deputies.

1931 Britain came off the gold standard to stop foreign speculation against the pound. The devaluation brought strikes and even a near mutiny on 15 navy ships berthed in Scotland.

1933 Death of Annie Besant, British socialist and feminist activist.

1944 Guy Gibson, British pilot and Victoria Cross winner for his "Dambusters" action against the Mohne and Eder dams, was killed when his aircraft crashed in Holland on its way back to base.

1946 Cannes (South of France) hosted its first film festival (now an annual event).

1947 English cricketer Denis Compton ended the season in dashing style with three all-time records. He scored the highest number of runs and the most centuries ever in a single season of first-class cricket - and he became the first man to hold both titles at once. He scored 18 centuries and a total of 3816 runs, 298 more than the previous record, set 41 years ago.

1957 Death of Jean Sibelius, Finnish composer.

1958 Tommy Steele was the first rock singer to be installed in Madame Tussaud's waxworks in London.

1959 America's Disneyland turned down a visit by Soviet prime minister Nikita Khruschchev for security reasons.

1961 Argentinian Antonio Abertondo started the first successful non-stop swim across the Channel and back, completed in 43 hr 5 min.

1961 Rhodesian premier Ian Smith banned the black opposition party.

1966 The liner Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) was launched at Clydebank, Scotland.

1971 Peter Frampton quit the group Humble Pie so that he could go solo.

1971 Death of George Seferis, Greek poet-diplomat.

1972 Paul McCartney was arrested after cannabis was found being grown on his farm in Scotland.

1973 Singer Jim Croce (aged 30) and his lead guitarist were amongst those who died when their aircraft crashed on take off after it hit a tree. Croce who was aged 30 was on his way to a concert in Sherman in Texas.

1976 There was controversy when an article appeared in 'Playboy' magazine and Jimmy Carter was quoted as saying "I have committed adultery in my heart many times".

1984 Forty died as a suicide bomber attacked the US Embassy in Beirut; the bomber drove into the compound with a lorry load of explosives.

1988 Death of Roy Kinnear (aged 54) English comic actor 'Help!' 'The Three Musketeers'.

1989 Billy Connolly married Pamela Stephenson.

1991 South Africa's hard-won peace accord failed to stop the Political violence that had roused hundreds of deaths that month. President F. W. de Klerk, ANC leader Nelson Mandela and the ANC's arch-rival, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, head of the Zulu Inkatha movement, signed the "national peace accord" after a wave of violence claimed 120 lives nation-wide. It was hoped the agreement would be the basis of further negotiations on a new constitution. But the two most extreme black parties refused to sign, and the heavily armed far right-wing white groups refused even to attend. They accused De Klerk of treachery and threatening a new "Boer War". The fighting in the black townships continued unabated.

1993 Billy Idol performed in a one-time only gig when he was reunited with members of Generation X.

1996 Jockey Willie Carson was badly injured when kicked in the chest by a horse at Newbury.

1998 Police in Malaysia detained the sacked finance minister Anwar Ibrahim after clashes in Kuala Lumpur as the Queen visited the Commonwealth Games there.

1998 Traffic between England and Wales was brought to a halt by a convoy of up to 200 farmers vehicles. The farmers from Wales and England were protesting at the crisis in agriculture.

1998 Comedy actress Patricia Hayes died at the age of 88. Her television roles included parts in ‘Spooners Patch’, ‘Pat and Dandy’, ‘The Lady is a Tramp’, and ‘Til Death Us Do Part’. The OBE earned her greatest acclaim in the title role as ‘Edna, the Inebriate Woman’ for which she won a Bafta in 1972.

1999 Five people were injured as a boat hit a bridge over the River Severn.

1999 The wife of the former Russian leader, Raisa Gorbachev, died at the age of 67.

2003 A member of Iraq's Governing Council, Aqila al-Hashimi, was shot and seriously injured outside her home in Baghdad.

2003 The former US president, Bill Clinton, opened a memorial in Srebrenica for more than 7,000 Muslims massacred in the Bosnia war.

2003 The South African cricket team called off their tour of Pakistan due to safety worries, in the wake of a bomb attack in Karachi.

2003 Tony Blair paid tribute to Lord Williams of Mostyn, leader of the House of Lords, who died on this day aged 62.

2003 Chelsea went top of the Premiership after thrashing Wolves 5-0 at Molineux.

2004 US presidential candidate John Kerry launched his most outspoken attack on President Bush over the Iraq war.

2004 An Islamist website posted a videotape purportedly showing the beheading of a US hostage in Iraq.

2004 Flooding in Haiti killed at least 250 people in the wake of tropical storm Jeanne, with others missing.

2004 Fears were growing for the safety of a British engineer being held in Iraq amid reports a fellow hostage had been executed.

2004 Former Nottingham Forest and Derby County manager Brian Clough died aged 69.

2004 Actors Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany attended the London premiere of romantic comedy Wimbledon.

2005 The Vatican rejected claims by a UN prosecutor that it was shielding Croatia's most wanted war crimes fugitive.

2005 Category Two Hurricane Rita lashed northern Cuba and the US island chain known as the Florida Keys.

2005 Angela Merkel was re-elected as parliamentary leader by her CDU party after Germany's inconclusive election.

2005 Oasis received five nominations for the Q Awards, closely followed by Coldplay with four.

2005 Man Utd striker Wayne Rooney received a two-match Champions League suspension from Uefa.

BIRTHDAYS (for 20 September 2006)

Alexander the Great, 2361 (born 20 September 356BC)
(Died 323BC) Greek Head of State.

Sir George Robey, 137 (born 20 September 1869)
English comedian and star of the music hall, billed as `The Prime Minister of Mirth'. Died 1954

Upton Sinclair, 128 (born 20 September 1878)
American prolific author.

Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, 121 (born 20 September 1885)
Died 1941. American pianist, singer and composer and one of the first jazz musicians, who made his first recording in 1923.

Kenneth Moore, 92 (born 20 September 1914)
Died 1982. English actor who was usually typecast in likeable, if chauvinistic, roles on stage and screen, such as that of World War II fighter pilot hero Douglas Bader in Reach for the Sky.

Fernando Rey, 89 (born 20 September 1917)
(Died 1994) Actor - 'The French Connection'.

Dr Dannie Abse, 83 (born 20 September 1923)
poet

William Franklyn, 80 (born 20 September 1926)
actor

Fred Winter, 80 (born 20 September 1926)
racehorse trainer

John Dankworth CBE, 79 (born 20 September 1927)
Jazz Saxophonist - married to Cleo Laine.

Fay Weldon, 75 (born 20 September 1931)
novelist

Gina Fratini, 75 (born 20 September 1931)
fashion designer

Dennis Viollet, 73 (born 20 September 1933)
Manchester United Great

Sophia Loren, 72 (born 20 September 1934)
Italian actress who married the man who groomed her for stardom, Carlo Ponti, won an Oscar for Two Women and proved her abilities as a comedienne in The Millionairess.

Jane Manning, 68 (born 20 September 1938)
soprano

Sir Jeremy Child, 62 (born 20 September 1944)
actor

Capt Mark Phillips, 58 (born 20 September 1948)

David Coverdale, 57 (born 20 September 1949)
rock singer

Jose Rivero, 51 (born 20 September 1955)
golfer

Debby Boone, 50 (born 20 September 1956)
singer

Gary Cole, 49 (born 20 September 1957)
Actor 'Midnight Caller'.

Allanah Currie, 47 (born 20 September 1959)
Member of Thompson Twins - biggest UK hit 'You Take Me Up'.

Catherine Oxenberg, 45 (born 20 September 1961)
actress

Nuno Bettencourt, 40 (born 20 September 1966)
Member of Extreme - 'More than Words'.

Chesney Hawkes, 35 (born 20 September 1971)
actor/singer

Julian Joachim, 32 (born 20 September 1974)
footballer

Downloads set for chart dominance

Legal song downloads now account for 78% of all UK single sales

Music downloads are set to dominate the UK top 40 after record shops said they would agree new rules for digital hits.

Downloads currently only count towards the singles chart from one week before the song is released on CD until two weeks after the CD is deleted.

That ensures music stores do not have gaps in their singles racks.

But the Entertainment Retailers' Association (Era) has said all digital sales should count and new rules are likely to come into force on 1 January.

Legal song downloads now account for 78% of all UK single sales - up from 23% two years ago.

Many singles are currently available to download several weeks before they are released on CD, often growing in popularity as their physical release approaches.

That means the change could see a return to songs climbing the charts as they gain momentum online.

This week's number one - I Don't Feel Like Dancin' by the Scissor Sisters - sold almost 45,000 digital copies before becoming eligible for the main chart, according to Music Week magazine.

Era secretary general Kim Bayley said the new rules still had to be ratified by retailers and record companies - who jointly control the charts.

But record shops have dropped their opposition to such a move in the wake of the digital boom.

"Era, like the other members of the Chart Supervisory Committee, believe that these digital sales should count towards the chart," she said.

We're in this period of transition where there's a reluctance in some quarters to let go of the physical part of the single Tony Wadsworth EMI chief executive

"Era think it's fine and the chart should count those sales, provided we can get the message across adequately to consumers as to what's going on."

Shops would probably start using their own in-store singles countdowns to avoid having gaps on their racks, she said.

But fans should still be able to decide which format they want, she added, and digital and physical singles "should both be made available so far as possible at the same time".

A spokesman for the British Phonographic Industry - which represents record companies - said downloads had "transformed the way in which consumers buy music".

Many songs can be downloaded as soon as they appear on the radio

"If the singles chart is to remain the definitive list of the country's favourite songs, it has to reflect how music fans buy them," he said.

EMI chief executive Tony Wadsworth welcomed the move, saying the restrictions had been "holding the continued growth of digital sales back".

"Unfortunately, we're in this period of transition where there's a reluctance in some quarters to let go of the physical part of the single. That has resulted in some of these rules, which I just think are slowing us down," he said.

"A single can be made available for sale digitally as soon as it goes to radio and it's got a sales life which is not actually being represented in the chart until one week before a physical format is released, and that just seems absurd."

Mr Wadsworth added it was "frustrating" that a lot of people were buying single video downloads that also did not count towards the chart.

Quiztime 170906

1. Which is England’s wettest county?
Cumbria
2. According to the AA, which part of a car is the main cause of call-outs?
Battery
3. In which country is The Great Bear Lake?
Canada
4. What colour is pure molten gold?
Green
5. Who was the father of the Greek hero Hercules?
Zeus - King of the Gods
6. On TV, which secret agent used a special pair of glasses after a visit to the Brain Impulse Galvanoscope (B.I.G.)?
Joe 90
7. What sort of creature is a MINIVET - a bird, a fish or an insect?
A Bird
8. Which North-West football team were replaced in the league by Wigan in 1978?
Southport
9. In the late 19th century, Aaron Kosminski, James Maybrick and Dr Frances Tumblety were all suspected of what?
Being Jack the Ripper
10. What colour wine is produced by Merlot & Syrah grapes?
Red
11.Which Wiltshire town was developed around the workshops of the Great Western Railway?
Swindon
12. Which musical instrument is traditionally held between the knees?
Bongos
13. Stromboli was a villain in which Disney film?
Pinocchio
14. What word describes any horse that does not exceed 1.47m in height at maturing?
Pony
15. Which two motorways meet just SW of Leicester?
M1 & M69
16. Which French king was married to Marie Antoinette?
Louis XVI
17. A HISTORIC OFFER is an anagram of which 1981 film?
Chariots Of Fire
18. By what name is the actress Caryn Johnson better known?
Whoopi Goldberg
19. What do the numbers 1, 11, 69 and 101 have in common?
Read same upside down
20. Quiztime Survey Question - Name a Foreign Cheese?
Gouda / Gruyere / Brie / Edam / Gorgonzola

21. Which Year - President Gerald Ford escaped an assassination attempt on his life by one of Charles Manson’s "disciples" in Sacramento, California / Martina Navratilova who was playing tennis in New York requested political asylum / Pink Floyd received their third gold disc for the album "Wish You Were Here" / The first all-British team reached the summit of Mount Everest and Jamaica’s big reggae stars, Bob Marley and the Wailers, had their first European hit as "No Woman No Cry" entered the UK Charts?
1975
22. Which make of car has won the most Le Mans 24 hour races?
Porche
23. Which former Yale graduate shared his adventures with his female companion Dale Arden aboard Dr Zarkov’s home made rocket ship?
Flash Gordon
24. Donny Osmond, Anthony Newley, Carly Simon, Annie Lennox and Bronski Beat have all had top ten hits with which song title?
Why
25. What is the name of the four wheel equivalent of the Robin Reliant?
Reliant Kitten
26. From which London station does the high speed Heathrow Express rail link run?
Paddington
27. In which comedy film would you have found the Spanish holiday resort of Elsbells?
Carry On Abroad
28. Which Cornish village claims to be the birthplace of King Arthur?
Tintagel
29. Honeycomb and Blanket are the two main types of which northern delicacy?
Tripe
30. According to the song, on which road did Nellie the Elephant meet the head of the herd?
Road to Mandalay
31. What is the smallest mammal in the world?
Bat - Hog-nosed
32. What returned to Picadilly Circus in 1947 after being in hiding during the war?
Statue of Eros
33. Where would you find the Moscow Sea, a lowland area that was flooded with lava around 3.5m years ago?
On the Moon
34. Which composers ‘Song Of Joy’ is the Anthem of the European Union?
Beethoven
35. Which British sports car went on sale in March 1961 with a price tag of £2,196?
E-type Jaguar
36. Which animal is becoming scarce in Ireland because of European demands for its meat?
Donkey
37. Once voted the World’s best looking man, Thomas Mapother IV is better known by what name?
Tom Cruise
38. On TV, whenever trouble threatened the Coral Key Marine Preserve, who was on hand to help out?
Flipper
39. What letter was removed from Welsh postage stamps in 1977?
p for pence
40. How do Airline Pilots know when the queen is in residence at Windsor Castle?
They are told not to fly over it!
Tiebreaker - How many people are employed at Heathrow Airport?
78,000 (the same number as ammount of shipwrecks around the British coastline)

£10,000 For Transatlantic Fish Curry

An American music mogul is believed to have ordered the world's most expensive curry by paying £10,000 for a transatlantic Indian take-away.

Steve Francis, a member of the 1980s dance act Soul II Soul, was so impressed by the dishes prepared by the Indie Spice restaurant in Belfast that he arranged for a fish bhuna and side dishes to be delivered to New York.

Francis, now a music promoter, is paying for the curry plus two chefs to be flown first-class across the Atlantic. A chartered flight has already travelled from London to Dublin to pick up the 6ft tigerfish, imported from Bangladesh. From there it flew to Belfast and today leaves for Heathrow, where it will board a Virgin Atlantic jet.

Francis first tasted an Indie Spice curry when the restaurant catered at a music festival in Dartmouth. "He loved it," said Arif Ahmed, a partner in Indie Spice yesterday. "But we did think it was a joke when we heard he wanted to order some for New York."

Yesterday, Kate White of the Guinness Book of Records said: "This category is not in the book yet, so it looks as though this could be the new record."

50 Ways To Irritate Everyone

From Geordie voice-overs to lovestruck newsreaders, modern life abounds with annoyances......

1 Being welcomed to places one has no wish to be in and thanked for things one has no wish to do. "Welcome to the Grottville Multi-Storey Car Park"; "Thank you for paying the Congestion Charge."

	Madonna, queen of 'reinvention': daring - or daft?

2 Restaurant staff who now seem almost entirely recruited from Planet Youguy ("Are you guys ready to order some dessert?").

3 The bogus Geordie voice-over on Big Brother that's supposed to give it grittiness and integrity: "Eight ee-aa-em, the housemeates are joost weaking oop . . ."

4 ''Boutique" hotels whose lobbies are masses of flickering candles, whose staff resemble surly rock stars and whose bathrooms contain little but a tin washbasin and an orchid.

5 The Two-Moron Principle adopted by most radio pop music programmes. Instead of employing one moronic DJ per show as formerly, they now give us two in a moronic crosstalk act.

6 The sight of traffic wardens swarming on streets where no police officer is ever seen.

7 Checking the overnight e-mails to find only 10 identical messages from "Demetrius Fitzcarraldo" offering to cure erectile dysfunction.

8 The gooey look that female TV news presenters fix on their male co-presenters while the latter are speaking, as if to say: "Have I ever told you, you're my hero?"

9 Men's trousers and shorts with huge, baggy pockets halfway down their thighs.

10 Continual headlines about how Madonna has "reinvented" herself yet again (and become even more daring).

11 The inordinate length of James Naughtie's questions on the BBC's Today programme – usually followed by "We'll have to end it there" after a word or two from his interviewee.

12 Any poem by the current Poet Laureate.

13 The inability of 99 per cent of British restaurants, cafes and pubs to serve decent wine by the glass.

14 Posters emanating from the Mayor of London with the last two letters of the word "London" coloured red – implying that he is switched on, on the ball, on the case, on the money and other such pathetic conceits.

15 ''Celebrity" chefs who invent perversely inedible dishes such as snail trifle and haddock-flavoured ice cream – and then charge gullible customers an additional fortune for having their plates dotted with spots of foam.

16 People at checkout tills who hand you back your change with a £5 or £10 note spread out flat and the coins balanced on top of it.

17 The endlessly recurring headline ''Is Michael Palin too nice?".

18 Shop assistants who no longer say "Can I help you?" but "You all right there?".

19 Houses with paranoid security lights that switch themselves on accusingly as you pass their front gates.

20 People who think juvenile lavatory humour is cutting-edge comedy (such as this from a recent Jonathan Ross film review: "I laughed so much, it made a little bit of wee come out").

21 Over-designed bottle openers that look better suited to torturing 16th century heretics than drawing corks.

22 The monumental unfunniness of Dawn French.

23 Sycophantic questions from television and radio interviewers that produce the smug response "Oh, very much so". Q. "Would you call yourself a showbusiness legend?' A. "Oh, very much so."

24 Newspaper columnists who talk about "my postbag".

25 Parking-ticket machines that announce that they don't give change. Could, should, but don't.

26 The Archbishop of Canterbury's voice, hair, beard and name.

27 Gap years in which soon-to-be college students swan off around the world, spending a fortune and terrifying their parents. To fill the gap between school and university, why not just get a job?

28 People who tell you that something or other has been "a learning curve".

29 Young women who continually rake long, wild, ringletty hair with their fingers in a gesture that is meant to imply "I am a free spirit".

30 Loudspeaker announcements about late train arrivals that apologise for any inconvenience they "may" have caused.

31 Prices in odd pence ("Large cappuccino – £2.87 please") that indicate they're always edging higher and higher.

32 The Hollywood story-conference skit by mobile phone company Orange reminding cinema audiences to switch off their handsets – so long, unfunny and pleased with itself that any number of ringing mobiles would be preferable.

33 Middle class people (especially politicians and media folk) who try to talk in "street" accents but can't keep it up – saying "goh", "woh" or "loh" one moment and "got", "what" or "lot" the next.

34 Noisy, drunken crowds overflowing from pubs to obstruct the pavement – once a feature of summer but now reminding us of the nation's drink problem all year round.

35 People behind official counters who say "sign this for me", as if some intimate, caring transaction is taking place.

36 The way that chief constables of major police forces increasingly look like low-calibre desk sergeants.

37 People whose diction has been completely taken over by the TV series Friends ("Can I get a large latte and hold the cinnamon?").

38 The infantilisation of television commercials, where everything now has to be given a cartoon face and silly voice, from lumps of feta cheese to gas-stove flames.

39 The wasting of vast sums of our money on logos and slogans for public bodies that simply state the bleeding obvious ("Metropolitan Police. Working for a safer London").

40 The current favourite cliché to round off a supposedly unanswerable case – "you do the maths".

41 Characters in Victorian television dramas who, when elated, punch the air and go "Yesssss!".

42 Continued use of the term "Royal" Mail. Why should the poor Queen have to carry the can for that appalling mess?

44 Cars that thud with the mindless music being played by their ditto drivers.

44 The media-fostered mania for lists and league tables – the greatest ever prime minister, poem, pop record etc.

45 Colourless, unexpressive, witless contemporary slang – "bling", "chav", "minger", "a bit rubbish" – disgracing a language that inspired the vernacular of Shakespeare and Dickens.

46 Cyclists who have decided that traffic lights no longer apply to them and believe they now have the right to ride on the pavement.

47 People at the theatre and cinema who sit hunched forward, thoughtlessly blocking the view of those behind them.

48 Being told that some new gas, electricity or petrol price rise is "so-and-so times higher than the rate of inflation" – meaning that it, rather than the Government's fantasy two-point-something per cent, is the true rate of inflation.

49 The fashion among television news journalists of gesturing pointlessly with their hands, as if the spoken word alone no longer has any power.

50 Tourists who enter crowded trains or lifts wearing backpacks almost as big as themselves.

Today's The Day - 19th September

19th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Januarius of Benevento,
St Peleus and his Companions,
St Emily de Rodat,
St Mary of Cerevellon,
St Goericus or Abbo,
St Theodore of Canterbury,
St Susanna of Eleutheropolis,
and St Sequanus or Seine.

History Test for September 19th

Born today in 1922, which Czech long distance runner won two gold medals in the Helsinki Olympics? -Emil Zotopek

Today in 1893, which nation became the first to give women the vote? -New Zealand

Which TV sitcom about a manic hotelier first appeared today in 1975? -`Fawlty Towers'

What dance craze record by Chubby Checker reached Number One in the US pop charts today in 1960? -'The Twist'

Born today in 1932, who played the Reverend Mervyn Noote in the sixties TV comedy `All Gas and Gaiters'? -Derek Nimmo

QUOTE “Try stubbing out cigarettes with both feet while rubbing your back with a towel.” - Chubby Checker's advice on how to do the Twist - his hit song entered the US charts today, 1960.

Events today...

1356 The English, led by Edward, the Black Prince, defeated the French at the Battle of Poitiers in the Hundred Years' War.

1513 A Spanish conquistador, Nunez de Balboa, reached the west coast of the Americas and became the first European to cast his eyes on the western ocean. He called it the South Sea. Balboa came to the New World in 1500 and took up farming on the island of Hispaniola, but after 10 years his farm failed and he fled to the mainland to escape his creditors. He founded a Spanish colony in Panama, which he named Darien. Four weeks earlier he had led an expedition to the west, hacking a way through thick jungle and fighting off hostile Indians. On this day the expedition reached a mountain, which Balboa climbed alone to see the new ocean spread out below him.

1783 The Montgolfier brothers sent up the first balloon with live creatures aboard; passengers included a sheep, a rooster, and a duck.

1812 Death of Meyer Amschel Rothschild, German banker.

1819 The 'Ode To Autumn' was written by poet John Keats.

1859 "Dixie" was first sung in New York City.

1876 The US inventor Melville Bissell patented the first carpet sweeper.

1881 Death of James Abram Garfield, 20th US president, who was shot on July 2 having been in office just four months.

1888 The world's first beauty contest took place in Belgium and was won by 18year-old Bertha Soucaret from Guadeloupe, who collected the 5000-franc prize.

1893 New Zealand became the first country to grant its female citizens the right to vote.

1905 Death of Thomas Barnardo, British doctor, philanthropist and founder of homes for destitute children.

1922 Czechoslovak athlete Emil Zatopek was born. An outstanding distance runner, he won the 10,000 metres at the 1948 London Olympics and at Helsinki four years later took gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m and Marathon.

1928 Hollywood artist Walt Disney released the first sound cartoon film, Steamboat Willie. The film featured Mickey Mouse and Disney himself provided his squeaky voice on the soundtrack. Mickey - originally Mortimer Mouse when he was conceived in Disney's animation studio in 1927 - was a clever caricature of an impish child. Disney and his chief collaborator Ub Iwerks were working on more cartoon characters.

1936 Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddie recorded the 'Indian Love Call'.

1945 Wartime traitor William Joyce -- Lord Haw-Haw -- was sentenced to be hanged after his trial at the Old Bailey.

1948 American tennis player Rosie Casals was born. A beaten finalist at both Wimbledon and the US Open, this popular competitor had to play second fiddle in the singles to Margaret Court and Billie-Jean King. She won seven doubles and mixed doubles titles.

1952 Charlie Chaplin was dubbed "subversive" by rightwingers in the US.

1955 Juan Peron was ousted by a military junta in Argentina.

1959 Russian leader Nikita Khruschev was unable to visit Disneyland due to lack of security and he was far from happy (Sleepy, Grumpy, Doc...).

