Malta gains independence from the United Kingdom, but remains in the Commonwealth. 1964 – The North American XB-70 Valkyrie, the world's fastest bomber, makes its maiden flight from Palmdale, California. 1965 – The Gambia, Maldives and Singapore are admitted as members of the United Nations. 1971 – Bahrain, Bhutan and Qatar join the United Nations. 1972 – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos begins authoritarian rule by declaring martial law. 1976 – Orlando Letelier is assassinated in Washington, D.C because had been a member of the former Chilean Marxist government. 1976 – Seychelles joins the United Nations. 1981 – Belize is granted full independence from the United Kingdom. 1981 – Sandra Day O'Connor is unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate as the first female Supreme Court justice. 1984 – Brunei joins the United Nations. 1991 – Armenia gains independence from the Soviet Union. 1993 – Russian President Boris Yeltsin triggers a constitutional crisis when he suspends parliament and scraps the constitution. 1996 – The Defense of Marriage Act is passed by the United States Congress. 1997 – St. Olaf's Church, a stone church from the 16th century in Tyrvää, Finland, was burnt down by a burglar. 1999 – The Chi-Chi earthquake occurs in central Taiwan, leaving about 2,400 people dead. 2001 – America: A Tribute to Heroes is broadcast by over 35 network and cable channels, raising over $200 million for the victims of the September 11 attacks. 2001 – Ross Parker is murdered in Peterborough, England, by a gang of ten British Pakistani youths. 2003 – The Galileo spacecraft is terminated by sending it into Jupiter's atmosphere. 2012 – Three Egyptian militants open fire on a group of Israeli soldiers in a southern Israel cross-border attack. 2013 – Al-Shabaab Islamic militants attack the Westgate shopping mall in Kenya, killing at least 67 people. 2018 – Killing of Zak Kostopoulos, LGBT rights activist beaten to death on a busy street in Athens 2019 – A 5.6 Mw earthquake shakes the Albanian port of Durrës. Forty-nine people are injured in the capital, Tirana. Births Pre-1600 580 – Pope Vitalian (d. 672) 953 – Abu Ishaq Ibrahim, Buyid prince 1051 – Bertha of Savoy (d. 1087) 1371 – Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg (d. 1440) 1407 – Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara, Italian noble (d. 1450) 1411 – Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, English politician, Lord Protector of England (d. 1460) 1415