Events January January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. January 15 – Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, U.S. President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam. January 17 – Ferdinand Marcos becomes President for Life of the Philippines. January 20 – Richard Nixon is sworn in for a second term as President of the United States. Nixon is the only person to have been sworn in twice as President (1969, 1973) and Vice President of the United States (1953, 1957). January 22 George Foreman defeats Joe Frazier to win the heavyweight world boxing championship. A Royal Jordanian Boeing 707 flight from Jeddah crashes in Kano, Nigeria; 176 people are killed. January 27 – U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War ends with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. February February 8 – A military insurrection in Uruguay poses an institutional challenge to President Juan María Bordaberry. February 21 – Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 (Boeing 727) is shot down by Israeli fighter aircraft over the Sinai Desert, after the passenger plane is suspected of being an enemy military plane. Only 5 (1 crew member and 4 passengers) of 113 survive. February 28 – The Republic of Ireland general election is held. Liam Cosgrave becomes the new Taoiseach. March March 7 – Comet Kohoutek is discovered. March 8 – The Troubles: A referendum is held in Northern Ireland over whether to reunite with the Republic of Ireland or to stay a part of the UK. The result was 98% remain. The Provisional Irish Republican Army responds to the referendum by planting four car bombs in London on the same day, two of which went off, causing one death and injuring over 200 people. March 10 – Sir Richard Sharples, Governor of Bermuda, is assassinated outside Government House, along with his aide-de-camp. March 20 – A British government White Paper on Northern Ireland proposes the re-establishment of an Assembly elected by proportional representation, with a possible All-Ireland council. March 21 – The Lofthouse Colliery disaster occurs in Great Britain. Seven miners are trapped underground; none survive. March 27 – At the 45th Academy Awards, The Godfather wins best picture. April April 1 India launches the wildlife conservation program Project Tiger. Value Added Tax (VAT) is introduced in the United Kingdom.