Unix Timestamp: 1193961600
Friday, November 2. 2007, 12:00:00 AM UTC

"No. 5, 1948" by Jackson Pollock becomes the most expensive painting after it was sold privately at $140 million.ref name=Artnet

Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled natural gas monopoly, intends to double the price it charges Georgia. This follows the 2006 Georgian-Russian espionage controversy in early October. //www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=14003 (Civil Georgia)

The Spanish Congress of Deputies approves the admission to formality of the new Catalan Statute of Autonomy with the support of all the groups except the People's Party (PP), which the same day files an objection of unconstitutionality.

The People's Republic of China is admitted to the World Trade Organization after 15 years of negotiations.

Hurricane Michelle hits Cuba, destroying crops and thousands of homes.

Australian Prime MinisterJohn Howard is elected to a third term.

The People's Republic of China is admitted to the World Trade Organization after 15 years of negotiations.

Heavy rains and mudslides in Algeria kill more than 900.

The Glocal Forum, leading international organization in the field of city-to-city cooperation, is established by Ambassador Uri Savir.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is established, replacing the controversial Royal Ulster Constabulary.

The first resident crew enters the International Space Station.

The Supreme Court of Argentina orders the extradition of Erich Priebke, ex-S.S. captain.

North Dakota and South Dakota celebrate their 100th Birthdays.

The Morris worm, the first computer worm distributed via the Internet, written by Robert Tappan Morris, is launched from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the U.S.

Channel 4 was launched.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surges 43.41 points, or 4.25%, to close at 1,065.49, its first all-time high in more than 9 years. It last hit a record on January 11, 1973 when the average closed at 1,051.70. The points gain is the biggest ever up to this point.

A gasoline or petrol tanker explodes in the Salang Tunnel in Afghanistan, killing at least 176 people.

Dominica gains its independence from the United Kingdom.

8:00 pm ndash The Republic of Ireland's second television channel RTÉ 2 goes on air (renamed Network 2, 1988 RTÉ Network Two, 1995 N2, 1997 and RTÉ Two in 2004).

Equatorial Guinea recognizes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

The worst storm in Athens' modern history causes havoc across the Greek capital and kills 38 people.

U.S. presidential election, 1976: Jimmy Carter defeats incumbent Gerald Ford, becoming the first candidate from the Deep South to win since the Civil War.

Vietnam War: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson holds a secret meeting with a group of the nation's most prestigious leaders (the Wise Men) and asks them to suggest ways to unite the American people behind the war effort. They conclude that the American people should be given more optimistic reports on the progress of the war.

The Cuban Adjustment Act comes into force, allowing 123,000 Cubans the opportunity to apply for permanent residence in the United States.

1963 South Vietnamese coup: South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is assassinated following a military coup.

Vietnam War: Coup leader General Duong Van Minh takes over as leader of South Vietnam.

Laura Welch (later Bush) causes a car accident that results in the death of Michael Dutton Douglas in her hometown of Midland, Texas.

"Kean" opens at Broadway Theater in New York City for 92 performances.

Penguin Books is found not guilty of obscenity in the case of D. H. Lawrence's novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover".

The first section of the M1 motorway in England opens between Hertfordshire, just north of London, and the border of Northtonshire and Warwickshire. The motorway is set to be expanded over the next few years to provide an unbroken motorway link with London and Leeds. A full motorway network across Britain is also set to be developed over the coming decade and into the 1970s.

The dock workers' strike in England ends.

United States presidential election, 1948: Democratic incumbent Harry S. Truman defeats Republican Thomas E. Dewey and 'Dixiecrat' Strom Thurmond.

WWII: British troops in Italy reach the Garigliano River.

WWII: In the early morning hours, American and Japanese ships fight the inconclusive Battle of Empress Augusta Bay off Bougainville.

A USAF squadron, including B-24 Liberators, intercepts many Luftwaffe patrols off the coast of Oran, Algeria.

Arising from The Munich Agreement Hungary is awarded the Felvidek region of South Slovakia and Ruthenia.

Haile Selassie is crowned emperor of Ethiopia.

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals is founded in the United Kingdom.

The Parliament of Finland again declares itself holder of sovereignty, effectively dissolving the 108-year-old union with Russia.

Militants from Trotsky's committee join with trusty Bolshevik soldiers to seize government buildings and pounce on members of the provisional government.

The Ukraine is declared a republic.

WWI: Action of 17 November 1917: United States Navy destroyers USS "Fanning" and USS "Nicholson" capture Imperial German Navy U-boat SM "U-58" off the south-west coast of Ireland, the first combat action in which U.S. ships take a submarine (which is then scuttled).

Zionism: The Balfour Declaration proclaims British support for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people with the clear understanding that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities.