1960 A new dance craze began when Chubby Checker's `The Twist' entered the US charts.

1960 The new Traffic Wardens issued the first 344 parking tickets in London.

1963 Death of David Low, British cartoonist.

1967 The British rock group The Who ended their two-month US tour with an even wilder performance than usual. The group were famous for ending their shows by smashing their instruments in a savage fury, but they didn't plan to wreck the studio when they made a live appearance on The Smothers Brothers TV show. Drummer Keith Moon had put a flash powder charge in one of his drums, but used far too much powder. The explosion demolished the drum kit and enveloped wildman guitarist Pete Townshend in flames, leaving him singed and deafened.

1968 Death of Chester Carlson, US inventor of the xerography photocopying process.

1973 Death of Gram Parsons (aged 26) Singer/ guitarist with The Byrds.

1974 Eric Clapton's song 'I shot the Sheriff' went gold.

1981 Simon and Garfunkel performed in a reunion concert in Central Park, New York and over 500,000 people turned up for the free gig.

1983 Record television audiences turned in to watch the final episode of M.A.S.H. in the U.S.

1985 A massive earthquake devastated large parts of Mexico City and the surrounding area and many thousands of people were feared killed. Thousands of buildings and homes were destroyed. The earthquake, measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale, was the worst to hit Mexico this century. Amid fears of a second quake, a huge rescue operation sought out those trapped in the wreckage and provided relief for survivors.

1988 Death of Roy Kinnear, English comedy actor.

1989 The New York Supreme Court reversed an earlier decision to award the America's Cup to New Zealand, allowing the San Diego Yacht Club to retain the award.

1991 The Iceman was discovered in the Similaun glacier on the Italian-Austrian border. He was the most ancient human ever found and was a Stone Age wanderer (who had popped out for a loaf of bread...).

1997 HRH Prince Charles made his first public speech following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and thanked the public for their support saying he would always feel the loss of his former wife.

1997 Six people died in West London when an Intercity express train crashed into an empty freight train. Another 150 people were injured.

1997 There was a cliffhanging result in the Welsh devolution referendum with a narrow majority - just 6,721 - voting in favour of a separate assembly for Wales.

1998 Susan Barrantes, the mother of the Duchess of York, died in a head-on car collision in Argentina. The 61-year-old former wife of Major Ronald Ferguson later remarried Argentinian professional polo player Hector Barrantes.

1998 Veteran British actor Roddy McDowell died from terminal cancer. Roddy began as a child actor in ‘How Green is my Valley’ but is probably best remembered for the Planet of the Apes series of movies where he appeared as Galen.

2003 The United Nations Security Council approved plans to send a 15,000-strong peacekeeping force to Liberia.

2003 Tony Blair signals his readiness to listen to voter concerns after the Lib Dems seize one of Labour's safest seats in the Brent East by-election.

2003 Britain's binge drinking culture was costing the country £20bn a year, according to a government report.

2003 Channel 4 announced it would drop its troubled breakfast show, Rise, at the end of the year after low ratings.

2003 An aircraft carrying the US country rock band the Dixie Chicks was involved in an accident at Glasgow Airport.

2003 A below strength Bradford beat St Helens 22-18 in their final match before the Super League play-offs.

2003 Wimbledon were granted permission to play their home matches in Milton Keynes.

2004 Colin Montgomerie made the winning putt as Europe won the 35th Ryder Cup. Final score: USA 9½-18½ Europe.

2004 Pop star Madonna visited Judaism's sacred Western Wall in the dead of night to avoid being mobbed by waiting photographers.

2004 Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho resigned after the club's poor start to the season.

2005 Germany was braced for weeks of political negotiations as elections give neither main party a clear majority.

2005 "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Lost" won Emmys, while Felicity Huffman beat her Housewives co-stars.

BIRTHDAYS (for 19 September 2006)

Lajos Kossuth, 204 (born 19 September 1802)
Hungarian statesman

George Cadbury, 167 (born 19 September 1839)
English chocolate manufacturer and social reformer

Sir William Golding, 95 (born 19 September 1911)
British author best known for The Lord of the Flies.

Pete Murray, 78 (born 19 September 1928)
Broadcaster.

Derek Nimmo, 74 (born 19 September 1932)
actor

David McCallum, 73 (born 19 September 1933)
Actor - 'Man from Uncle'.

Brian Epstein, 72 (born 19 September 1934)
(Died 1967) Beatles manager.

Al Oerter, 70 (born 19 September 1936)
(Athletics) -- American who won four Olympic discus golds 1956, 60, 64, and 68

Adam West, 68 (born 19 September 1938)
Actor - 'Batman' (TV series).

Zandra Rhodes, 66 (born 19 September 1940)
British fashion designer.

Paul Williams, 66 (born 19 September 1940)
Singer songwriter.

Bill Medley, 66 (born 19 September 1940)
Member of The Righteous Bros. - Hit with 'Time of My Life'.

`Mama Cass' Elliot, 63 (born 19 September 1943)
Large American who began as singer of the Mamas and the Papas then went solo and had hits like `Dream a Little Dream'. Died 1974

Kate Adie, 61 (born 19 September 1945)
TV reporter

David Bromberg, 61 (born 19 September 1945)
Music Producer.

Freda Payne, 61 (born 19 September 1945)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Band of Gold'.

John Coghlan, 60 (born 19 September 1946)
Drummer for Status Quo.

Michael Elphick, 60 (born 19 September 1946)
(Died 2002) Actor - 'Boon'.

Lol Creme, 59 (born 19 September 1947)
Member of 10CC and solo.

Rosemary Casals, 58 (born 19 September 1948)
US tennis player

Jeremy Irons, 58 (born 19 September 1948)
Actor - 'French Lieutenant's Woman'.

Twiggy (Lesley Hornby), 57 (born 19 September 1949)
British actress and singer who first found fame as a model in the 60s.

Daniel Lanois, 55 (born 19 September 1951)
Music Producer.

Niles Rodgers, 54 (born 19 September 1952)
Songwriter/producer - member of Chic - produced Bowie's 'Lets Dance' album.

David Seaman, 43 (born 19 September 1963)
(Soccer) -- Arsenal and England goalkeeper

Jarvis Cocker, 43 (born 19 September 1963)
Member of Pulp - 'Common People'.

Trisha Yearwood, 42 (born 19 September 1964)
Country singer.

Candy Dulfer, 37 (born 19 September 1969)
Saxophonist - hit with 'Lily Was Here'.

Today's The Day - 18th September

18th September 2006
National Day of Chile.

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St John Massias
St Joseph of Cupenino,
St Richardis,
St Ferreolus of Limoges,
St Ferreolus of Vienne,
and St Methodius of Olympus.

History Test for September 18th

Name the Irish author of the play `Juno and the Paycock', who died today in 1964. -Sean O'Casey

Which renowned lexicographer and wit was born today in 1709? -Dr. Samuel Johnson

Born today in 1905, which actress said,"I vant to be alone"? -Greta Garbo

Today in 1879, the illuminations of which northern town were switched on for the first time? -Blackpool

Which legendary rocker - the virtual founder of heavy metal - died today in 1970? -Jimi Hendrix

QUOTE “What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.” - Jane Austen, British novelist, in a letter, 1796.

Events today...

96AD Roman Emperor Domitian was murdered by assassins in the pay of his wife, Domitilla.

1759 Quebec was formally surrendered by the French to the British.

1769 The first spinet piano was built by John Harris.

1783 Death of Leonhard Euler, Swiss mathematician.

1830 The first locomotive built in America was entered into a race against a horse over a 9 mile course. The horse won after the locomotive broke down!! (fancy a train being late!!).

1830 Death of William Hazlitt British essayist and critic.

1851 The first edition of the New York Times was published.

1864 English explorer John Hanning Speke shot himself in a tragic accident, and died soon afterwards. He was 37. Speke discovered the source of the River Nile six years earlier at the huge African lake he named after Queen Victoria. In 1863 he tracked the Nile even further south to the Kagera River, which he said was the true source of the Nile. But his claim was disputed by Sir Richard Burton, with whom he explored East Africa. Burton led their expedition from the coast to Lake Tanganyika but fell ill with malaria, and Speke travelled on without him to discover Lake Victoria.

1879 Blackpool's famous illuminations were switched on for the first time.

1910 The Chilean revolt against Spanish rule began.

1911 Russian premier Pyotr Stolypin died after being shot down at the opera in Kiev a week earlier by a police double agent. Emperor Nicholas II and his daughters saw the shooting from the royal box. It took a true statesman to hold down Stolypin's job in the turmoil of the current Russia, and he held it for six years. His predecessor only lasted a year. Stolypin even achieved something with his reforms, but his tactics were ruthless - he crushed dissent and simply ignored the constitution. Faced with a reluctant Tsar Nicholas, reactionary civil servants and the socialists in the Duma legislative assembly, nothing short of ruthlessness would have worked; but it won him few friends. He fell out with the Tsar, his council of ministers and the Duma simultaneously. And now he had been removed.

1914 The Irish Home Rule Bill went into effect.

1918 The Battle of Megiddo, in Palestine, began.

1927 CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System, was inaugurated in the USA.

1931 Japan seized Manchuria and set up a puppet state called Manchukuo - it was returned to China in 1945 after World War II.

1934 The USSR was admitted to the League of Nations.

1939 William Joyce, whose upper-class accent earned him the nickname Lord Haw, made his first Nazi propaganda broadcast from Germany to the UK.

1951 The film "A Street Car Named Desire" was premiered. It made a star of Marlon Brando and co-starred Karl Malden and Vivien Leigh.

1955 Four years after they fled to Russia, the British government admitted Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess really were Soviet spies.

1961 UN chief Dag Hammarskjold died when a DC-6 plane carrying 130 other passengers crashed in the jungle in Northern Rhodesia; sabotage was suspected.

1964 Death of Sean O'Casey, Irish dramatist.

1967 Death of Sir John Cockroft, English nuclear physicist who first split the atom.

1970 Early in the morning rock superstar Jimi Hendrix called his ex-manager Chas Chandler from his girlfriend's flat in London's Ladbroke Grove, but Chandler wasn't home. Hendrix left a message on Chandler's answering machine: "I need help bad." But no help came, and Hendrix was pronounced dead on arrival at St Mary's Hospital at 11.45 am, killed by an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. He was only 27. Jimi Hendrix was probably the most powerful thing that ever happened to the guitar - a rock 'n' roll genius with a solid background in the blues, and an outrageously sexy stage act. He was the highest-paid act at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 and the star of the Isle of Wight Festival in August. But he had been beleaguered by law suits over royalties and contracts, squabbling managers and bands that broke up around him. He ended a troubled tour in Denmark four days earlier, leaving the stage in mid-performance with the fateful words: "I've been dead for a long time."

1974 5000 people died in Honduras after Hurricane Fifi struck with winds of up to 110 miles per hour.

1975 A San Francisco court refused 21-year-old newspaper heiress Patty Hearst bail on bank robbery charges. Hearst, the grand-daughter of "yellow press" millionaire William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped in February by a radical terrorist group, the Symbionese Liberation Army. Ten weeks later she was filmed on closed circuit television with other Symbionese Liberation Army members robbing a San Francisco bank, gun in hand. She had now been captured by the FBI after a 20-month hunt.

1978 President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Israel's prime minister Menachem Begin reached a peace agreement. Meeting at Camp David in the US under president Jimmy Carter's sponsorship, they agreed that Israel would withdraw from the Sinai (but not yet from the other occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank), and Egypt would establish normal relations with Israel. The agreement was the culmination of Sadat's peace mission to Jerusalem the year before. But it had appalled Israeli hard-liners, and Sadat's Arab allies regarded him as a traitor.

1981 Under President Mitterand, France abolished the guillotine.

1983 George Meegan completed his massive walk across the Western Hemisphere. It took 2426 days and he walked 19,019 miles.

1988 The military seized power in Burma.

1991 The Yugoslav navy began a blockade of seven port cities on the Adriatic coast in Dalmatia.

1994 Vitas Gerulaitus died from carbon monoxide poisoning whilst staying at a friend's cottage.

1996 The television series "Men Behaving Badly" (the American version) debuted on U.S. television but didn't last long and was cancelled.

1997 Death of Jimmy Witherspoon, aged 74, Blues jazz singer.

2003 Hurricane Isabel's powerful winds and rain lashed the east coast of America, bringing widespread flooding and power cuts.

2003 Forensic scientists found almost 500 skeletons in a mass grave in Bosnia, confirming it as the largest from the 1992-95 war.

2003 Cricket: Sussex director of cricket Peter Moores was elated after his team secured their first ever championship title.

2004 At Leeds Castle in Kent, talks aimed at restoring the devolved government in NI ended without a deal being reached.

2004 A Tory MP admitted his assistant gave a Commons tour to a hunt protester, before a security breach earlier in the week.

2004 Former child star Macaulay Culkin, best known for his role in Home Alone, was arrested in the US on drug charges.

2004 Two of Madonna's bodyguards were arrested in Israel after an alleged brawl with photographers, as the star made a spiritual pilgrimage.

2004 England's cricket team reached the Champions Trophy semi-finals as Andrew Flintoff's 104 earned victory over Sri Lanka.

2004 C Palace 1-2 Man City. Two goals from Nicolas Anelka are enough to give Man City their first away win of the season.

2005 Early projections showed a tight finish to Germany's election, with both main parties claiming victory.

2005 Police said a man was arrested after he was thought to be acting suspiciously on a Manchester to London train.

2005 Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn revealed she was suffering from the incurable lung disease emphysema.

2005 The UK's answer to Hollywood's Walk of Fame was unveiled in a star-studded TV special.

2005 Michael Owen scored his first goal for Newcastle in a 3-0 win over Blackburn.

2005 Michael Park, co-driver for Markko Martin, died after a crash on stage 15 of the Wales Rally GB.

BIRTHDAYS (for 18 September 2006)

Dr Samuel Johnson, 297 (born 18 September 1709)
Died 1784. English lexicographer and celebrated conversationalist whose Dictionary was used as the authoritative reference book for more than a century.

Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustaffson), 101 (born 18 September 1905)
Died 1990. Swedish-born Hollywood film legend who remained in the public consciousness decades after she stopped making films in 1941.

Kwarne Nkrumah, 97 (born 18 September 1909)
Ghanaian prime minister and then president from independence in 1957 until a military coup in 1966 sent him to exile in Guinea.

Jack Warden, 86 (born 18 September 1920)
Actor.

Elizabeth Spriggs, 77 (born 18 September 1929)
Actress - Nan in 'Shine on Harvey Moon'.

Ray Alan, 76 (born 18 September 1930)
Ventriloquist.

Bob Dylan, 73 (born 18 September 1933)
American singer, songwriter and poet who became a cult figure writing folk songs such as `The Times They are A-Changin' and went on to use electronic instruments in the album Highway 61 Revisited.

Jimmie Rodgers, 73 (born 18 September 1933)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'English Country Garden'.

Frankie Avalon, 67 (born 18 September 1939)
American singer and actor who began as a child trumpeter, and later had hits as a singer with Venus and Why?

Alex Stepney, 64 (born 18 September 1942)
Former Manchester United Goalkeeper

Michael Franks, 62 (born 18 September 1944)
Jazz performer.

Peter Shilton OBE, 57 (born 18 September 1949)
Footballer.

Dee Dee Ramone, 54 (born 18 September 1952)
Member of The Ramones - biggest UK hit 'Baby I Love You'.

Joanne Catherall, 44 (born 18 September 1962)
Lead singer with Human League - biggest UK hit 'Don't You Want Me'.

Ian Spice, 40 (born 18 September 1966)
Member of Breathe.

Today's The Day - 17th September

17th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of St Francis of Camporosso,
St Hildegard,
St Columba of Cordova,
Saints Socrates and Stephen,
St Satycus of Milan,
St Theodora,
St Lambert of Maastricht,
St Robert Bellarmine,
and St Peter Arbues.

History Test for September 17th

Born today in 1901 who sailed round the world in his yacht `Gypsy Moth IV' ? -Sir Francis Chichester

Name the last Stuart monarch of England, who died today in 1701? -James II

The first long-playing records were demonstrated today in 1931, but at what speed did they play? -33 1/3 rpm

Which airborne attack took place today in 1944 and was code-named Operation Market Garden? -The Battle of Arnhem

In which city did the Olympic Games open today in 1988? -Seoul

Events today...

1665 Death of Philip IV, King of Spain.

1701 Death of King James II of England

1771 Death of Tobias George Smollett, Scottish novelist.

1787 George Washington, leader of the Philadelphia Convention, was presented with a new Constitution for the United States of America. Thirty-nine delegates representing 12 of the 13 states (all but Rhode Island) signed the document after months of debate. The difficulty was to balance a strong central government with both democratic principals and adequate representation of the States.

1837 The French composer Hector Berlioz produced a tour-de-force at a premier performance in Paris. Most orchestras had about 60 players, but Berlioz's mighty "Requiem", commissioned by the government, used a 200-voice chorus, 110 violins, a swollen brass section and 16 timpani.

1877 William Henry Fox Talbot, British botanist and physicist who pioneered photographic techniques, died at the age of 77.

1894 The first British musical on Broadway, "A Gaiety Girl", opened at Daly's Theatre, New York

1900 The Commonwealth of Australia, a federation of six colonies, was proclaimed.

1908 A US army officer was killed on this day when Orville Wright's flying machine broke a propeller in mid-air and plunged 150ft to the ground. Wright was badly injured, but his passenger, Lieutenant Thomas W. Selfridge, was killed - the first passenger to die in an aircraft accident.

1931 The first long playing record was demonstrated by RCA Victor Records and span at 33 and a 3rd revolutions per minute. Mass production didn't occur until 17 years later.

1939 Poland was invaded by the USSR.

1944 "Operation Market Garden" began as British airborne forces landed at Arnhem, Holland, aiming to secure a bridge over the Rhine to facilitate an invasion of Germany.

1948 Count Folke Bernadotte the Swedish diplomat was assassinated.

1952 Frank Sinatra recorded his last song for Columbia Records. He went on to set up his own record company Reprise Records.

1955 James Dean made a road safety movie urging viewers to drive safely. (How's that for irony?).

1955 Les Paul recorded "Magic Melody Part Two" which was the shortest song ever released. It only had two notes.

1957 Sophia Loren married Carlo Ponti.

1961 London's biggest "Ban the Bomb" demonstration ended on this day with police battles. 830 were arrested including actress Vanessa Redgrave, playwrite John Osborne and the chairman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Canon Collins.

1966 Mission Impossible made its television debut and didn't self-destruct within 5 seconds.

1975 Pink Floyd received their third gold disc for the album "Wish You Were Here".

1983 Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss America and went on to have success as an actress and a singer. She was the first black winner of the title but later had to give it up when she appeared naked in Playboy magazine.

1984 Death of Richard Basehart, aged 70, Actor - 'Voyage to Bottom of Sea'.

1984 Oil baron Gordon P Getty was declared America's richest man with a personal fortune of $4.1 billion.

1985 Death of Laura Ashley, Welsh designer and fabric retailer.

1989 Paula Abdul won an Emmy for Best Choreography on the Tracy Ullman Show.

1991 Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North and South Korea, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia were admitted to the United Nations.

1996 Death of Spiro T. Agnew, aged 77, Vice President.

1997 Death of Red Skelton, aged 84, Comic actor.

2000 Death of Paula Yeats, TV presenter. Possibly suicide. Her life had been filled with highs and lows. Lows mainly due to separation from Bob Geldof and death of husband Michael Hutchence.

2003 BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan admitted at the Hutton inquiry he made mistakes when reporting the "sexed up" Iraq dossier claims.

2003 In a shock move, Royal Mail workers narrowly rejected to stage a national strike, but London could still face walk-outs.

2003 Inter Milan produced a sensational first-half display to outclass Arsenal 3-0 in the Champions League at Highbury.

2003 Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle was charged with improper conduct for comments about referee Rob Styles.

2004 US and Iraqi forces arrested 63 suspected militants during a major security operation in central Baghdad.

2004 US authorities began relief operations as south-eastern states continued to assess Hurricane Ivan's impact.

2004 It was announced that Jaguar was to stop making cars at its historic Browns Lane factory in Coventry and pull out of Formula One.

2004 Threats from hunt protesters forced the rural affairs minister to pull out of a celebration of the new right to roam.

2004 Michael Jackson heard testimony in court in California from the mother of the boy accusing him of sexual abuse.

2004 George Michael pulled out of his first live concert for five years after being struck down by laryngitis.

2005 German election rivals Gerhard Schroeder and Angela Merkel made final appeals for votes on the eve of polls.

2005 Shell joined BP in pledging to cut petrol pump prices after Tesco and Asda sparked a price war on garage forecourts.

BIRTHDAYS (for 17 September 2006)

Ben Turpin, 132 (born 17 September 1874)
Died 1940. Silent film comedian of cross-eyed fame.

Sir Francis Chichester, 105 (born 17 September 1901)
Died 1972. English yachtsman and aviator who was knighted for sailing round the world solo in `Gypsy Moth IV' and flew his plane `Gypsy Moth' solo east to west across the Tasman Sea.

Warren Earl Burger, 99 (born 17 September 1907)
former US Chief Justice.

Dinah Sheridan, 86 (born 17 September 1920)
Actress.

Hank Williams Sr, 83 (born 17 September 1923)
Died 1953. Country singer.

Roddy McDowall, 78 (born 17 September 1928)
(Deceased) Actor - Galen in 'Planet of Apes'.

Stirling Moss, 77 (born 17 September 1929)
Racing driver.

Anne Bancroft, 75 (born 17 September 1931)
Died 2005. American actress who made her name on Broadway in `The Miracle Worker' and won an Oscar for the film version. Other films included `The Graduate'

Maureen Connolly, 72 (born 17 September 1934)
American tennis player, known as `Little Mo' whose carrer was brought to a premature end by a horse-riding accident, the year after she completed an historic Grand Slam.

Desmond Lynam, 64 (born 17 September 1942)
TV Sportscaster.

John Ritter, 58 (born 17 September 1948)
Actor - 'Three's Company'.

Damon Hill, 46 (born 17 September 1960)
Racing driver.

Keith Flint, 37 (born 17 September 1969)
Member of The Prodigy - 'Firestarter'.

New brewers and pubs listed in CAMRA guide

More than 80 new breweries and hundreds of pubs have been added to the new CAMRA Good Beer Guide, which is out today.

The guide also names the best 16 pubs in the UK as voted for by CAMRA members.

Editor of the guide Roger Protz said progressive beer duty (PBD), which halved the duty paid on anyone producing less than 60,000 hectolitres of beer a year, and an increase in consumer demand for real ales were boosting the health of pubs and smaller brewers.

Mr Protz said: “PBD has been an incentive for people to come into the industry because they know they can afford it. It’s also been a big boost to existing companies, where margins were so tiny they were thinking of packing up.

“The other reason for the astonishing number of new breweries is our old friend consumer demand. Just look at the Great British Beer Festival. Attendance was up. The place was absolutely dry by the last day.”

Colin Smith and his wife Dawn took on the Rising Sun in Brentwood in April 2002 when it didn’t carry a single ale. Despite being told it didn’t sell, the Smiths persevered with and now have a good real ale following, which has culminated in their entry in this year’s guide.

Mr Smith said: “It feels great to be added to the list. It’s the ultimate achievement. We’ll put up the posters saying we’re in it, and hopefully attract more customers so I can get more real ales put on.

“It’s proved to be a good seller and it’s brought in customers I want to see in the pub. I’ve even converted my future son-in-law to being a real ale drinker from Stella!”

For a copy of the Good Beer Guide 2007, priced £14.99, call CAMRA on 01727 867 201 or by logon to www.camra.org.uk

10 things we didn't know last week

Snippets harvested from the week's news, chopped, sliced and diced for your weekend convenience.

1. Half of 15 year olds drink alcohol every week. More details

2. George Alagiah's surname is actually pronounced "ullerhiya".

3. The InterCity 125 train was designed by the same man who came up with the angle-poise lamp and Kenwood Chef mixer. More details

4. Pavements are tested using an 80 square metre artificial pavement at a research centre called Pamela (the Pedestrian Accessibility and Movement Environment Laboratory). More details

5. Acorns are toxic to ponies and cattle (but not to the pigs brought into the New Forest to feast on the fruits).

6. Cyclists in the UK can be prosecuted for "furious cycling".

7. Russian premier Khrushchev's favourite dish was stinging nettle soup. More details

8. Areas of ice the size of Turkey have disappeared from the Arctic in a single year. More details

9. Overseas student numbers around the world have doubled in a decade to 2.7 million students. More details

10. A common American poplar has twice as many genes as a human being. More details

[Sources, where stories are not linked - 2: Guardian, 8 September; 5: Times, 14 September; 6: Guardian, 12 September.]

