1906 - The Simplon Tunnel opened, connecting Italy and Switzerland through the Alps.

1935 - T. E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, died after a motorcycle accident. He described his military exploits during World War II in the book "Seven Pillars of Wisdom".

1958 - Ronald Colman, British actor in Hollywood, died. He won an Oscar for his role in the film "A Double Life".

1974 - Valery Giscard d'Estaing defeated Francois Mitterrand in a runoff to become president of France.

1993 - The United States recognized the Angolan government after its democratic reforms and urged the rebel UNITA movement to negotiate peace.

1994 - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died.

1997 - A cyclone struck Bangladesh, killing 105 people and making more than a million homeless.

2000 - South Korean prime minister Park Tae-joon resigned over allegations of tax evasion.

2001 - Arab foreign ministers, meeting in Egypt, recommended the suspension of political contacts with the Israeli government until it halted military assaults against the Palestinians.