Today in History

• 2003 The largest peace demonstration in history takes place

  Up to 30 million people in 600 cities around the world protested against the Iraq War.

• 2001 The first draft of the human genome is published

  The human genome contains the complete human genetic information.

• 1989 The Soviet Union pulls out of Afghanistan

  Despite their military superiority, the Soviet and Afghan armies did not succeed in breaking the Mujahideen insurgents’ resistance.

• 1971 The United Kingdom and Ireland decimalize their currencies

  Before the change, a pound sterling was made up of 240 pence, or 20 shillings.

• 1965 Canada adopts its current national flag showing a maple leaf

  The leaf symbolizes the country’s forests, the middle white stripe the arctic snow, and the red stripes the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.