The Kmart Corporation announced it was buying Sears, Roebuck and Co. for 11 billion USD.

In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down by Islamic militants.

The Velvet Revolution began in Czechoslovakia when a student demonstration in Prague was broken up by the police. The actions of the police sparked a chain of events which led to the overthrow of the communist government in Czechoslovakia.

After the break of the Watergate scandal, US President Richard Nixon, utters his famous 'I am not a crook' quote to the press.

Students in Athens begin an uprising against the military Junta in Athens.

The Soviet Lunokhod 1 robot landed on the Moon. It was the first remote-controlled robot to land on another planet.

American actress, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, was born in Illinois. While a highly popular actress in the 1980's, in 1990 she decided to limit her involvement in movies to focus her attention to her family.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was enthroned as at the age of fifteen.

American actor, Danny DeVito, was born in New Jersey.

American film director, Martin Scorsese, was born in New York.

American actor, Rock Hudson, was born in Illinois. While he was a successful actor he is most remembered as being the first celebrity known to have died from the AIDS virus.

Japanese automobile pioneer, Soichiro Honda, was born in Hamamatsu. He was the founder of the Honda Motors company.

The Suez Canal, which links the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, was officially opened with a spectacular ceremony.

Giuseppe Verdi's first opera, Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio premiered in Milan.