August 31st What Happened on the day you were born on This day in History
1997 France Princess Diana
August 31, 1997: Diana The Princess of Wales and her constant companion Dodi Fayed are killed in a car crash in Paris as was the driver Henri Paul who was drunk at the time, the driver was trying to escape from Paparazzi photographers. The Princess had divorced from Prince Charles in 1996. Diana was known affectionately as ( The Peoples Princess ) because of her winning smile and caring attitude and her willingness to work for charities close to her heart including Aids and campaigning against the use of Land Mines.
August 31, 1997: Diana The Princess of Wales and her constant companion Dodi Fayed are killed in a car crash in Paris as was the driver Henri Paul who was drunk at the time, the driver was trying to escape from Paparazzi photographers. The Princess had divorced from Prince Charles in 1996. Diana was known affectionately as ( The Peoples Princess ) because of her winning smile and caring attitude and her willingness to work for charities close to her heart including Aids and campaigning against the use of Land Mines.
1888 UK Jack the Ripper
August 31, 1888 : The first attributed to victim of Jack the Ripper "Mary Ann Nichols" a prostitute from London's East End was found mutilated and murdered in London's East End close to Whitechapel Rd because of this and other murders in the area the police file was called "the Whitechapel Murders.". Jack the Ripper is thought to have murdered 11 prostitutes from 1885 to 1891 but as he was never caught , it is possible some of the murders were committed by others. "Mary Ann Nichols" and four others were definitely identified as the work of a single serial killer.
August 31, 1888 : The first attributed to victim of Jack the Ripper "Mary Ann Nichols" a prostitute from London's East End was found mutilated and murdered in London's East End close to Whitechapel Rd because of this and other murders in the area the police file was called "the Whitechapel Murders.". Jack the Ripper is thought to have murdered 11 prostitutes from 1885 to 1891 but as he was never caught , it is possible some of the murders were committed by others. "Mary Ann Nichols" and four others were definitely identified as the work of a single serial killer.
1928 U.S.A. New Service
August 31, 1928: A new service connecting Chicago and the twin cities of St Paul and Minneapolis will begin tomorrow with an integrated rail and Air service from Northwest Airways connecting with express trains to the cities, the new service will cut 8hrs off the current travel time saving a whole day of travelling.
August 31, 1928: A new service connecting Chicago and the twin cities of St Paul and Minneapolis will begin tomorrow with an integrated rail and Air service from Northwest Airways connecting with express trains to the cities, the new service will cut 8hrs off the current travel time saving a whole day of travelling.
1934 United Kingdom $5.00 to the Pound
August 31, 1934: The value of the pound sterling has dropped below the $5.00 mark for the first time since devaluation.
August 31, 1934: The value of the pound sterling has dropped below the $5.00 mark for the first time since devaluation.
1945 Japan Japanese Prisoners Of War
August 31, 1945: As Japanese prisoners of war are reaching rescue ships more and more stories of Japanese Brutality and many had spent months in solitary confinement, every single prisoner is suffering from malnutrition.
August 31, 1945: As Japanese prisoners of war are reaching rescue ships more and more stories of Japanese Brutality and many had spent months in solitary confinement, every single prisoner is suffering from malnutrition.
1954 U.S.A. Hurricane Carol
August 31, 1954 : Hurricane Carol makes landfall on Long Island and Connecticut, resulting in nearly 70 deaths and millions of dollars in damage.
August 31, 1954 : Hurricane Carol makes landfall on Long Island and Connecticut, resulting in nearly 70 deaths and millions of dollars in damage.
1957 Malaya Independence
August 31, 1957 : The hand over of power from Britain to the country of Malaya has now taken place making Malaya an independent nation but will continue to be a member of the British Commonwealth.
August 31, 1957 : The hand over of power from Britain to the country of Malaya has now taken place making Malaya an independent nation but will continue to be a member of the British Commonwealth.
1959 UK American President Dwight Eisenhower
August 31, 1959 : The British prime minister Harold Macmillan and the American President Dwight Eisenhower discuss the threat of Communism to the free world, world peace and global poverty during an historic live television broadcast from Downing Street.
August 31, 1959 : The British prime minister Harold Macmillan and the American President Dwight Eisenhower discuss the threat of Communism to the free world, world peace and global poverty during an historic live television broadcast from Downing Street.
1978 Switzerland Climate Change
August 31, 1978: 400 of the worlds top climatologists are meeting in Geneva to discuss climate change and if changes in Climate is influenced by pollution.
August 31, 1978: 400 of the worlds top climatologists are meeting in Geneva to discuss climate change and if changes in Climate is influenced by pollution.
1989 England Princess Anne Separation
August 31, 1989: Princess Anne the only daughter of the Queen of England announced her separation from her husband Mark Phillips, but they have stated they do not intend to get divorced .
