ON THIS DAY

1656: Spain declares war on England. 1771: first published. 1875: 102 die when steamer hits a reef south of Townsville. 1905: Death of French novelist Jules Verne. 1920: Nazi Party organised in Germany. 1981: Buckingham Palace announces engagement of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. 1989: Cargo door of a United Airlines jumbo jet blows out on flight from Los Angeles to Sydney; nine die. 2012: Gordon Wood walks free after successful appeal against 2008 murder conviction over death of his girlfriend Caroline Byrne at The Gap in 1995. 2016: Independent report into downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 blames Russian Government. Birthdays: David Williamson, playwright (1942-); Alain Prost, French race car driver (1955-); Steve Jobs, US computer pioneer (1955-2011); Floyd Mayweather, US boxer (1977-); Lleyton Hewitt, tennis player (1981-).