FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012

Today is Friday, February 24, the 55th day of 2012. There are 311 days left in the year.

303 ― First official Roman edict for persecution of Christians issued

1582 ― Pope Gregory XIII announces New Style (Gregorian) calendar

1821 ― Mexico gains independence from Spain

1903 ― U.S. signs agreement acquiring a naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

1917 ― Russian revolution breaks out

1924 ― Greek parliament proclaims republic

1933 ― League of Nations tells Japanese to pull out of Manchuria

1946 ― Juan Peron elected President of Argentina

1977 ― President Carter announces U.S. foreign aid will consider human rights

1997 ― Deng Xiaoping, leader of China, cremated (died Feb. 19)