Rwandan Genocide: Military advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the Military Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations Maurice Baril recommends that the UN multi-national forces in Zaire stand down.

The last shift leaves Wearmouth Colliery in Sunderland. The closure of the 156-year-old pit marks the end of the old County Durham coalfield, which had been in operation since the Middle Ages.

Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj announces the establishment of Mongolia's democratic movement that changes the second oldest communist country into a democracy.

Democracy is restored in Argentina with the assumption of President Raúl Alfonsín.

The United Nations General Assembly approves Pakistan's proposal for establishing nuclear free-zone in South Asia.

Arab-Israeli conflict: Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin and President of Egypt Anwar Sadat are jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Japan's biggest heist, the still-unsolved "300 million yen robbery", is carried out in Tokyo.

The Mighty Mouse Playhouse premieres on television.

Chinese Civil War: The People's Liberation Army begins its siege of Chengdu, the last Kuomintang-held city in mainland China, forcing President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek and his government to retreat to Taiwan.

The UN General Assembly adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

World War II: The Royal Navy capital ships {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|6}} and {{HMS|Repulse|1916|6}} are sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy torpedo bombers near Malaya.

World War II: Battle of the Philippines (1941-42)|Battle of the Philippines

Abdication Crisis: Edward VIII signs the ''Instrument of Abdication''.

The Downtown Athletic Club Trophy, later renamed the Heisman Trophy, is awarded to halfback Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago.

Thailand adopts a Constitution and becomes a constitutional monarchy.

The Grand Ole Opry premieres on radio.

The worst night of the Brown Dog riots in London, when 1,000 medical students clash with 400 police officers over the existence of a memorial for animals who have been vivisected.

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt wins the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first American to win a Nobel Prize.

Pi Kappa Phi founded at the College of Charleston

Women are given the right to vote in Tasmania.

The first Nobel Prizes are awarded.

Spanish-American War: The Treaty of Paris is signed, officially ending the conflict.

The first traffic lights are installed, outside the Palace of Westminster in London. Resembling railway signals, they use semaphore arms and are illuminated at night by red and green gas lamps.

American Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea

American Civil War: the Confederate States of America accept a rival state government's pronouncement that declares Kentucky to be the 13th state of the Confederacy.

Mississippi becomes the 20th U.S. state.

Isaac Newton's derivation of Kepler's laws from his theory of gravity, contained in the paper ''De motu corporum in gyrum'', is read to the Royal Society by Edmund Halley.

The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps is founded by Michiel de Ruyter

Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham are executed for having affairs with Catherine Howard, Queen of England and wife of Henry VIII.

Martin Luther burns his copy of the papal bull ''Exsurge Domine'' outside Wittenberg's Elster Gate.

The League of Cambrai is formed by Pope Julius II, Louis XII of France, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Ferdinand II of Aragon as an alliance against Venice.

Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adopted son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V.