Harold Shipman, Britain's most prolific serial killer was found hanging from the bars of his cell in Wakefield Jail. The former GP, who murdered at least 215 of his patients, is believed to have committed suicide by making a noose from his bedsheets. Shipman, showed no remorse for the killings he began as a newly-qualified GP in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, and continued until his arrest in Hyde in September 1998. He was cremated after a formal inquest

French MPs voted overwhelmingly to ban the wearing of religious symbols in schools - the law aims to safeguard secularism in schools and prevent education being used as a political tool by minority ethnic and religious groups.

Over 400 people were killed when an earthquake struck northern Morocco, destroying hundreds of stone and mud-brick houses. Villages in the Rif mountains near the Mediterranean city of Al Hoceima were worst hit, with one, Ait Kamara, where 6,000 people live, destroyed. The quake measured 6.5 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was in the Mediterranean 100 miles north-east of Fez

Trooper Christopher Finney, 19 became the youngest ever recipient of the George Cross after being decorated by the Queen for risking his life to save a colleague during the battles in Iraq. Trooper Finney, from Marple, Greater Manchester, was 18 when he pulled his gunner to safety from a blazing vehicle under attack from US aircraft. Despite being wounded, he then tried to save a second soldier. His award is the highest for acts of conspicuous gallantry performed when not in the face of the enemy. Despite being wounded, he then tried to save a second soldier. His award is the highest for acts of conspicuous gallantry performed when not in the face of the enemy.

Antoni Imiela was given seven life sentences at Maidstone Crown Court for a year-long campaign of rape between November 2001 and October 2002.. The jury unanimously found him guilty of raping four women and three girls, aged from 10 to 52. Imiela was also given sentences totalling 29 years for abducting, sexually assaulting and attempting to rape another girl of 10 in a five-hour ordeal. His arrest in November 2002 brought to an end Operation Orb, the largest sex crime manhunt since the search for the Yorkshire Ripper over 20 years ago 

Nine Leicester City footballers are held by police in Cartagena Spain yesterday after allegations of rape and sexual assault by three women who claimed the players broke into their hotel room in La Manga. Three of the players were held for six nights before being bailed 

A series of simultaneous bomb explosions tore through four packed Madrid commuter trains at the height of the morning rush-hour leaving at least 198 people dead and over 1200 injured. It was one of Europe's worst terrorist atrocities. The Spanish government immediately accused the Basque terrorist group Eta but it was shown to be the work of al-Qa'eda. The cell responsible for the attack were seen to be Islamic Fundementalists

Five glorious ducks and the West Indies all out for 47 in the second innings. England win the first test in Sabina Park in Kingston by by 10 wickets with Steve Harmison, the 25-year-old Durham fast bowler taking seven wickets for twelve runs. For the West Indies it was their lowest recorded in a Test innings. 

Andrejez Kunowski, 48, who had convictions for 17 rapes, eight attempted rapes and one attempted murder in Poland was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murdering a 12-year-old Macedonian girl Katerina Koneva in London. He was told that he would never be released

Terry's, the makers of the Chocolate Orange, announce that it was moving its factory overseas, ending more than 200 years of production in Britain. More than 300 jobs will be lost when Terry's closes its factory and warehouse in York and moves to sites in Sweden, Belgium, Poland and Slovakia. Terry's was owned by the US company Kraft

Ron Atkinson makes a series of racist remarks on air about Chelsea's French defender Marcel Desailly after a Champions League game against Monaco. As a result he lost his job as a pundit for ITV, his twice-weekly column in The Guardian and a major sponsorship deal with Britvic.

Arsenal in winning the F.A. Premiership title celebrated the first defeat-free season enjoyed by a top flight English football club for 115 years The previous club to achieve this tremendous feat was Preston North End "The Invincible"s in 1889

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States between 1981 and 1989, died aged 93 at his home in Bel-Air, California He had suffered from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's Disease during the last decade of his life . He was given a state funeral on 11th June

The pickled heart of Louis XVII, the youngest son of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette was buried in the royal crypt at Saint-Denis 209 years to the day after the boy died, aged 10, from tubercolosis. The heart was encased in a glass egg, and in size and appearance, resembled a dried mushroom

Jonathan Rees-Williams55, the Queen's former organist at Windsor Castle, whose responsibilities included organising music to celebrate royal occasions, was jailed for five years at Reading  after being found guilty of sexually abusing children over a period of nearly 30years

After a 53 hour siege by Chechen terrorists at Beslan First school  in the republic of North Ossetia's , a massacre occurs leading to the deaths of over 350 people, including 156 children. In addition a further 434 wounded hostages were taken to hospital, including 247 children and 85 adults in  critical conditions. The death toll was exacerbated by the intervention of Russian security forces but the murders were due solely to the hostage takers .