2012 - The Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia runs aground at Isola de Giglio, killing 32. The eight-year-old vessel was on the first leg of a cruise around the Mediterranean Sea when she deviated from her planned route and struck a rock formation on the sea floor.

2001 - Sven Goran Eriksson becomes the first non-British manager to be appointed coach of the England national football team. Eriksson had initially agreed to take over after the expiration of his contract in June 2001, but decided to resign his post early at Lazio.

1980 - Nigel Short, age 14, from Bolton, Lancashire, became the youngest International Master in the history of chess.

1985 - The C5 electric car, with a top speed of 15 mph (the fastest allowed in the UK without a driving licence) was demonstrated by its inventor, Sir Clive Sinclair. It retailed for £399 but only 17,000 were ever sold.

2015 - Wing Commander Nikki Thomas became the first woman to command an RAF fast jet squadron, taking charge of the newly reformed No. 12 Squadron at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

2004 - The liner RMS Queen Mary 2, was named by Queen Elizabeth II. At the time of her construction in 2003 she was the longest, widest and tallest passenger ship ever built.

1990 – The iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned “too far,” which resulted in its closure. The tower’s bells were removed to reduce the weight, and it was reopened to the public on December 15, 2001.

1977 - The music publisher EMI ended its contract with the notorious punk rock group, Sex Pistols, after reports the band had vomited and spat their way on to a flight from London's Heathrow Airport bound for the Netherlands.

1993 - The oil tanker ‘Braer’ was wrecked in hurricane force winds off the Shetland Islands, discharging large amounts of crude oil.