Today's The Day - 16th September

16th September 2006
The national day of Mexico.

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Comelius pope,
St Cyprian,
St Ludmila,
St Ninian,
Saints Abundius and Abundantius,
St Edith of Wilton,
and St Euphemia.

History Test for September 16th

Which famous Christmas song was copyrighted today in 1857? -`Jingle Bells'

German physicist Daniel Fahrenheit died today in 1736. On the temperature scale named after him, what is the boiling point of water? -212 F

Which famous ship set sail from Plymouth today in 1620? -Mayflower

Born today in 1927, which actor made his name playing a detective in a dirty raincoat? -Peter Falk

What 'double' change in the postal system occurred today in 1968? -First and second class stamps were introduced

QUOTE “This most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave overhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden. fire- why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.” - William Shakespeare in Hamlet, 1603.

Events today...

1498 Death of Tomas de Torquemada, principal architect of the Spanish Inquisition.

1620 A group of Puritan separatists set sail from Plymouth in the Mayflower, bound for the New World and religious freedom. The group, most of them uneducated farmers, fled to Holland in 1608 to escape King Charles I's religious oppression. They settled in Leyden, free to follow their beliefs, but they were poor, and could not adapt to Dutch society. Church elder William Brewster went to London and found a sponsor for the voyage to America in Sir Edwin Sandys, treasurer of the Virginia Company. Sandys arranged a plantation grant and financing through London merchants hoping to profit from the venture. Another elder, John Carver, chartered the 180-ton Mayflower at Southampton. Brewster and William Bradford sailed from Leyden for Southampton with 35 other "Pilgrims" in the Speedwell, and the two ships set off twice before they abandoned the leaking Speedwell the third time and crowded onto the Mayflower, which sailed on this day with 102 passengers.

1736 Death of Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, German physicist.

1810 A rural Mexican priest ended his Sunday sermon with the fiery war-cry: "Death to the Spaniards!" and set a revolution in motion. Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the pastor of Dolores, was now leading a ragged army of more than 10,000 Indians and peasants against the Spanish colonial government. Hidalgo's academic career ended when his liberal attitudes enraged both the government and the Inquisition. He was sent to the provinces, where he continued to champion the oppressed. His plans to overthrow the Spaniards were discovered, forcing him to act.

1824 Death of King Louis XVIII of France, whose attempts to be a moderate constitutional monarch were thwarted by the ultra-royalists.

1847 The house in which Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon became the first building in Britain to be purchased for preservation.

1859 David Livingstone discovered Lake Nyasa.

1902 The General Motor Corporation was founded and went on to make Cadillacs.

1906 Roald Amundsen discovered the magnetic South Pole.

1906 The US Buick and Oldsmobile car manufacturers merged to become General Motors.

1941 The Shah of Iran, Reza Khan Pahlavi, abdicated.

1947 John Cobb broke the land speed record when he drove at over 400 miles per hour at Bonneville Salt Flats in the U.S.

1949 A new character was introduced in the cartoon world when Wile E Coyote started chasing the Road Runner for the first time. The Warner Bros cartoon was "Fast and Furry-ous".

1953 The wife of former British Foreign Office official and Soviet spy Donald Maclean disappeared, two years after her husband fled to Russia with Guy Burgess.

1955 Death of Leo Amery, British statesman and journalist.

1959 Charles de Gaulle, French President of the new Fifth Republic and former head of the committee of National Liberation in Algiers, offered Algeria a referendum on independence.

1959 Soviet premier Nikita Krushchev, on a US tour, exploded in rage during a banquet given in his honour by the City of Los Angeles. He took exception to Mayor Norris Poulson's speech and threatened to fly home.

1963 Malaysia became independent and a mob of more than 100,000 burnt down the British Embassy in celebration.

1969 Biba, considered London's trendiest store in the `swinging 60s', opened on Kensington High Street.

1974 Death of Walter Greenwood, English novelist.

1976 The Episcopal Church in the USA approved the ordination of women to the priesthood.

1977 Death of Maria Callas, US opera singer, aged 53.

1977 Lead singer of T-Rex, Marc Bolan, died in a car crash.

1978 The Monty Python team started filming "Life of Brian".

1979 It was the birth of rap music as the Sugar Hill Gang recorded "Rapper's Delight" and sampled Chic's "Good Times".

1981 "Sugar" Ray Leonard defeated Thomas "The Hit Man" Hearns winning the largest pay packet in the history of boxing (at that time).

1987 For the first time in South Africa, Othello was performed with a black actor, John Khani, playing the Moor.

1987 Seventy countries signed an agreement in Montreal to curb the threat from industrial gases to the ozone layer. The upper atmosphere's layer of ozone, a form of oxygen, absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun that would harm all life if it reached the Earth's surface. In 1984 a seasonal "hole" in the layer was discovered over Antarctica, thought to be caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), gases used in aerosols and as refrigerants. CFC use was frozen at current levels and was to be reduced by half within 12 years.

1988 Fish quit the group Marillion.

1988 Thousands of Americans queued up to apply for a new credit card, the Elvis Presley credit card which featured the star and allowed customers credit of up to $3500 (£1900).

1990 Dennis Quaid married Meg Ryan.

1991 A man attacked Michelangelo's David with a hammer, breaking off the second toe of the marble statue's left foot. The 13-ft (4 m) sculpture was one of the great masterpieces of Renaissance art. The attacker later told the Florence police he was merely following instructions from "Nani", a Venetian model who sat for Veronese in the 16th century. The museum director said the pieces had all been saved and the toe would be repaired.

1991 All Iran-Contra charges against Oliver North were dropped.

1992 Barbra Streisand made a come-back after an absence of six years when she sang at a fund raising concert for presidential candidate Bill Clinton.

1999 Stagecoach bus drivers staged a 24-hour strike due to new recruits receiving better pay than existing staff.

2003 Swedish police arrested a man wanted in connection with the death of Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.

2003 Union leaders and the Royal Mail were holding last-minute crisis talks to avoid industrial action.

2003 Man Utd tore Panathinaikos apart with an impressive 5-0 win at Old Trafford.

2003 Family and friends of American music legend Johnny Cash attended his funeral near Nashville, Tennessee.

2004 The US Gulf Coast took a pummelling as Hurricane Ivan roared inland, causing at least 12 deaths.

2004 The Sun newspaper said a reporter working undercover in the Commons was able to smuggle in materials for a fake bomb.

2004 Cherie Blair denied claims that her husband considered quitting as prime minister earlier in the year.

2004 Johnny Ramone, guitarist in seminal punk band The Ramones, died of prostate cancer at the age of 55.

2004 Media regulator Ofcom suggested that the BBC should share its radio archive with commercial rivals.

2005 Danish police recovered a self-portrait by Rembrandt stolen from Sweden's National Museum five years earlier.

2005 Eight robbers who tried to steal £33m of gold, cash and gems at Heathrow were jailed for up to 13 years.

2005 The BBC securee the rights to broadcast TV highlights of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

2005 Actress Renee Zellweger and country singer Kenny Chesney sought an annulment after four months of marriage.

BIRTHDAYS (for 16 September 2006)

Henry V, 619 (born 16 September 1387)
English king who defeated the French at Agincourt.

John Gay, 321 (born 16 September 1685)
English poet and playwright famed for The Beggar's Opera.

Anthony Panizzi, 209 (born 16 September 1797)
only librarian hanged in effigy.

Sir Alexander Korda, 113 (born 16 September 1893)
Died 1956. Hungarian-born film producer and dominant figure in the British film industry.

Lauren Bacall, 82 (born 16 September 1924)
American actress who made her debut in To Have and Have Not opposite her future husband Humphrey Bogart.

B. B. King, 81 (born 16 September 1925)
American blues guitarist and inspiration of a whole generation of rock musicians, including Eric Clapton.

Charlie Byrd, 81 (born 16 September 1925)
American jazz guitarist, perhaps best known for the bossa nova album he recorded with Stan Getz.

Peter Falk, 79 (born 16 September 1927)
Actor - 'Columbo'.

George Chakiris, 73 (born 16 September 1933)
Actor - 'West Side Story' 'Dallas'.

Bella Emberg, 69 (born 16 September 1937)
Comedy actress of Russ Abbott fame.

Bernie Calvert, 64 (born 16 September 1942)
Bassist with The Hollies - biggest UK hit 'I'm Alive'.

Joe Butler, 63 (born 16 September 1943)
Member of The Lovin Spoonful - biggest UK hit 'Daydream'.

Russ Abbott, 59 (born 16 September 1947)
Comedian.

Kenny Jones, 58 (born 16 September 1948)
Musician - Small Faces; The Who.

Ed Begley Jr, 57 (born 16 September 1949)
Actor - 'St Elsewhere'.

David Bellamy, 56 (born 16 September 1950)
No not that one! Singer of Bellamy Brothers fame 'Let Your Love Flow'.

Lloyd Grossman, 56 (born 16 September 1950)
TV presenter.

Earl Klugh, 53 (born 16 September 1953)
Jazz guitarist.

Mickey Rourke, 53 (born 16 September 1953)
Actor - 'Nine and Half Weeks'.

David Copperfield, 50 (born 16 September 1956)
Magician.

Debbie Greenwood, 47 (born 16 September 1959)
TV presenter.

Richard Marx, 43 (born 16 September 1963)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Right Here Waiting'.

Today's The Day - 15th September

15th September 2006
National day of Costa Rica.

Battle of Britain day.

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Nicetus the Goth,
St Nicomedes,
St Aachard or Aichardus,
St Mirin,
and St Catherine of Genoa.

History Test for September 15th

Which 'soaraway' newspaper first appeared today in 1964? -The Sun

Agatha Christie was born today in 1890. In which fictional English village does her elderly sleuth Miss Marple live? -St. Mary Mead

What military vehicle was first used by the British army today in 1916? -The tank

Born today in 1921, which author of humorous stories wrote the `Doctor' books'? -Richard Gordon

Today is Battle of Britain Day, commemorating the famous aerial battle fought in which year? -1940

Events today...

1321 The Italian poet Dante Alighieri died in Ravenna after 20 years exiled by papists from his native Florence. He was 56. Dante had only just finished his masterpiece, La Divina Commedie (The Divine Comedy), after 14 years' work. It was a 14,000-line fable of a journey through hell, purgatory, and finally paradise where, led by his beloved Beatrice, the poet glimpsed God's heaven.

1492 Christopher Columbus saw a meteor fall into the sea.

1588 The final humiliation of the Spanish Armada occurred when its remnants returned to Spanish harbours after defeat by the English.

1656 France and England signed a peace treaty.

1776 British Forces occupied New York during the American Revolution.

1784 The first ascent in a hydrogen balloon in England was made by the Italian aeronaut Vincenzo Lunardi.

1812 The Russians set fire to Moscow in order to halt the French occupation.

1821 San Salvador declared its independence.

1830 William Huskisson, British MP and former cabinet minister, became the first person to be killed by a train. Huskisson, head of the Board of Trade, fell under the wheels of George Stevenson's "Rocket" steam engine as it departed on the inaugural run of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. He was crossing the track to greet the prime minister, the Duke of Wellington, who opened the new passenger line.

1851 Death of James Fenimore Cooper, aged 62, Author of 'Last of the Mohicans'.

1859 Death of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, probably the greatest British engineer.

1864 Death of John Hanning Speke, British explorer.

1871 The “Army and Navy Co-operative” began the first mail order service, to meet the needs of its members in Britain and abroad.

1916 Death of Jose Echegaray, Spanish dramatist and scientist.

1916 Thirty-two massive steel "landships" lumbered into action on the Somme, rolling over the German trenches, apparently impervious to the German machine-gun-fire. Two hours later the British and Canadian infantry had advanced 7 miles (11 km) and taken thousands of prisoners. The fearsome new weapon, code-named the Tank, was the brainchild of Winston Churchill, Britain's First Lord of the Admiralty. Bristling with guns, the armour-plated monsters designed by Ernest Swinton, weighed nearly 30 tons and ran at 4 mph on rolling steel tracks. It took four men to steer them. Hundreds of tanks were being built in Britain.

1917 Russian Socialist Revolutionary Party prime minister Aleksandr Kerenski proclaimed Russia a republic.

1928 The first robot to be made in Britain was demonstrated at the Model Engineering Exhibition in London by inventors Captain Rickards and A. H. Renfell.

1935 Germany's persecuted Jews lost virtually all their rights. At a huge Nazi rally in Nuremberg, the German Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, announced new decrees which relegated Jews to “untermensch” (sub-human) status. The Jews lost their German citizenship, they could not marry Aryans, they were excluded from employment in the civil service, the media, entertainment and education and lost their pension rights. "Jews Not Wanted" signs appeared in public places all over Germany. Jewish children were excluded from schools, Jewish businesses were boycotted and Jews were constantly in danger of abuse and open violence, with no recourse to justice.

1940 London suffered the largest aerial bombing by the German Luftwaffe.

1954 Movie history was made when Marilyn Monroe walked over an air vent at 51st Street and Lexington Avenue which caused her skirt to lift. She was filming "The Seven Year Itch".

1964 ‘The Sun’ which became Britain's biggest selling newspaper, was first published.

1966 Britain's first nuclear submarine, HMS Resolution, was launched by the Queen Mother.

1972 Death of Geoffrey Fisher, former Archbishop of Canterbury.

1972 Seven men were indicted in Washington in connection with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office building in Washington on June 17. They were charged with burglary, conspiracy, and wiretapping. Five of the seven were arrested at the scene, attempting to install secret bugging devices. They were all members of the Republican committee to re-elect president Richard Nixon. The other two men were former White House aides Howard Hunt and Gordon Liddy, members of the same committee. A party spokesman said there was nothing to indicate any others were involved in the plot to bug the Democrat office.

1973 Death of Gustav VI, King of Sweden.

1974 Jack Haley Jnr. married Liza Minnelli.

1974 The civil war between Christians and Muslims in Beirut began.

1980 Death of Bill Evans, aged 51, Jazz pianist, composer.

1985 Tony Jacklin's European golf team won the Ryder Cup from the USA who had long dominated the competition.

1987 Hollywood movie makers were urged by the Pope to shun violence.

1988 The Museum of the Moving Image, devoted entirely to the history of cinema and television, opened on London's South Bank. The world's largest film museum, it was packed with exhibits such as cameras, costumes, props and relics from film sets, plus various gadgets including a self-recording video for visitors to use. It formed part of the South Bank complex of theatres and galleries.

1999 Florida’s Disney World was closed for the first time in its history as the State prpared for the arrival of Hurricane Floyd which was heading up America’s east coast.

2003 A fire at a Saudi jail killed at least 67 inmates and injured a further 20 prisoners and three guards.

2003 A top ethnic minority police officer was cleared of dishonesty, amid claims of a "witch hunt".

2003 A man was held in connection with the murders of a father and his seven-year-old girl thought to have been shot as she ran away.

2003 Television stars and politicians attended a memorial service for Dame Thora Hird.

2003 Paul Dickov scored twice as Leicester thrashed Leeds 4-0 to secure their first Premiership win of the season.

2003 Surrey and England star Alec Stewart confirmed he had quit first-class cricket.

2004 The first winds and rains whipped the southern US coast as the devastating Hurricane Ivan headed inland.

2004 Five protesters burst into the Commons and forced Parliament to be suspended as MPs debate a ban on hunting.

2004 Five people rescued off Cornwall after being adrift in a life raft for a week set fire to their yacht to get help.

2004 Madonna travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories with her family as part of her interest in Kabbalah.

2004 An image of England footballer Wayne Rooney was shortlisted for the £10,000 Comme Ca Art Prize.

2004 Ruud van Nistelrooy was Man Utd's greatest European goalscorer as they come from two down in Lyon to draw 2-2.

2004 Blackburn Rovers named Wales boss Mark Hughes as their new manager.

2004 Jacques Villeneuve signed a two-year deal to drive for Sauber from the following season.

2004 Roma's Champions League tie was abandoned after referee Anders Frisk was hit by an object thrown from the crowd.

2005 Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announced the go-ahead for the switch-over to digital television.

2005 Britney Spears gave birth to a boy, she and husband Kevin Federline revealed on her website.

2005 A 12ft statue of a naked, pregnant, disabled woman was unveiled on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth.

2005 Everton's Uefa Cup hopes lay in tatters after a heavy first leg defeat to Dinamo Bucuresti.

2005 Frank Hadden was named as the new coach of the Scotland team.

BIRTHDAYS (for 15 September 2006)

Titus Oates, 357 (born 15 September 1649)
English Anglican priest who successfully created anti-Catholic feeling by inventing a `Popish plot'.

James Fenimore Cooper, 217 (born 15 September 1789)
Died 1851. American author of 50 novels who is best remembered for The Last of the Mohicans and The Deerslayer.

Robert Benchley, 117 (born 15 September 1889)
Died 1945. Humorist and actor.

Dame Agatha Christie, 116 (born 15 September 1890)
Died 1975. English crime writer and one of the most successful novelists of all time, creator of Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and spinster sleuth Miss Jane Marple.

Jean Renoir, 112 (born 15 September 1894)
Died 1979. French film director and son of the famous painter. His productions include Le Regle du Jeu and The River.

Fay Wray, 99 (born 15 September 1907)
Died 2004. Actress - 'King Kong' (1931 version).

Margaret Lockwood, 90 (born 15 September 1916)
Died 1990. British stage actress and star of many popular post-war British films, including The Man in Grey and The Wicked Lady.

Norm Crosby, 79 (born 15 September 1927)
comedian.

'Cannon Ball' Adderley, 78 (born 15 September 1928)
Died 1975. Jazz performer.

Signe Tory Anderson, 65 (born 15 September 1941)
Singer of Jefferson Airplane.

Graham Taylor, 62 (born 15 September 1944)
Former England football manager.

Jessye Norman, 61 (born 15 September 1945)
American mezzo-turned-soprano concert and opera singer.

Tommy Lee Jones, 60 (born 15 September 1946)
Actor - 'JFK' 'Batman Forever' 'The Fugitive' 'Men in Black' and 'Volcano'.

Oliver Stone, 60 (born 15 September 1946)
Director - 'Born on 4th of July' 'JFK' and 'Wall Street'.

Jaki Graham, 50 (born 15 September 1956)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Could It Be I'm Falling in Love'.

HRH Prince Henry (Harry) Charles Albert David of Wales, 22 (born 15 September 1984)
Diana's 2nd son.

Today's The Day - 14th September

14th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Matemus of Cologne,
and St Notburga.

History Test for September 14th
Written today in 1814, what is the American national anthem? -`The Star Spangled Banner'
What golfing first was achieved by Tom Morris today in 1868? -The first recorded hole-in-one
Today in 1901 who became the youngest American President? -Theodore Roosevelt
Novelist James Fenimore Cooper died today in 1851. Which of his novels was made into a film starring Daniel Day-Lewis? -`The Last of the Mohicans'
Completed today in 1741, which work by Handel features the `Hallelujah Chorus'? -`The Messiah'

Events today...

1321 Death of Dante Alighieri, Italian poet.

1402 The English defeated the Scots at the Battle of Homildon Hill.

1759 The earliest dated English board game, A Journey through Europe, or The Play of Geography, invented by John Jeffries, was sold by him at his home priced 8s.

1791 Louis XVI swore allegiance to the French constitution.

1803 British General Lake captured Delhi in India.

1812 Napoleon's army entered Moscow however the population had been evacuated and the Russian army had retreated. The next day the city was set on fire by the remaining Russian soldiers.

1847 General Winfield Scott’s American forces captured Mexico City ending the Mexican War.

1851 Death of James Fenimore Cooper, US novelist.

1851 Death of the Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the English commander who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo and later became British Prime Minister.

1852 Death of Augustus Pugin, English architect.

1868 The first recorded hole-in-one was scored by Scottish golfer Tom Morris during the Open Championships at Prestwick.

1891 The first penalty kick in an English League football game was taken by Heath of Wolverhampton Wanderers against Accrington.

1901 American president William McKinley died in Buffalo, New York, eight days after being shot by and anarchist, he was 58. His vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, took the oath that evening and became the 26th and youngest US president (aged 43).

1905 The first ever R.A.C. Tourist Trophy race was held on the Isle of Man.

1923 The famous Hollywood sign was dedicated on this day in 1923 and rededicated in 1977 by actress Gloria Swanson.

1923 Miguel Primo de Riviera became dictator of Spain.

1927 The American dancer Isadora Duncan set off for a drive near Nice in France. The end of her shawl caught in the rear wheel of her Bugatti sports car as she pulled off, breaking her neck and killing her. She was 49.

1938 The world's largest airship the Graf Zeppelin II took to the air on its maiden flight.

1939 The first successful flight of the helicopter took place by Igor Sikorsky.

1959 Lunik II landed on the Moon's surface. This was the first lunar landing and put Russia ahead in the space race.

1960 The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, was created by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.

1962 Distillers Company agreed to pay £14million compensation to thalidomide victims.

1970 Stevie Wonder married Syreeta Wright.

1972 The Waltons television show debuted on American television.

1975 Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, canonised by Pope Paul VI, became the first American saint.

1982 Princess Grace of Monaco was killed in a car crash. Formerly the American film actress Grace Kelly, she was driving with her daughter Stephanie on a mountain road between Monaco and Nice when the brakes failed. She was 52.

1984 Death of Janet Gaynor, aged 77, Actress.

1984 The launch of the MTV Music Awards took place at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. Bette Midler and Dan Ackroyd were the hosts.

1988 On route to Sydney, a six-man expedition arrived in New Dehli in a London taxi; its meter was running at London rates and showed a fare of £13,200.

1991 The South African government, the ANC, and the Inkatha Freedom Party signed a peace accord aimed at ending the factional violence in the black townships.

1996 Death of Juliet Prowse, aged 59, Actress and dancer.

2000 The unofficial picket outside Stanlow oil refinery began to let tankers out of the site. Since their blockage was set up seven days earlier, the output from other refineries had also been blocked and the action was bringing the country to a standstill. The main concern was the effects of food shortages at supermarkets and nurses and medical staff not being able to get to work. However, it was thought that it would be some weeks before the country was back to normal as virtually every petrol station was now dry.

2003 Sweden decisively rejected the euro, in a referendum held four days after the murder of Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. The leader of the Commons said the Swedish referendum No vote would not affect the UK vote timing.

2003 An older sister of Venus and Serena Williams was killed after a row in a Los Angeles suburb.

2003 Pope John Paul ended his visit to Slovakia by celebrating Mass and beatifying a bishop and a nun in Bratislava.

2003 Madonna's first children's book was launched with a celebrity tea party ahead of its global release.

2003 Nicolas Anelka fired a second-half hat-trick as Man City thrashed Aston Villa 4-1 at the City of Manchester Stadium.

2003 Michael Schumacher held off Juan Pablo Montoya to boost his title hopes with victory at the Italian Grand Prix.

2004 Real-life thriller Open Water went straight to the top of the UK box office in its opening week.

2004 A Didier Drogba double helps Chelsea romp to a 2-0 victory over Paris Saint Germain. Celtic 1-3 Barcelona. Henrik Larsson returns to score against his old club in Barcelona's 3-1 Champions League win at Celtic Park and Arsenal made a winning start in Europe thanks to an own-goal by PSV Eindhoven's Alex.

2005 Iraqi police said that a series of bomb attacks killed more than 100 in Baghdad and gunmen shoot dead 17 in a nearby town.

2005 Pakistan said it destroyed an al-Qaeda base and found a Chinese-made spy plane in an operation in Waziristan.

2005 Almost 1,000 belongings of late jazz star Dizzy Gillespie, including a bent trumpet, went under the hammer.

2005 Wayne Rooney was sent off as Man Utd held out for a Champions League draw in Villarreal.

BIRTHDAYS (for 14 September 2006)

Baron von Humboldt, 237 (born 14 September 1769)
German scientist who explored Central and South America and published data which formed the foundation of the study of ecology, which he initiated.

Charles Dana Gibson, 139 (born 14 September 1867)
American artist who created The Gibson Girl, an idealised picture of a woman which set a new style of American femininity.

Sir Peter Scott, 97 (born 14 September 1909)
Died 1989. English ornithologist.

Jack Hawkins, 96 (born 14 September 1910)
Died 1973. Actor "The Cruel Sea" "League of Gentlemen".

Clayton Moore, 92 (born 14 September 1914)
actor ("The Lone Ranger").

Walter Koenig, 70 (born 14 September 1936)
Actor - Chekov in "Star Trek".

Sir Angus Ogilvy, 68 (born 14 September 1938)
husband of Princess Alexandra

Nicol Williamson, 68 (born 14 September 1938)
Actor.

