TODAY IN HISTORY

• World Civil Defence Day • 2017 - Italy

Marie Collins, a leading member of a group advising Pope Francis on how end sex abuse in Catholic Church, quit in frustration, citing shameful resistance in the Vatican.

• 2012 - S/africa

Fiery youth leader, Julius Malema, vowed to keep fighting after the ruling ANC expelled him in a dramatic move seen as clearing an obstacle to Pres. Jacob Zuma's reelection.

• 2012 - Rwanda

Opposition leader, Charles Ntakirutinka, vowed to remain critical of Pres. Paul Kagame's government as he walked free at the end of a 10-year prison sentence for incitement.

• 2010 - Uruguay

Jose Mujica (74), the world’s poorest president, took the oath of office.

• 2007 - Zambia

Zambia's Lands Minister, Gladys Nyirongo, acknowledged at a major conference on graft in Africa that "Corruption is everywhere, in the villages, wherever." Hours later, she was sacked. Pres. Levy Mwanawasa said: "She gave land to herself, her two daughters, her sons and her husband."

• 2006 - USA

English-language Wikipedia reaches its one millionth article, Jordanhill railway station.

• 2003 - Holland

International Criminal Court held its inaugural session in The Hague.

• 2000 - Finland

Tarja Halonen assumed office as Finland’s first female president.

• 1998 - USA

Titanic became the first film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.

• 1995 - USA • 1994 - USA

Yahoo! was incorporated.

At the 36th Grammy Awards, Whitney Houston won best female pop vocalist and record of the year for "I Will Always Love You"; "The Bodyguard" won album of the year.

• 1961 - USA

President Kennedy established the Peace Corps. The first volunteers were sent to Ghana.

• 1961 - Uganda

Uganda became a self-governing country under PM Benedicto Kiwanuka.

• 1947 - USA

International Monetary Fund began operations.

• 1864 - USA

Rebecca Lee became the first black woman to receive a medical degree, from the New England Medical College in Boston.