Today in 1849, 174 years ago: in Spain the law is enacted that obliges the use of the decimal metric system in all commercial transactions.
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Today in 2012, 11 years ago: the conflict in Syrian Kurdistan erupts.
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Today in 1955, 68 years ago: in Lima (Peru) the School of Engineers, founded on March 18, 1876 becomes the current National University of Engineering.
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Today in 1916, 107 years ago: World War I: Battle of Fromelles: British and Australian troops attack German trenches as part of the Battle of the Somme.
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Today in 1903, 120 years ago: Maurice Garin wins the first Tour de France.
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Today in 1957, 66 years ago: over the Nevada Test Site, the United States Air Force fires the first air-to-air nuclear missile, detonating at 6000 m altitude.
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Today in 1992, 31 years ago: legislative elections are held in Vietnam for the first time in its history.
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Today in 2011, 12 years ago: Guinean President Alpha Condé survives an attempted assassination and coup d'état at his residence in Conakry.
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Today in 1918, 105 years ago: Honduras declares war on Germany, as a testimonial ally in the aftermath of World War I. Three days earlier, Haiti had done it.
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Today in 1949, 74 years ago: Laos gains independence within the French Union.
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Today in 1824, 199 years ago: in Mexico the former emperor Agustín de Iturbide is shot (who had abdicated the previous year); he had returned to his country with the intention of joining the army to repel a European invasion.
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Today in 2014, 9 years ago: Gunmen in Egypt's western desert province of New Valley Governorate attack a military checkpoint, killing at least 21 soldiers. Egypt reportedly declares a state of emergency on its border with Sudan.
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Today in 1588, 435 years ago: Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Gravelines: The Spanish Armada is sighted in the English Channel.
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Today in 1902, 121 years ago: in Switzerland the Federal Council concludes, with the signing of the Constitution.
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Today in 1980, 43 years ago: Opening of the Summer Olympics in Moscow.
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Today in 1979, 44 years ago: The oil tanker SS Atlantic Empress collides with another oil tanker, causing the largest ever ship-borne oil spill.
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Today in 1940, 83 years ago: World War II: Army order 112 forms the Intelligence Corps of the British Army.
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Today in 1993, 30 years ago: in Tuy (Pontevedra) a new international bridge over the Miño River is inaugurated, to replace the International Bridge of Tuy, which unites Spain and Portugal.
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Today in 1832, 191 years ago: The British Medical Association is founded as the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association by Sir Charles Hastings at a meeting in the Board Room of the Worcester Infirmary.
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Today in 1989, 34 years ago: in Sioux City (United States), United Airlines Flight 232 crashes. 112 of the 296 occupants died.
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