A grief-stricken France mourned singer, actor and activist Yves Montand, recalling with affection the Italian-born entertainer, so widely loved that he was once tipped as a possible president. Montand, 70, suffered a heart attack while filming with director Jean Jacques Beineix in the woods near Paris and died of a second thrombosis 13 hours later at a hospital in Senlis. “If anything should happen to me at my age, I have lived long enough and well enough to regret nothing,” he told ambulance men who rushed him to hospital. Tributes poured in from politicians, actors, directors and musicians, praising Montand’s 40 films, his award-winning songs and his many campaigns for social justice and human rights.
Other important events:
1799
Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power in France, making himself one of three consuls.
1882
Franco-British dual control of Egypt is established.
1918
German Emperor Wilhelm II abdicates and Germany is declared a republic.
1937
Japanese troops take Shanghai.
1953
Cambodia gains independence within French Union.
1962
The US completes emergency airlift of arms and ammunition to India during the border war with China.
1963
Twin disasters strike Japan as 450 miners are killed in a coal-dust explosion and 160 people die in a train crash.
1965
The death penalty is abolished in the United Kingdom.
1971
Chinese Communists make their first appearance at the United Nations for conference on problems facing main delegation on its way from Beijing.
1976
UN General Assembly approves 10 resolutions condemning South African apartheid.
1985
Garry Kasparov becomes the youngest chess champion at the age of 22.
1986
Atef Sedki, Egypt’s top financial watchdog is appointed Prime Minister.
1987
A bomb explodes during rush hour in a crowded neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing at least 32 people.
1989
Berliners celebrate the fall of the Wall, after East Germany opens borders.
1990
Nepal becomes a constitutional monarchy.
1991
The Palestinian Liberation Organisation resumes normal ties with Syria following years of animosity.
1992
Russia and Britain sign the first comprehensive treaty between the two countries in more than two centuries.
1995
Sharjah sets up the creation of a Higher Children’s Council.
2005
Terrorist attacks on three hotels in Amman, Jordan kill more than 50 people.
2007
32 miners are killed in a coal mine gas leak in south-west China’s Guizhou province.
2008
South African singer Miriam Makeba, collapses and dies at a concert in Italy.
2009
Hurrican Ida strikes El Salvador and kills 124 people.
2010
Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and head of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi quit over graft scandals.
2012
General David Petraues, Director of CIA, resigns over extra marital affair.
2013
Typhoon Haiyan hits central Philippines and kills more than 1,200 people.
2014
India successfully test-fires medium-range nuclear-capable Agni-II missile with a strike range of more than 2,000km.
2015
braham Keita a Liberian teen gets Children Peace Prize 2015, for his special efforts to improve children’s rights in his country.
