The January Uprising breaks out in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. The aim of the national movement is to regain Polish–Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth from occupation by Russia.

The Boeing 747, the world's first "jumbo jet", enters commercial service for launch customer Pan American Airways with its maiden voyage from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to London Heathrow Airport.

World War II: Australian and American forces defeat Japanese army and navy units in the bitterly fought Battle of Buna–Gona.

Creation of the Central Intelligence Group, forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The Battle of Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War results in a British defeat.

At least 88 people are killed when two car bombs explode in the Bab Al-Sharqi market in central Baghdad, Iraq.

Space Shuttle program: space shuttle Endeavour launches on STS-89 to dock with the Russian space station Mir.

World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass.

The Supreme Court of the United States delivers its decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, legalizing elective abortion in all fifty states.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Beit Lid suicide bombing: In central Israel, near Netanya, two Gazans blow themselves up at a military transit point, killing 19 Israeli soldiers.

Ram Mandir inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh after 500 years of dispute.

The Apple Macintosh, the first consumer computer to popularize the computer mouse and the graphical user interface, is introduced during a Super Bowl XVIII television commercial.

The first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrives at the Vatican.

Bloody Sunday in Saint Petersburg, beginning of the 1905 revolution.

Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Edward VII is proclaimed King of the United Kingdom after the death of his mother, Queen Victoria.

Apollo Program: Apollo 5 lifts off carrying the first Lunar module into space.

The New York City "Mad Bomber", George P. Metesky, is arrested in Waterbury, Connecticut and charged with planting more than 30 bombs.

The Ashantis defeat British forces in the Gold Coast.

Operation Igloo White, a US electronic surveillance system to stop communist infiltration into South Vietnam begins installation.