Today in History

The world’s oldest teletext service, BBC’s Ceefax, ceases operation.

Libiyan National Transition Council declares the Libyan civil war is over.

An earthquake in Japan kills 35, injures 2,200, and leaves 85,000 homeless or displaced.

Chechen terrorists take 700 theater-goers hostage at the House of Culture theater in Moscow.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat reach a “land for peace” agreement.

Princess Mako of Akishino, first-born granddaughter of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

The Hungarian Republic replaces the communist Hungarian People’s Republic.

A truck filled with explosives, driven by a Moslem terrorist, crashes into the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. The bomb kills 237 Marines and injures 80. Almost simultaneously, a similar incident occurs at French military headquarters, where 58 die and 15 are injured.

A U.N. sanctioned cease-fire officially ends the Yom Kippur war between Israel and Syria.

Doug Flutie, collegiate and pro football quarterback; won Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (1984).

Alfred “Weird Al” Yankovic, singer, songwriter, satirist; known for his humorous rewrites of popular songs and parodies of pop culture.

Ang Lee, Taiwanese-born American film director; won Academy Award for Best Director in 2005 (Brokeback Mountain) and 2012 (Life of Pi).

Altug Taner Akcam, Turkish historian and sociologist; among the first Turkish historians to discuss the Armenian genocide; sued Turkish government before European Court of Human Rights for denying his rights, under a law that punishes incidents of insulting “Turkishness.”

The Nobel Prize for Medicine is awarded to Ukranian-born microbiologist Selmart A. Waksman for his discovery of an effective treatment of tuberculosis.

Fatmir Sejdiu, first President of the Republic of Kosovo (2006– ).

Michael Crichton, writer (Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain).

Pele, legendary Brazilian soccer player who scored 1,281 goals in 22 years

The first transcontinental air service begins from New York to Los Angeles.

Johnny Carson, American television personality who hosted the Tonight Show.

President Wilson feels satisfied that the Germans are accepting his armistice terms and agrees to transmit their request for an armistice to the Allies. The Germans have agreed to suspend submarine warfare, cease inhumane practices such as the use of poison gas, and withdraw troops back into Germany.

John Heisman, American college football coach for whom the Heisman Trophy is named.

President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus in Washington, D.C. for all military-related cases.

Sarah Bernhardt, French actress.

John Bartlett, lexicographer best known for Bartlett’s Quotations.

Virginia emancipates slaves who fought for independence during the Revolutionary War.

Nicolas Appert, the inventor of canning.

The first Parliament of Great Britain meets.

American colonial forces led by Sir William Phips, fail in their attempt to seize Quebec.

Rebellion in Ireland. Catholics, under Phelim O’Neil, rise against the Protestants and massacred men, women and children to the number of 40,000 (some say 100,000).