On this day — February 7

killing at least 24 people a day before general elections.

England, date back to more than 800,000 years ago, making them the oldest known hominid footprints outside Africa.

becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment was formally ratified by Mississippi in 1995.

after 23 days of anti-governmental protests calling for the release of the Chief Judge unlawfully arrested by the military.

Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-98, carrying the Destiny laboratory module to the International Space Station.

King Hussein.

the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, is arrested in Islamabad, Pakistan.

leading to the creation of the European Union.

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is sworn in.

The Provisional IRA launches a mortar attack on 10 Downing Street in London, the headquarters of the British government.

The Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agrees to give up its monopoly on power.

when President Jean-Claude Duvalier flees the Caribbean nation.