TODAY IN HISTORY

• International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

• 2023 - Finland

Finland became member of NATO after Turkey accepted its membership request.

• 2020 - China

China held a national day of mourning for martyrs who died in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease outbreak.

• 2017 - Nigeria

Abdulaziz Yari, Zamfara governor, said outbreak of ‘ Stereotype C’ meningitis is God's way of pouring his anger on Nigerians for their sins just as death rate in Cerebrospinal Meningitis epidemic rose to 336 as the number of cases also increased to 2,997 persons

• 2014 - W/ Africa

Mali, Liberia and Sierra Leone geared up to tackle Ebola, which had claimed 86 lives in Guinea.

• 2007 - Libya

Leader Muammar Gaddafi urged Africa to form a unified continental army to defend its interests. He said former colonial powers should pay compensation for the raw materials they had extracted.

• 2006 - Liberia

Charles Taylor appeared in a UN- backed court in Sierra Leone with 11 counts of crimes against humanity and other violations of international law.

• 2002 - Angola

The Angolan government and UNITA rebels signed a peace treaty ending the Angolan Civil War.

• 2002 - USA

Pres. Bush responded to British TV journalist Trevor Mcdonald’s question “Have you made up your mind that Iraq must be attacked?" by saying: “I have made up my mind that Hussein needs to go."

• 1979 - Pakistan

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ( 51), deposed PM of Pakistan, was hanged after his conviction of conspiring to murder a political opponent.

• 1975 - USA

Microsoft was founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico

• 1969 - USA

Dr. Denton Cooley implanted the first temporary artificial heart.

• 1968 - USA

Civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr, 39, was assassinated while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. James Earl Ray ( d. 1998) confessed and pleaded guilty in March 1969, but later tried to recant and said he was a fall guy. The killing was followed by five days of race riots in Washington, D. C. The civil unrest affected 110 cities.