Amanda Barrie, 67 (born 14 September 1939)
Actress - Alma Baldwin in "Coronation Street".

Sam Neill, 59 (born 14 September 1947)
Actor - "Jurassic Park" "The Piano".

Paul Kossoff, 56 (born 14 September 1950)
Died 1976. Guitarist with Free.

Paul Allott, 50 (born 14 September 1956)
cricketer

Ray Wilkins, 50 (born 14 September 1956)
Manchester United Great

Kepler Wessels, 49 (born 14 September 1957)
cricketer

Mary Crosby, 47 (born 14 September 1959)
actress

Morten Harket, 47 (born 14 September 1959)
Lead singer with A-Ha-biggest UK hit "The Sun Always Shines on TV".

David Gilford, 41 (born 14 September 1965)
golfer

Today's The Day - 13th September

13th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St John Chrysostom,
St Maurilius of Angers,
St Amatus, abbot,
and St Eulogius of Alexandria.

History Test for September 13th
What was the nickname of actor Valentine Dyall, who made his stage debut today in 1930? -`The Man in Black'
Which England footballer was accused of stealing a bracelet today in 1970? -Bobby Moore
Born today in 1944, which actress starred in the film 'The Deep'? -Jacqueline Bisset
The TV drama 'Van Der Valk' was first seen today in 1972. In which city was it set? -Amsterdam
Born today in 1894, who wrote the play `An Inspector Calls'? -J.B.Priestley

QUOTE “People think we do not understand our black and coloured countrymen. But there is a special relationship between us.” - Elize Botha, wife of South African president P. W. Botha, 1988.

Events today...

1500 New York state police stormed a maximum-security prison, ending four days of rioting. More than 1000 prisoners at the Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo rioted earlier in the week, killing a guard and taking 38 guards and civilians hostage. Three inmates died in the riots. The rebel convicts demanded better conditions and the authorities agreed, but they would not grant the rioters an amnesty.

1506 Death of Andrea Mantegna Italian painter.

1592 Death of Michel de Montaigne, French essayist and diarist.

1598 The world's most powerful ruler, King Philip II of Spain, died at the age of 71. His 40-year reign was a golden age for Spain, funded by the conquistadors' plunder of Latin America - and squandered in a succession of wars in Europe. Following the crushing defeat of Spain's "invincible Armada" by the English 10 years earlier, beset by the Dutch revolt and the struggle with the Turks in the east, Philip's vast empire was close to economic ruin. Philip was a devout Roman Catholic and an austere but just ruler, well loved by his people. His fourth wife's fourth son, Philip III, became Spain's new king.

1759 A British expedition defeated the French forces at Quebec. James Wolfe, the young general who led the attack, was killed in the battle - but he lived long enough to hear that he had won. The French commander, the Marquis de Montcalm, was fatally wounded. Wolfe led 5000 men up the St Lawrence River, intending to meet up with General Amherst's land forces but Amherst did not arrive and Wolfe continued alone. He laid siege to Quebec in May, but was unable to break the French resistance until this day in 1759, when he and his men scaled the cliffs behind Quebec and surprised the French on the Plains of Abraham. Wolfe died a hero - Quebec was the key prize in the French and Indian war, which now found itself in its third year.

1788 New York became the capital of the USA (until 1789).

1806 English statesman Charles James Fox was taken ill and died at home in London, just as he was about to introduce a bill abolishing slavery.

1845 The Knickerbocker Club, the first baseball club, was founded in New York.

1894 Death of Alexis-Emmanuel Chabrier, French composer.

1907 The British liner Lusitania arrived in New York at the end of her maiden voyage, having made the journey in a record five days, averaging 23 knots.

1914 The first Battle of the Aisne, during World War I, began.

1915 The process for making breakfast cereal flakes was patented by Frank Martin, as previously the combination of corn, oats and grain had proved indigestible for the public.

1942 The Germans began their attack on Stalingrad.

1943 General Chiang Kai-shek was re-elected president of the Republic of China.

1944 William Heath Robinson, the English artist known for his drawings of complex machinery which performed simple tasks, died.

1948 In New York the School of the performing Arts was opened.

1955 Little Richard recorded a sanitised version of "Tutti Frutti" in Los Angeles with cleaned-up lyrics.

1957 The Mousetrap became Britain's longest running play, reaching its 1,998th performance.

1960 Payola was banned by the Federal Communication Commission in the U.S. thus prohibiting the payment of cash or gifts to radio presenters for playing certain records (ah the good old days!).

1963 Barbra Streisand and Eliott Gould married. (They divorced eight years later).

1969 The first appearance of the Plastic Ono Band. John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared at the Toronto Peace Festival.

1970 The first New York marathon was held and local fireman Gary Muhrucke won the race in 2 hours 31 minutes and 38 seconds.

1970 In Mexico for the World Cup, England captain Bobby Moore was accused of stealing a diamond bracelet from a shop. After being kept under house arrest, he was finally released and all charges were dropped.

1971 Peking was buzzing with speculation following an official announcement that the man Chairman Mao Tse-tung named as his successor, People's Liberation Army chief Lin Piao, had been killed in a plane crash - while fleeing to the Soviet Union. The announcement said Lin had been plotting to assassinate Mao and take power. Lin was the master tactician whose victory over Chiang Kai-shek's US-barked Nationalists in 1949 made way for communism in China. He was Mao's closest ally, and it was only through Lin's support that Mao was able to quell the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution which had removed Mao's chief rivals: all except Lin Piao, perhaps. The truth may never be known.

1977 Death of Leopold Stokowski aged, 95, US conductor

1985 The World Health Organisation declared Aids a world-wide epidemic.

1986 Kellye Cash was crowned as Miss America in Atlantic City. She was the grandniece of country singer Johnny Cash.

1986 The premier at Disneyland of the Michael Jackson 17 minute film "Captain EO" which cost approximately $1 million per minute to make.

1987 Death of Mervyn Le Roy, aged 86, Film Producer and Director - 'Wizard of Oz'.

1989 Britain's biggest ever banking computer error gave customers an extra £2 billion in a period of 30 minutes; 99.3 per cent of the money was reportedly returned.

1989 South Africa's biggest anti-apartheid demonstration in 30 years took place in Cape Town. Twenty thousand people of all races marched to the City Hall in protest against the police killings of 23 protesters during the whites-only election the previous week.

1991 Death of Joe Pastemak, US film producer.

1993 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat.

1996 Rap singer Tupac Shakur died in Las Vegas six days after a drive by shooting. He is one of the stars of the movie "Gang Related" which was currently on release in cinemas.

1996 Union bosses reacted with fury to suggestions that Labour leader Tony Blair was considering cutting the party's historic links with their movement .

1997 Driving simulators used by learners across the country were switched off by the British School of Motoring today after one caught fire. The blaze at the school's Leeds office started when the simulator was being demonstrated following its installation earlier that week.

1998 Scarey Spice, Melanie Brown, married Dutch-born dancer Jimmy Gulzar at a private ceremony in Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

2003 Pope John Paul II's ailing health was again evident as he addressed huge crowds at a mass in eastern Slovakia.

2003 An e-mail scam targetted Barclays banking customers to trick them into revealing their confidential details.

2003 The Beatles' record label Apple Corps began suing computer firm Apple in a wrangle over the use of the Apple name to promote music products.

2003 A dazzling array of music stars including Pink, The Darkness and the Chemical Brothers performed at a free music festival in Cardiff.

2003 Adrian Mutu scored twice as Chelsea beat Tottenham 4-2 at Stamford Bridge and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice as Man Utd laboured to a 2-0 win over Charlton.

2004 A Fathers 4 Justice protester dressed as Batman was removed after scaling Buckingham Palace.

2004 Fred Ebb, the lyricist who wrote Chicago and the classic song New York, New York, died of a heart attack.

2005 Petrol suppliers struggled to cope with demand after panic-buying was prompted by future fuel tax protests.

2005 Two people were found dead after a shooting in the Harvey Nichols department store in London.

BIRTHDAYS (for 13 September 2006)

Samuel Wilson ("Uncle Sam")., 240 (born 13 September 1766)

Clara Schumann, 187 (born 13 September 1819)
German pianist remembered for her interpretation of the work of her husband, Robert, and Chopin. Died 1896.

Milton Hershey, 149 (born 13 September 1857)
American chocolate manufacture who built the world's largest chocolate factory to make his Hershey Bars and established the Hershey Foundation, in which his wealth was used for educational purposes.

John Pershing, 146 (born 13 September 1860)
American general who commanded the US Expeditionary force in Europe in World War I.

Arnold Schoenberg, 132 (born 13 September 1874)
Died 1951. Composer.

J B Priestly, 112 (born 13 September 1894)
Died 1984. Novelist and playwright.

Claudette Colbert, 101 (born 13 September 1905)
French-born film star who was one of Hollywood's most versatile light actresses. 'It Happened One Night'. Died 1996.

Bill Monroe, 95 (born 13 September 1911)
Died 1996. Country singer/guitarist.

Roald Dahl, 90 (born 13 September 1916)
Died 1990. British author who wrote children's books, macabre tales for adults and the screenplay for the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Maurice Jarre, 82 (born 13 September 1924)
Film composer - 'Dr Zhivago' (and Jean Michel's dad!).

Mel Torme, 81 (born 13 September 1925)
Singer and composer - 'Sunny Side of the Street'.

Barbara Bain, 75 (born 13 September 1931)
Actress - 'Mission Impossible' 'Space 1999'.

Elaine Delmar, 67 (born 13 September 1939)
singer

Richard Kiel, 67 (born 13 September 1939)
Actor - Jaws in the Bond films.

David Clayton-Thomas, 65 (born 13 September 1941)
Singer - solo and with Blood Sweat and Tears.

Carol Barnes, 62 (born 13 September 1944)
TV newsreader

Peter Cetera, 62 (born 13 September 1944)
Singer - solo and with Chicago - biggest UK hit - 'If You Leave Me Now'.

Jacqueline Bisset, 62 (born 13 September 1944)
Actress - 'The Deep' and 'Airport'.

Don Was, 54 (born 13 September 1952)
Performer and producer.

Randy Jones, 54 (born 13 September 1952)
Member of The Village People - biggest UK hit - 'YMCA'.

Joni Sledge, 50 (born 13 September 1956)
Member of Sister Sledge - biggest UK hit 'Frankie'.

Bobby Davro, 47 (born 13 September 1959)
Comedian.

Robin Smith, 43 (born 13 September 1963)
cricketer

Shane Warne, 37 (born 13 September 1969)
cricketer

Bradley Allen, 35 (born 13 September 1971)
footballer

Andy Impey, 35 (born 13 September 1971)
footballer

10 THINGS WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS TIME LAST WEEK

Snippets harvested from the week's news, chopped, sliced and diced for your weekend convenience.

1. There were seven unsuccessful attempts by early humans to settle in Britain, before the first successful attempt, 12,000 years ago.

More details

2. Chimpanzees are learning how to cross roads safely, researchers in West Africa have discovered.

More details

3. Estate agent signs from Northern Ireland are being re-used as roofing tiles in South Africa.

More details

4. The model railway market in Germany is the biggest in Europe and is estimated to be six times larger than in the UK.

More details

5. Bob Dylan inspired Pam Ayres to write poetry.

6. The world's fastest supercomputer will have its speed measured in "petaflops", which represent 1,000 trillion calculations per second.

More details

7. Migrant workers send back £149bn to their families in developing countries, says the United Nations.

More details

8. Stingray barbs are up to six inches long and before Steve Irwin's death, they had caused only two other fatalities in Australia.

9. The term Eastenders was coined by the media in the 1880s, with these Victorian Londoners being associated with crime and ill-health.

10. The medical name for the part of the brain associated with teenage sulking is "superior temporal sulcus".

More details

[5. Daily Telegraph, 7 September; 8. Daily Telegraph, 5 September; 9. BBC One, Who Do You Think You Are? 6 September]

How do trains get names?

A train is being named after Sir John Betjeman

The late poet and railway enthusiast Sir John Betjeman is having a train named after him. But how do trains normally get names?

What have Michael Palin, Dr Who, Lady Penelope and Brookside got in common? They've all had trains named in their honour.

And now the late poet Sir John Betjeman, the laureate of the melancholy railway ride, has had a train named after him - with a ceremony held on Friday at London's Liverpool Street Station.

The poet caught the romance of train travel in the English countryside and the sprawling suburbs - and the train named after him will operate on the route between London and Norwich, a trip reflected in the poem A Mind's Journey to Diss.

But how do trains - and more precisely, locomotives that pull trains - get names? Every time you go through a mainline station, you see these nameplates - but who decides what they should be called?

Spirit of adventure

The tradition of naming trains is as old as the railways - back to the 1820s and George Stephenson's Rocket. This followed in the convention of naming ships - and gave an extra sense of character to the technology. Catching the Flying Scotsman sounds more of an event than the 11.37 from King's Cross.

WHO, WHAT, WHY? A feature to the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines

Before the railways were nationalised as British Rail, companies such as Southern, Great Western and LNER had their own themes, such as naming trains after racehorses, schools, Arthurian characters or famous castles.

Then, as now, names were decided upon informally by the individual companies, without any official process. And there have been all kinds of weird, wonderful and even downright dull selections.

Dr Who appears on the nameplate of one of Virgin's Voyager trains - along with other explorers including Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, Yuri Gagarin, Sir Walter Raleigh and that other great historical figure, Michael Palin.

Does it make a difference? If you were travelling on the Captain Robert Scott or Sir Ernest Shackleton would you be less inclined to feel the cold?

"It adds a little romance and gives something extra - or maybe gives a flavour of an area," says Virgin spokesperson, Lee West. For instance, in Cornwall, Virgin's train has a Cornish name - Vyajer Kernewek.

Train names are go

The naming theme was taken even further with Virgin's rescue locos - which retrieve broken-down trains. These have been named after Thunderbirds characters - Lady Penelope, Tracy Island, Brains, Fab 1, Parker and so on.

The Flying Scotsman pulling out of King's Cross

The company that makes many of the modern nameplates is Newton Replicas in Nottingham.

This specialist firm made the Thunderbird nameplates - all in blue except pink for Lady Penelope - and has produced the plate for the newly-launched Sir John Betjeman for railway company, One.

Chris Donovan, who runs the company, has been commissioned for all kinds of nameplates, from the poignant to the ponderous.

He remembers making a plate called Sophie, in memory of a girl who had been killed on the railways. Another train was named after a driver who had died in a collision.

As well as enjoying evocative names such as Tintagel, he recalls a freight company naming its trains after the women working in its office.

And there have been outsized names for trains which have been so long that they're "more like essays". These have included the snappily-titled London Borough of Havering Celebrating 40 Years and the even more extended London Borough of Newham Host Borough 2012 Olympic Bid.

There is one name that should be there, but for which so far he's never received a commission: Thomas the Tank Engine.

Today's The Day - 12th September

12th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Guy of Anderlecht,
St Ailbhe,
and St Eanswida.

History Test for September 12th
Which American President married today in 1953 and had a reputation as a notorious philanderer? -John F. Kennedy
Which London landmark was erected on the Embankment today in 1878? -Cleopatra's Needle
Today in 1960, what compulsory vehicle test came into force for all vehicles over two years old? -The M.O.T.
Actor William Boyd died today in 1972. Which cowboy hero did he play in films and on TV? -Hopalong Cassidy
Born today in 1888, who sang 'Thank Heaven For Little Girls' in the film 'Gigi'? -Maurice Chevalier

Events today...

1609 Henry Hudson sailed the sloop Half Moon into New York Harbour and up to Albany to discover the river named after him.

1683 The two-month siege of Vienna ended when the Turkish Ottoman army surrounding the city was routed by a European relief force. Grand vizier Kara Mustafa had led his army on a feint into Hungary and then turned towards Vienna, along the main Christian bastion against Muslim Ottoman expansion. Vienna's cannon kept the Turks at bay, but the city was weakening when Poland's King John III and Charles, Duke of Normandy's relief expedition arrived. Poor tactics cost Mustafa the battle, opening the way for a Christian attack on the Ottoman empire. The Sultan ordered Kara Mustafa to commit suicide.

1733 Death of François Couperin, French composer, who taught and composed for the harpsichord.

1764 Death of Jean-Philippe Rameau, French composer.

1819 Death of Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher, Prussian general and field-marshal.

1860 William Walker, American filibuster and ex-president of Nicaragua, was shot by a firing squad in the Honduras. Walker, 36, a failed lawyer turned soldier of fortune, landed in the Honduras in August on yet another military escapade, but he was captured by government forces, court-martialled and sentenced to death. Three years earlier, backed by Cornelius Vanderbilt and other US businessmen, Walker took advantage of a civil war in Nicaragua to seize control with a force of only 250 men. He set himself up as dictator and won US recognition, but he argued with his business backers, who had him overthrown and expelled after only a year in power. Now Walker's dreams of heading a united Central America had ended.

1869 Death of Peter Mark Roget, English lexicographer.

1873 The first typewriter was sold.

1878 Cleopatra's Needle, the obelisk of Thothmes II was erected on London's Embankment.

1885 Arbroath set a British soccer record when they beat Bon Accord 36-0 in the Scottish FA Cup with centre forward John Petrie scoring 13 goals. On the same day and in the same competition Dundee Harp beat Aberdeen Rovers 35-0.

1910 The world's first policewoman is appointed by the Los Angeles Police Department; Mrs Alice Stebbin Wells was a social worker in her previous career.

1913 Athlete Jesse Owens, who once set five world records in one day, was born. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics he won four gold medals, in the 100 and 200 metres, long jump and sprint relay.

1914 The Allies were victorious at the First Battle of Marne, in World War I.

1919 Italian writer and nationalist Gabriele D'Annunzio led an unofficial army and seized Fiume from Yugoslavia.

1928 Actress Katherine Hepburn made her stage debut. She did not start making movie appearances until four years later.

1935 US multi-millionaire Howard Hughes achieved the first of several aviation records he established before going into self-enforced seclusion, flying a plane of his own design at 352.46mph.

1936 British tennis champion Fred Perry beat Donald Budge in the final of the US Tennis championships to become the first non-American winner.

1940 The Lascaux Caves, France containing prehistoric wall paintings, were discovered.

1943 Benito Mussolini, imprisoned by the Allies, was rescued by German parachutists.

1953 Nikita Kruschev was elected as secretary of the Communist Party following the death of Stalin.

1951 'Sugar' Ray Robinson regained his world welterweight crown from Britain's Randolph Turpin at the New York Polo Grounds in what was billed as 'the fight of the century'.

1953 Senator John Kennedy, later to become president, married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island.

1970 "Fire and Rain" recorded by James Taylor was released.

1970 Concorde landed at Heathrow Airport for the first time to a barrage of complaints about noise.

1970 Palestinian hijackers holding three Western airliners and more than 300 passengers hostage at a desert airfield in Jordan blew up the three aircraft. The terrorists freed 250 hostages before destroying the jets but were still holding another 56 passengers and reiterating their demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The drama began earlier that week when the terrorists seized a PanAmerican Jumbo, a Swissair DC10 and a TWA Boeing 707 in Europe forcing the Jumbo to fly to Cairo and the other two to Jordan.

1972 Death of American actor William Boyd, internationally famous from 1934 as cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy.

1974 Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed as Ethiopian ruler after 58 years.

1977 The South African Black Consciousness activist Steve Biko died after six days in police detention. There was little doubt that he had been beaten to death and the news sparked international outrage. Biko, 30, was the latest in a long line of deaths in custody. He was detained under Emergency powers in Port Elizabeth and interrogated for five days. Guards found him unconscious in his cell the day before, foaming at the mouth, and he was then driven 750 miles (1207 km) to Pretoria, naked and handcuffed, to die in a prison hospital.

1983 Arnold Schwarznegger became an American citizen. He had emigrated from his Austria fourteen years earlier.

1987 American jockey Steve Cauthen won the St Leger on Reference Point, setting a new record for trainer Henry Cecil of 147 wins in a season.

1991 England played their first match under Graham Taylor and defeated Hungary 1-0 at Wembley thanks to a 44th-minute goal from Gary Lineker, who was appointed captain for the first time.

1992 Death of Anthony Perkins, aged 60, US actor best-known as Norman Bates in ‘Psycho’.

1993 Death of Raymond Burr, aged 62, Actor - 'Perry Mason' 'Ironside' and 'Rear Window'.

1994 A light aircraft crashed into the gardens of the White House in Washington D.C. killing the pilot.

1997 Surgeons at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol revealed they had performed a pioneering operation in which a woman's head was temporarily detached from her backbone to correct the direction it faced.

1997 Following a Referendum in Scotland, Tony Blair and the SNP celebrated victory, after 293 years, 74.3% of the voters chose to have their own Parliament, and 63.5% for Scotland to have its own tax-varying powers.

2000 Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that he would not give in to the protests outside the nation’s refineries at the high tax on fuel. The country was almost at a standstill with everyone panic buying at the nation’s supermarkets.

2003 A London judge threw out extradition proceedings against Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky.

2003 The south terminal at Gatwick Airport was closed after police discovered a "suspect vehicle" abandoned nearby.

2003 Singer Johnny Cash, one of country music's most iconic stars, died in the US aged 71.

2003 About 500 people attend a memorial service for German film-maker Leni Riefenstahl, who made films for Hitler.

2003 Sir Elton John announced plans to sell off the contents of his London home, so he could redesign it.

2003 Arsene Wenger won the Barclaycard Manager of the Month award for August.

2004 Hurricane Ivan lashed the Cayman Islands en route to Cuba as its Caribbean trail of destruction went on.

2004 Former Westlife star Brian McFadden celebrated his first solo number one in the UK singles chart.

2004 The world premiere of Kevin Spacey's film about singer Bobby Darin took place at the Toronto Film Festival.

2005 US emergencies chief Michael Brown resigned following criticism over the response to Hurricane Katrina.

2005 Kevin Pietersen's century set up a draw at The Oval to help England win the Ashes for the first time since 1987.

2005 Briton Hemant Lakhani was jailed for 47 years for trying to sell a missile to an undercover FBI agent.

2005 A third night of violence continued in Belfast following the re-routing of an Orange Order parade.

BIRTHDAYS (for 12 September 2006)

Richard Gatling, 188 (born 12 September 1818)
US inventor of the Gatling gun

Herbert Henry Asquith, 154 (born 12 September 1852)
British Liberal Prime Minister who introduced the old age pension.

H. L. Mencken, 126 (born 12 September 1880)
American essayist, critic and author of The American Language.

Maurice Chevalier, 118 (born 12 September 1888)
Died 1972. French acrobat, actor and singer - 'Gigi' 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls!'.

Louis MacNeice, 99 (born 12 September 1907)
Irish poet, playwright and broadcaster who belonged to the group of poets known as the Oxford Group together with Auden, Day Lewis and Spender.

John Cleveland 'Jesse' Owens, 93 (born 12 September 1913)
American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

George Jones, 75 (born 12 September 1931)
Country singer.

Sir Ian Holm, 75 (born 12 September 1931)
Actor - 'Alien' 'Chariots of Fire' 'Fifth Element'.

Wesley Hall, 69 (born 12 September 1937)
West Indies cricketer and politician

Linda Gray, 66 (born 12 September 1940)
actress (Dallas)

Patrick Mower, 65 (born 12 September 1941)
Actor.

Maria Muldaur, 63 (born 12 September 1943)
Singer - 'Midnight at the Oasis'.

Barry White, 62 (born 12 September 1944)
(Died 2003) Soul Singer - biggest UK hit - 'You're the First the Last My Everything'.

Colin Young, 62 (born 12 September 1944)
Singer with The Foundations - biggest UK hit 'Baby Now That I've Found You'.

Maria Aitken, 61 (born 12 September 1945)
Actress and TV presenter- 'A Fish Called Wanda.

Gerry Beckley, 54 (born 12 September 1952)
Member of America - biggest UK hit 'A Horse with no Name'.

Scott Hamilton, 52 (born 12 September 1954)
jazz saxophonist

Brian Robertson, 50 (born 12 September 1956)
Heavy metal guitarist of Thin Lizzy and Motorhead.

Rachel Ward, 49 (born 12 September 1957)
Actress - 'The Thorn Birds' 'Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid'.

Steve Ogrizovic, 49 (born 12 September 1957)
footballer

Today's The Day - 11th September

11th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Theodora of Alexandria,
St Peter of Chavanon,
Saints Protus and Hyacinth,
St Deiniol,
St Patiens of Lyon,
and St Paphnutius.

