At the age of 40

• 27-February-2005 : The 77th Academy Awards, hosted by Chris Rock, are held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, with ''Million Dollar Baby'' winning Best Picture.
• 23-February-2002 : FARC kidnaps Ingrid Betancourt in Colombia while she campaigns for the presidency.
• 23-February-1998 : Osama bin Laden publishes a ''fatwa'', declaring ''jihad'' against all Jews and Crusaders.
• 28-October-1982 : The Socialist Party wins the election in Spain; Felipe Gonzalez is elected Prime Minister.
• 09-July-1979 : A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by Nazi hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility.
• 05-September-1975 : In Sacramento, California, Lynette Fromme, a follower of jailed cult leader Charles Manson, attempts to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford, but is thwarted by a Secret Service agent.
• 08-April-1974 : Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves breaks Babe Ruth's home run record, by hitting his 715th career home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
• 27-June-1971 : Concert promoter Bill Graham closes the legendary Fillmore East, which first opened on 2nd Avenue (between 5th and 6th Streets) in New York City on March 8, 1968.
• 12-March-1971 : Hafez al-Assad becomes president of Syria.
• 21-November-1970 : Syrian Prime Minister Hafez al-Assad forms a new government but retains the post of defense minister.