ON THIS DAY

1842: Lord Ashley’s Mine Act prevents women and children under 10 from working underground in Britain.

1885: First commercially operated electrical tram begins operation in Baltimore.

1914: France declares war on Austria-Hungary at start of World War I.

1945: Japan offers to surrender in World War II if Emperor Hirohito is permitted to keep his throne.

1964: Pope Paul VI issues his first encyclical, Ecclesiam Suam, stating his willingness to mediate in international disputes.

1966: Orbiter 1 is launched from Cape Kennedy and becomes the first spacecraft to transmit

1998: More than 2000 people die in flooding in China.

Birthdays: Antonio Banderas, Spanish actor (1960-); Jon Farriss, INXS rock musician (1961-); Brenton Thwaites, Australian actor (1989-).