Bartholomew I became the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox Church.

The United Kingdom's television station, Channel 4, was launched.

Italian film director, Pier Paolo Pasolini, was murdered at the age of 53. He was a highly controversial figure. His film Salo (finished at the same year as his death) is widely considered as the most controversial film of all time, deriving its theme from the book '120 Days of Sodom' by the Marquis de Sade.

King Saud of Saudi Arabia was deposed after a coup led by his half-brother Faisal who replaced him as King.

Canadian musician, k.d. lang, was born in Alberta, Canada.

Greek conductor and composer, Dimitri Mitropoulos, died at the age of 64. He spent most of his career in the United States and is widely considered as one of the influential figures of 20th century 'classical' music.

Pakistan is renamed to The Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Haile Selassie was crowned emperor of Ethiopia. He was one of the most respected monarchs around the world and 'Messiah' of the Rastafari movement. Under his leadership Ethiopia enjoyed a status of prestige around the world.

Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire.

American actor, Burt Lancaster, was born in New York City. He was one of the most celebrated actors of the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's.

Greek writer and poet, Odysseus Elytis, was born in Heraklion, Crete. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1979 and is generally considered as one of the most important contemporary figure of Greek literature.

North and South Dakota were admitted as the 39th and 40th U.S. states.