A series of bombing and attacks by operatives of the Al Qaeda terrorist network took place in Iraq resulting in the death of 170 people.

The United Nations issued a report which stated that no weapons of mass destruction were under the control of the Iraqi regime prior to the US led invasion of 2003. The existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was the main cause for invasion as it had been stated by US president George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The music album, Please Please Me, by the Beatles was released in the United Kingdom. It was the first album recorded by The Beatles.

American musician, Jon Bon Jovi, was born in New Jersey. He is the lead singer of the rock band Bon Jovi.

Morocco declared its independence from the rule of France.

Ho Chi Minh became the President of North Vietnam.

American musician, Lou Reed, was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was one of the leading members of the rock group, The Velvet Underground, which during the 1960s helped shape the rock music movement.

The cartoon character, Elmer Fudd, made his debut in the Elmer's Candid Camera. He is one of the most famous Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies characters along with his prey, Bugz Bunny.

The movie, King Kong, premiered in New York City.

Russian politician, Mikhail Gorbachev, was born in Stavropol. He was the (last) leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991 and the recipient of the Nobel peace prize.

English writer, D. H. Lawrence, died at the age of 44. He was one of the most important, as well as controversial, English writers of the 20th century. In 1928 he wrote the novel Lady Chatterley's Lover, which sparked a row of criticism and banning which lasted more than 30 years later, but was also instrumental in combating the censorship laws which governed publications up until the 1960's.