21 September-Malta

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The Republic of Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea about 80km south of Italy. The country, which is an archipelago of six islands and islets, covers almost 320km²and has a population of around 450,000. It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Valletta is the capital city of Malta.

From pre-historic times Malta has been occupied by various powers. These included the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Spanish, French and British. Malta became part of the British Empire in 1814 under the treaty of Paris and remained under British rule until 1964. It became a Republic on December 13^th 1974. Today Malta has an advanced economy and is a member of the European Union. It is a major tourist destination.

Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the year 1964 On This Day.

Photo by Ben124.

Malta: Valetta by Ben124. on 2013-09-23 17:15:51

Photo by foxypar4

Alleway; Mdina, Malta by foxypar4 on 2008-11-25 10:22:56

Photo by Ben124.

Malta: Sliema sunrise by Ben124. on 2013-09-22 06:03:02

28 December-Dr Zhivago

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Doctor Zhivago is an award winning movie. The movie, which was released in 1965 was based on a novel of the same name. The novel was written by poet and novelist Boris Pasternak who was a native of soviet Russia. It was published in 1959. The movie, Doctor Zhivago was the winner of five Oscars at the Academy Awards in 1966. It has a total running time of 197 minutes.

Filming of the award winning movie “Dr. Zhivago” began on location near Madrid, Spain in the year 1964 On This Day.

Photo by Ayuntamiento de Soria

doctor zhivago

Photo by jeffedoe

20 March-Brendan Behan

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Brendan Behan was a native of Dublin, Ireland. He was an author of poems, short stories, novels and plays. He was also involved in republican activities for which he served time in prison. His writing is noted for its satire and political commentary.

Brendan Behan was born Brendan Francis Aidan Behan at Holles Street Hospital on February 9^th 1923. His family was staunchly republican. At the age of 13 Behan left school to work as painter with his father. By then he was drinking alcohol which led to him being an alcoholic all his life.

During his lifetime Behan was imprisoned in England for his republican activities. Shortly after his return to Ireland in 1942 he was convicted of the attempted murder of a policeman. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, during which time he studied the Irish language. He left the republican movement in 1947.

In 1948 Behan moved to Paris to concentrate on his writing. During his career he produced a large volume of work. His most famous works include ‘The Quare Fellow’, ‘The Hostage’ and ‘Borstal Boy’. His plays were staged in Dublin, London and New York.

Brendan Behan, author of poems, short stories, novels and plays died at the age of 41 in the year 1964 On This Day.

Photo by jbraine

Brendan Behan

12 February-Channel Tunnel

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The Channel Tunnel is a rail tunnel which links Folkestone in England with Calais in northern France. The Channel Tunnel runs beneath the English Channel and is 50.5km (31.4) long. Nicknamed The Chunnel it began operations in 1994.

A French engineer, Albert Mathieu, first suggested a tunnel linking England and France in 1802. Despite several initiatives the project did not proceed until The Treaty of Canterbury was signed in February 1986. Two years later tunnelling began on both sides of the English Channel.

Two years after tunnelling began the service tunnel was completed. British and French workers met under the English Channel on December 1st 1990. The island of Britain was connected to the European mainland for the first time since the Ice Age.

Tunnels for freight and passenger trains running on either side of the service tunnel were completed during the following years. The Channel Tunnel was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and the French President, François Mitterrand on May 6th 1994. Today high-speed passenger trains, freight and automobile shuttles and rail freight trains pass through the Tunnel.

The Treaty of Cambridge under which France and Great Britain agreed to build the Channel Tunnel was signed in the year 1964 On This Day.

Photo by Zemlinki!

Channel Tunnel entrance

Photo by roger4336

Punch – Channel Tunne

17 January-Michelle Obama

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Michelle Obama is a lawyer and writer who is a native of the USA. She is the wife of Barack Obama the 44^th President of the United States. Michelle Obama is the first African-American First Lady.

Michelle Obama was born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson in Chicago, Illinois in 1964. She graduated from Princeton University with a BA degree in 1985. She went on to study law at Harvard Law School graduating Juris Doctor in 1988. She later worked at a law firm in Chicago where she met Barack Obama, who she married on October 3^rd 1992.

Barack Obama was elected president of the United States in 2008 and again in 2012. Michelle Obama played a leading role in both election campaigns. As First Lady she focussed her attention on promoting healthy living, physical activity and education. During the 2016 Presidential election Michele Obama strongly supported the campaign of Hillary Clinton.

Michelle Obama was born in the year 1964 On This Day.

Photo by gademocrats

First Lady Michelle Obama official photographic portrait by gademocrats on 2009-02-18 12:08:02