Photo model Cap Van Nam

Events in 2004 and 20-3

Events in the world in the birth year of Cap Van Nam

• About one third of Iran’s Parliament steps down to protest hard-line Guardian Council’s banning of more than 2,000 reformists from running in parliamentary elections (Feb. 1).
• A. Q. Khan, founder of Pakistan's nuclear program, admits he sold nuclear-weapons designs to other countries, including North Korea, Iran, and Libya (Feb. 4).
• Armed rebels in Haiti force President Aristide to resign and flee the country (Feb. 29).
• Spain is rocked by terrorist attacks, killing more than 200. Al Qaeda takes responsibility (March 11).
• Spain's governing Popular Party loses election to opposition Socialists. Outcome seen as a reaction to terrorist attacks days before and Popular Party's support of the U.S.-led war in Iraq (March 14).
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formally admits 7 new countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (March 29).
• Israeli prime minister Sharon announces plan to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza Strip (April 12).
• Greek Cypriots reject UN reunification plan with Turkish Cypriots (April 24).
• Sudan rebels (SPLA) and government reach accord to end 21-year civil war. However, separate war in western Darfur region between Arab militias and black Africans continues unabated (May 26).
• U.S. troops launch offensive in Falluja in response to killing and mutilation on March 31 of four U.S. civilian contractors. (April 5–May 1).
• U.S. hands over power to Iraqi interim government; Iyad Allawi becomes prime minister (June 28).
• Security Council demands Sudanese government disarm militias in Darfur that are massacring civilians (July 30).
• Summer Olympics take place in Athens, Greece (Aug. 13–29).
• Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez survives recall referendum (Aug. 16).
• Chechen terrorists take about 1,200 schoolchildren and others hostage in Beslan, Russia; 340 people die when militant detonate explosives (Sept. 1–3).
• UN Atomic Energy Agency tells Iran to stop enriching uranium; a nascent nuclear weapons program suspected (Sept. 18).
• About 380 tons of explosives reported missing in Iraq (Oct. 25).
• Yasir Arafat dies in Paris (Nov. 11).
• U.S. troops launch attack on Falluja, stronghold of the Iraqi insurgency (Nov. 8).
• Ukraine presidential election declared fraudulent (Nov. 21).
• Hamid Karzai inaugurated as Afghanistan's first popularly elected president (Dec. 7).
• Massive protests by supporters of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko's lead to a new Ukrainian election; Yushchenko eventually declared prime minister (Dec. 26).
• Enormous tsunami devastates Asia; 200,000 killed (Dec. 26).

Birthday Cap Van Nam (20-3) in history

• Day 20-3 year 1602:
  Dutch East India Company was born. During its 196-year history, it has become one of the most influential companies in the world.
• Day 20-3 year 1727: The great British scientist Sir Isaac Newton passed away in London at 84.
• Day 20-3 year 1852: Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was published.
• Day 20-3 year 1969: John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar.
• Day 20-3 year 1985: Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod.
• Day 20-3 year 1990: Namibia becomes an independent nation.
• Day 20-3 year 1995: Two members of the Japanese cult Aum Sinrikyo released poisonous gas in a Tokyo subway stop during rush hour, killing 12 people and sending over 5,000 to the hospital for treatment.
• Day 20-3 year 1999: Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones became the first to fly a hot-air balloon nonstop around the world.
• Day 20-3 year 2003: Ground troops entered Iraq and a second round of air strikes against Baghdad was launched.