164-B.C .During the Maccabean Revolt Judas Maccabeus recaptures Jerusalem and rededicates the Second Temple, commemorated since as Jewish festival Hanukkah
1818-Russia's Tsar Alexander I petitions for a Jewish state in Palestine
1906-China prohibits the opium trade
1970-General Hafez al-Assad becomes Prime Minister of Syria following a military coup
1971-Battle of Garibpur: Indian troops aided by the Mukti Bahini, Bengali guerrillas, defeat the army of Pakistan
1976-"Rocky" directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Sylvester Stallone premieres in New York (Best Picture 1977)
2002-NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.
2017-Robert Mugabe's resignation after 37 years in power is read out in Zimbabwe's parliaments during impeachment proceedings