WWI: Battle of Cambrai: British forces, using tanks, make early progress in an attack on German positions but are soon beaten back.

Georges Clemenceau becomes prime minister of France.

(N.S.) (October 25 O.S.) ndash Great October Socialist Revolution: The workers of the PetrogradSoviet in Russia, led by the Bolshevik Party and leader Vladimir Lenin, storm the Winter Palace and successfully destroy the KerenskyProvisional Government, resulting in the first overthrow of capitalism in history.

Iran (which has provided weapons for Russia) refuses to support the Allied Forces after the October Revolution.

British troops occupy Tel Aviv and Jaffa in Palestine.

WWI: Action of 17 November 1917: United States Navydestroyers USS \\\\\'\\\\\'Fanning\\\\\'\\\\\' and USS \\\\'\\\\'Nicholson\\\\'\\\\' capture Imperial German Navy U-boat SM \'\'U-58\'\' off the south-west coast of Ireland, the first combat action in which U.S. ships take a submarine (which is then scuttled).

WWI: Third Battle of Gaza: United Kingdom forces capture Gaza from the Ottoman Empire.

WWI: Battle of Passchendaele: After 3 months of fierce fighting, Canadian forces take Passchendaele in Belgium.

In the United States, a Night of Terror results in the injury of several influential suffragettes.

North Dakota and South Dakota are admitted as the 39th and 40th U.S. states.

Timişoara is the first town of Europe with streets illuminated by electric light.

U.S. presidential election, 1880: James Garfield defeats Winfield S. Hancock.

A giant squid, 6.1 meters long, washes ashore at Thimble Tickle Bay in Newfoundland.

New Zealand officially adopts nationally observed standard time, and is perhaps the first country to do so.

American Civil War: Western Department Union General John C. Fremont is relieved of command and replaced by David Hunter.

U.S. presidential election, 1852: Democrat Franklin Pierce of New Hshire defeats Whig Winfield Scott of Virginia.

France: Jacques Laffitte succeeds the Duc de Broglie as Prime Minister.

The French Directory takes power. Influence of the Sans-culottes declines.

In Rocky Hill, New Jersey, US GeneralGeorge Washington gives his "Farewell Address to the Army".

The North Carolina General Assembly carves a new county from Dobbs County, North Carolina and names it Wayne County in honor of United States General Anthony Wayne.

American Revolutionary War: Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren form the first Committee of Correspondence.

Peter I is proclaimed the first Emperor of All the Russias. This replaces the Tsardom of Russia with the Russian Empire.

Guru Gobind Singh becomes the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth prophet of the Sikhs, is executed by Mughal rulers. He prefers execution to defend the right of Hindus to practice their own religion.

November 12 ndash Commissioners of the Thirteen Colonies organize a united force to attack the Narragansett tribe.

Gottfried Leibniz uses infinitesimal calculus on a function.

Rudolf II becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

1485 ndash Leon Battista Alberti's "De Re Aedificatoria" (written 1443ndash52 and published posthumously) becomes the first printed work on architecture.

The Peace of Bourges freezes the Mad War.

Leonardo da Vinci designs the ariel screw.

Hadji II is restored as Mamluk Sultan of Egypt after overthrowing Sultan Barquq.

The unpopular Sultan Tughluq Khan of Delhi is murdered and succeeded by his brother, Abu Bakr Shah.

Goryeo Revolution in Korea (1388–1392): King Chang of Goryeo is forced from power and replaced by King Gongyang. The ten year-old Chang and his predecessor, U, are both assassinated later in the year.

Abu Tashufin II succeeds his nephew, Abu Hammu II, as ruler of the Abdalwadid Dynasty in present-day eastern Algeria.

Sandaki overthrows Magha II as Mansa of the Mali Empire.

Wikramawardhana succeeds Hayam Wuruk as ruler of the Majapahit Empire (now Indonesia).

With the backing of Antipope John XXIII, supporters of Louis II overthrow the underage King Ladislaus as King of Naples. The new Pope Boniface IX recognises Ladislaus's claim to the throne.

Carmo Convent is built in Lisbon.

Pope Boniface IX succeeds Pope Urban VI as the 203rd pope.

Biri II succeeds Kade Alunu as King of the Kanem-Bornu Empire (now eastern Chad and Nigeria) and the Empire loses its land in present-day Chad to the Bilala.

Abd ar-Rahmân II succeeds Musa II as ruler of the Ziyanid Dynasty in present-day western Algeria.

Cuthbert of Lindisfarne withdraws to a hermitage.

Pope Donus succeeds Pope Adeodatus as the 78th pope.

Mount Vesuvius erupts. During the volcanic eruption the whole of southern Europe is blanketed by ash.

Olybrius dies of dropsy after only a reign of four months. During his rule he is mainly interested in religion while the actual power is in the hands of Gundobad.