August 31, 1989: Princess Anne the only daughter of the Queen of England announced her separation from her husband Mark Phillips, but they have stated they do not intend to get divorced .
1992 Germany Anti Immigrant Violence
August 31, 1992: A new unhealthy movement is gaining ground in Germany which seeks to blame Immigrants for the current economic downturn, this same movement is creating a surge of racist violence aimed at poor immigrant families.
August 31, 1992: A new unhealthy movement is gaining ground in Germany which seeks to blame Immigrants for the current economic downturn, this same movement is creating a surge of racist violence aimed at poor immigrant families.
1992 U.S.A. Randy Weaver
August 31, 1992: After a stand off siege of Randy Weaver's property in the mountains in Naples, Idaho, with several hundred federal agents surrounding the house for 11 days, during which his wife and one of his sons is killed. A deputy U.S. marshal is also killed during the standoff. Randy Weaver agrees to abandon the stand-off and surrender, He was then charged with murder and multiple firearms charges. He was acquitted of murder when his Attorney argued successfully that Weaver's actions were justifiable as self-defense. He was eventually sentenced to 18 months in prison for the failure to appear charge relating to the original firearms charges.
August 31, 1992: After a stand off siege of Randy Weaver's property in the mountains in Naples, Idaho, with several hundred federal agents surrounding the house for 11 days, during which his wife and one of his sons is killed. A deputy U.S. marshal is also killed during the standoff. Randy Weaver agrees to abandon the stand-off and surrender, He was then charged with murder and multiple firearms charges. He was acquitted of murder when his Attorney argued successfully that Weaver's actions were justifiable as self-defense. He was eventually sentenced to 18 months in prison for the failure to appear charge relating to the original firearms charges.
1998 U.S.A. Dow drops 512 points in one day
August 31, 1998 : Dow Jones index drops 512 points in a single day, finishing at 7539.1. This brings the drop to close to 20% lower since highs on 17th July when the dow stood at 9337. The fall has been blamed on problems with the Russia financial markets and worry over the latest US economic figures which indicate a slowdown in the US economy.
August 31, 1998 : Dow Jones index drops 512 points in a single day, finishing at 7539.1. This brings the drop to close to 20% lower since highs on 17th July when the dow stood at 9337. The fall has been blamed on problems with the Russia financial markets and worry over the latest US economic figures which indicate a slowdown in the US economy.
1999 Argentina Plane Crash
August 31, 1999 : A Boeing 737 Flight 3142 belonging to Lineas Aereas Privadas Argentinas (Lapa) airlines crashes in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires shortly after take off killing 69 of the 90 passengers and crew.
August 31, 1999 : A Boeing 737 Flight 3142 belonging to Lineas Aereas Privadas Argentinas (Lapa) airlines crashes in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires shortly after take off killing 69 of the 90 passengers and crew.
2000 U.S.A. US authorities blame Firestone problem tyres.
August 31, 2000 : US authorities have issued a new report increasing the number of fatalaties from 62 to 88 caused through faulty Bridgestone/Firestone tyres fitted to Ford's Explorer range of vehicles.
August 31, 2000 : US authorities have issued a new report increasing the number of fatalaties from 62 to 88 caused through faulty Bridgestone/Firestone tyres fitted to Ford's Explorer range of vehicles.
2002 South Korea Typhoon Rusa
August 31, 2002 : Typhoon Rusa strikes the South Korea peninsula leaving over 100 dead and the eastern port city of Kangnung nearly fully submerged, with water reaching the roofs of houses.
August 31, 2002 : Typhoon Rusa strikes the South Korea peninsula leaving over 100 dead and the eastern port city of Kangnung nearly fully submerged, with water reaching the roofs of houses.
2005 U.S.A. US To release more Oil
August 31, 2005 : US authorities are to release additional oil from the country's emergency stocks to provide some relief from the damage hurricane Katrina did to oil rigs and oil platforms based in the Gulf of Mexico. Concerns over the supply of oil had forced the price of a barrel of oil to new highs of $70.85 a barrel
August 31, 2005 : US authorities are to release additional oil from the country's emergency stocks to provide some relief from the damage hurricane Katrina did to oil rigs and oil platforms based in the Gulf of Mexico. Concerns over the supply of oil had forced the price of a barrel of oil to new highs of $70.85 a barrel
2006 India Execution Sentence Upheld
August 31, 2006 : The Indian Supreme Court has upheld the decision to allow the execution of two Indian Women to continue . The women had been found guilty kidnapping, using the children as young as 2 years old to beg and steal and then murdered the children.
August 31, 2006 : The Indian Supreme Court has upheld the decision to allow the execution of two Indian Women to continue . The women had been found guilty kidnapping, using the children as young as 2 years old to beg and steal and then murdered the children.
