1960 - Cyprus became an independent republic, with Archbishop Makarios as its first president. (Image: Wikimedia Commons/ text: Reuters)
1977 - Elvis Presley died aged 42 from heart failure brought on by abuse of prescribed drugs. (Image & text: Reuters)
1991 –The crash of Indian Airlines Flight 257, a Boeing 737-200, during its approach to Imphal Airport, leads to the death of 69 people on board. (Image: Reuters)
2002 - Palestinian Abu Nidal, the world's most prolific and hotly pursued guerrilla mastermind, died aged 65. Abu Nidal, whose real name was Sabri al-Bana, headed a group called Fatah-The Revolutionary Council. (Image & text: Reuters)
2003 - Idi Amin, one of Africa's bloodiest despots who ruled Uganda from 1971 for 8 years, is no more. (Image: Reuters)
2004 - The United States said it would withdraw about 70,000 troops from Europe and Asia in a major restructuring of military forces prompted by the end of the Cold War. (Image: AP/ text: Reuters)