THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2009

Today is Thursday, October 29, the 302nd day of 2009. There are 63 days left in the year.

539 B.C. _ Babylon falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia

1787 _ The opera ``Don Giovanni" is produced (Prague)

1863 _ International Community of the Red Cross founded

1923 _ Turkey proclaimed a republic (National Day)

1929 _ ``Black Tuesday," stock market crashes triggers ``Great Depression"

1945 _ First ball point pen goes on sale, 57 years after it was patented

1966 _ National Organization of Women founded

1987 _ Thomas Hearns wins unprecedented fourth different weight boxing title

1988 _ 2,000 U.S. anti-abortion protesters arrested for blocking clinics

1988 _ China announces a herbal male contraceptive