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Park ranger confronted by bear right after being struck by lightning for seventh time
US park ranger Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning while fishing in a pool on June 25, 1977.
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Julia Gillard makes history
The deputy prime minister took the nation by surprise when she made a bid to oust Kevin Rudd from the top job in 2010.
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Man kicked out over $200 sets Queensland hostel fire that kills 15
The Palace Hotel in Childers, Queensland, became the scene of an unimaginable tragedy early on June 23, 2000.
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How one actor's decision changed the way everybody thinks
The live-action Disney film Treasure Island was released for the first time on June 22, 1950.
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Spy accidentally spent coin with hidden message inside
Nearly three years to the day after discovering a hollow nickel containing a coded spy message, the FBI arrested their suspect on June 21, 1957.
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The movie so scary it stopped viewers from swimming for life
When Spielberg's blockbuster opened in cinemas, it was a box office success. But many who saw it never left the sand again.
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Emperor could have escaped execution if he was willing to shave his beard
Maximilian I, the Emperor of Mexico, was executed by firing squad in Queretaro on June 19, 1867.
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Banana company pushes US into approving military coup
At the behest of the world's largest banana company, the United States launched a coup d'etat on the government of Guatemala on June 18, 1954.
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Car chase that drew bigger audience than the Super Bowl
An entire city ground to a halt on the evening of June 17, 1994, and people around the country tuned in to watch Los Angeles police chase a white Ford Bronco in a low-speed pursuit.
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Soviet icon's bold move after KGB spot him in Paris gay bars
Rudolf Nureyev was one of the Soviet Union's biggest cultural exports - but he was making them nervous.
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The chilling words teenage stranger said after shooting baseball star
A teenager shot and nearly killed a star baseball player in a Chicago hotel room just after midnight on June 15, 1949.
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French scientist creates ecological disaster with something brought in from Australia
Fed up with rabbits on his private estate in France, bacteriologist Paul-Félix Armand-Delille infected two of them with the myxoma virus on June 14, 1952.
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Room full of people watch spiritual medium levitate
The Daily Mirror published a photo of spiritualist Colin Evans apparently levitating in a room full of people on June 13, 1937.
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Dictator avoids punishment for cannibalism through legal loophole
Former dictator of the Central African Republic Jean-Bedel Bokassa was found guilty of at least 20 counts of murder on June 12, 1987.
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The game show thought he had cheated. He had just discovered a trick to win big
An unemployed former ice cream van driver was accused of cheating after winning big on a game show that aired on June 11, 1984.
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Super-rich family torn apart by sensational murder trial
The poisoning case involving a debonair socialite and his heiress wife grabbed global attention.
World
Who was behind the deadly Australian fairground ride fire?
Decades on, the families of the seven victims are searching for answers amid claims of corruption and cover-ups.
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Man planning to live to 100 dies during TV interview
Minutes after declaring his intention to live to 100, organic food advocate JI Rodale died on stage during a taping of The Dick Cavett Show on June 8, 1971.
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The question nobody expected to be asked on a show for preschoolers
An episode of children's television show Mr Rogers' Neighbourhood took the highly unusual step of explaining a confronting adult issue on June 7, 1968.
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Future Star Wars actor part of world's biggest invasion force
The young naval officer went onto famously wield a light sabre as a Jedi master in the hit films.
Australia
Curious cases the first sign of epidemic that claimed 40 million lives
Many patients with the deadly disease were received with indifference or outright hostility.
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Megastar's fall from decor doyenne to jailbird
She was the pinnacle of class and grace - even as she was being sentenced to months in prison.
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Man armed with plastic bags defies world's biggest army
The protester was the subject of an iconic photograph, but then he vanished without trace.
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Shoplifting arrests reveal house of horrors
A reign of terror carried out by two serial killers at a remote cabin was brought to an end, but one managed to escape justice.
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Viewers asked to vote by text for who should get a kidney transplant
One of the most controversial moments in reality television history was broadcast in the Netherlands on June 1, 2007.
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Eighteen-metre wave wipes out town hours from the ocean
An 18 metre-high wave wiped out the US town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1889.
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Today in History - May 30: The little addition that allowed driver to win first of iconic sports event
Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500 driving a Marmon Wasp on May 30, 1911.
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Queen set herself as bait to find would-be assassin
Queen Victoria was unharmed during the second assassination attempt on her life on May 29, 1842.
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Murderer caught after a horse hair found at the crime scene
A New York man was convicted of rape and murder based on the discovery of a single horse hair on May 28, 1936.
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Young woman's drug conviction tears apart Australia
Supporters of the beauty student believed her 20-year prison sentence was a miscarriage of justice, but others believed she was guilty.
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Mystery caller threatens to blow Qantas jet out the sky
An elaborate plot led the airline to pay out millions of dollars for the plane's safe landing.
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What Muhammad Ali was shouting in the most famous sports photo of all time
Muhammad Ali cemented his boxing career by knocking Sonny Liston down in the first round of their second bout on May 25, 1965.
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They were on fire, but nobody realised
Four mechanics and a driver were hospitalised after suffering burns from an invisible fire at the Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 1981.
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The other-worldly figure accidentally photographed in a UK park
Firefighter Jim Templeton took a photo of his daughter Elizabeth in parkland in England on May 23, 1964.But when he got the film developed, he saw a mysterious figure in the background.
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Dictator hated movie so much, he took 200 people hostage
General Idi Amin Dada: A Self-Portrait premiered at Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 1974.
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Beach photo reveals awful and bizarre fate of woman missing for decades
Thai masseuse Anocha Panjoy vanished after leaving her apartment in Macau on May 21, 1978.
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Tragedy strikes cyclists when wild animal pounces
The survivor managed to bike for help as he watched his mate being dragged into the predator's lair.
World
Legendary actress swaps mansion for prison cell
She returned to her homeland hoping to clear her name, but a judge had other ideas.
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America's most famous celebrity Christian disappears
Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson's voice was heard around the country, and thousands attended her sermons.
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Rock band's cover causes so much outrage FBI investigates lyrics
On May 17, 1965, the FBI concluded its investigation into a record that caused so much outrage in America, parents were writing letters about it to the federal government.
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Tragedy behind hit movie's stunning action scenes
The film propelled Tom Cruise into global stardom, but making it cost one man his life.
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Racist politician's brush with death changes him forever
After being hit by a hail of bullets, the extreme right-winger went a political reawakening.
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The music superstar who insulted millions of Australians
After a scandal-plagued tour. the legendary crooner pledged never to set foot here again.
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FBI closes in on celebrity parents and their giant bribery scam
Two famous actresses were among the wealthy people paying backdoor bribes to secure their kids an elite education.
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Deranged priest takes feud with pope to shocking level
While the pontiff was giving thanks for surviving an assassination bid, another one was playing out.
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Horror football fire which killed 56 spectators was blamed on Australian man
The worst fire in British football history was started by a single cigarette.
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Would-be assassin penetrates security of world's most powerful man
Chilling CCTV photos show him reaching for his weapon, with his famous target only a few metres away.
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Ute driver calls on special training as he plunges 45 metres into water
When a giant road bridge crumbled, 36 people were thrown from it, but only one emerged alive.
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Bizarre reason serial killer gave for shooting spree
He taunted police with confounding letters, but they gave no idea of what really drove him.
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Rural tradition sends music superstar to her lawyers
The queen of pop's quite life on her vast country estate was suddenly upturned.
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