1913 -- Francisco Madero, revolutionary president of Mexico, was assassinated by the military, along with Vice-President Pino Suarez.

1924 -- Calvin Coolidge became the first U.S. president to give a radio broadcast from the White House.

1942 -- Stefan Zweig, Austrian writer, committed suicide in Brazil.

1966 -- Ugandan Prime Minister Milton Obote took full powers and had five ministers arrested.

1967 -- Indonesia's President Sukarno surrendered power to premier General Suharto, remaining president in name only.

1979 -- The Caribbean island of St. Lucia gained full independence from Britain after 165 years, becoming the 40th member of the Commonwealth.

1980 -- Israel introduced a new currency, the shekel, replacing the pound.

2001 -- Turkey abandoned its controlled currency regime and floated the lira in a bid to curb a financial crisis triggered by a political spat between the prime minister and president.

2002 -- U.S. and Pakistani officials announced that journalist Daniel Pearl, kidnapped in Pakistan while trying to make contact with radical groups, was killed by his captors who recorded his death on videotape.

2003 -- Madagascan opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana declared himself president in defiance of international condemnation of his bid to seize power from veteran leader Didier Ratsiraka.