Today in History

An earthquake in Haiti kills an estimated 316,000 people.

Nineteen European nations agree to prohibit human cloning.

The U.S. Congress gives the green light to military action against Iraq in the Persian Gulf Crisis.

Peking protests the sale of U.S. planes to Taiwan.

The Khmer Rouge launches its newest assault in its five-year war in Phnom Penh. The war in Cambodia would go on until the spring of 1975.

Yassar Arafat is re-elected as head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Heather Mills, model, charity campaigner; continued modeling with a prosthetic limb after a leg amputation due to a traffic accident and founded Heather Mills Health Trust to assist amputees; married to former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney (2003–2008).

The United States resumes aid to the Laotian regime.

Howard Stern, radio personality, author, TV show host; noted as a “shock jock” for his controversial comments on air.

The Viet Minh cut the supply lines to the French forces in Hoa Binh, Vietnam.

Rush Limbaugh, conservative radio talk show host, political commentator and author; a leading voice in the US neo-conservative movement.

Michael W. Vannier, radiologist; played important role in advancing three-dimensional imaging and surgical planning.

Cynthia Robinson, musician, vocalist with the psychedelic soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone.

Soviet forces raise the siege of Leningrad.