ON THIS DAY

1040: King Duncan of Scotland is murdered by Macbeth, who then becomes king and rules for 17 years.

1863: First Kanakas arrive in Brisbane for employment on cotton plantation.

1893: France becomes the first country to introduce motor vehicle registration plates.

1945: Japan surrenders to United States, ending World War II.

1989: PW Botha resigns as South African president.

2008: The US bans lead from children’s toys.

2016: Australia scores a medal in every colour by day nine of the Olympic Games, with three gold, three bronze and two silver in Rio de Janeiro.

Birthdays: Hector Crawford, Australian TV producer (1913-1991); Steve Martin, US actorcomedian (1945-); Peter Costello, former Australian federal treasurer (1957-).