🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on November 24:

2001 ─ The Grand National Assembly of Turkey ratified changes to the country's legal code, making women legally equal to men and removing their subordination to husbands.

1998 ─ Queen Elizabeth II announced the end of voting rights for hereditary peers in the House of Lords, marking a significant shift in the UK’s legislative process.

1971 ─ A man later identified as D.B. Cooper hijacked a plane shortly after departing from Portland, Oregon, beginning one of aviation’s most famous unsolved mysteries.

1947 ─ The "Hollywood Ten," a group of screenwriters and directors, were found in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in anti-communist hearings and ignited a prolonged blacklist in the film industry.

1877 ─ Anna Sewell published her only novel, Black Beauty, which would become a beloved classic and bring attention to animal welfare.

1859 ─ Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, presenting his revolutionary theory of natural selection and challenging traditional views on species development.

1847 ─ American inventor Joseph Farwell Glidden patented the first commercially successful barbed wire, transforming agricultural and frontier life.

1832 ─ South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification in a special state convention, declaring federal tariffs null and void and intensifying states' rights tensions.

1700 ─ Louis XIV of France declared his grandson Philip king of Spain, triggering the War of the Spanish Succession and reshaping European alliances.

1642 ─ Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman reached Tasmania and expanded European exploration in the Southern Hemisphere.

1531 ─ The second Peace of Kappel brought an end to the Kappel Wars during the Swiss Reformation, fostering religious and political stability in Switzerland.

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On November 24, we’re singing to:

Benedict de Spinoza (1632) ─ Dutch-Jewish philosopher known for his works on ethics and rationalism that shaped Enlightenment thought.

Zachary Taylor (1784) ─ 12th president of the United States and military leader, remembered for his role in the Mexican-American War.

Katherine Heigl (1978) ─ American actress best known for her roles in television and film, including Grey’s Anatomy.

 🪦Who Died Today?

On November 23, we’re saying goodbye to:

Freddie Mercury (1991) ─ Iconic British singer and songwriter famed for his powerful voice and role as lead vocalist of Queen.

John Rawls (2002) ─ Influential philosopher whose theory of justice reshaped political philosophy in the 20th century.

Pat Morita (2005) ─ Actor beloved for his portrayal of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid films, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.

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