Today in History

1620 – The Mayflower docks at modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, and passengers prepare to begin their new settlement, Plymouth Colony. 1642 – First known encounter between Europeans and Ma¯ori as Abel Tasman’s expedition sails around Farewell Spit and into Golden Bay.

1865 – Slavery is abolished in the United States, as the 13th

Amendment is formally adopted into the US Constitution. 1892 – The Nutcracker Suite ,by

Pyotr Tchaikovsky, left, premieres in St Petersburg, Russia. 1912 – Discovery is announced of Piltdown Man, a supposed evolutionary ‘‘missing link’’, in a chalk pit in southern England. It was later revealed to be a hoax, possibly perpetrated by a volunteer at the British Museum.

1916 – Ten-month Battle of Verdun ends after huge loss of life: 543,000 French and 434,000 German troops were killed in the battle.

1956 – Japan is admitted to the United Nations.

1988 – Air NZ female cabin crew win landmark ruling in the Equal Opportunities Tribunal, over claims that they were denied the same promotion opportunities as male co-workers.

2005 – Forty-three homeless people are trampled to death in a stampede in Chennai, southern India, during the distribution of flood relief supplies.

2014 – Islamic extremist group Boko Haram kidnaps at least 185 people, including women and children, in northeast Nigeria.

Birthdays

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria (1863-1914); Joseph Stalin, Soviet dictator (1878-1953); Willy Brandt, German politician (1913-83); Keith Richards, English rock musician (1943-); Steven Spielberg, US film director (1946-); Brad Pitt, US actor (1963-); Katie Holmes, US actress (1978-); Christina Aguilera, US singer (1980-).