1861 - Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas seceded from the United States and formed the Confederation of South American countries. Confederate later joined Arkansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
1879 – Sandford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute.
1974 - After 84 days in space, the crew of Skylab 4, the last crew to visit American space station Skylab, returns to Earth.
1994 - USA recognized Republic of Macedonia.
1996 – Argentina recognized Republic of Macedonia.
2010 - A freak storm in the Hindukush 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.
CHINESE NEW YEAR
