Panama / SOS / Laika / Tokyo Story / World Trade Center

The second Muslim caliph, Umar, is wounded in an assassination attempt in Medina by Lu'lu, an enslaved Persian captive, and dies four days later.

The English Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy, making Henry VIII, and later monarchs, the head of the Church of England.

English Long Parliament is established.

Panama declared independence from Colombia with U.S. support.

International Radiotelegraph Convention selected "SOS" (· · · – – – · · ·) as the global distress signal.

Yasujirō Ozu's "Tokyo Story," starring Chishū Ryū, Chieko Higashiyama, and Setsuko Hara, was released.

The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 2 with Laika, a Siberian Husky, aboard—the first animal to orbit Earth; she dies in flight.

District of Columbia residents voted in a presidential election for the first time since 1800.

President Nixon promised to gradually withdraw troops from Vietnam.

Whitney Houston released "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton cover). (Billboard Song of the Year 1993)

Former wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura won Minnesota's governorship with 37% of the vote.

One World Trade Center opened in Manhattan on the site of the Twin Towers.