1991: Yugoslav troops invade Slovenia
Yugoslav tanks, troops and aircraft sweep into the small republic of Slovenia, 48 hours after it declared independence.
1986: US guilty of backing Contras
The International Court of Justice finds the United States guilty of violating international law by supporting rebels in Nicaragua.
1977: Home Secretary jeered on picket line
Home Secretary Merlyn Rees appeals for calm following two weeks of violent clashes outside the Grunwick factory in north London.
1957: Smoking 'causes lung cancer'
The link between smoking and lung cancer is one of 'direct cause and effect', a report by the Medical Research Council finds.
1957: Smoking 'causes lung cancer'
The link between smoking and lung cancer is one of 'direct cause and effect', a special report by the Medical Research Council has found.
The report, published today, studied the dramatic increase in deaths from lung cancer over the past 25 years and concluded the main cause was smoking.
But tobacco firms have rejected the findings saying they are merely a 'matter of opinion'.
The government has indicated that an educational campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of smoking will be launched via local health authorities.
Shares unaffected
The report states that in 1945 the mortality rate from lung cancer was 188 deaths in every million. Ten years later the figure had almost doubled to 388 in every million.
The report, which looked at evidence from 21 investigations in six countries, found cigarette smoking to be the predominant cause for this rise.
Mr Vaughan-Morgan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health said: "The government feels that it is right to ensure that this latest authoritative opinion is brought effectively to public notice, so that everyone may know the risks involved."
But he made it clear that people, armed with the facts, would be able to make up their own minds and smoking would not be banned.
The prohibition of smoking in theatres, cinemas and public transport is not on the agenda, he added.
It is estimated that between ?00m and ?20m in revenue is generated by the sale of cigarettes.
The Conservatives have questioned what alternative taxes the government would introduce to cover that figure should cigarette smoking now be eliminated.
Members of the general public, asked by the BBC for their reaction to the findings, appeared unphased.
One smoker said that, although he was not considering giving up smoking himself, he thought the younger generation would be well advised not to start.
Another man said he was "not frightened at all" by the findings and may even consider increasing the number of cigarettes he smokes each day.
These views were reflected on the stock market where shares in leading tobacco companies remained largely unaffected by the news.
In Context
In the 46 years since this report suggested a definite link between smoking and lung cancer, the connection has been firmly established.
Lung cancer now kills 20,000 people every year and health experts predict that life-time smokers have a 50% chance of dying of a smoking-related illness in middle-age.
It is also been established that tobacco smoking causes 25 different diseases including heart disease and strokes.
By 2020, the World Health Organisation expects the worldwide death toll to reach 10 million, causing 17.7% of all deaths in developed countries.
There are believed to be 1.1 billion smokers in the world, 800,000 of them in developing countries.
(STILL SOME 40something YEARS LATER .... STILL, THOSE BIG COMPANIES STILL MAKING BIG MONEY)
>>June 26, 2003 at 5:32:41 PM GMT+8
2003 年 6 月 25 日 星期三 【晴】
Last Updated: Thursday, 26 June, 2003, 13:18 GMT 14:18 UK
Sir Denis Thatcher dies
Sir Denis Thatcher, the husband of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has died, a spokesman for the family has announced.
The 88-year-old, who had heart surgery in January this year, returned to hospital after feeling unwell two weeks ago.
He died at the Lister Hospital in London on Thursday morning.
A spokesman for the Thatcher family said: "It is with deep sadness that we have to announce that Sir Denis Thatcher passed away peacefully this morning in the Lister Hospital after a short illness."
Baroness Thatcher and their children Mark and Carol were at Sir Denis' bedside when he died.
Hospital tests
The union flag at Conservative Central Office in London was lowered on Thursday in a mark of respect for Sir Denis.
Sir Denis had originally been at the Royal Brompton Hospital, where doctors had said they wanted him to have more tests when he was readmitted to hospital as a "precautionary measure".
He was later transferred to the Lister Hospital.
He was said to have been in good spirits and had received several visits from Lady Thatcher.
Although he had enjoyed success as a millionaire businessman, Sir Denis' public fame owed most to his marriage to Margaret Thatcher.
His motto in that role was the prime ministers' consorts should be "always present, never there".
Sir Bernard Ingham, Baroness Thatcher's former press secretary said: "I am extremely sad that he has died. I have very many fond memories of him as the prime minister's consort and husband.
"He was extremely loyal and supportive in that position. He was in fact a manifest role model for any prime minister's consort."
'Shrewd advice'
Lady Thatcher said of her husband in her autobiography, "The Downing Street Years": "I could never have been prime minister for more that eleven years without Denis by my side.
"He was a fund of shrewd advice and penetrating comment. And he very sensibly saved these for me rather than the outside world."
Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said he was devastated by the death of "one of the most decent, determined and kind people that we have known".
"In a world that so often seems to have lost its manners, Denis Thatcher represented so much of what was best in the wartime generation."
