Sidi-Hamed massacre takes place in Algeria, over 100 people are killed.

Space Shuttle program: STS-72 launches from the Kennedy Space Center marking the start of the 74th Space Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of ''Endeavour''.

The Irish Government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Féin.

300,000 march in favor of Lithuanian independence.

The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane in Queensland, Australia is officially opened.

East Pakistan renames itself Bangladesh.

United States Surgeon General Dr. Luther Leonidas Terry, M.D., publishes a landmark report saying that smoking may be hazardous to health, sparking nation- and worldwide anti-smoking efforts.

An avalanche on Huascaran in Peru causes 4,000 deaths.

Mass-murderer Jack Gilbert Graham is executed in Colorado by gas chamber.

The African Convention is founded in Dakar.

First recorded case of snowfall in Los Angeles, California.

Enver Hoxha declares the People's Republic of Albania with himself as president.

Italian-American Anarchist Carlo Tresca is assassinated in New York

World War II: The United States and United Kingdom give up territorial rights in China.

World War II: The Japanese capture Kuala Lumpur.

World War II: Japan declares war on the Netherlands and invades the Netherlands East Indies.

Amelia Earhart is the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.

Occupation of the Ruhr: Troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area to force Germany to make its World War I reparation payments.

First use of insulin to treat diabetes in a human patient.

Romania annexes Transylvania.

The Kingsland munitions factory explosion occurs as a result of sabotage.

The Lawrence textile strike begins in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Grand Canyon National Monument is created.

The Anglo-Zulu War begins.

Milk is first delivered in bottles.

American Civil War: Battle of Arkansas Post

Alabama secedes from the United States.

The Michigan Territory is created.

Robert Forsythe, a U.S. Marshal is killed in Augusta, Georgia when trying to serve court papers, the first US marshal to die while carrying out his duties.

William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus.

Ching-Thang Khomba is crowned King of Manipur.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first American life insurance company is incorporated.

Mt. Etna erupts in Sicily, Italy. A powerful earthquake destroys parts of Sicily and Malta.

Austrian nobility is granted freedom of religion.

First recorded lottery in England.

Vladislav II becomes King of Bohemia.

Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire.