In 1992, U.S. President George H.W. Bush and the leaders of Mexico and Canada signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, creating the world's largest trading bloc.

In 1994, U.S. President Bill Clinton announced he was sending the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines in response to an Iraqi military buildup along the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border.

In 1997, scientists announced they had found one of the most massive stars known behind a dense dust cloud in the Milky Way that had previously concealed it, 25,000 light-years from Earth.

In 1999, American Home Products, the makers of the diet drug combination known as fen-phen, agreed to a $3.75 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit stemming from the drugs' use, which was linked to heart valve problems.

In 2000, Vojislav Kostunica was sworn in as Yugoslavia's president.

In 2001, in the war on terror, the United States and Britain began a series of nightly attacks on targets in Afghanistan.

In a pre-recorded tape played on this date, 2001, Osama bin Laden warned, America will not live in peace until peace came to Palestine and until the army of infidels depart the land of Muhammad.

In 2003, Californians voted to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and elected actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, as their new governor.

In 2004, at least 56 people were killed and about 100 others injured when three bombs exploded at Egyptian resort areas near the Israeli border.

Also in 2004, Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated the throne.

...continued

Copyright 2012 by United Press International