Mr Duncan Smith said Sir Denis had played a "vital role" in his wife's success, as well as being a successful businessman and brave soldier in his own right.
Tory MP John Whittingdale, who used to be Baroness Thatcher's political secretary, described Sir Denis and immensely courteous and very generous.
"Denis was held in enormous respect and affection through the whole country, not matter what people's political views," he said.
"He made a huge contribution to Mrs Thatcher's political career. He was behind the scenes all the time giving her support and I think she and her family will miss him dreadfully."
'Bulwark'
At a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tony Blair said: "Sir Denis was a kind and generous-hearted man, a real gentleman who had many friends here and abroad.
"I know how much he meant to Margaret Thatcher and to the whole family and I know whatever part of the political spectrum we are on, we would like to send our deepest condolences and sympathy to the Thatcher family."
There was a tribute from former Daily Telegraph editor Bill Deedes, the recipient of Sir Denis' fictional Dear Bill letters in Private Eye.
Lord Deedes, a close friend of Sir Denis, said: "There were hidden depths to Denis Thatcher. He was very self-effacing.
"He kept himself out of the limelight and he concealed his virtues for his friends as well as everyone else."
Lord Deedes said Sir Denis had been a "bulwark" to Baroness Thatcher and was able to provide a calmer outlook at times.
Long marriage
Sir Denis left hospital 11 days after his heart by-pass in January, with doctors calling the operation a "complete success".
At the time his daughter put his quick recovery down to "copious gin drinking".
Last year, Baroness Thatcher turned down an invitation to visit the Falklands, saying the trip would have been "too gruelling" for her husband.
Sir Denis is said to have been the key influence in persuading his wife to bow out of public speaking after she suffered a series of slight strokes.
She has defied doctors, however, by attending a number of functions.
Baroness Thatcher said she could not have made it to the top without him.
They were married for more than 50 years, including 11 at Downing Street.
" He was always by her side when needed, a constant and trusted companion" ~ Tony Blair
好得人驚呀
原來91年6月25日 Slovenia(斯洛文尼亞)獨立都唔夠兩日 (6月27日) 南斯拉夫就派兵打佢喇 ...
1991: Yugoslav troops invade Slovenia (June 27th)
Yugoslav tanks, troops and aircraft have swept into the small republic of Slovenia, 48 hours after it declared independence.
Federal forces moved to seize control of border crossing points with Italy, Austria and Hungary and launched an assault on the airport near the province's capital, Ljubijana.
More government tanks rolled into a town in neighbouring Croatia, which is also seeking independence. At least seven people have died and 100 have been reported injured in the clashes so far.
The Slovene administration has rejected a call by the Yugoslav prime minister for a three-month truce to allow negotiations to take place, demanding troops be withdrawn first.
Re-establish federal control
Road access to the capital has been blocked by police and paramilitary forces from the self-declared state. The government in Ljubijana said they had seized or destroyed 15 tanks and shot down six helicopters.
"There is war in Slovenia - there are conflicts in at least 20 places," said Defence Minister Janez Jansa.
The British Government condemned the use of force in the country and called for dialogue between the two sides.
But a spokesman for the Yugoslav defence ministry warned the federal army would "carry out its obligations to the end, regardless of the type of resistance".
A message from the military commander of the district, General Konrad Kolsek, to Ljubijana stated clearly his mission was to re-establish federal control over the province.
"The order will be executed unconditionally - we shall proceed according to the rules of combat... All resistance will be broken," it said.
>>June 25, 2003 at 6:45:17 PM GMT+8
2003 年 6 月 25 日 星期三 【晴】
On This Day:
1970: Violence flares as Devlin is arrested
Riots break out in Londonderry after it is revealed Bernadette Devlin has been arrested.
2000: IRA weapons dump inspected
International inspectors say they have seen a large number of IRA weapons "safely and adequately stored" in bunkers.
1986: Branson on course for Blue Riband
Entrepreneur Richard Branson sets off on his second attempt to claim the transatlantic crossing record for Britain.
1959: Queen and Eisenhower open seaway
The Queen and President Eisenhower inaugurate the St Lawrence Seaway in Canada that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic.
On This Day
1970: New peace plan for Middle East
The United States launches its latest plan to end the current war of attrition between Israel and Egypt.
( BUT IS MIDDLE EAST PEACE NOW AFTER 33 YEARS?)
1950: UN condemns North Korean invasion
North Korea has invaded South Korea at several points along the two countries' joint border.
2001: Race violence erupts in Burnley
The ring leaders of a weekend of racial clashes in Burnley, Lancashire, are hunted by the police as the clear up in the town begins.
1985: Police hunt IRA resort bombs
Thirteen people are arrested in connection with a suspected IRA bombing campaign uncovered by police two days ago.
1991: Yugoslav troops invade Slovenia
1999: 人大釋法
好得人驚呀
當年今日:
今日都唔知寫咩好
哨牙大粒墨癦袁佩婷