Today is the 286th day of 2012 and the 20th day of autumn.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1492, explorer Christopher Columbus' expedition made landfall in the Bahamas.
In 1945, the Allied Control Council in Germany decreed that the Nazi political party be dissolved.
In 1960, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev interrupted a session of the U.N. General Assembly by banging his shoe on a table.
In 2000, a suicide bomb attack on the USS Cole in Yemen killed 17 sailors and wounded 39.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Dick Gregory (1932- ), comedian/author; Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007), opera singer; Tony Kubek (1935- ), broadcaster/baseball player; Chris Wallace (1947- ), TV journalist; Hugh Jackman (1968- ), actor; Kirk Cameron (1970- ), actor; Bode Miller (1977- ), Olympic skier; Josh Hutcherson (1992- ), actor.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1982, Paul Molitor had five hits in Game 1 of the World Series, helping the Milwaukee Brewers win 10-0 over the St. Louis Cardinals.
TODAY'S FACT: The United Nations Population Fund estimated that the world's population reached 7 billion at the end of October 2011, but according to U.S. Census Bureau demographers, that number was not reached until four months later.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Liberty, not communism, is the most contagious force in the world." -- Earl Warren
TODAY'S NUMBER: 5 -- medals track-and-field athlete Marion Jones was awarded in the 2000 Summer Olympics. All were returned in 2007, after she admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.
TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (Oct. 8) and new moon (Oct. 15).