World Events Today
- In what was considered a Cold War victory, the Soviet Union confirmed the R-7 Semyorka, the world’s first intercontinental ballistic missile, was ready for operations today in 1959
- The Boeing 747 aircraft, the world’s first “Jumbo Jet”, made its maiden flight today in 1969
- The Provisional Irish Republican Army, the IRA, ended a 17-month ceasefire today in 1996, they exploded a large bomb in the back of a truck in the London Docklands area
Entertainment Events Today
- The Beatles, on their first tour of the United States, appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show today in 1964, it is estimated that over 70 million people tuned in
- The Nottingham Forest manager, Brian Clough, signed Trevor Francis from Birmingham City today in 1979, he became the first 1 million pound player in English football
- The 23rd Winter Olympics opened today in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea
Family Events Today
- The American actor Joe Pesci, mostly known for his tough guy roles in Goodfellas and Casino, was born today in 1943 in New Jersey
- William John Clifton Haley, better known as the American rock and roll legend Bill Haley, died today in 1981 aged 55
- Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, died today in 2002 aged 71
Main Event Today
- The Knights of Malta celebrated their 900th anniversary today in 2013, 4,000 of them marched in procession to the tomb of Saint Peter in the Vatican
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Pizza Day