History Test for September 11th
Actor Herbert Lom was born today in 1917. Which character did he play in the 'Pink Panther' films? -Chief Inspector Dreyfus
Born today in 1885, the son of a coalminer, who wrote 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'? -D.H. Lawrence
What football trophy was stolen from a Birmingham shop today in 1895? -The F.A. Cup
Which feminine British organisation was founded today in 1915 at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch? -The Women's Institute
Born today in 1917, Ferdinand Marcos was President of which country? -The Philippines

Events today...

1649 Oliver Cromwell had 1500 Irish rebels put to the sword to prevent further bloodshed. When the city of Drogheda rejected his offer to surrender, Cromwell's Roundhead troops sacked the city. The Puritan English Commonwealth's military chief was leaving a welter of blood and destruction in his wake. Ireland had been in turmoil since the insurrection of 1641. The English Civil War left Parliament on a weak footing there, with the Royalist Marquis of Ormond controlling most Irish fortresses. He rebelled, claiming the exiled Charles II as king. Cromwell landed near Dublin with 16,000 troops, and his terror tactics had turned the tables. This massacre had left the remaining Royalist strongholds anxious to surrender.

1709 The Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Austria defeated the French, under Marshal Villars, at the Battle of Malplaquet.

1712 Death of Giovanni Domenico Cassini, Italian-French astronomer.

1777 English forces under General Howe defeat George Washington's troops at The Battle of Brandywine Creek in the American War of Independence.

1841 The Brighton-London commuter express train began regular service, taking just 105 minutes.

1853 The first use of the electric telegraph.

1855 In the Crimean War, Sebastopol was taken by the Allies after capitulation by the Russians.

1869 Death of David Thomas Graham, Scottish chemist.

1877 The Waterbury Clock Company produced its first comic-character timepiece and this was 56 years before they produced the Mickey Mouse watch.

1915 The first British Women's Institute was opened in Anglesey, Wales.

1922 A British mandate was declared in Palestine.

1926 Germany joined NATO, and as a result Spain left in protest.

1940 Operation Seel began. This was Hitler's invasion of Britain.

1944 With the Nazis in retreat throughout Europe, the first Allied forces entered Germany when the US First Army under General Omar Bradley crossed the German border at Eupen. Bradley's forces were with the Free French soldiers who liberated Paris on August 25. A week earlier British and US troops freed Brussels and Liege in Belgium and advanced on the Siegfried Line, Germany's main defence. The Line was under heavy US assault in the south near Nancy, the lynchpin in Adolf Hitler's southern defences. German soldiers were fleeing en masse, with large numbers surrendering. There were also reports of widespread desertions.

1946 The first use of a car telephone.

1948 Death of Mahammed Ali Jinnah, first governor of Pakistan.

1950 The first typesetting machine was demonstrated.

1951 Stravinsky's ‘The Rake's Progress’ was performed for the first time, in Venice; the libretto was by W. H. Auden.

1962 Ringo Starr joined John, Paul and George for his first recording session as one of the Beatles.

1967 Filming began on the Beatles one hour TV film "Magical Mystery Tour" with the fab four touring the English countryside aboard a coach with actors and friends.

1970 André Previn and Mia Farrow married.

1971 Former Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev died in obscurity.

1972 Max Fleischer died, aged 89. Animator of Popeye and Superman

1973 Chile's democratically elected Marxist government was overthrown in a US-backed military coup, and president Salvador Allende was dead. Right-wing coup leader General Augusto Pinochet said Allende committed suicide, but surviving leftists said he was shot, fighting to the last, the presidential palace in Santiago burning around him. Thousands of Chilean leftists were slain. Elected in 1970, Allende's left-wing alliance instituted land reform and nationalised major industries - including the copper mines, 80 per cent US-owned. US big business acted with the CIA to destabilize the country. Chile's international credit suddenly dried up; the US forced down the world copper price, Chile's chief foreign exchange earner, and poured resources into Pinochet's army, while the CIA fomented strikes and plotted this coup - in which Pinochet was little more than a US puppet.

1978 Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian defector, was fatally stabbed by a poisoned umbrella point wielded by a Bulgarian secret agent in London.

1987 Actor Lorne Greene died aged 72. Actor who starred in 'Bonanza' and 'Battlestar Gallactica'

1987 Death of Jaco Pastorius (aged 35). Musician with Weather Report and Blood Sweat and Tears

1987 Peter Gabriel won MTV's Best Video award for his song "Sledgehammer".

1987 Four men were arrested and charged with intending to steal a £25,000 dolphin from the Marineland Oceanarium in Morecambe, Lancashire.

1987 Pete Tosh, Jamaican reggae star and former member of the Wailers, was shot dead by three robbers who burst into his home. He was 42.

1991 The US Federal Reserve seized the US assets of a Saudi Arabian financier and fined him $37 million (£20 million). Ghaith Pharaon was the US front man for the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, which was seized by international regulators in July amid allegations of widespread fraud. Forty BCCI officials were arrested in Abu Dhabi at the weekend. The bank was 70 per cent owned by the Gulf state. The week before a US grand jury issued indictments against six BCCI officials following investigations into drugs money laundering. A congressional report said the US government had information on BCCI corruption in the mid-1980s, and in London a judicial inquiry was told that both the Bank of England and the Chancellor were warned about BCCI as early as 1986, but failed to act.

1994 The actress Jessica Tandy died aged 85. 'Driving Miss Daisy'

1996 David Bowie released his song "Telling Lies" exclusively on his own web site on the Internet. It was not been released in any other format.

1998 Bruce James, Coronation Street’s Les Battersby, was convicted of drink driving at Court in Stockport, following an offence in June in Marple.

2001 On the morning of this day he worst terrorist atrocity in history was committed when two passenger jets were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City. The 4,000 dead included members of the New York Fire Department, those onboard the two planes, those who had suffered the full impact of the crashes and those who were trapped inside the towers when they subsequently collapsed. Another plane was flown to Washington’s Pentagon building, killing hundreds. A further hijacked plane was intentionally crashed by passengers who believed it to be targeting the White House. The al-Qa’eda Islamic fundamentalist group, led by Osama bin Laden were responsible. As a result of these atrocities, President George W. Bush declared his Global War on Terrorism.

2003 Foreign tributes poured in as Swedes mourned Anna Lindh, killed by an unknown attacker while shopping in Stockholm.

2003 The police liaison officer who worked with the family of Soham murder victim Jessica Chapman was arrested.

2003 The Princess Royal opens a garden in London, dedicated to those who died in the September 11 terror attacks.

2003 TV presenter John Leslie was set to reveal the ordeal he went through in a documentary.

2003 Alan Shearer agreed a contract extension to keep him at Newcastle until 2005.

2004 At least five people died as Hurricane Ivan wreaked havoc across Jamaica and headed for the Cayman Islands and Cuba.

2004 The BBC Proms in the Park concert in Scotland was cancelled after severe weather conditions were forecast.

2004 Mike Leigh's controversial film Vera Drake scooped the Golden Lion prize for best film at the Venice Film Festival.

2004 Actor Glyn Owen, who was best known for his role as Jack Rolfe in Howard's Way, died after a short illness.

2004 Roger Federer saw off Tim Henman in straight sets to reach the US Open final.

2004 England overwhelmed Zimbabwe with an easy 152-run win at Edgbaston.

2005 Israeli troops in Gaza lowered flags and begin their final pullout, ending decades of military and civilian presence.

2005 Police said a mob of 700 were out on the streets in Belfast in a new wave of loyalist rioting.

2005 Campaigners said planned protests against the government's tax on fuel were to be extended.

2005 The 1967 Beatles track, A Day In The Life, was hailed the best British song of all time.

2005 US girl band the Pussycat Dolls stormed to number one in the UK charts with their debut single Don't Cha.

2005 America won the Solheim Cup 15½ -12½ with a powerful display in the singles at Crooked Stick, Indiana.

BIRTHDAYS (for 11 September 2006)

James Thompson, 306 (born 11 September 1700)
Scottish poet who wrote `Rule Brittania'.

William Sydney Porter, 144 (born 11 September 1862)
(a.k.a. O. Henry). American short-story writer who established himself as a writer of merit with his first book, Cabbages and Kings.

D. H. Lawrence, 121 (born 11 September 1885)
British novelist who examined human sexuality and social conditions in industrial society in 'Sons and Lovers' and 'Women in Love' and whose 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' was banned when it first appeared. Died 1930.

Pinto Colvig, 114 (born 11 September 1892)
Died 1967. Voice of Goofy and Pluto

Ferdinand Marcos, 89 (born 11 September 1917)
Filipino president whose conspicuously corrupt rule came to an end when he was deposed by Cory Aquino.

Herbert Lom, 89 (born 11 September 1917)
Czech-born actor who trained in London at the Old Vic and whose films include War and Peace and the Pink Panther films.

Alan Bergman, 81 (born 11 September 1925)
Lyracist

Brian de Palma, 66 (born 11 September 1940)
Director - 'Dressed to Kill' 'Carrie' and 'The Untouchables'

Mickey Hart, 63 (born 11 September 1943)
Drummer with The Grateful Dead

Leo Kottke, 61 (born 11 September 1945)
Singer/Guitarist

Barry Sheen MBE, 56 (born 11 September 1950)
British motor cycling champion.

Tommy Shaw, 53 (born 11 September 1953)
Singer with Styx - biggest UK hit 'Babe'

Franz Beckenbauer, 53 (born 11 September 1953)
German footballer

Rita Rudner, 51 (born 11 September 1955)
Comedienne

Mick Talbot, 48 (born 11 September 1958)
Member of The Style Council

Roxanne Biggs-Dawson, 42 (born 11 September 1964)
Actress - Star Trek Voyagers' chief engineer!

Moby, 41 (born 11 September 1965)
Techno musician

Harry Connick Jr, 39 (born 11 September 1967)
Singer and actor

Richard Ashcroft, 35 (born 11 September 1971)
Member of The Verve - 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'

Today's The Day - 10th September

10th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Theodard of Maestricht,
St Salvius or Salvy of Albi,
St Ambrose Barlow,
St Aubert of Avranches,
Saints Menodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora,
St Finian of Moville,
St Nemesian,
St Nicholas of Tolentino,
and St Pulcheria.

History Test for September 10th
Who organised a canine show to promote his dog biscuits and died today in 1938? -Charles Cruft
Traitor Vidkun Quisling was sentenced to death today in 1945. What was his nationality? -Norwegian
Who became the youngest Formula 1 motor racing world champion today in 1972? -Emerson Fittipaldi
Who played Simon Templar in TV's `The Return of the Saint', first screened today in 1978? -Ian Ogilvy
In which European city did the world's first motorway open today in 1921? -Berlin

Events today...

954AD Death of Louis IV, King of France.

1721 The Peace of Nystad was concluded between Russia and Sweden.

1797 Death of Mary Wollstonecraft, British feminist.

1823 Simon Bolivar, known as The Liberator, became the dictator of Peru.

1855 The Russian Black Sea naval base of Sevastapol finally fell to the British and French armies on this day after an 11-month siege.

1890 During a storm over Cairo, Illinois live fish were found in various locations around the city.

1894 (or poss. 1897) London taxi driver George Smith had an accident in London after consuming alcohol and became the first convicted drunk driver, while he was in charge of an electric cab. He was fined 20s (£1).

1919 The Treaty of Saint-Germain was signed; the new boundaries it set brought about the end of the Austrian Empire.

1920 The Indian National Congress voted to adopt Mahatma Gandhi's campaign of non-cooperation with the British colonial government.

1935 Popeye, the famous cartoon strip was heard for the first time on American radio.

1935 Huey Long, the US politician was assassinated.

1938 Death of Charles Cruft, British dog expert.

1940 A German bomb landed on Buckingham Palace in London.

1942 In a single raid, the RAF dropped 100,000 bombs on Dusseldorf.

1945 Former Norwegian Premier Vidkun Quisling, who had collaborated with the Germans during World War II, was sentenced to death.

1952 West Germany offered Israel £293million in compensation for Nazi atrocities.

1955 The long running television series "Gunsmoke" began.

1956 Record shops were inundated with requests for "Love Me Tender" following Elvis Presley's first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on American TV the night before.

1962 Australian Rod Laver completed the Grand Slam after winning the US Tennis Championships.

1964 "Good Morning Little Girl" was the first song recorded for Decca Records by Rod Stewart. It also featured John Paul Young who went on to have success with Led Zeppelin.

1967 Gibraltar voted to remain part of the UK.

1967 Photos of the lunar surface were beamed back to Earth when Surveyor V landed on the Moon.

1972 Boxer Ken Norton was defeated by Mohammed Ali in a heavyweight match.

1977 France used the guillotine for the last time when it executed a Tunisian immigrant convicted of murder.

1979 The Lancaster House conference on the future of Rhodesia opened.

1981 Guernica, Pablo Picasso's picture of pain, returned to Spain on this day, after four decades in exile in New York. Guernica was Piasso's vision of the appalling destruction of the Basque capital by German bombers in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.

1983 Death of Balthazar Johannes Vorster, South African Nationalist politician.

1988 Steffi Graf, the 19-year-old West German tennis star, became the third woman in history to win the Grand Slam - The Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open singles titles in the same year. Graf beat Gabriela Sabatini 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, to win the US Open.

1989 East German refugees flooded through Austria to West Germany as Hungary lifted restrictions on its border with the West. The Hungarians started to dismantle the barbed wire "Iron Curtain" on their Austrian border in May, and East Germans saw it as an avenue to freedom, sidestepping the hated Berlin Wall.

1998 Carlton TV announced that they were in talks with Arsenal football club, following the acquisition of Manchester United by BSkyB a few days earlier.

1998 The £600million Trafford Centre which had taken 10 years to build, finally opened its doors at Dumplington boasting 3 miles of shop fronts. It caused chaos on the M60.

1998 Boris Yeltsin prposed Primakov for the new prime minister of Russia as Chernomyrdin withdrew from the running.

2000 Trucks and lorries blocked the A1 and refineries at Ellesmere Port and Old Trafford were picketted as the protests against high fuel prices in Britain escalated. Many petrol station in the North West ran out of unleaded petrol as panic buying set it.

2003 Swedish minister Anna Lindh was in a serious condition after being attacked while shopping in Stockholm. He died the following day.

2003 The presidents of Serbia-Montenegro and Croatia apologised for the actions of their citizens during the 1991-95 war.

2003 Boris Berezovsky, the billionaire who repeatedly clashed with the Kremlin, becomes a political refugee in Britain.

2003 Up to 1,000 pensioners took part in a lobby of Parliament, to highlight what they regard as the continuing decline in their incomes.

2003 Wayne Rooney helped England wear down Liechtenstein 2-0 and move top of Group Seven and Scotland's hopes of reaching the Euro 2004 finals were dealt a blow by their 2-1 defeat in Germany.

2003 Darren Gough said he remained committed to England despite losing his one-day place.

2004 Heavy rains and high winds pounded Jamaica as the devastating Hurricane Ivan neared the Caribbean island. Hundreds of British tourists chose to stay in Jamaica as 150mph winds hit the island.

2004 A Briton accused of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea was jailed for seven years by a Zimbabwe court.

2004 Music mogul Simon Fuller sued TV host Simon Cowell, claiming his X Factor show was a copy of Pop Idol.

2004 Germany's Big Brother reality TV show attracted censure after a female contestant had a nipple pierced live on air.

2004 England's cricket team made an unimpressive start against Zimbabwe, reaching 198-5 off 38 overs before rain stopped play.

2004 Svetlana Kuznetzova beat an injured Lindsay Davenport 1-6 6-2 6-4 to reach the final of the US Open.

2004 Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Jose Reyes won the manager and player of the month awards.

2005 Ang Lee's gay cowboy film Brokeback Mountain won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

2005 Coronation Street topped a poll of ITV's greatest shows of all time to mark the channel's 50th anniversary.

BIRTHDAYS (for 10 September 2006)

Sir John Soane, 253 (born 10 September 1753)
English neo-classical architect who is noted for the Bank of England in London and many country homes.

Mungo Park, 235 (born 10 September 1771)
Scottish surgeon who explored the true course of the River Niger in Africa.

Ian Fleming, 118 (born 10 September 1888)
Died 1969. Author - James Bond

Robert Wise, 92 (born 10 September 1914)
American film director whose productions include `West Side Story' and 'Sound of Music'

Beryl Cook, 80 (born 10 September 1926)
Artist

Arnold Palmer, 77 (born 10 September 1929)
American golfer, Champion of many Opens.

Roy Ayers, 66 (born 10 September 1940)
Jazz performer

Michael Bukht, 65 (born 10 September 1941)
(aka Michael Barry TV chef) Radio executive!

John Entwistle, 62 (born 10 September 1944)
Member of The Who

Jose Feliciano, 61 (born 10 September 1945)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Light My Fire'

Judy Geeson, 58 (born 10 September 1948)
Actress

Joe Perry, 56 (born 10 September 1950)
Member of Aerosmith - biggest UK hit 'Love in an Elevator'

Don Powell, 56 (born 10 September 1950)
The Slade drummer - biggest UK hit 'Coz I Love You'

Amy Irving, 53 (born 10 September 1953)
Actress - 'Carrie' and 'Crossing Delancey'

Johnnie Fingers, 50 (born 10 September 1956)
Member of The Boomtown Rats - biggest UK hit 'Rat Trap'

Carol Decker, 49 (born 10 September 1957)
Singer with T'Pau - biggest UK hit 'China in your Hand'

Siobhan Fahey, 49 (born 10 September 1957)
Member of Bananarama and Shakespeare's Sister

Jennifer Tilly, 48 (born 10 September 1958)
Actress

Chris Columbus, 48 (born 10 September 1958)
Director - 'Home Alone'

Colin Firth, 46 (born 10 September 1960)
Actor - 'Pride and Prejudice'

Quiztime 030906

1. Today in 1939, who announced that Britain was at war with Germany?
Neville Chamberlain
2. What is the term for a person who has assets of over a thousand million dollars?
Billionaire
3. Born today in 1940, who received an Oscar nomination for her role as 'Shirley Valentine'?
Pauline Collins
4. How many old pennies were there in a groat?
Four
5. One point each - What are the 5 countries in the world that end in the letter L?
Nepal, Israel, Portugal, Brazil and Senegal
6. What does a conchologist collect?
Shells
7. Which drink was marketed by Bulmers as champagne cider?
Pomagne
8. Which city's harbour is dominated by a famous arch called the Gateway to India?
Bombay - Mumbai
9. Who defeated the Scots at the second Battle of Dunbar in 1650?
Oliver Cromwell
10. Today in 1976, Viking II relayed the first pictures of which planet's surface?
Mars
11. You've probably seen 'surf & turf' on a menu but what is 'cluck & grunt'?
"Cluck and grunt" is eggs and bacon
12. Which famous singer went solo, on this day in 1942, having sung previously with the Tommy Dorsey Band?
Frank Sinatra
13. Which company built the World War II Spitfire?
Supermarine
14. Who played the title role in `Remington Steele', first seen on British TV today in 1983?
Pierce Brosnan
15. How Is Diamorphine Hydrochloride Better Known?
Heroin
16. What colour is the upholstery in the House of Lords?
Red
17. Which famous youth movement was founded by Sir William Alexander Smith in Glasgow in 1883?
The Boys Brigade
18. Which of the X-Men characters has the mutant power to control the weather?
Storm
19. What sort of animal is 'Spammy' the mascot on a tin of Spam?
A miniature Pig
20. Quiztime Survey Question - Top Answers Required - Name somewhere you might find a stud?
Ear – Boot/Shoe – Jeans – Farm - Collar

21. Which Year - Libyan Colonel Gaddafi seized power after the monarchy was overthrown, Ho Chi Minh, president of North Vietnam during the Vietnam war, died after a heart attack, The Daily Mirror published a story stating that Paul McCartney had died, The sound barrier was broken by Concorde 001 for the first time and ITV began broadcasting in colour?
1969
22. Which sport takes place on a triangular course?
Sailing (Yachting)
23. Which precious metal is also a London Theatre?
Palladium
24. Who was the Manchester United manager when they were last relegated ?
Tommy Docherty
25. What name is given to the art of cutting bushes and hedges into ornamental shapes?
Topiary
26. In Greek mythology which creature sprang from the blood of Medusa when she died?
Pegasus
27. What name is given to a senior scout over the age of 16?
Venture
28. Which former Mayor of New York received a knighthood from the Queen in February 2002?
Rudolph Giuliani
29. In the children's program called the "Magic roundabout" what was the characters name that owned the roundabout?
Mr Rusty
30. What would your job be if you used a queen excluder?
Beekeeper
31. What is the name of the Container port for London?
Tilbury
32. Which TV series was a spin off from a TV film called Panic at Malibu Beach?
Baywatch
33. In Greek mythology, which island was home to the labyrinth where the minotaur lived?
Crete
34. Which snooker star was born on August 22 1957 in Plumstead ?
Steve Davis
35. What type of snakes appeared on the crowns of Egyptian Pharaohs?
Cobra
36. Who were the only side to beat England over 90 minutes when Terry Venables was Manager?
Brazil
37. Which children’s TV series featured a schoolteacher called Mr Onion?
The Herbs
38. What is the national airline of Israel?
EL AL
39. Which species of female spider kills the male after mating?
Black Widow
40. What links Richard the Third, Queen Elizabeth the 1st, George III & WW1?
Blackadder

Tiebreaker - When did the first soft-drink vending machines appear?
1937

- Trivia - The origin of the expression "bringing home the bacon" is uncertain. It might come from the English custom, which originated in the 12th century, of giving a young couple bacon if they were still happy after a year of marriage. Maybe it comes from the 'greased pig' competition at fairs, the winner bringing home the bacon (the pig). Or maybe bacon is meant to represent all food since it is very ancient, having been a favorite of the early Romans and Greeks

Drinks Update

Top stories:

InBev revives historic brew

InBev has announced it is to roll-out classic wheat beer

C2 wants More Pub Time

Coors' lower ABV beer is back with a new campaign

Brewers hit out at guest beer push

CAMRA campaign to force a guest beer law prompts stern reaction from family brewers

Diageo introduces new long serve

New glassware from drinks giant promotes long spirit serve

more news

Latest features:

So, farewell Young's

"Young's overpowering and malty aroma, which has pervaded Wandsworth for nearly two centuries, will be replaced by the sterile scent of new money"

Inside track

Adam Withrington gets the lowdown on lager, ale and cider from John Dunsmore, managing director, Scottish & Newcastle UK

Mover and shaker

Want to add a touch of glamour to your drinks offering? Then Finest Call cocktail mixers could be the answer

Standard bearer

Standard lager is one section of the beer category that isn't struggling - although it's not without its own challenges, as Adam Withrington reports

Losing bottle?

The rise of cider and innovations in draught are two reasons for the recent decline in PPLs. But is it all doom and gloom? Adam Withrington investigates

The world according to Jim

With tastes shifting away from bottled lagers, Adam Withrington spoke to Jim Gorczyca, UK marketing director, Anheuser-Busch Europe

Bottled brands

Sarah Gaines asks why wines do not command brand loyalty at the pub

more features

Other news this month:

• Duty stamps deadline moving closer
• Speciality beer website launched
• New ads for Kronenbourg 1664
• Plymouth's a smooth operator with new ad campaign
• Anheuser-Busch cosies up to Kirin
• Appletiser is officially fruity
• Budweiser celebrates Premier League sponsorship
• Fuller's tees up new sponsorship deal

more news

Today's The Day - 9th September

9th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Omer or Audomaurus,
St Peter Claver,
St Ciaran or Kieran of Clonmacnois,
St Bettelin,
St Joseph of Volokolamsk,
St Gorgonius,
and St Isaac or Sahak the Great.

History Test for September 9th
Born today in 1941, which singer had sixties hits with 'My Girl' and `(Sitting on) the Dock of the Bay'? -Otis Redding
Which talented 18-year-old tennis player defected to the West today in 1975? -Martina Navratilova
Admitted to the Union today in 1850, which is the Golden State? -California
English novelist James Hilton was born today in 1900. Name the imaginary paradise he created in his book 'Lost Horizon'. -Shangri-La
Name the architect of the `Long March' who died today in 1976. -Mao Tse-Tung

QUOTE “Mao always wanted to tour America.” - Edgar Snow, US journalist and chronicler of communist China, 1979.

Events today...

490 B.C. A Greek soldier Phidippides ran 26 miles to break the news of the Greek victory against the Persians at Marathon. The Marathan race is based on this event.

1087 William the Conqueror died. As Duke of Normandy William conquered England in 1066 and took the throne as William I. The Norman king brought stability in a time of turmoil, but at great cost to the English: all land became Norman property and the English serfs were reduced to slavery. Early rebellions were harshly dealt with - William devastated Yorkshire. By law, poachers had their eyes gouged out; the Norfolk rebels of 1075 had their right feet cut off. Earlier in the year the French king sneered at the ageing William because he'd grown so fat. William declared war and besieged Mantes. Riding out to view the burning town, his horse trod on an ember and threw him off. This day in 1087, six weeks later, the Conqueror died of his injuries near Rouen. He was buried by a French knight in Caen and would be succeeded by his greedy, obnoxious second son, William Rufus.

