On this day…

1498 Christopher Columbus discovers the island of Trinidad on his third voyage

1879 The first cable connection between South Africa and Europe is laid by the British electrical engineer Charles Tilston Bright as part of his project to link the British Empire with growing telecommunications technologies

1929 Oriana Fallaci, Italian journalist and writer, born in Florence, Italy (d. 2006)

1959 Cliff Richard and the Shadows have their 1st British No. 1 single with “Living’ Doll” (biggest British single of 1959)

1965 J. K. Rowling, English writer (Harry Potter novels), born in Yate, Gloucestershire

1973 Delta Airlines DC-9 crashes in fog at Logan Airport, Boston, killing all but one of 89 aboard. Lone survivor dies 5 months later

1990 Bosnia-Hercegovina declares independence

1991 Russia and US sign long range nuclear weapons reduction pact

1991 Senate votes to allow women to fly combat aircraft

2006 Fidel Castro temporarily hands over power to brother Raúl Castro.

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