EVENTS:
- 1575 – Leiden University is founded, and given the motto Praesidium Libertatis.
- 1879 – The England cricket team led by Lord Harris is attacked during a riot during a match in Sydney.
- 1925 – National day of Air Force of Iran
- 1948 – The formal creation of the Korean People’s Army of North Korea is announced.
- 1965 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean and explodes, killing everyone aboard.
- 1974 – After 84 days in space, the crew of Skylab 4, the last crew to visit American space station Skylab, returns to Earth.
- 1992 – 1992 Winter Olympics opening ceremony is held in Albertville, France.
- 1996 – The massive Internet collaboration 24 Hours in Cyberspace takes place.
- 2010 – A freak storm in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan triggers a series of at least 36 avalanches, burying over two miles of road, killing at least 172 people and trapping over 2,000 travelers.
- 2014 – A hotel fire in Medina, Saudi Arabia kills 15 Egyptian pilgrims with 130 also injured.
BIRTHS:
- 1897 – Zakir Hussain, Indian academic and politician, 3rd president of India (d. 1969)
- 1941 – Jagjit Singh, Indian singer-songwriter (d. 2011)
- 1943 – Pirzada Qasim, Pakistani poet and academic
- 1963 – Mohammad Azharuddin, Indian cricketer and politician
- 1970 – John Filan, Australian footballer and coach
- 1970 – Alonzo Mourning, American basketball player
- 1971 – Aidy Boothroyd, English footballer and manager
- 1976 – Khaled Mashud, Bangladeshi cricketer
- 1977 – Barry Hall, Australian footballer
- 1977 – Barry Hall, Australian footballer
HOLIDAYS and OBSERVANCES:
