ON THIS DAY

1888: Tamworth, NSW, becomes first town in southern hemisphere to be lit by electricity. 1971: Chinese Communists make their first appearance at the United Nations.

1989: East Germany opens its borders leading to the eventual tearing down of the Berlin Wall. 1991: Shifting positions, Serbia urges UN to send peacekeeping troops to Croatia.

1999: France’s National Assembly approves a law granting extensive legal rights to unmarried couples, including gays.

2008: Bali bombers Amrozi, his brother Mukhlas and Imam Samudra are executed by firing squad.

2015: Riot police enter the Christmas Island detention facility during a tense stand-off between detainees and authorities.

Birthdays: Australian media businessman John Singleton (1941-); Australian athlete Jana Pittman (1982-); Australian singer Delta Goodrem (1984-).