- 1982 – The Empire State Building was added to the National Register of Historical Places.
- 1988 – Benazir Bhutto became the first woman leader of an Islamic country. She was elected in the first democratic elections in Pakistan in 11 years.
- 1990 – A mass grave was discovered by the bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand. The bodies were believed to be those of World War II prisoners of war.
- 1990 – The Soviet government agreed to change the country’s constitution.
- 1997 – 62 people were killed by 6 Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt. The attackers were killed by police.
- 1997 – Mario Lemieux was voted into the NHL Hall of Fame.
- 2001 – “Toys “R” Us Times Square – The Center of the Toy Universe” opened in New York City.
- 2006 – Sony’s PlayStation 3 went on sale in the United States.
- 2010 – Reasearchers trapped 38 antihydrogen atoms. It was the first time humans had trapped antimatter.
- 2012 – At least 50 schoolchildren are killed in an accident at a railway crossing near Manfalut, Egypt.
- 2013 – Fifty people are killed when Tatarstan Airlines Flight 363 crashes at Kazan Airport, Russia.
- 2013 – A rare late-season tornado outbreak strikes the Midwest. Illinois and Indiana are most affected with tornado reports as far north as lower Michigan. In all around six dozen tornadoes touch down in approximately an 11-hour time period, including seven EF3 and two EF4 tornadoes.
- 2019 – The first known case of COVID-19 is traced to a 55-year-old man who had visited a market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.[
Celebrating Birthday Today
- 1981 – Sarah Harding, English singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress
- 1981 – Doug Walker, American actor, comedian, film critic, internet personality, and filmmaker
- 1982 – Katie Feenstra-Mattera, American basketball player[
- 1982 – Yusuf Pathan, Indian cricketer
- 1982 – Hollie Smith, New Zealand singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1983 – Viva Bianca, Australian actress, producer, and screenwriter
- 1983 – Ioannis Bourousis, Greek basketball player
- 1983 – Ryan Bradley, American figure skater
- 1983 – Ryan Braun, American baseball player
- 1983 – Trevor Crowe, American baseball player
- 1983 – Jodie Henry, Australian swimmer
- 1983 – Harry Lloyd, English actor, producer, and screenwriter
- 1983 – Nick Markakis, American baseball player
- 1983 – Scott Moore, American baseball player
- 1983 – Christopher Paolini, American author
- 1984 – Amanda Evora, American figure skater
- 1984 – Park Han-byul, South Korean model and actress
- 1985 – Luis Aguiar, Uruguayan footballer
- 1985 – Sékou Camara, Malian footballer (d. 2013)
- 1985 – Carolina Neurath, Swedish journalist
- 1986 – Everth Cabrera, Nicaraguan baseball player
- 1986 – Fabio Concas, Italian footballer
- 1986 – Nani, Portuguese footballer
- 1986 – Greg Rutherford, English long jumper
- 1987 – Craig Noone, English footballer
- 1987 – Gemma Spofforth, English swimmer
- 1987 – Justine Michelle Cain, English actress
- 1988 – Durratun Nashihin Rosli Malaysian rhythmic gymnast[
- 1989 – Ryan Griffin, American football player
- 1989 – Roman Zozulya, Ukrainian football striker
- 1992 – Danielle Kettlewell, Australian synchronised swimmer
- 1992 – Alex Sheedy, Australian basketball player
- 1993 – Taylor Gold, American snowboarder
- 1995 – Panashe Muzambe, Scottish rugby union player[