In 2001 the UK government launched its campaign to convince parents that the MMR vaccine was safe. Many parents had opted not to give their children the triple measles, mumps and rubella vaccine due to fears that it can cause autism in children. But Sir Donaldson, the chief medical officer insists there is no link and the 5% drop in children being administered the vaccine could cause a measles epidemic. The link between the triple MMR jab and autism was first publically made by Dr Wakefield who claims that the combined jab damages the gut, allowing bacteria and disease to enter the blood stream harming the brain, but his theory has never been proved.
In 1991 Iraq fires on Israel in a bid to draw them into the conflict. Iraq hopes by drawing Israel into war they will gain allies within the Arab world. Iraq fired four missiles injuring 96 people.
In 1990 President Mikhail Gorbachev made a public statement to the people of Russia to explain his decision to order the Russian army into Azerbaijan on the 20th of January 1990. He explained that it was to stop the growing conflict between Azeris Muslims and Armenian Christians. He declared his regret to the deaths that followed the deployment where 60 people died in the capital of Baku and expressed a wish for the understanding of the Russian people for his decision. After Azerbaijan gained its Independence from Russia in 1991 the scale of the conflict between the people of Azerbaijan became more prominent and in 1992 a full scale war broke out within the country. The war would last five years and claim over 20,000 lives.
In 1901 Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland died ending the longest reign of any British Monarch. She became Queen of England in 1837 at the age of 18 after her Uncle King William IV died (Queen Victoria reigned a total of 63 years).
In 871 the Battle of Basing took place. Danish invaders had established a camp in Wessex, England and had already fought several battles with the native Saxons led by King Ethelred. At the Battle of Basing the Danish invaders fought off the Saxons but two months later they were defeated at the Battle of Marton by King Ethelred and his men.
In 1924 Vladimir Lenin dies of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 54. Lenin was the first leader of the Soviet Union and the founder of the communist revolution in Russia.
