World Events Today
- The surrender of Japan, announced by the Japanese Emperor Hirohito 2 weeks previously, was formally signed today in 1945, it brought an official end to World War II
- Barack Obama became the first President of the United States to visit a site north of the Arctic Circle today in 2015, he visited the town of Kotzebue in Alaska
- There was a large fire at the National Museum of Brazil today in 2018, over 90% of its archive of 20 million items were destroyed
Entertainment Events Today
- The American golfer Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural Tournament Players Championship today in 1974, it is now known as the Players Championship
- Pearl Jam were the biggest winner at the MTV Video Music Awards today in 1993, they won 4 awards for the video of their hit single Jeremy
- The fantasy comedy movie Being John Malkovich, starring John Cusack and Cameron Diaz, premiered at the 56th annual Venice International Film Festival today in 1999
Family Events Today
- The actor Keanu Reeves, star of the John Wick franchise and The Matrix, was born today in 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon
- J R R Tolkien, best known for his fantasy novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, died today in 1973 aged 81
- The legendary entertainer Roy Castle, OBE, who presented the long running British television series Record Breakers, died today in 1994 aged 62
Main Event Today
- The Great Fire of London started today in 1966 and raged for 4 days, more than 80% of the homes within the medieval city were destroyed
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Blueberry Popsicle Day