It happened today – this day in history – December 30

1460: The Duke of York is killed at the Battle of Wakefield in the War of the Roses.

1730: About 37,000 people died when an earthquake hit Japan.

1865: Birth of author Rudyard Kipling in Bombay.

1877: Johnannes Brahms’ second Symphony in D, premieres in Vienna.

1922: Creation of the USSR formally proclaimed in Moscow.

1965: Ferdinand Marcos is inaugurated as President of The Philippines.

1968: Frank Sinatra records “My Way.” On the same day, Trygve Lie, first Secretary-General of the United Nations, dies aged 72.

1969: Peter Tork quit The Monkees, buying himself out of his contract which left him broke.

1970: Boxer Sonny Liston dies aged 38.

1972: President Richard Nixon halts the bombing of North Vietnam and announces peace talks.

1974: After four years The Beatles partnership is legally dissolved.

1979: Composer Richard Rodgers dies aged 77.

1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge wins the Ballon d’Or.

1999: George Harrison and his wife Olivia were attacked when an intruder broke into their home in Henley-on-Thames. Olivia beat off the attacker with a poker and heavy lamp. George was stabbed in the chest was admitted to hospital with a collapsed lung.

2002: Diana Ross was arrested for drink driving by the Arizona highway patrol. When asked to walk in a straight line she fell over.

2004: Bandleader Artie Shaw dies aged 94.

2006: Former leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein is hanged in Baghdad.

BIRTHDAYS: Mike Nesmith, musician, 77; Patti Smith, poet, 73; Jeff Lynne, musician/producer, 72; Tracey Ullman, actress, 60; Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, 56; Jay Kay, singer (Jamiroquai) 50; Tiger Woods, golfer, 44; Eliza Dushku, actress, 39; Kristin Kreuk, actress, 37; Ellie Goulding, singer/songwriter 33.