In 1865, novelist and poet Rudyard Kipling was born.

In 1880, Paul Kruger became the first president of the newly declared republic of The Transvaal.

In 1985, terrorists killed 12 and wounded around 100 people in attacks on El Al airline passengers in Rome and Vienna.

From the Telegraph & Argus of December 30th, 1978...

All the signs point to 1978 going out like a lion as snow and floods strengthen their paralysing hold on the North. An AA spokesman said today: "There is only one route open into Scotland - the A1 - and there are countless roads closed in the North. If its not snow, its floods. My advice would be to stay put. "The only route open between Manchester and Yorkshire was the M62.

From the Telegraph & Argus of December 30th, 1953...

Flashing direction indicators for motor vehicles, which will be legal in this country from Friday, were pioneered in Bradford, where they were fitted to some trolley-buses over a year ago. These, said Mr C T Humpidge, general manager of Bradford City Transport, were the first flashing indicators fitted to any public vehicle in this country.