TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2007

Today is Tuesday, December 18, the 352nd day of 2007. There are 13 days left in the year.

1774 _ Jews expelled from Prague, Bohemia and Moravia by Empress Maria Theresa

1777 _ The first national Thanksgiving Day, commemorating Burgoyne's surrender

1783 _ English king George III fires government of Portland

1892 _ Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet ``Nutcracker Suite" premieres

1917 _ The Soviet regiment declares Finland independent

1941 _ German submarine U-434 sinks

1941 _ Japanese troops land on Hong Kong

1956 _ Japan admitted to the United Nations

1969 _ Britain abolishes death penalty

1980 _ Vietnam adopts constitution

1991 _ General Motors announces the closing of 21 plants

1994 _ The Socialist Party (ex-communist) wins Bulgaria parliamentary election

1996 _ TV industry executives agree to adopt a ratings system