Today in History

Canadian House of Commons approves a motion, tabled by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, recognizing the Quebecois as a nation within Canada.

First partial human face transplant completed Amiens, France.

Pope John Paul II returns relics of Saint John Chrysostom to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Hubble Space Telescope discovers a hydrogen atmosphere on planet Osiris, the first atmosphere detected on an extrasolar planet.

Helen Clark becomes first elected female Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Britain and Spain sign the Brussels Agreement to enter discussions over the status of Gibraltar.

Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Parti Karkerani Kurdistan, or PKK) founded; militant group that fought an armed struggle for an independent Kurdistan.

US Senate votes to confirm Gerald Ford as Vice President of the United States, following Spiro Agnew’s resignation; the House will confirm Ford on Dec. 6.

Syria joins the pact linking Libya, Egypt and Sudan.

Charles DeGaulle vetoes Great Britain’s entry into the Common Market again.

Princess Desiree of Hohenzollern.

Demonstrators march in Tokyo to protest a defense treaty with the United States.

Caroline Kennedy, author, attorney, only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline “Jackie” Bouvier; named US Ambassador to Japan (2013– ).