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INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

Terrorists strike for the first time in Bali, killing 202.

11 Sept - The attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC were the most ambitious and shocking terrorist strikes ever perpetrated. Two planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre, one into the Pentagon and the fourth which is believed to be destined for the Presidential retreat at Camp David never reached its target because of the actions of a group of passengers. The official death toll of 3,044 included passengers, crew, hijackers but most casualties were in the World Trade Centre. The "9/11" attacks produced a vigorous reaction from the US which virtually declared war on all terrorists worldwide and on those countries suspected of aiding them.

War is waged in Afghanistan.

22 Oct - Apple releases the Ipod

Pete Sampras wins a record seventh Wimbleton title.

25 /july - An Air France concorde supersonic aircraft with 109 on board crashes, killing all on board and 4 on the ground.

March 20 Swiss Bertran Piccard and British Brian Jones made the first round-the-world hot air balloon flight.

Work on the International Space Station begins.

Tiger Woods wins the US Masters, the youngest player and first coloured man to do so.

October 13 the British jet car Thrust SSC driven by fighter pilot Andy Green broke the sound barrier on land for the first time. In two runs across Nevada's Black Rock desert it exceeded 1220 Km/h (760 mph).

The Taliban seize power in Afghanistan after a war lasting 17 years. Their regime was overthrown in 2001.

Dolly the sheep is cloned.

January 1 - The World Trade Organisation was founded to police world trade and to push for free trade.

April 19 - A former US soldier, Timothy McVeigh, detonated a car bomb outside the Federal Building in Oklahoma. Of the 167 victims, 15 were children.

The Channel Tunnel between England and France is completed. The tunnel is 50 km (31 miles) long and runs between Folkstone and Sangatte (near Calais). There are actually three tunnels, two for rail traffic and one for services and security.

In 1993 and 1994 the East African countries of Rwanda and Burundi were ravaged by one of the worst genocides in African history as tribal war flared between the Tutsi and Hutu peoples.