ON THIS DAY

1815: Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates for second time after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. 1863: First gaslights come on in Adelaide. 1911: Britain’s King George V is crowned at Westminster Abbey.

1940: France signs an armistice with Germany at Compiegne in World War II.

1941: Germany invades Soviet Union.

1977: John Mitchell becomes first former US Attorney-General to go to jail for his role in the Watergate cover-up.

1990: Freed African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela addresses the UN in New York. 2014: Russian President Vladimir Putin expresses support for Ukraine’s declaration of a ceasefire in its battle against pro-Russian separatists.

Birthdays: US actor Meryl Streep (1949-); Australian sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney (1953-); Australian model Lara Bingle (1987-).