ON THIS DAY

1558: Ferdinand I assumes title of Holy Roman Emperor without being crowned by the Pope.

1689: Convention Parliament meets in Scotland, and William and Mary are proclaimed King and Queen of England.

1863: Goulburn, 195km southwest of Sydney, is proclaimed Australia’s first inland city.

1942: Australians are required to carry identity cards in World War II.

1983: OPEC agrees to cut its oil prices by 15 per cent for first time in its 23-year history. 2015: Australia prepares to send emergency response teams to Vanuatu, after Cyclone Pam wreaked devastation on the island nation.

Birthdays: Albert Einstein, German- born physicist (1879-1955); Michael Caine, English actor (1933-); Quincy Jones, US composerconductor (1933-); Billy Crystal, US actorcomedian (1948-).