ON THIS DAY
532
The
Nika riots break out in Constantinople, starting at a chariot race when citizens angry at emperor Justinian begin a path of destruction across the city
1898
French
author Emile Zola publishes an open letter in the newspaper L’Aurore denouncing the French general staff for its role in the 1894 treason conviction of Jewish French army officer Alfred Dreyfus
1923
Boy
Charlton breaks the 880 yards freestyle swimming record, clocking 11:05.2 in Sydney at the NSW championships. He takes 19 seconds off the world record
1981
Sydney
police trap Gregory McHardie trying to collect the Woolworths ransom in the water at Taronga Park wharf.
2001
About
800 people are killed when an earthquake strikes San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. Many thousands are left homeless
2008
Kayakers
James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, arrive in New Zealand 62 days after leaving Australia to cross the Tasman Sea
2009
Pioneer
Australian aviator Nancy-Bird Walton dies in her Mosman home
2012
The
luxury liner Costa Concordia hits a reef before sinking off the Italian island of Giglio
2018
A
false emergency warning of an impending ballistic missile strike is accidentally sent out across Hawaii. Human error, insufficient controls and a computer glitch are blamed
2020
The
Queen gives her blessing for her grandson, Prince Harry, and wife Meghan to “step back” from royal duties