BBC ON THIS DAY

1995: Serial killer West found hanged

Fred West, the Gloucestershire builder charged with 12 murders, is found dead in his prison cell.

2000: World celebrates New Millennium
Billions of people around the world welcome in the New Millennium with some of the most spectacular celebrations ever seen.

Aerial view of the Berlaymont building in Brussels

1973: Britain joins the EEC
The United Kingdom becomes a fully-fledged member of the European Economic Community.

1978: Newspaper editor flees South Africa
Newspaper editor Donald Woods arrives in London after fleeing South Africa's apartheid regime.

1959: Rebel army drives out Cuban dictator
The President of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista, flees the country in the face of a relentless advance by the rebel army of Fidel Castro.

2002: Celebrations as euro hits the streets
Twelve of the European Union's 15 countries wake up to life with a new currency as the euro reaches the streets.

Around this Day

29 December

Top Story1998: Six die as huge waves smash into yachts

30 December

Top Story1994: Gunman kills two women at abortion clinic

31 December

Top Story1964: Campbell speeds to double record

2 January

Top Story1971: Sixty-six die in Scottish football disaster

3 January

Top Story1980: Afghan leader defends Soviet invasion

4 January