1900- Strikes in Belgium, Germany, Austrian Empire and Hungary in the coal mining, calling for reducing working hours.
1903- Frederick Lugard occupies Kano West Africa.
1917- US liner Housatonic is sunk by German submarine, on the same day that US President Wilson breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany.
1930- The Communist Party of Vietnam is established.
1931-The Hawke’s Bay earthquake, New Zealand’s worst natural disaster, kills 258 .
1950-British police arrest Nuclear physicist Klaus Fuchs on spying charges.
1962- US President John Kennedy bans all trade with Cuba except for food and medicine.
1969- Yasser Arafat chairs the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) following the meeting of the Palestinian National Council in Cairo.
Born Today:
1821- Elizabeth Blackwell, Bristol England, 1st woman physician .
Passed away:
1975- Renowned Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum .
Occasions:
Setsubun Festival in Japan, is the Japanese bean-throwing festival celebrated before the first day of Spring.
H. Zain/ Ghossoun