1513 King James IV, King of Scotland, died at the Battle of Flodden Field, defeated by English troops.

1583 English explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert drowned on his return to England together with the entire crew of the frigate Squirrel, which sank off the Azores.

1778 Death of Giambattista Piranesi, Italian architect.

1835 The British Municipal Corporations Act reformed urban government, bringing about a system of local government.

1850 California became the 3lst state of the Union.

1884 The hot dog was invented by Antoine Feuchtwanger.

1898 Death of Stephane Mallarme, French poet.

1901 Death of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (aged 36) French Painter

1911 The first airmail service in Britain began, operating between Hendon and Windsor.

1943 Allied forces landed at Salerno, Italy.

1945 Palestinians attempted to hijack an El Al flight but were overpowered by security guards. The Israelis reluctantly handed over the failed hijackers at Heathrow, where the plane made its landing.

1948 North Korea proclaimed its independence.

1958 Notting Hill in north London had been torn by three nights of race riots, with serious injuries and more than 150 arrests. The fighting was provoked by whites - police said extreme right-wing activists were at work. It started when white youths beat up five blacks, leading to petrol bombings and street battles between gangs of up to 2000. Meanwhile in Nottingham a television director was accused of starting a race riot by reconstructing a previous clash between black and white youths. The mock fight exploded into battle. A magistrate jailed five rioters - and condemned the media.

1963 Twenty-seven-year-old Jim Clark from Scotland became the world's youngest motor racing champion, driving Colin Campbell's Lotus.

1967 The first successful test flight of the Saturn V rocket took place.

1967 Uganda declared independence from the UK.

1968 Arthur Ashe became the first black tennis player to win a major tennis title when he defeated Tom Okkerf in the U.S. Open.

1970 Tracy Austin became the youngest tennis player at 16 years of age to win the U.S. Open Women's Title.

1971 Geoffrey Jackson, who had been kidnapped by the Tupamaros in Uruguay eight months previously, was released.

1975 Eighteen-year-old Czech tennis player Martina Navratilova defected to the West and asked the US for political asylum.

1976 Mao Tse-Tung died after a series of strokes. He was 82. Chairman Mao was revered by 800 million Chinese whose lives he changed forever. In 1949 Mao's Communist guerrilla army overthrew Chiang Kaishek's US-backed Nationalists and established the People's Republic of China. Mao, the "Great Helmsman", charted the way forward, and now China's "starving millions" were history: the Chinese were universally fed, housed, educated, employed and kept healthy, there was little crime, and not nearly as much oppression as westerners believe. Political ferment continued, but then Mao saw revolution as an ongoing process.

1977 Marc Bolan and David Bowie sang a duet "Standing Next To You" on the television show "Marc". A week later Bolan died in a car crash.

1979 Death of Norrie Paramor, music Producer.

1978 Death of Jack Leonard Warner (aged 86). One of The Warner Brothers

1982 Princess Grace of Monaco died in a car crash. Her daughter Stephanie was in the car and suffered injuries. There has been wide speculation about the crash. Princess Grace married Prince Rainier in 1956 following a career in movies as Grace Kelly.

1985 Massive earthquakes in Mexico left more than 4,700 dead and 30,000 injured.

1986 "Yankee Doodle Dandy" became the first movie to receive the colourisation treatment, a process whereby colour was added to black and white movies. Many movie fans and purists believed the movie should not have been tampered with. Media mogul Ted Turner presented this first colourisation on his television station WTBS in Atlanta on this day in 1986.

1991 Mike Tyson was indicted on a charge of raping Desiree Washington, a beauty pageant contestant and was later convicted.

1992 It was announced that Prince and Princess of Wales were to seperate.

1994 TV actor Patrick O'Neal died, aged 66.

1997 Death of Actor Burgess Meredith (aged 89). The Penguin in Batman.

1998 Brian Jones, Coronation Street’s Les Battersby appeared on court for a Drunk driving offence which had occurred near his home in Stockport.

1999 It was announced that Britain was to get new speed limits in the Autumn.

2003 A Watford security worker was jailed for nine years after admitting his part in a £2m credit card fraud.

2003 Tony Blair rejected calls for a referendum on the European Union's draft written constitution which he said would be "good for Britain".

2003 Hip hop singer Dizzee Rascal became the first rapper to win the prestigious 2003 Mercury Music Award.

2003 German film-maker Leni Riefenstahl, who made controversial films for Hitler, died aged 101.

2003 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel announced a new tour in the United States, 33 years after they split up.

2003 Athletics' governing body said US sprinter Kelli White should lose her two World golds for failing a drugs test.

2003 New chief executive David Gill said Peter Kenyon's exit would not weaken Man Utd.

2004 At least 15 people are killed as Hurricane Ivan swept through the Caribbean islands towards Jamaica.

2004 Six soldiers died when a British military helicopter crashed on a training exercise in the Czech Republic.

2004 An emergency evacuation was under way for British tourists on Caribbean islands threatened by Hurricane Ivan.

2004 Tim Henman beat Dominik Hrbaty in four sets to reach the US Open semi-finals.

2004 Ex-Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness took over as Everton chief executive.

2005 President Hosni Mubarak won Egypt's first multi-candidate presidential election, but turnout was very low.

2005 Ex-FA secretary Faria Alam had claims of sexual harassment, unfair dismissal and breach of contract rejected.

2005 British Gas announced it was to increase gas and electricity prices by 14%, blaming soaring oil prices and falling gas reserves.

2005 St Helens clinched the Super League leaders' trophy with a thumping win over arch-rivals Wigan.

BIRTHDAYS (for 09 September 2006)

Cardinal de Richelieu, 421 (born 09 September 1585)
French statesman and chief minister to Louis XIII from 1624, who crushed all opposition to the monarchy.

Luigi Galvani, 267 (born 09 September 1739)
inventor of galvanized steel.

William Bligh, 252 (born 09 September 1754)
Died 1817. Captain of the Bounty

Leo Tolstoy, 178 (born 09 September 1828)
Died 1910. Russian novelist - 'War and Peace'

Max Reinhardt Goldman, 133 (born 09 September 1873)
Austrian theatre and film director of great influence.

Joseph E Levine, 101 (born 09 September 1905)
Died 1987. Movie Producer - 'The Graduate' 'Carnal Knowledge’

Cesare Pavese, 98 (born 09 September 1908)
Italian poet and novelist who was imprisoned for his anti-fascist views in 1935.

Cliff Robertson, 81 (born 09 September 1925)
Actor - "Charly", "Days of Wine and Roses"

Countess Raine Spencer, 77 (born 09 September 1929)
Second wife of the late Earl of Spencer

Sylvia Miles, 74 (born 09 September 1932)
Actress - 'Midnight Cowboy

Chaim Topol, 71 (born 09 September 1935)
Israeli actor of stage and screen who won an Oscar for the film version of 'Fiddler on the Roof'.

Otis Redding, 65 (born 09 September 1941)
Died 1967. American singer and songwriter known for `Try a Little Tenderness' and `(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay'.

Roger Waters, 62 (born 09 September 1944)
Member of Pink Floyd - biggest UK hit 'Another Brick in the Wall'

Billy Preston, 60 (born 09 September 1946)
Rhythm and Blues performer - 'Get Back' - biggest UK hit 'With You I'm Born Again’

John Curry, 57 (born 09 September 1949)
British world-class ice-skating star who won the European men's single title, the winter Olympics gold medal and the World Championships in Stockholm in 1976.

Michael Keaton, 55 (born 09 September 1951)
Actor - 'Batman' 'Night Shift' 'Beetlejuice'

Dave Stewart, 54 (born 09 September 1952)
Musician - Eurythmics - biggest solo UK hit 'Lily was Here’

Hugh Grant, 46 (born 09 September 1960)
Actor - 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'

Gregory Kane, 40 (born 09 September 1966)
Singer with Hue and Cry - biggest UK hit 'Labour of Love'

Adam Sandler, 40 (born 09 September 1966)
Actor - 'Saturday Night Live'

Henry Thomas, 35 (born 09 September 1971)
Actor - he was the kid (Elliot) in E.T.

Today's The Day - 8th September

8th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Corbinian,
St Disibod,
St Eusebius,
Saints Adrian and Natalia,
St Kingsmark or Cynfarch Oer,
St Sergius I, pope,
St Zeno,
St Nestabus,
and St Nestor.

History Test for September 8th
English playwright Jack Rosenthal was born today in 1931. To which actress is he married? -Maureen Lipman
Born today in 1925, which zany comedian made his name on radio before moving into films? -Peter Sellers
Founded today in 1886, which is South Africa's largest city? -Johannesburg
Which Stevie Wonder hit reached the top of the UK pop charts today in 1984 and stayed there for six weeks? -`I Just Called to Say I Love You'
Whom did actress Angharad Rees marry today in 1973? -Christopher Cazenove

QUOTE “This pictorial account of the day-to-day life of an English gamekeeper is full of considerable interest to outdoor minded readers. Unfortunately, one is obliged to wade through many pages of extraneous material. In this reviewer's opinion the book cannot take the place of J. R. Miller's Practical Gamekeeping.” - `Field and Stream’, journal of British country life, reviewing D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover, 1961.

Events today...

1504 Florence unveiled a magnificent symbol of its independence from its powerful neighbours. The 29-year-old Florentine sculptor Michelangelo Buonarotti allowed nobody to see his enormous 13-ft (4 m) marble statue, which took him three years to carve, until it was unveiled. It was a wonderful figure of David, standing relaxed, his sling over his shoulder, about to face Goliath in battle. The statue was to have adorned the facade of the Cathedral of Florence, which commissioned it, but Michelangelo and the grand council of the new Florentine republic had placed it instead at the main entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of the city's government, where its message was loud and clear.

1522 The first circumnavigation of the globe was successfully completed by a Spanish navigator Juan de Elcano.

1645 Death of Francisco Gomez de Quevedo y Villegas, Spanish writer.

1664 The Dutch colony of New Amsterdam was surrendered to the British who renamed it New York in 1669.

1760 The French forces at Montreal surrendered the city to British General Jeffrey Amherst, completing the British conquest of Canada. The British victory ended 70 years of repeated conflict during which the American colonies were caught up in Europe's wars. Britain declared war on France in 1756 as part of the Seven Years' War in Europe, and suffered a series of defeats in America until General Amherst's forces over-whelmed the French fortress at Louisbourg in 1758. General Amherst went on to conquer Ticonderoga and Crown Point, opening the way to Montreal. General James Wolfe then defeated the French garrison at Quebec, with both General Wolfe and the French commander-in-chief the Marquis de Montcalm dying in the battle. On This day in 1760, General Amherst attacked Montreal from three directions, quickly forcing the French to surrender.

1831 William IV was crowned King of Great Britain.

1853 Death of George Bradshaw, British publisher of the first railway guides.

1866 The first recorded birth of sextuplets born to Jennie and James Bushnell. They were born in Chicago. Four of the children survived.

1886 Thousands flocked to Witwatersrand in South Africa as public gold digging was first permitted.

1888 The first English Football league matches were played.

1892 The "Pledge of Allegiance" to the United States of America was written by Francis Belay, a Baptist preacher. The 23 words took over three hours to compose.

1900 Parts of Texas, USA, were hit by a tornado and tidal waves, which caused over 6,000 deaths near Galveston.

1916 US President Woodrow Wilson promised women the vote.

1926 Germany was admitted to the League of Nations.

1930 Scotch tape was developed by Richard Drew.

1935 A group called the "Hoboken Four" made an appearance on an amateur hour show on WOR radio in New York. The leader singer was Francis Albert Sinatra.

1943 Italy had surrendered to the Allies, according to an announcement by US commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Marshall Pietro Badoglio, Italian prime minister since the Fascist dictator Mussolini's fall in July, signed the surrender at a secret meeting four days earlier. Mussolini's power faltered when the Allies invaded Sicily, and King Victor Emmanuel deposed him. The Allies landed in Italy opposite Messina one week earlier and further landings were underway. Eisenhower now appealed to Italians to oppose the German forces. Meanwhile Mussolini was believed to be in prison somewhere in Italy.

1944 A new German terror weapon struck at London, adding to the havoc caused by the swarms of V-1 flying bombs thrown at the city since June. The 400-mph (644 kph) V-1 was designed to fall after the engine had stopped - "If you can still hear it, you're safe," the saying went. But the new V-2 weapon, a long-range rocket carrying a ton of high-explosive, travelled faster than sound and plunged out of the sky without warning. The first of them hit Chiswick on this day with a blast heard for miles, and killed three people. The rockets could be fired from anywhere. Up to 150 V-1s a day had hit London and thousands had been killed. For the second time in the war, London's children were evacuated. The Germans were thought to have fewer V-2s, but their sudden devastation vastly increased the unnerving effect of the terror campaign.

1945 Mr Magoo made his debut in the cartoon "Ragtime Bear". Actor Jim Backus provided the voice for Mr Magoo.

1949 The German composer Richard Strauss died aged 85. His best known work is probably 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' (2001 theme)

1951 The Treaty of Peace with Japan was signed by 49 nations in San Francisco.

1954 Death of Andre Derain, French Post-Impressionist painter.

1960 A bid by Penguin Books to publish D. H. Lawrence's notorious novel Lady Chatterley's Lover brought the publishers a charge of public obscenity. Penguin would stand trial at London's Old Bailey the following month. The book was first published privately in Italy in 1928. Lord Chatterley, an industrialist paralysed below the waist in the war, symbolised the impotence of the upper classes; his wife Constance sought solace in the arms of Mellors, His Lordship's gamekeeper. The prosecution said it contained 13 sexually explicit episodes with heavy use of certain Anglo-Saxon terms. Penguin, however, argued differently, saying the book was great art.

1966 The crew of the Enterprise started their 5 year mission..... when Star Trek took to the air on American television for the first time with the episode "The Man Trap".

1966 The Severn Road Bridge was officially opened.

1968 Britain's Virginia Wade beat Billie Jean King to win the first US Open Tennis Championships.

1974 Disgraced President Richard Nixon was granted "a full, free and unconditional pardoned by President Gerald Ford for federal crimes committed whilst he was in office.

1974 Stunt rider Evel Knieval failed in his attempt to jump Snake River Canyon in Colorado on his sky-cycle as one of his parachutes opened too early. He only suffered minor injuries.

1978 Trouble loomed for the Shah of Iran as the country came under martial law.

1979 Death of Jean Seberg (aged 40) Actress 'Airport'

1979 American actress Jean Seberg committed suicide after being harassed and smeared by the FBI for supporting the Black Panthers.

1986 The debut of the syndicated Oprah Winfrey show on television.

1990 Northern and Southern Korean delegates met on the border for the first talks in 45 years.

1991 Death of Brad Davis (aged 41) Actor who starred in 'Midnight Express' and 'Chariots of Fire'

1997 The comedian actor Zero Mostel died at the age of 62. He starred in 'The Producers' and 'Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum’

1997 Official ‘Tele-tubbies’ merchandise went on sale, following the immense popularity of the children’s TV programme.

1998 At 8am Century 105 began broadcasting to the North West of England with ‘Morgan in the Morning’.

1998 The board of Manchester United voted to accept an increased offer of £625 million for the football club from BSkyB broadcasters.

2003 More than 20 people were taken to hospital following a tour coach crash in the Scottish Highlands.

2003 Singer David Bowie launched his new album with a concert beamed into cinemas across the world.

2003 Libertines singer Pete Doherty was jailed for six months for burgling bandmate Carl Barat's home.

2003 David Gill took over as Manchester United chief executive after Peter Kenyon switched to Chelsea.

2004 A Nasa space capsule carrying captured particles blown off the Sun crashed back to Earth in the Utah desert after its parachutes failed to open.

2004 Former Health Secretary Alan Milburn was back in the Cabinet and Alan Johnson was named Work and Pensions Secretary.

2004 Poland 1-2 England. Jermain Defoe was on target as England beat Poland in the World Cup qualifier in Katowice.

2004 Switzerland 1-1 Rep of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland claimed a point in Switzerland in their World Cup qualifier.

2005 President Yushchenko of Ukraine got backing from his Russian counterpart after sacking his government.

2005 The Football Association charged Chelsea for carrying out "independent private drug testing" on its players.

BIRTHDAYS (for 08 September 2006)

Richard I, 849 (born 08 September 1157)
King of England known as `the Lion Heart' who began a crusade in 1190 which ended in the signing of a three-year peace treaty with Muslim leader Saladin. Died 1199.

Antonin Dvorak, 165 (born 08 September 1841)
Died 1904. Czech composer - 'New World Symphony' (the Hovis music!)

Siegfried Sassoon, 120 (born 08 September 1886)
English war poet, novelist and biographer of George Meredith.

Jimmie Rodgers, 109 (born 08 September 1897)
Died 1933. Country singer

Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, 105 (born 08 September 1901)
South African prime minister who instituted the country's policy of apartheid and was stabbed to death two days before his 65th birthday.

Sir Harry Secombe CBE, 85 (born 08 September 1921)
Singer and comedian - member of The Goons

Sid Caesar, 84 (born 08 September 1922)
American comedian

Peter (Richard Henry) Sellers, 81 (born 08 September 1925)
English actor best known for his comic roles, particularly as Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series of films. Died 1980.

Jack Rosenthal, 75 (born 08 September 1931)
Writer - 'Barmitzvah Boy' 'London's Burning'

Patsy Cline, 74 (born 08 September 1932)
Died 1963. Country singer

Bill Parsons, 72 (born 08 September 1934)
Country singer

Kelly Groucutt, 61 (born 08 September 1945)
Bassist with ELO - biggest UK hit 'Xanadu'!

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, 61 (born 08 September 1945)
Died 1973. Member of The Grateful Dead

Anne Diamond, 52 (born 08 September 1954)
TV presenter

Today's The Day - 7th September

7th September 2006 - National Day of Brazil

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Anastasius the Fuller,
St Cloud or Clodoald,
Saints Alcmund and Tilben,
St Grimonia,
St Regina or Reine of Alize,
St Sozon,
and St John of Nicomedia.

History Test for September 7th
Which Irish author, the subject of the film 'My Left Foot', died today in 1981? -Christy Brown
Who became the heroine of the Longstone Lighthouse today in 1838 when she helped to rescue sailors in a storm? -Grace Darling
Who became the first non-white leader of South Africa's Anglicans today in 1986? -Desmond Tutu
American painter Anna Mary Moses was born today in 1860. What was her nickname? -`Grandma' Moses
Born today in 1533, who was known as 'The Virgin Queen' ? -Elizabeth I

Events today...

1548 Death of Catherine Parr, 6th wife of Henry VIII.

1812 The Russians were defeated by Napoleon's forces at the Battle of Borodino, 70 miles west of Moscow.

1838 During a storm at sea, Grace Darling, a lighthouse-keeper’s daughter, rowed a mile in a small boat to rescue four men and a woman from the small steamship Forfarshire, which had struck rocks near the Longstone Lighthouse in Northumberland.

1848 The Vienna assembly abolished serfdom.

1888 The first baby to be put in an incubator was Edith Eleanor McLean weighing in at 2 pounds and 7 ounces.

1892 The Boston Strong Boy, world heavyweight bare-knuckle boxing champion John L. Sullivan, lost the title in his first bout wearing the padded gloves required under the new Marquess of Queensbury rules. He was knocked out in the 21st round by “Gentleman Jim” Corbett.

1901 The Boxer Rebellion in China ended after the Peace of Peking was agreed.

1904 Francis Younghusband led a British expedition to Tibet, where a treaty was signed with the Dalai Lama.

1907 Death of Armand Sully-Prudhomme, French poet.

1910 Death of William Holman Hunt, the English pre-Raphaelite painter.

1910 Polish chemist Marie Curie announced that she had isolated pure Radium.

1970 Willie Shoemaker broke the world record for most wins by a jockey when he took his total to 6,033.

1973 Jackie Stewart became world champion racing driver for the third consecutive year.

1975 The world record for guitar picking was broken by Steve Anderson who played his guitar for 114 hours and 7 minutes.

1978 Insulin was produced for the first time by genetic engineering.

1978 Keith Moon, rock drummer with The Who, died in his London flat of an overdose of drugs prescribed to combat his alcohol problem. Moon was aged 32.

1981 Death of Christy Brown, severely handicapped Irish author of the autobiographical Down All our Days.

1984 Janet Jackson announced to the world that she had married musician James DeBarge having eloped the previous month. The marriage lasted for several months.

1984 Death of Liam O'Flaherty, Irish novelist.

1986 Bishop Desmond Tutu, the black general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, was enthroned as Archbishop of Cape Town, the leader of two million South African Anglicans. He was the church’s first black leader.

1986 The Monkees pop group got together for their first reunion concert.

1991 Gloria Estefan was awarded $5 million for the traffic accident in which she suffered fractures and dislocated vertebrae in her spine.

1991 Peace talks on the Yugoslav civil war opened in The Hague, the Netherlands, under EC sponsorship.

1994 Death of James Clavell (aged 69). Author of 'Shogun'

1994 Terence Young the director of 'Dr No' 'From Russia With Love' and 'Thunderball' died aged 79.

1997 Derek Taylor, Press officer for The Beatles died aged 55.

1998 The Government advised that sheep could be infected with BSE and later in the day issued a statement saying lamb was still safe to eat.

1998 The value of Manchester United rose by £150million due to take-over talks involving a bid by Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.

2003 Hundreds of mourners attended a memorial service in Belgrade for Serbia's assassinated prime minister.

2003 A simulated chemical attack on London took place in a bid to test the city's ability to cope with a terrorist strike.

2004 Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand won the year's Mercury Music Prize for their self-titled debut album.

2004 It was announced that actor Simon Callow was to appear in the BBC's revival of Dr Who as author Charles Dickens.

2004 Andrew Flintoff was awarded the ICC world one-day player of the year award.

2004 The Lions committee confirmed Sir Clive Woodward as coach for New Zealand tour.

2005 As expected Apple unveiled the long-awaited gadget that united the iPod with a mobile phone.

2005 Petrol and diesel prices were still rising with the average cost of a litre of unleaded petrol at 95.1p.

2005 Two drivers, who were at the wheel of the buses targeted in the London bomb attacks, returned to work.

2005 The BBC and ITV announced they were to launch a free satellite TV service for viewers unable to get Freeview.

2005 Pop star Michael Jackson's spokeswoman announced that the singer had written a song for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

BIRTHDAYS (for 07 September 2006)

Elizabeth I, 473 (born 07 September 1533)
English monarch, daughter of Anne Bolyen and Henry VIII. Died 1603. Queen from 1558-1603

William Friese Greene, 151 (born 07 September 1855)
(Deceased) British Inventor of the 1st Motion Picture Camera.

`Grandma' Moses (Anna Mary Robertson), 146 (born 07 September 1860)
American primitive artist who began painting professionally at the age of 78.

Elia Kazan, 97 (born 07 September 1909)
Died 2003. Turkish-born stage and film director and writer who emigrated with his Greek parents to the US and became a leading Broadway director with A Streetcar Named Desire, and Death of a Salesman, and also co-founded the Actor’s Studio which trained stars.

Sir Anthony Quayle, 93 (born 07 September 1913)
Died 1989. English actor of stage and screen who won an Oscar for his role in Anne of the Thousand Days.

Peter Lawford, 83 (born 07 September 1923)
Died 1984. Actor

Laura Ashley, 81 (born 07 September 1925)
Died 1985. Fashion and furnishings designer

Buddy Holly, 70 (born 07 September 1936)
American rock singer and guitarist who was killed in an aircrash aged only 23; his hits include `That’ll be the Day' and `Peggy Sue'.

Richard Roundtree, 64 (born 07 September 1942)
Actor - 'Shaft'

Gloria Gaynor, 57 (born 07 September 1949)
Disco Singer

Chrissie Hynde, 55 (born 07 September 1951)
Singer with the Pretenders - biggest UK hit 'Brass in Pocket'

Julie Kavner, 55 (born 07 September 1951)
Actress - voice of Marge in 'Simpsons' - 'Rhoda'

Today's The Day - 6th September

6th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Eleutherius of Spoleto,
St Cagnoald or Chainoaldus,
and Saints Donatian, Laetus, and Others.

