In 2004 NASA’s Mars Rover Opportunity landed on the surface of the Red Planet. In March 2004 just a few months after touchdown Opportunity with send back data proving once and for all that Mars did indeed have the correct conditions for life at some point in its history.

In 1995 Russia prepared to launch its nuclear weapons on western targets. The action came after Norway sent a rocket into the atmosphere to make scientific studies of the Aurora. Russia’s early warning system detected the missile moments after launch and the suitcase held by Russian President Boris Yeltsin was activated for the first time, allowing the president to fire their nuclear weapons remotely. Thankfully Russia’s command centre determined that the missile would land outside the Russian borders and within eight minutes of the initial launch detection it was determined that it was not part of a western ‘First Strike’ operation.

In 1980 Paul McCartney was released from a Tokyo Jail after nine days and deported from Japan. McCartney was jailed after he entered the country for a planned tour on the 16^th of January 1980 and while at the airport it was discovered he was carrying half a pound or eight ounces of Marijuana in his hand luggage. He assured the Japanese officials it was for personal use but the amount was large enough for drug smuggling charges.

In 1964 the Beatles got to number 1 in the United States for the first time with their single ‘I want to hold your hand’.

In 1949 Israel held their first elections.

In 1947 notorious gangster A Capone dies of pneumonia and heart failure in his mansion in Florida, US.

In 1942 Thailand, who at the time were close allies of Japan, declared war on the Allied Forces of World War II which included Great Britain, The United States and the United Soviet States of Russia.

In 1909 the world’s largest diamond is discovered at a mine in Pretoria, South Africa. The diamond is 3,106 carats and weighs 1.33 pounds and named the ‘Cullinan diamond’ after Sir Cullinan who owned the mine.