Thursday, February 19, 1998
Today's events
Preparatory talks will be held in London for an ASEM leaders
summit in April.
Sotheby's is scheduled to auction more than 40,000 items
from the Paris home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
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On the horizon
On Friday, February 20, the start of the "Women of Color and
Allies Summit: Linking Arms in Dangerous Times" begins in
Arlington, Virginia.
On Saturday, February 21, the National Governors Association
holds its winter meeting in Washington, D.C.
On Sunday, February 22, extradition hearings for Maryland
murder suspect Samuel Sheinbein are scheduled to start in
Tel Aviv.
On Monday, February 23, the Whitewater-related trial of
former Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker and attorney John Haley
is scheduled to start.
On Tuesday, February 24, the fourth annual "Spay Day USA," a
campaign by the Doris Day Animal League to reduce the pet
population, takes place.
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On this day
In 1408, in England, the Northumberland Rebellion ended when
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, was defeated by Henry
IV at the battle of Bramham Moor.
In 1473, astroner Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Poland. He
pioneered the theory that the Earth rotates around the Sun.
In 1674, the Treaty of Westminster was signed, ending the
Anglo-Dutch War; under its terms, New Netherlands (New York)
became British.
In 1797, Pope Pius VI signed the Treaty of Tolentino with
Napoleon under which Bologna, Romagna and Ferrara were ceded
to France.
In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte established himself as first
consul in France.
In 1807, Aaron Burr became the first vice president of the
United States to be arrested; he was charged with treason
for planning an expedition to invade Mexico.
In 1837, Georg Buechner, German playwright and poet, died. A
pioneer of Expressionist theatre, his best known works are
"Dantons Tod" and "Woyzeck."
In 1878, the phonograph, invented by Thomas Edison, was
patented.
In 1915, in World War I, a combined British and French
fleet attacked the Dardanelles.
In 1918, in Russia, a decree abolishing all private
ownership of land, water and natural resources was issued by
the Soviet Central Executive Committee.
In 1942, Japanese forces invaded Bali and made a first raid
on the Australian mainland bombing Port Darwin.
In 1945, the U.S. Fifth Fleet launched the invasion of Iwo
Jima against the Japanese; the island was eventually taken
on March 26.
In 1951, Andre Gide, French novelist, died; he won the
Nobel Prize in literature in 1947.
In 1952, Norwegian author Knut Hamsun died; he
won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1920 and was famed for
his "Growth of the Soil" and "Hunger."
In 1959, the prime ministers of Britain, Turkey and Greece
signed an agreement in London for the independence of
Cyprus.
In 1963, Russia told the United States that it would
withdraw several thousand troops from Cuba by March 15.
In 1976, Iceland broke off diplomatic relations with Britain
after the two countries failed to agree over fishing rights
in disputed waters.
In 1982, in Northern Ireland, receivers were appointed to
manage the affairs of the DeLorean car company.
In 1990, the Liberal Democrat Party in Japan won the general
election under Toshiki Kaifu.
In 1994, fire bombs damaged six London stores; the IRA
claimed responsibility.
In 1996, Israel approved the return of 154 members of the
Palestine National Council, including hijacker Layla Khaled,
to Palestinian-ruled areas.
In 1997, China's paramount leader Deng Xiaoping died at age
93. He ruled China from 1978 until he retired from his last
official post in 1990, but his influence remained supreme
until his death.
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Newslink
We love plastic flamingos. And, really, who doesn't? Check out On Stagnant Pond, a cybersalute to the American Pink Flamingo. Where else can you see a flamingo carved out of a
watermelon?
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Holidays and more
England's Prince Andrew is 38.
Actress Justine Bateman is 32.
Actor Jeff Daniels is 43.
Singer Smokey Robinson is 58.
Singer Seal is 35.
Actor Andrew Shue is 31.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1998, J.P. Morgan
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