2000 – Vladimir Putin is elected President of Russia
The ex-KGB officer has been lauded for leading Russia out of the 1990 economic crisis and criticized for building a regime that many have described as authoritarian and undemocratic.
1995 – The Schengen Agreement enters into force
Within the Schengen Area, which encompasses most of Europe, regular border checks have been abolished.
1991 – 4 South American countries establish Mercosur
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay were the founding members of the Southern Common Market.
1979 – The Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty is signed
Egypt's President Anwar al-Sadat and Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the treaty, which ended 30 years of war between the 2 countries.
1975 – The Biological Weapons Convention comes into effect
The treaty bans the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons. It has now been ratified by most countries worldwide.
1944 – Diana Ross
American singer, actress
1941 – Richard Dawkins
Kenyan/English biologist
1940 – Nancy Pelosi
American politician, 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
1925 – Pierre Boulez
French pianist, composer, conductor
1874 – Robert Frost
American poet, playwright
1984 – Ahmed Sékou Touré
Guinean politician, 1st President of Guinea
1973 – Noël Coward
English actor, playwright, composer
1902 – Cecil Rhodes
English/South African businessman, politician, founded De Beers
1892 – Walt Whitman
American poet, author
1827 – Ludwig van Beethoven
German pianist, composer
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