Today is Monday, October 5, the 278th day of 2009. There are 87 days left in the year.
1582 _ Gregorian calendar introduced in Italy, other Catholic countries
1762 _ The opera ``Orfeo Ed Euridice" is produced (Vienna)
1864 _ Most of Calcutta destroyed by cyclone (approx 60,000 die)
1908 _ Bulgaria declares independence from Turkey, Ferdinand I becomes Tsar
1910 _ Portugal overthrows monarchy, proclaims republic
1931 _ First nonstop transpacific flight, Japan to Washington State (Herndon and Pangborn)
1945 _ ``Meet the Press" premieres on radio
1962 _ Beatles release their first record ``Love Me Do"
1983 _ Lech Walesa wins the Nobel Peace Prize
1986 _ London Sunday Times reports Israel is stocking nuclear arms