History Test for September 6th
Which London cricket ground was used as a test venue for the first time today in 1880? -The Oval
Britain's first neighbourhood watch scheme was set up today in 1983. In which city? -London
Where did King Charles II hide following the Battle of Worcester today in 1651? -Up an oak tree
Born today in 1958, who was the lead singer of the pop group Bad Manners? -Buster Bloodvessel (real name Douglas Trendle)
Hendrik Verwoerd was assassinated today in 1966. He was Prime Minister of which country? -South Africa

Events today...

1522 Ferdinand Magellan's 17 surviving crew members reached the Spanish coast aboard the Victoria, having completed the first circumnavigation of the world.

1566 Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman sultan for 46 years, caliph of the Arabs and ruler of Islam, died in Constantinople.

1620 The Pilgrim Fathers set sail on the Mayflower from Plymouth to settle in the New World.

1666 The Great Fire of London was finally extinguished.

1683 Death of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, French politician.

1819 The lathe was patented by Thomas Blanchard. It had been invented for the manufacturing of gun stocks and produced work originally done by 13 workers.

1852 Britain's first free lending library opened in Manchester.

1866 Three British tea clippers reached London within two hours of each other after a 16,000-mile race from China.

1879 The first British telephone exchange was opened in Lombard Street in London.

1880 The first cricket test match in England was played between England and Australia at the Oval, London.

1899 The first can of evaporated milk was produced by Carnation.

1901 US President William McKinley was shot and fatally wounded by an anarchist.

1914 The Battle of Marne Began.

1936 British aviator Beryl Markham flew solo across the Atlantic.

1940 King Carol II of Romania was forced to abdicate by pro-German Ion Antonescu.

1941 Nazi Germany made the wearing of the yellow Star of David badges compulsory for all its Jewish citizens.

1952 Death of Gertrude Lawrence, English actress and singer, aged 54.

1958 Actor Steve McQueen made his debut on American television as bounty hunter Josh Randall in the series "Wanted Dead or Alive"

1959 The Mattel Toy Corporation sold their legendary Barbie Doll for the first time.

1965 India invaded West Pakistan.

1966 Coloureds danced in the streets of Cape Town after South African prime minister Dr Hendrik Verwoerd was assassinated in parliament.

1968 The kingdom of Swaziland in Southern Africa gained its independence.

1970 Three jet aircraft were seized by Palestinian guerrillas. The jets were later blown up in Jordan whilst on the ground and after the crew and passengers had been evacuated.

1975 Martina Navratilova who was playing tennis in New York requested political asylum.

1975 A massive earthquake centred on Lice, Turkey, caused nearly 3,000 deaths.

1976 Frank Sinatra reunited Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. It had been 20 years since they split up their showbiz double act. Lewis was hosting his annual telethon to raise money for charity.

1983 Soviet Military chiefs called a highly unusual press conference in Moscow, to explain why a Soviet jet fighter shot down a South Korean airliner the previous week, killing 269. The Soviets maintained that flight KAL 007 was on a spying mission for the US.

1985 All employees of ATV Publishing throughout the world were made redundant following a take-over by Michael Jackson and CBS Songs.

1987 The historic Venice regatta was held without the city’s gondoliers, who were on strike protesting against the damage caused to the fabric of the city by powerboats.

1988 Eleven-year-old Thomas Gregory from London was the youngest person to swim the English Channel, completing the trip in 12 hours.

1989 A computer error in Paris resulted in 41,000 residents, who should have received traffic fines, receiving letters charging them with murder, extortion and organised prostitution.

1990 Tom Fogerty died, aged 48. Musician with Creedence Clearwater Revival

1994 Death of Nicky Hopkins aged 50. British musician and songwriter

1997 The Nation came to a halt, as a funeral service was held for Diana Princess of Wales who was tragically killed six days earlier in a car crash in Paris. Elton John performed a specially written version of `Candle in the Wind’ at the service, - but replaced the lyric “Goodbye Norma Jean” with “Goodbye England’s Rose”.

2003 More than 50,000 Taiwanese demonstrators called for the island's official name to be changed from Republic of China to Taiwan.

2003 British Airways was investigating a world-wide computer failure, which caused delays and cancellations for hundreds of passengers.

2003 Wayne Rooney becomes England's youngest goalscorer in the 2-1 win in Macedonia.

2003 Illusionist David Blaine began his latest stunt, suspended in a plastic box without food for 44 days.

2003 Marcus Trescothick hits 219 as England finish day three on 502-7 against South Africa.

2003 Scotland flirted with danger before easing to a 3-1 victory over the Faroe Islands.

2004 In New York, former US President Bill Clinton underwent a successfull heart bypass operation.

2004 Work and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith resigned saying he wants to devote more time to his family.

2004 Graeme Souness quit Blackburn to take over as Newcastle manager.

2005 Singer Antony and the Johnsons win the Mercury Music Prize for their album I Am A Bird Now.

2005 BBC presenter John Humphrys was censured over an after-dinner speech in which he criticised politicians.

2005 John Travolta delivered five tonnes of food in his private jet to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

BIRTHDAYS (for 06 September 2006)

Marquis de Lafayette, 249 (born 06 September 1757)
French statesman and soldier who fought with the American colonists for independence, and was a major figure in the French Revolution.

Joseph Kennedy, 118 (born 06 September 1888)
American founder of the dynasty that gave rise to the first Catholic American president.

Billy Rose, 107 (born 06 September 1899)
Died 1966. Composer, songwriter

Jimmy Reed, 81 (born 06 September 1925)
Died 1976. Blues Performer

Jo Anne Worley, 69 (born 06 September 1937)
Comedienne - 'Rowan and Martin's Laugh In'

Jackie Trent, 65 (born 06 September 1941)
Singer/songwriter - biggest UK hit 'Where Are You Now'

Roger Law, 65 (born 06 September 1941)
Spitting Image co-creator

Britt Ekland, 64 (born 06 September 1942)
Swedish actress and former model who appeared in The Man with the Golden Gun and other films.

Jane Curtin, 59 (born 06 September 1947)
Comedienne - TV/Film - 'Saturday Night Live' '3rd Rock from Sun'

Buster Bloodvessel, 48 (born 06 September 1958)
Singer with Bad Manners - biggest UK hits 'Can Can' 'Special Brew'

Perry Bamonte, 46 (born 06 September 1960)
Performer with The Cure - biggest UK hit 'Lullaby

Pat Nevin, 43 (born 06 September 1963)
footballer

Claire Martin, 39 (born 06 September 1967)
jazz singer

Ce Ce Peniston, 37 (born 06 September 1969)
Singer - 'Finally' (NB: be careful how you pronounce her name!)

Dolores O'Riordan, 35 (born 06 September 1971)
Lead singer with The Cranberries - biggest UK hit 'Linger’

Greg Rusedski, 33 (born 06 September 1973)
tennis player

Tim Henman, 32 (born 06 September 1974)
tennis player

Today's The Day - 5th September

5th September 2006 - Be Late for Something Day

Religious events today...
Feast Day of Saints Urban and Theodore and their Companions,
St Laurence Giustiniani,
St Bertinus,
and St Genebald of Laon.

History Test for September 5th
Born today in 1935, who plays Mike Baldwin in `Coronation Street'? -Johnny Briggs
Born today in 1937, who co-wrote the TV comedy series 'Porridge' with Ian La Frenais? -Dick Clement
Chat show host Russell Harty was born today in 1934. Which singer and actress once assaulted him `on air'? -Grace Jones
Which British fighter pilot, portrayed by Kenneth More in the film `Reach for the Sky', died today in 1982? -Sir Douglas Bader
Maureen Connolly became the youngest ever winner of the US Tennis Championships today in 1951. What was her nickname? -Little Mo

QUOTE “I have not ruled out the possibility of one day coming to power.” - Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovitch, head of the Romanov dynasty and pretender to the Russian throne, on this day, 1991.

Events today...
1569 Death of Peter Breughel the Elder, Netherlandish painter of peasants, landscapes and religious scenes.

1666 The massive, city wide fire that had raged in London for a number of days started at Pudding Street bakery in London's East End. The flames quickly spread next door to a tar store, which exploded, igniting the neighbourhood. London's Lord Mayor refused to be disturbed by such a paltry matter as a fire and the next morning, as fire gripped the city, thousands of families fled their homes to seek safety in small boats on the River Thames and in the fields outside the city. On this day the blaze was at last halted by Navy teams who blew up a swathe of buildings in the path of the flames. More than 13,000 homes and 90 churches had been destroyed, and 400 acres (162 hectares) of the city, from the Tower to the Temple, was reduced to smouldering rubble - yet only nine lives were lost. London was still reeling from the great plague, which cost 75,000 lives. The fire cauterised the old wooden buildings that were still rife with disease. Now the homeless had to be fed and sheltered - and a better city built.

1698 Czar Peter the Great introduced a tax on beards in Russia.

1774 The first Continental Congress in America opened at Philadelphia.

1800 French troops surrendered Malta to the British, following Nelson's naval blockade.

1826 John Wisden, who first published the yearly record in his own name that became known as the cricketer's bible, was born. He played for Sussex and died in 1884, aged 57.

1857 Death of Auguste Comté, French philosopher.

1885 The first petrol pump was installed in Fort Wayne in the U.S. It was invented by Jake D Gummer.

1914 Death of Charles Péguy, French poet.

1914 The first Battle of the Marne, during World War I, began.

1920 Scandal erupted in Hollywood when the world's favourite fat man, movie comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, was accused of rape and manslaughter. The previous night actress Virginia Rappe, seeking a movie part, went to a drinking party Arbuckle held in a San Francisco hotel room. She was raped, and later died in hospital of internal injuries. "Roscoe did it," she said before she died. Arbuckle weighed 23 stone. Arbuckle started his film career in the Keystone comedy studio - now the public was finding little to laugh at.

1922 American aviator James Doolittle made the first American coast-to-coast flight, which took 21 hours 19 minutes.

1945 "Tokyo Rose" was arrested in Yokohama, Japan. She was a radio broadcaster for Japan during the 2nd World War taunting American and allied troops with her broadcasts. As she was an American citizen she was charged with treason. She was pardoned by President Ford in 1977 having served 6 years in prison. Her real name was Iva Toguri D'Aquino.

1951 Maureen Connolly, also known as 'Little Mo', won tennis's US Open aged just 16 years and 11 months. She was the youngest winner of the title until Tracy Austin did so when she was two months younger in 1979.

1960 Cassius Clay won his gold medal at the Olympic games held in Rome. In 1996 he had the honour of lighting the Olympic Flame when the games were held at Atlanta in the U.S.A.

1961 Aston Villa beat Rotherham 3-0 in the second leg of the first League Cup final to win 3-2 on aggregate.

1963 Christine Keeler, call-girl at the centre of the Profumo scandal that rocked the British Conservative government, was charged with perjury.

1969 ITV began broadcasting in colour.

1969 Death of American blues singer and guitarist Josh White.

1972 Eleven Israeli athletes died when Palestinian terrorists struck at the Munich Olympics. Eight hooded Black September terrorists broke into the Olympic Village and attacked the sleeping Israelis in their dormitories. Two athletes died in a hail of bullets while 18 escaped, and the remaining nine were taken hostage. The Games were stopped and 12,000 police surrounded the village. The terrorists demanded the release of 200 Palestinians held in Israel and safe passage out of Germany. The German leaders agreed and the gang and their hostages were taken to Munich airport. In a tragic blunder police sharpshooters opened fire, and all nine athletes were killed in the ensuing battle, as well as four terrorists and one policeman. Three of the gang were captured and one escaped. The Games continued under a cloud.

1975 President Gerald Ford escaped an assassination attempt on his life by one of Charles Manson's "disciples" in Sacramento, California.

1978 Peace talks began at Camp David between Egypt's President Anwar Sadat and Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin. The mediator was President Jimmy Carter.

1980 The world's longest road tunnel, the St Gotthard, was opened running 16km/10miles from Goschenen to Airolo, Switzerland.

1982 Death of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader, British fighter pilot who lost both his legs in a flying accident but talked his way back into the RAF to serve in World War Two and became a national hero.

1987 Death of TV producer Quinn Martin.

1987 The longest running comedy in the world, “No Sex Please- We're British”, closed at a London theatre after 6671 performances over 16 years.

1989 Chris Evert retired after a glittering career as a professional tennis player. She lost to Zina Garrision in the U.S. Open.

1991 John Travolta and Kelly Preston married.

1991 The Soviet state was no more. In the past two weeks Russian president Boris Yeltsin and his supporters foiled a coup, watched the demise of the Communist Party, saw independence in the Baltic and defeated the Soviet centrists. Under pressure from Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union reluctantly wound up the Union and handed power to the Soviet republics. The new arrangement left Gorbachev a national figurehead - but without wealth.

1993 The Cinematographer Claude Renoir died aged 78.

1997 Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the Nobel Prize-winning nun, died in India at the age of 87.

1997 Sir Georg Solti the Conductor died aged 84.

1998 A Stockport County fan won £1.5 million on the National Lottery when he used his wife’s birthday but got the date wrong.

2004 Residents were warned to remain in shelters as Hurricane Frances continued to batter Florida's east coast.

2004 A BBC programme discovered that Manchester Airport staff used faulty security equipment and lied about bag search figures.

2004 Terry Venables revealed he had held talks with Newcastle over the vacant managerial post.

2005 Residents returned to suburban New Orleans to inspect flood damage in a city where thousands had died.

2005 Petrol and diesel prices continued rising with the average cost of a litre of unleaded petrol at 94.6p.

2005 Top of the Pops executive producer Andi Peters left the music show to go back in front of the camera.

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BIRTHDAYS (for 05 September 2006)

Louis VIII, 819 (born 05 September 1187)
King of France

Louis XIV, 368 (born 05 September 1638)
the `Sun King' of France

Sir Robert Walpole, 330 (born 05 September 1676)
Died 1745. First British Prime Minister

Giacomo Meyerbeer, 215 (born 05 September 1791)
German composer, notably of operas such as Les Huguenots, L'Africaine and Robert le Diable.

Victorien Sardou, 175 (born 05 September 1831)
French dramatist who wrote Fedora (which starred Sarah Bernhardt) and La Tosca (used by Puccini for his opera).

Jesse James, 159 (born 05 September 1847)
Died 1882. American outlaw who, with his elder brother Frank, led a gang which carried out daylight bank robberies.

Sir Walter Raleigh, 145 (born 05 September 1861)
Died 1922. English Poet

Ferdinand Porsche, 131 (born 05 September 1875)
Died 1951. German Automaker - created Volkswagen and Porsche

Darryl F. Zanuck, 104 (born 05 September 1902)
Died 1979. American film producer who began his career writing stories for Rin Tin Tin, Hollywood star dog.

Arthur Koestler, 101 (born 05 September 1905)
Hungarian-born-writer, best known for the novel Darkness at Noon.

Frank Yerby, 90 (born 05 September 1916)
American novelist who wrote The Foxes of Harrow.

Bob Newhart, 77 (born 05 September 1929)
Comedian - 'The Driving Instructor'

Russell Harty, 72 (born 05 September 1934)
Died 1988. Chat show host

Johnny Briggs, 71 (born 05 September 1935)
Actor - Mike Baldwin in 'Coronation Street'

Dick Clement, 69 (born 05 September 1937)
Comedy writer - 'Porridge' 'Auf Wiedersehn Pet' 'Hancock'

John Stewart, 67 (born 05 September 1939)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Gold'

George Lazenby, 67 (born 05 September 1939)
James Bond in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'

Raquel Welch, 66 (born 05 September 1940)
Actress - 'Fantastic Voyage' 'One Million Years BC'

Joe Long, 65 (born 05 September 1941)
Bassist with The Four Seasons - biggest UK hit 'December 1963'

Werner Herzog, 64 (born 05 September 1942)
German film director

Al Stewart, 61 (born 05 September 1945)
Singer/songwriter - biggest UK hit 'Year of the Cat'

Dean Ford, 60 (born 05 September 1946)
Singer/guitarist with Marmalade - biggest UK hit 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da'

Loudon III Wainwright, 60 (born 05 September 1946)
Folk Singer

Buddy Miles, 60 (born 05 September 1946)
Drummer with Santana

Freddie Mercury, 60 (born 05 September 1946)
Died 1991. Singer with Queen - biggest UK hit 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Tracy Edwards, 44 (born 05 September 1962)
round-the-world yachtswoman

David Brabham, 41 (born 05 September 1965)
Racing driver

Terry Ellis, 40 (born 05 September 1966)
Singer with En Vogue - biggest UK hit 'My Lovin'

Jane Sixsmith, 39 (born 05 September 1967)
hockey player

Dweezil Zappa, 37 (born 05 September 1969)
Frank's son - singer

Mark Ramprakash, 37 (born 05 September 1969)
cricketer

Today's The Day - 4th September

4th September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Rosalio,
St Rose of Viterbo,
Saints Marcellus and Valerian,
St Marinus of San Marino,
St Boniface I, pope,
St Ultan of Ardbraccan,
and St Ida of Henfeld.

History Test for September 4th
What television first was achieved by Kenneth Kendall today in 1955? -He was the first newsreader to appear on screen
Today in 1962, the Beatles began their first recording session at which studios? -Abbey Road
Which American swimmer won his seventh Olympic Gold medal today in 1972? -Mark Spitz
Suleiman the Magnificent, who died today in 1566, was Sultan of which country? -Turkey
Today in 1976, ABBA reached the top of the UK pop charts with `Dancing Queen'. Name two of the four members of the group. -Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, Anni-Frid (`Frida'). They named the group from their initials.

QUOTE “How can you bear to go further, selling products injurious to others in order to fulfil your insatiable desire?” - Lin Ze-xu, Chinese imperial commissioner, in a letter to Queen Victoria complaining about the opium trade, 1839.

Events today...
1260 The Battle of Montaperti between the rival Guelphs and Ghibellines, was fought in Central Italy.

1682 Halley saw the comet that will forever bear his name.

1767 Death of Charles Townshend, British politician.

1781 Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers.

1791 During the French Revolution King Louis XVI was forced to approve France's first constitution, which made him a mere civil servant.

1797 A French army coup disposed of British-backed royalists in Paris.

1813 Death of James Wyatt, English architect.

1821 Tsar Alexander closed Alaska to shipping.

1839 British ships fired the first shots as the illegal opium trade in China propelled the two countries towards war. A British frigate hopelessly outmanoeuvred a fleet of lumbering Chinese junks and delivered two broadsides. The spectacular quantities of opium shipped to China from British Bengal earned vital revenues for Britain - and were ruining China. Earlier in the year the Emperor's commissioner, Lin Ze-xu, blockaded the British and American merchants' warehouses in Canton, forcing them under siege to surrender 20,000 chests of the dream drug, which he then destroyed in quick-lime pits, to great public acclaim. Lin now blockaded Canton. In London, the belligerent foreign secretary Lord Palmerston was pushing parliament to send an expedition to force China to open its ports - in the name of free trade.

1870 Napoleon Bonaparte's nephew, Emperor Napoleon III, was deposed and the Third Republic was declared in France.

1871 The New York municipal government at Tammany Hall was accused of widespread corruption.

1881 The best-lit factory in America opened in New York. The Edison Electric Light Company's new "central power station" in Pearl Street generated enough electricity to light up 7000 of Thomas A. Edison's new incandescent lamps. The company was now offering electricity for sale - power cables lead from the new plant's 900-horsepower steam-driven generators to the premises of 85 paying clients, and there was plenty of spare capacity. Edison, 34, invented the stockbroker's indispensable aid, the ticker-tape machine, when he was only 21, and made a small fortune. His laboratories in New Jersey had churned out valuable inventions ever since - the quadruplex telegraph, which doubled the capacity of the lines, and in 1879 the first commercially practical electric light. Edison's carbon-filament lamp burned for more than 40 hours and was cheaply replaced.

1886 Red Indian chief Geronimo, leader of the Apaches, surrendered to General Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon, Arizona and this was the end of the U.S. Indian Wars.

1888 George Eastman patented his hand held roll-film camera and registered his trademark "Kodak".

1893 Beatrix Potter wrote her first Peter Rabbit story and sent it to the son of her former Governess. It was published on 9th June 1900.

1907 Death of Edward Greig Norwegian composer, aged 64, famous for composing the incidental music for Ibsen's play Peer Gynt

1909 The first Boy Scout rally was held at Crystal Palace, near London.

1923 Shenandoah, the first rigid airship to be built in the United States, was launched.

1929 The BBC invited Baird Co. to carry out experimental TV transmissions.

1940 The US Columbia Broadcasting System gave a demonstration of colour TV on station W2XAB.

1944 The Allies liberated Antwerp, Belgium.

1948 Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands abdicated in favour of her daughter Juliana.

1959 "Mack The Knife" was banned by WCBS in New York following reports of teenage stabbings.

1962 The first recording session of the Beatles at Abbey Road studios. Six songs were recorded including "Love Me Do" which became their first UK hit.

1963 Death of Robert Schuman, French statesman.

1965 Albert Schweitzer, French medical missionary, organist and Nobel Prize winner, died in the Gabon.

1966 Australian Jack Brabham won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, winning the world championship and setting a new record at the age of 40 - and he was the first world champion to win in a car he built himself. With speeds varying between 25 and 160 mph (40 and 257 kph) on the twisting circuits, Grand Prix racing was one of the most exacting businesses there was, and Monza was one of the fastest Grand Prix courses.

1970 Leningrad's famous Kirov Ballet, which was in London on a European tour, lost its brightest star when Natalia Makarova defected. The spectacular Makarova was widely considered the perfect ballerina. She told reporters that Russian ballet was stifled by politics and she was seeking artistic freedom in the west. Makarova danced her first Giselle with the Kirov in London on the company's first European tour in 1961- when her partner Rudolf Nureyev defected. The Kirov's artistic director, Konstantin Sergeyev, was reported to be furious at losing Makarova and was threatening to resign. Makarova's friends said there was more than artistic freedom at stake: she had fallen in love with a westerner.

1976 The Bee Gees reach number 1 in the U.S. charts with the song "You Should Be Dancing" after the song has been featured in the movie "Saturday Night Fever".

1978 Rebel guerrillas shot down a Rhodesian airliner with a Russian SAM-7 missile, then massacred survivors. The missile blew the starboard wing off, killing 38 of the 56 people aboard when the plane crashed in the bush. The survivors were nursing their wounds when the guerrillas appeared and opened fire, killing a further 10 people. The rebels - fighting Prime Minister Ian Smith's illegal white regime - said the airliner was a "military target".

1985 The wreck of the Titanic on the Atlantic seabed was photographed by remote control.

1986 After 23 UK singles, Madness spilt up.

1987 Mathias Rust, the West German teenager who flew his light plane from Poland straight through the Russian air defence system and landed in Moscow's Red Square on May 28, was to have plenty of time to think about his extraordinary prank. A Soviet court sentenced him to four years in a labour camp.

1988 Boxer Mike Tyson crashed his BMW into a tree in New York.

1988 British Customs officials thwarted the first known attempt by persons to smuggle drugs into Britain from Holland using a helicopter.

1988 Death of Gert Frobe, Actor 'Goldfinger'

1989 Death of Georges Simenon, Belgian novelist of world-wide acclaim who created the fictional detective Maigret.

1990 Irene Dunne, the actress died, aged 88.

1991 Dottie West the country singer died, aged 58.

2003 Palestinian Prime Miniater Abbas admitted his rift with Yasser Arafat and told MPs to back him or face his resignation.

2003 Senders of unsolicited junk e-mails in Italy were now to face up to three years in jail, after a ruling by a privacy watchdog.

2003 A man who attacked an MP and killed his aide with a sword was sent to a medium secure hospital indefinitely.

2003 The world's largest record company, Universal, announced it would cut the price of albums in the US by up to 30%.

2003 Herschelle Gibbs hit 183 as South Africa reached 362-4 in the final Test against England.

2004 High winds and rain heralded the imminent arrival of Hurricane Frances, which was set to be the largest storm to hit Florida in years.

2004 Detectives were investigating the deaths of two inmates found hanged in their cell at Manchester Prison.

2004 Austria 2-2 England. England squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Austria in their World Cup qualifier.

2004 British three-day eventer Caroline Pratt was killed after falling at Burghley.

2004 Northern Ireland's World Cup campaign got off to a bad start as they lost 3-0 at home to Poland.

2005 McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya won the Italian Grand Prix as Renault's Fernando Alonso extended his championship lead.

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BIRTHDAYS (for 04 September 2006)

Ivan the Terrible, 476 (born 04 September 1530)
Died 1584. Russian King

Francois Rene Chateaubriand, 230 (born 04 September 1776)
Died 1848. Steak cooker

Darius Milhaud, 114 (born 04 September 1892)
French composer and one of the famous Les Six group of influential French composers, best known for his La Création du Monde.

