1861

The first US trans-continental telegramme is sent from San Francisco by the chief justice of California to US President Abraham Lincoln in Washington.

1882

Dr Robert Koch discovers a germ that causes pulmonary tuberculosis.

1922

The Irish parliament adopts a constitution for an Irish Free State, which formally came into existence in December.

1945

The United Nations Charter, adopted by the San Francisco Conference in June, formally comes into force.

1957

Death of Christian Dior, French fashion designer responsible for the New Look.

1962

The US blockade of Cuba begins.

1964

Northern Rhodesia becomes independent from Britain as the Republic of Zambia.

2000

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak appeals to opposition leader Ariel Sharon to join a coalition government, further dashing hopes of reconciliation with the Palestinians.

2003

The last three Concorde supersonic passenger jet flights land at Heathrow airport outside London, ending the luxury plane's 27 years of commercial service. The British Airways planes departed from New York City's John F Kennedy International Airport.

2005

Eritrea imposes new restrictions on UN peacekeepers who have complained that their ability to patrol the disputed Eritrea-Ethiopia border is already seriously hampered.

2006

Australia's government announces that more than 70,000 farmers are eligible for special federal relief after the worst drought in a century has affected more than half of Australia's farm and ranch land.

2007

Embarking on an ambitious 10-year moon exploration programme, China launches its first lunar probe.

2008

A Russian Soyuz capsule touches down in Kazakhstan after delivering the first two men to follow their fathers into space, a Russian and an American, to the international space station. — AP/REUTERS/VNS