... 2003, explosion of a truck bomb just outside the United Nations' headquarters in Baghdad resulted in the deaths of nearly 2 dozen persons, among them Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N.'s top envoy there and formerly the High Commissioner for Human Rights; American human rights lawyer Arthur Helton. The blast prompted the withdrawal of U.N. workers from Iraq, where a U.S.-coalition had invaded in March. The United Nations did not return until 2004. (photo of bombed headquarters courtesy of U.N. archive)... 1883, Coco Chanel, as the woman given the birthname Gabrielle "was known the world over," was born. By the time of her death 87 years later at the Ritz hotel in Paris, she'd become "one of the greatest couturiers of the 20th century" and purveyor of the still-bestselling fragrance, No. 5. Describing her as "shrewd, chic and on the cutting edge," a Time profile contended that although Chanel did not consider herself a feminist, she aided "the liberation of women" by promoting easier-to-wear attire.