Edward Dmytryk, 98 (born 04 September 1908)
Canadian film director best known for Crossfire and The Human Factor.

Paul Harvey, 88 (born 04 September 1918)
radio news commentator.

Dick York, 78 (born 04 September 1928)
Died 1992. Actor - 'Bewitched'

Mitzi Gaynor, 76 (born 04 September 1930)
Actress

Dawn Fraser, 69 (born 04 September 1937)
Australian swimmer and one of the greatest ever - she broke the 100 metres freestyle record nine successive times.

Gene Parsons, 64 (born 04 September 1942)
Drummer with The Byrds - biggest UK hit 'Mr Tambourine Man'

Tom Watson, 57 (born 04 September 1949)
American golfer and five-times winner of the British Open, also winning the US Masters in 1982.

Ronald LaPraed, 56 (born 04 September 1950)
Musician with The Commodores - biggest UK hit '3 Times a Lady'

Martin Chambers, 55 (born 04 September 1951)
Drummer with The Pretenders - biggest UK hit 'Brass in Pocket'

Kevin Kennedy, 45 (born 04 September 1961)
Actor - Curly Watts in Coronation Street

Today's The Day - 3rd September

3rd September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast Day of St Simeon Stylites the Younger,
St Phoebe,
St Remaclus,
St Aigulf or Ayoul of Lerins,
St Gregory the Great,
St Cuthburga,
St Hildelitha,
and St Macanisius.

History Test for September 3rd
Which Irish actor gave his first performance as Macbeth in a controversial production at London's Old Vic today in 1980? -Peter O’Toole
Born today in 1940, who received an Oscar nomination for her role as 'Shirley Valentine'? -Pauline Collins
Who played the title role in `Remington Steele', first seen on British TV today in 1983? -Pierce Brosnan
Today in 1939, who announced that Britain was at war with Germany ? -Neville Chamberlain
Today in 1976, Viking II relayed the first pictures of which planet's surface? -Mars

Events today...
1189 Richard the Lionheart received his Father's crown at Westminster and became King Richard I of England. Richard's first royal act was to free his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, from the tower where King Henry II imprisoned her 16 years earlier for supporting their warring sons in a rebellion against their father. Richard, Duke of Aquitaine in France, rebelled again, and forced the ailing Henry to conclude a humiliating peace earlier in the year. Henry's favourite son, John, was amongst the rebels, and in July Henry died, broken-hearted. Richard, a petty and quarrelsome man who loved a fight, looked to his new kingdom to finance a third Christian crusade to the Holy Land.

1650 Cromwell defeated the Scots at the second Battle of Dunbar.

1651 The Royalist troops under Charles II were defeated by Oliver Cromwell at the second Battle of Worcester.

1658 Oliver Cromwell, Puritan Lord Protector of the English Commonwealth, died at the age of 60. His son, Richard, succeeded him. Following his civil war victories, Cromwell was made Lord Protector five years earlier with army support. His austere military rule made him unpopular in his own country, though he rebuilt the national prestige: he defeated Holland and Spain and made England a great power with overseas possessions, reformed the law, established religious freedom and allowed Jews to settle while protecting Protestants abroad. Cromwell dismissed his second parliament in February, and had ruled alone since then. The last months had been filled with plots and rumours of plots. Colonel Titus even published a book entitled Killing No Murder, openly advising Cromwell's assassination. The strain told on his failing health, and the sudden death of his daughter was an added blow, from which he never recovered.

1752 In order to bring official time in line with the solar system (because of leap years), the calendar in England was adjusted so that 2nd September was to become September 14th, meaning that 3-13 September 1752 never occurred.

1783 Britain finally recognised the independence of the United States of America. ‘The Treaty of Paris’ marked the end of the American Revolution following two years of secret negotiations between a beleaguered Britain and the colonial rebels. In an unprecedented war, Britain sent an army of 60,000 to fight a populous and well-armed people on their own ground. However France, Spain and Holland all sided with the rebels. The decisive blow came when rebel commander-in-chief George Washington trapped Lord Cornwallis's army in Yorktown, forcing him to surrender with 7000 men. The war lingered on, but the colonies were already severed from the empire. The new nation had emerged from its revolution with a burgeoning sense of freedom and purpose.

1849 Citizens of the Cape colony at Cape Town swore an oath to boycott the British colonial government and all civil servants with immediate effect. They were protesting against the arrival of the British ship Neptune, carrying a cargo of convicts. This followed a London decision to form a penal settlement at the Cape like that started in Australia 60 years beforehand. The citizens' strike appeared to be total. The government would soon start to run out of supplies, and there was very little Governor Sir Harry Smith could do about it. He gave orders for the convicts to be kept on board the ship until he heard from London. The Cape Town journalists and lawyers who fought Lord Charles Somerset to establish press freedom organised the strike and now wanted a new liberal constitution.

1883 Death of Russian novelist and playwright Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev, who wrote A Month in the Country.

1916 England was raided by 13 German Zeppelin airships, and a British fighter pilot, Captain Leefe Robinson, shot one of them down near London - the first of the giant bombers destroyed by the Flying Corps. The airship crashed in flames in Hertfordshire. Two people were killed and 13 hurt in the raids.

1930 Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, was destroyed by a hurricane which killed 5,000 people.

1930 The first non-stop flight from Paris to New York was made by Diedonne Caste and Maurice Bellonte.

1935 Malcolm Campbell reached a new world land speed record of 301.13 mph in Bluebird on Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

1939 New Zealand, Australia, Britain and France declare war on Germany after Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1.

1942 Frank Sinatra went solo having sung previously with the Tommy Dorsey Band.

1943 The Allies landed at Salerno, on mainland Italy, and the Italian government surrendered.

1945 Japanese forces in the Philippines surrendered to the Allies.

1950 The first world driving championship was won by Nino Farina of Italy at the Monza Grand Prix.

1954 After 2,956 episodes "The Lone Ranger" was broadcast for the final time on American radio. (It had run for 21 years).

1955 Bill Haley and the Comets turned down a lucrative tour of Australia because they were afraid of flying.

1963 Death of Frederick Louis MacNiece, British poet.

1966 Captain John Ridgway and Chay Blyth completed their journey across the Atlantic in a rowing boat in 91 days, landing on the Isle of Aran in Ireland.

1967 Sweden changed from driving on the left to the right. (Can you imagine the problems if they tried to do that in Britain tonight. Insurance would go through the roof!)

1969 Ho Chi Minh, president of North Vietnam during the Vietnam war, died after a heart attack, aged 79.

1970 The Dave Clark Five disbanded. They had enjoyed numerous hits in the UK and around the world including seven number one hits in the British charts.

1976 The American spacecraft ‘Viking II’ landed on Mars and send photographs of the Red Planet back to Earth.

1978 Pope John Paul I was installed as the 264th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic church.

1980 The opening night of the tragedy Macbeth at London's Old Vic, starring Peter O'Toole, had the audience roaring with laughter.

1985 Death of Johnny D Marks aged 75. Composer of 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer'.

1986 Golfer Arnold Palmer got a second hole-in-one for the second straight day. The ball went into the same hole using the same five iron.

1991 Death of Frank Capra aged 94. Director of 'It's a Wonderful Life' and 'It Happened One Night'

1992 Prince signed on the dotted line for a $100 million deal with Warner Brothers, valued at $10 million per album.

1993 Death of David Brown, English engineer and industrialist.

1994 Death of Major Lance aged 53. Soul singer.

1998 President Clinton touched down in Northern Ireland on the first day of a three day visit.

1998 Former footballer and ‘Busby-babe’ Jackie Blanchflower (brother of the late Danny) died.

2003 The British embassy in Tehran came under attack after the Iranian envoy to Britain flew home in a dispute.

2003 The first American to be executed for killing an abortionist doctor was due to die by lethal injection in Florida.

2003 A Polish-led force took control of a zone south of Baghdad, as the US tried to persuade Turkey to join peacekeeping efforts.

2003 The Italian Prime Minister saught 15m euros damages from the leader of the opposition as a row over Serbia Telekom escalated.

2003 A boxing promoter was charged with blackmail over alleged threats to England star Wayne Rooney's agent.

2003 A missing screenplay by legendary Indian director, Satyajit Ray, surfaced in Calcutta, more than 10 years after his death.

2003 A survey showed that nearly a third of all children under the age of four have a television in their bedroom.

2003 Mark Bosnich lost his appeal over Chelsea's decision to fine him for failing a drugs test.

2004 More than 200 hostages were killed as a Russian school siege cames to a violent and chaotic end.

2004 Millions of people in Florida were ordered to leave their homes as the US state braced itself for Hurricane Frances.

2004 Two security guards were attacked by a man who entered MI5 headquarters in London with a machete.

2004 Andrew Flintoff was the hero as England beat India by 70 runs at The Oval to win the NatWest Challenge.

2005 An extra 17,000 troops were ordered into areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, as President Bush boosted aid.

2005 The Foreign Office said British survivors of Hurricane Katrina were preparing to return from the US.

2005 Hampshire won the C&G Trophy final at Lord's, defeating Warwickshire by 18 runs.

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BIRTHDAYS (for 03 September 2006)

Matthew Boulton, 278 (born 03 September 1728)
English engineer who invented and manufactured the steam engine with James Watt.

Edward Albert Filene, 146 (born 03 September 1860)
credit union founder.

Sir Frank MacFarlane Burnet, 107 (born 03 September 1899)
Australian virologist who was awarded the Order of Merit in recognition of his work on diseases such as influenza, polio and cholera.

Alan Ladd, 93 (born 03 September 1913)
American leading film actor whose films include This Gun For Hire and Shane. Died 1964.

Hank Thompson, 81 (born 03 September 1925)
Country singer

Freddie King, 72 (born 03 September 1934)
Died 1976. Blues singer

Eileen Brennan, 71 (born 03 September 1935)
Actress - 'Private Benjamin'

Pauline Collins, 66 (born 03 September 1940)
British stage and screen actress who was nominated for an Oscar for her part in the film Shirley Valentine.

Al Jardine, 64 (born 03 September 1942)
Musician with The Beach Boys

Valerie Perrine, 63 (born 03 September 1943)
Actress - 'Superman'

Al Stewart, 61 (born 03 September 1945)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'Year of the Cat'

Eric Bell, 59 (born 03 September 1947)
Guitarist with Thin Lizzy - biggest UK hit 'Whisky in the Jar'

Charlie Sheen, 41 (born 03 September 1965)
Actor - 'Young Guns' 'Platoon'

British Names Conquered The World

The biggest concentration of people called Salt is in Stoke-on-Trent, as is the greatest number of people called Pepper, according to a new study which maps the spread of British names across the globe.

The number of people with either surname is roughly equal so the reason for this is likely to be that both Salts and Peppers derived their names from people who made pots for condiments in the Potteries, according to the authors of the study, published at the Royal Geographical Society's annual conference yesterday.

What the study of 20,000 British surnames over five generations has enabled researchers to do for the first time is to track the migration of people with British names and to see where the largest concentration of people of that name lives.

Now anyone may do this by logging on to the website www.spatial-literacy.org.

The name Blair, for example, originated in the west of Scotland. The number of Blairs in Britain has grown by 50 per cent since the 19th century to 12,473 today. They are outnumbered, however, by their 27,379 cousins in the United States, who are concentrated in Kentucky. There is also a respectable concentration of 2,581 Blairs in Tasmania.

The name Beckham originated in Walsingham, Norfolk, and although it cannot be traced in Australia, descendants of Beckhams cluster today in Northland, New Zealand, and Mississippi.

A database of more than 100 million people's names in the United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada was used to track the British migration.

The authors of the study say that the size and extent of the big diasporas of British people living abroad, such as prisoners and settlers to Australia, and Scottish and English colonialists in Ireland, were unknown until the latest developments in information technology.

The authors have devised a ranking of the most adventurous and least adventurous names. There are relatively few Yorkshire names, such as Broadbent, Midgeley or Illingworth, in the United States.

This may be because Yorkshire has generally been prosperous and not subject to major disruptions such as the Highland Clearances.

The Welsh are less travelled than the Scots, the English or the Irish.

The most travelled names, not surprisingly, tend to be from Scotland, Cornwall or some of the grimmer northern towns such as Bradford or Halifax.

There are, for instance, fewer McDonalds in Britain now than in 1881 and more in the United States, where the largest concentration is in Mississippi.

Richard Webber, visiting professor at University College, London, and one of the authors of the study, said: "The conclusion we've come to is that people think people migrate randomly to another country whereas in fact migration flows are very specific. They tend to move from one part of one country to another part of another country at a specific time — Scots went to Tasmania in the 1890s, for instance, and people from Cornwall to Wyoming in the 1860s."

The reasons for names disappearing extend beyond migration. Researchers compiled a list of "most embarrassing" names, which people have tended to change.

There were 3,211 Cocks in Britain in 1881 — when most were centred around Truro — but only 826 in 1996. Likewise, the number of Handcocks, Smellies, Haggards, Slows, Willys, Piggs, Hustlers, Nutters and Glasscocks has fallen.

Conclusions can also be reached about Christian names. The upper classes, defined by educational achievement, have tended to stick to the same Christian names over time — the top 10 being Felicity, Katherine, Phillippa, Penelope, Elizabeth, Hilary, Giles, Annabel, Alastair and Jeremy. The lower classes, defined by education, are more likely to choose newer names. Tracey or Tracy, topping the list, followed by Michelle, Lee, Darren, Jason, Donna, Annie and Kelly.

The influence of British names extends outside English speaking countries. Nelson and Wellington are both used in Portugal and Brazil — Nelson Mandela's Christian name is thought by researchers to be a faint echo of Portuguese influence in South Africa.

There are many Byrons — used as a Christian name — in Greece. Further discoveries, however, will have to wait for the researchers to widen their database.

10 Things We Didn't Know Last week

Snippets harvested from the week's news, chopped, sliced and diced for your weekend convenience.

1. Everyday school expenses - such as uniforms - cost families an average £1,300 a year.

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2. Some Royal Mail stamps, which of course carry the Queen's image, are printed in Holland.

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3. 88% of couples in long and happy relationships have lips of similar size, according to research by the University of Leicester.

4. London has the best public transport system in the world (well, according to readers of TripAdvisor.com).

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5. Helen Mirren was born Ilyena Lydia Moronoff, the daughter of a Russian-born violinist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

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6. The Airfix swastika decals are banned from kits for sale in Germany.

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7. Toytown, the horse which carried Zara Phillips to equestrian gold, cost just £400.

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8. Chinese Girl, a painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff, who died last week, is believed to have sold more in print form than the Mona Lisa or Van Gogh's Sunflowers.

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See the picture here

9. Some sharks can't reproduce until the age of 20 or above.

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10. Dipping seagull eggs in oil, so they do not hatch, is seen as the best way to limit the seagull population. Shooting the birds is too dangerous, while smashing eggs just leads to gulls laying more.

(Sources: 3 - Daily Mail, Monday 28 August; 10 - the Times, Wednesday 30 August.)

Today's The Day - 2nd September

2nd September 2006

Religious events today...
Feast day of St William of Roskilde,
St Agricolus,
St Antoninus of Pamiers,
St Brocard,
and St Castor of Apt.

History Test for September 2nd
What conflagration began today in 1666 in a baker's shop? -The Great Fire of London
Which heart-throb actor was born in Beirut today in 1964? -Keanu Reeves
Born today in 1927, which pianist had hits with `Side Saddle' and `Roulette'? -Russ Conway
Today in 1963, shooting began on which film starring Kenneth Williams as Captain Fearless and Bernard Cribbins as Midshipman Albert Poop-Decker? -'Carry On Jack'
Which plaintive love song was published today in 1924 and featured in the film `Rose Marie'? -`Indian Love Call'

QUOTE
“Though Tolkien lived in the 20th century he can scarcely be called a modern writer. His roots were buried deep in early literature, and the major names in 20th-century writing meant little or nothing to him.” - Humphrey Carpenter, English writer, 1979.

Events today...

31BC Emperor Augustus (Octavian) defeated Antony at the Battle of Actium.

1652 Death of José Ribera (`Lo Spagnoletto'), Spanish painter.

1666 The Great Fire of London started; it destroyed 13,000 buildings in four days.

1752 The last day of the Julian calendar in Great Britain. The Gregorian calendar came into force on the next day which became September 14th (11 days were dropped) in order to correct the problem caused by leap years.

1792 More than a thousand people died in Paris on this day as fear of the advancing Prussian army degenerated into a drunken orgy of killing. The mob set out to execute alleged traitors and royalists still held in prison but ended up killing anyone in their way. Prisons were sacked and the inmates hacked to death. Some were subjected to mock trials with only one verdict: death. Most of the victims had been ordinary criminals. The rioting continued throughout the night.

1834 Death of Thomas Telford, Scottish engineer and canal and bridge builder.

1836 Death of William Henry aged 60 English Physician

1858 The anonymous song "The Yellow Rose of Texas" was copyrighted in New York.

1865 Boundary disputes ended between the British settlers and the Maori Kingitanga in New Zealand.

1870 Louis Napoleon handed his sword to Kaiser William of Prussia, defeated after 40 days of war that confirmed Germany as the most powerful nation in Europe.

1898 The machine gun was used for the first time in a large scale battle. (The battle of Omdurman in Sudan).

1898 General Sir Herbert Kitchener's 25,000-man Anglo-Egyptian army slaughtered a huge Mahdist dervish army at Omdurman in Sudan. At least 10,000 dervish warriors were killed. They fought bravely but were simply mown down by Kitchener's Maxim machine guns. Kitchener lost 500 men. This ended 14 years of dervish rule after the Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad, massacred General Charles Gordon and his entire garrison at Khartoum in 1885.

1906 Roald Amundsen completed his sailing round Canada's Northwest Passage.

1910 Death of "Le Douanier" Henri Rousseau, French primitive painter and customs officer, best known for his jungle scenes.

1922 Employees of the Ford Motor Company were threatened with dismissal if the odour of beer, wine or spirits was smelt on their breath, on their person or in their homes.

1923 The Irish Free State held its first elections.

1937 Death of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games.

1939 Under the National Service Bill, men aged 19-41 were conscripted in Britain.

1942 The German SS destroyed the Warsaw Ghetto, killing 50,000 Jews.

1944 American naval pilot George Bush (later to become President) was shot down in World War II returning from a bombing mission and he was successfully rescued by a submarine. His crew weren't so lucky.

1944 Anne Frank (The Diaries of Anne Frank) was sent to the concentration camp Auschwitz.

1945 Nationalist leader Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi on this day, with himself as its first president. Ho's Viet Minh guerrilla army marched into the capital the previous week when the Japanese withdrew from Vietnam after four years of occupation. Ho and other nationalists formed the Communist Viet Minh - the League for the Independence of Vietnam - in 1941, and fought alone against the Japanese. Ho was trained in Moscow, was a founding member of the French Communist Party and founded the Indo-chinese Communist Party in 1930. The British arrested him in Shanghai, and he was a thorn in the side of the French colonial government in Vietnam before the war. Ho Chi Minh had wide public support, but France had no intention of giving up Indochina and was not likely to recognise the new republic.

1945 Japan formally surrendered on this day to Supreme Allied Commander General Douglas MacArthur aboard the aircraft carrier USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, and World War Two ended. Flanked by military leaders, the frock-coated Japanese foreign minister signed the unconditional surrender announced by Emperor Hirohito in August after US atomic bombs obliterated the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The capitulation was almost as humiliating for Japan as her defeat - according to the martial code of bushido, only cowards surrendered; warriors choose death. US forces now occupied Japan while final mopping-up operations continued in Southeast Asia. In a radio broadcast after the ceremony, MacArthur expressed the hope that a better world would emerge from the carnage - and warned: "We have had our last chance. If we do not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door."

1958 South Africa's new premier Hendrik Verwoerd promised to strengthen apartheid.

1958 China's first television station opened in Peking.

1970 A rock band advertised in "Melody Maker" for a new member. The rock band was Genesis and Phil Collins answered the ad.

1973 J. R. R. Tolkien, Oxford scholar of mediaeval English, died aged 81. He was to be remembered for the story he wrote for his children about the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a furry-footed hobbit who lived in a burrow in the Shire, a bucolic idyll of Anglo-Saxon Britain. The tale grew into a saga of warriors and wizards, elves, demons, trolls and goblins locked in an awesome struggle of good and evil, with the fate of Middle Earth hanging on a lost ring - the ring of the chillingly evil dark lord Sauron. Tolkien published his Lord of the Rings in 1955, but it was not until the 1960s that anybody really noticed the book. The otherworldly Tolkien suddenly found himself the revered guru of a whole generation of flower children, their psychedelic idyll threatened by the evil lord Nixon and his military industrial complex. Tolkien cared little - he was scarcely aware of the modern world outside of his imagination. Other books include the Hobbit, and the rings saga continued in the Silmarillion, which was to be published posthumously.

1978 Gloria Fajardo, a psychology student married percussionist Emilio Estefan. She went on to have a successful singing career under her married name Gloria Estefan.

1979 Death of Felix Aylmer, British stage and screen actor who appeared most memorably as Polonius in Olivier's film Hamlet.

1980 Canadian Terry Fox, with an artificial leg, completed a 3000 mile (4800 km) run and raised $24 million (£13 million).

1982 Keith Richards' home in Surrey was badly damaged by fire, the second time in nine years.

1986 16 year old Debbie Gibson signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and began work on the album "Out of the Blue". She was still at school.

1987 The CD-video, combining digital sound with high-definition video, was launched by Philips.

1988 Wembley stadium was the venue for Amnesty International's "Human Rights Now" concert. Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Sting and Peter Gabriel were among the acts to perform.

1988 Chilean exiles led by Salvador Allende's daughter returned to Santiago.

1998 Viscount Rothermere died, aged 73.

1998 A SwissAir flight from New York to Geneva crashed off the Nova Scotia coastline in Canada. All 219 aboard were killed.

1998 Princes William and Harry appealed to the nation to stop mourning Diana a year after her death.

2003 Kurdish militants in Turkey called off a four-year ceasefire, accusing the government of neglecting Kurdish rights.

2003 Former Yugoslav president Milosevic asked to be freed for two years to prepare his defence against war crimes.

2003 Vivendi Universal said it intended to merge its entertainment business with General Electric's television network NBC.

2003 A leading expert on suicide told the Hutton inquiry that it was "well nigh certain" that Dr David Kelly took his own life.

2003 A new public services forum was set up after talks at Downing Street so that ministers could consult with trade unions about their reform plans.

2003 Dame Helen Mirren and Julie Walters attended the UK première of "Calendar Girls" in London.

2003 Sir Terry Frost, one of Britain's most renowned abstract artists, died aged 87.

2003 UK actress Emma Thompson defended her film about Argentina's 1970s "dirty war" after a critical mauling.

2004 Hostage-takers freed 32 women and children but were still holding more than 300 people at a school in Russia.

2004 UK airlines canceled flights to Florida and the Caribbean as the region prepared for Hurricane Frances.

2004 The Rugby Football Union accepted Sir Clive Woodward's resignation as England coach.

2004 Actor Tom Cruise spent two-and-a-half hours meeting fans at the UK premiere of his new film "Collateral".

2004 Terry Venables was speaking with Newcastle about the manager's job.

2005 Blues musician Fats Domino was reported to have been rescued after Hurricane Katrina, but his whereabouts were unknown.

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BIRTHDAYS (for 02 September 2006)

John Howard, 280 (born 02 September 1726)
English prison reformer who campaigned for sanitary improvements and wages for gaolers rather than fees from prisoners.

Hiram Maxim, 137 (born 02 September 1869)
inventor of the auto muffler & firearm silencer.

Bill Shankly OBE, 93 (born 02 September 1913)
Died 1981. Footballer/manager

Lord George Brown, 92 (born 02 September 1914)
British Labour foreign secretary, 1966-68.

Francis Matthews, 74 (born 02 September 1932)
Actor - 'Paul Temple'

Sam Gooden, 67 (born 02 September 1939)
Singer with The Impressions - biggest UK hit 'First Impressions'

Mik Kaminski, 55 (born 02 September 1951)
Musician with ELO

Mark Harmon, 55 (born 02 September 1951)
Actor - 'Chicago Hope'

Jimmy Connors, 54 (born 02 September 1952)
American tennis player.

Steve Porcaro, 49 (born 02 September 1957)
Musician with Toto

Paul Deakin, 47 (born 02 September 1959)
Singer with The Mavericks

Keanu Reeves, 42 (born 02 September 1964)
Actor - 'Bill and Ted' 'Dracula' 'Speed'

Lennox Lewis, 41 (born 02 September 1965)
Boxer