January eighth

In 1973, secret peace talks between the United States and North Vietnam resumed near Paris.

In 1976, Chinese premier Chou En-lai died in Beijing at age 78.

In 1982, American Telephone and Telegraph settled the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit against it by agreeing to divest itself of the 22 Bell System companies.

In 1987, for the first time, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 2000, ending the day at 2002.25.

Ten years ago: Military tribunals in Romania began trying the first captured members of the country's dreaded security forces, who stood accused of resisting the revolution that toppled Nicolae Ceausescu.

Five years ago: Russian forces in Chechnya pounded the capital of Grozny with rocket and mortar fire in an attempt to scatter Chechen fighters defending the presidential palace.