Today in history

452 : Italy invaded by Attila the Hun

570 : Religion of Islam (submission) founded in Mecca

1786 : Commercially made ice cream first advertised (Mr. Hall New York City)

1824 : Washing machine patented by Noah Cushing of Quebec

1869 : Ives W. McGaffey of Chicago patents first vacuum cleaner (it sucks)

1889 : Cable Cars begin service in Los Angeles

1896 : First car is stolen

1928 : First USA-to-Australia flight lands (Sir Charles Kingford)

1936 : First parking meters are installed

1949 : Siam changes name to Thailand

1979 : 'The Source', the first computer public information service, goes on-line

1996 : China performs a nuclear test at Lop Nor

1999 : Red Hot Chili Peppers release 'Californication', the first album with John Frusciante in 8 years. The album goes on to sell 13 million copies worldwide.

2000 : Sinead O'Connor comes out as a lesbian in an interview with Curve magazine.

2003 : In a referendum Poland approves joining the European Union.

2006 : Shakira's single 'Hips Don't Lie' sells 266.500 downloads in its first week of availability, overtaking D4L's record of 175.000. 'Hips Don't Lie' also breaks another record gaining the greatest airplay in a single week with 9.657 plays, breaking Gwen Stefani's 'Hollaback Girl' record of 9.582

2017 : General election in the UK: the Conservatives remain the largest party but fail to get enough seats for a majority leading to a hung parliament. In a surprise result they are reduced from 330 to 318 seats. PM Theresa May rejects calls for her to resign and attempts to form a coalition with the DUP which would give her 10 additional seats. Labour gain 32 seats.