1950: India becomes a republic.
The independent republic of India is born as the new president replaces the King as head of state and a new constitution is adopted.

1967: Three astronauts die in Apollo 1 tragedy.
Three American astronauts die when fire engulfs the Apollo capsule on its launch pad at Cape Kennedy.

1986: Seven dead in space shuttle disaster.
The American space shuttle Challenger explodes killing all seven astronauts on board.

That is an enduring tragedy from my childhood.
I was 14 and still recall where I was when I saw it happen.

Mark

1996: France halts nuclear testing.
French President Jacques Chirac says France will no longer test nuclear weapons after uproar over Pacific tests.

1965: Last farewell to Churchill.
Thousands of people pay their last respects to Britain's greatest wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill who is buried today after a full state funeral.

1961: Chimp returns safely after space flight.
A chimpanzee sent into space in a United States rocket is recovered alive and well from the sea near Florida.

1953: Violent storms claim hundreds of lives.
Violent storms wreak havoc up and down the East coast of Britain claiming hundreds of lives.

1990: De Klerk dismantles apartheid in South Africa.
The President of South Africa lifts the 30-year ban on leading anti-apartheid group the African National Congress.

1959: Buddy Holly killed in air crash.
Three young rock 'n' roll stars, including 22-year-old singer Buddy Holly, die when their plane crashes in the United States

1974: Soldiers and children killed in coach bombing.
Eleven people are killed in a bomb blast on a bus travelling to an army base in North Yorkshire.

1996: First GM food goes on sale in UK.
Two British supermarket chains will be stocking genetically modified tomato puree from today - the first GM food to be sold in this country.

1958: United players killed in air disaster.
Seven Manchester United footballers are among 21 dead after an air crash in Munich.

1992: Maastricht treaties make EU official
Ministers from the 12 countries in the European Community take another step towards political and economic union.