1494

Spain and Portugal, by Treaty of Tordesillas, agree to divide the New World between themselves.

1502

Gregory XIII, Pope from 1572-85, who changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian, is born as Ugo Buoncompagni.

1546

Peace of Ardres ends England's war with France and Scotland.

1848

Birth of Paul Gauguin, French post-impressionist painter who was heavily influenced by Van Gogh.

1557

England declares war on France as an ally of Spain, and Scots invade England.

1862

Britain and the United States sign a treaty for the suppression of the slave trade.

1921

The first Parliament of Northern Ireland opens.

1970

The Democratic Republic of Viet Nam establishes diplomatic relations with Somalia at ambassadorial level.

1978

Viet Nam and Turkey establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level.

1994

Viet Nam and Slovenia establish diplomatic relations.

1998

Lebanon holds its first municipal elections in 35 years. Muslim and Christian voters in Beirut endorse religious harmony.

2000

In Sri Lanka, a cabinet minister and 22 others are killed in a suicide bomb blast in a southern suburb of Colombo as the country marked its War Heroes Day.

2004

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon survives no-confidence votes in parliament, a sign that his coalition is in no immediate danger of collapse, despite Cabinet approval of a divisive Gaza withdrawal plan a day earlier.

2008

Hillary Rodham Clinton formally ends her historic bid for the White House and urges her supporters to rally behind ex-rival Barack Obama, who goes on to win the US presidency. — Agencies