Today is Thursday, September 8, the 251st day of 2011. There are 114 days left in the year.

1380 ― Russians defeat Tatars at Kulikovo, beginning decline of Tatars

1522 ― Spanish navigator Juan de Elcano returns to Spain, completes first circumnavigation of globe, expedition begins under Ferdinand Magellan

1664 ― Dutch surrender New Amsterdam (N.Y.) to 300 English soldiers

1930 ― First appearance of the comic strip ``Blondie"

1943 ― Italy surrenders to the allies in WW II

1945 ― U.S. invades Japanese-held Korea

1951 ― Japan signs treaty of peace with 48 countries (S.F.)

1952 ― Ernest Hemingway's ``Old Man & the Sea" published

1954 ― Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) formed to stop communist spread in the region

1974 ― President Gerald Ford pardons former President Richard Nixon of all federal crimes