2010 Two Chechen suicide bombers detonate their devices in the Moscow underground

40 people died in the attack allegedly carried out by so-called “black widows”, or Islamist Chechen female suicide bombers.

2004 Ireland becomes the first country to ban smoking in all workplaces

Contrary to initial concerns, the ban had no adverse economic effects, and soon several other countries passed similar legislation. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco smoke is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally.

1974 The Terracotta Army is discovered in Xi’an, China

The famous collection of some 8000 soldier sculptures, depicting Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s army, was located by local farmers when they were digging a water well.

1971 Charles Manson is sentenced to death in the gas chamber

The sentence was never carried out because the California Supreme Court abolished the death penalty in 1972. The infamous criminal who ordered several murders continues to serve a life sentence.

1912 Robert Scott makes his final diary entry

Scott wrote: “We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far.” The British explorer and his companions died on an expedition to the South Pole.