Reforming the Catholic Church with Vatican II

In 1959, Pope John XXIII announced a council of all the world's bishops and cardinals

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Pope John Paul I’s sudden death

Cardinal Albino Luciani became Pope John Paul I in 1978. He died 33 days later

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The Pope and Jews

In April 1986, Pope John Paul II made a historic visit to a Rome synagogue

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'I told the world Pope Benedict XVI was resigning'

The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

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'Hot Autumn': When Italy’s workers revolted

In 1969, Italy erupted as thousands of workers went on strike

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First Danish queen for 600 years

In 1972, Denmark crowned its first queen in 600 years

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'I developed Pokémon'

In February 1996, gamers in Japan were first introduced to Pokémon

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Discovering Tutankhamun’s tomb

In 1923 the sealed burial chamber of Tutankhamun was opened for the first time

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First winter ascent of Everest

On 17 February 1980, the first people climbed Everest in winter

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Battle for the capital: Bonn v Berlin

In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and Germany decided which city would be the new capital

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Seggae riots in Mauritius

Mauritian musician Kaya, died in police custody on 21 February 1999, sparking rioting

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The invention of Semtex

In 1958, Stanislav Brebera invented Semtex, a malleable and odourless plastic explosive

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Families interned in WW2 China

A first-hand account of being sent to a Japanese internment camp in Shanghai as a child

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When the Queen 'jumped out of a helicopter'

For the 2012 London Olympic Games the Queen appeared to jump out of a helicopter

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Wounded Knee siege

Fifty years ago, indigenous American activists staged a protest against the US authorities

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Pink Triangles: Gay men in Nazi concentration camps

In 2009, Rudolf Brazda returned to the former concentration camp he was in for being gay

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Grenada's underwater sculpture park

In 2004, Jason deCaires Taylor built the worlds first underwater gallery in Grenada

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The museum at the end of the world

In 1992, a zoologist opened one of the world's most remote museums, on an Atlantic island

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Zoran Djindjic: The murder of Serbia's prime minister

In 2003, Serbia's prime minister was assassinated in Belgrade

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Octavia E. Butler: Visionary black sci-fi writer

She received numerous Hugos and Nebulas - top writing prizes for sci-fi writing

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Mexico's first female presidential hopeful

In 1982, Rosario Ibarra became the first woman to stand for president in Mexico

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From a goddess to a graduate

The journey from goddess to graduate in Nepal.

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First all-women peacekeeping unit

In 2007, the UN deployed its first all-female contingent of peacekeepers in Liberia

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Monica McWilliams’ role in the Northern Ireland peace process

Monica McWilliams played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process

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Iraq War: The beginning

In March 2003, the Iraq War began as the United States bombed the capital, Baghdad

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Iraq War: Refugees escaping

In March 2003, millions of citizens tried to flee Iraq after the US invasion began

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Iraq War: 'Most wanted' playing cards

In April 2003, playing cards were given to US troops to help them identify Iraqi targets

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Iraq War: The capture of Saddam Hussein

On 13 December 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by United States forces

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Iraq War: US security guards killed my son

In 2007, private US Blackwater security guards opened fire on Iraqi civilians

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Kieu Chinh: A real Hollywood story

In 1974, actress Kieu Chinh found herself on a farm cleaning up after chicken

• 9 mins