Monday, February 24, 1998
Today's events
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan presents a breakthrough deal on weapons inspections in Iraq to the Security Council.
Finalists compete in the Pillsbury Quick and Easy Bake-Off, the world's oldest cooking contest.
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 the horizon
On Wednesday, February 25, the 40th annual Grammy Awards will be presented in New York City.
Thursday, February 26, marks the five year anniversary of the World Trade Center bombing in New York City.
On Friday, February 27, an estimated 600,000 teen-agers are expected to participate in a World Hunger Day event designed to teach children about global hunger issues.
On Saturday, February 28, Clint Eastwood is the guest of honor at the Cesars, the French equivalent of the Academy Awards in Paris.
On Sunday, March 1, Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS begins in the United States.
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On this day
In 1389, King Albert of Sweden was defeated and captured by the Danes at the battle of Falkoeping; the outcome left Margaret of Denmark effective ruler of both Sweden and Denmark.
In 1525, in the French wars in Italy, Francis I was defeated by a Spanish force under Marquis de Pescara at the battle of Pavia. The battle marked one of the earliest uses of the arquebus, or musket.
In 1563, in France's Wars of Religion, Francis, Duc de Guise, was assassinated by a Huguenot while besieging Orleans.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII issued a Papal Bull introducing the Gregorian calendar, replacing the Julian version.
In 1704, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, French composer, died.
In 1825, Thomas Bowdler, British editor, died. He edited a censored version of the works of Shakespeare, giving the word "bowdlerise" to the English language.
In 1848, after a revolution in Paris, Louis Philippe of France abdicated in favor of his grandson, the Comte de Paris. The move failed and the Second Republic was proclaimed two days later.
In 1868, Andrew Johnson, 17th president of the United States, became the first president to have impeachment proceedings brought against him by the House of Representatives.
In 1887, Paris and Brussels became the first two capital cities to be linked by telephone.
In 1920, Lady Astor, first woman member of the British Parliament, made her maiden speech.
In 1920, an extremist political group in Germany outlined its program to create a Third German Reich. Its spokesman, Adolf Hitler, said it would change its name to the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
In 1938, nylon was produced for the first time in Arlington, New Jersey; it was used for toothbrush bristles.
In 1942, the Voice of America radio station broadcast for the first time with the words "The Voice of America speaks. ... we shall speak to you about America and the war. The news may be good or bad, but we shall tell you the truth."
In 1945, Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Maher Pasha was shot dead in Parliament just after reading a declaration of war on Germany and Japan.
In 1946, Juan Peron was elected president of Argentina.
In 1966, in Ghana, President Kwame Nkrumah, president since independence, was overthrown in an army coup.
In 1972, Romania and Hungary signed a new 20-year friendship treaty.
In 1974, at the end of an Islamic conference, Pakistan said it officially recognized Bangladesh as an independent nation.
In 1991, in the Gulf War, the ground campaign began with an allied night attack. More than 14,000 Iraqis were captured in the first 24 hours of fighting.
In 1993, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced his resignation as Conservative Party leader.
In 1994, Syria granted exit visas to all 1,000 Syrian Jews still living in the country, allowing them to travel abroad if they wished.
In 1994, Dinah Shore, legendary U.S. singer and entertainer, died.
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Newslink
For years, Pillsbury's Quick and
Easy Bake-Off contest has resulted in new favorites for America's cooks. Today's the day someone wins a cool million for their winning entry.
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Holidays and more
Much of the world celebrates Carnival.
It is Baire Proclamation in Cuba.
It is Independence Day in Estonia.
Actor Barry Bostwick is 53.
Actor James Farentino is 60.
Musician Rupert Holmes is 51.
Actor Edward James Olmos is 51.
Actress Helen Shaver is 47.
Actor John Vernon is 66.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1998, J.P. Morgan
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