November 3rd

Umar ibn al-Khattab, second Muslim caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina.

Hamid Karzai was declared the winner in Afghanistan's first presidential election.

Bill Clinton (D) wins US presidential election over President George H. W. Bush (R).

A Lebanese magazine broke the story of U.S. arms sales to Iran, leading to the Iran-Contra affair.

Dominica gains independence. The Caribbean Island nation gained its independence from the British after being colonized in 1805.

NASA launches Mariner 10. The last of the Mariner Program, Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft to flyby two planets - Venus and Mercury. The probe flew by Venus on February 5, 1974, and did 3 flybys of Mercury on March 29, 1974, September 21, 1974, and on March 16, 1975, after which communications with the probe were terminated.

The Soviet Union sent the first animal, a dog named Laika, into space aboard the Sputnik II. Laika died in orbit.

Godzilla released. The Japanese science fiction starring a mutated monster of the same name became an instant hit.

Clarence Birdseye marketed the first frozen peas.

International Radiotelegraph Conference in Berlin selects 'SOS' (· · · – – – · · ·) distress signal as the worldwide standard for help.

Panama proclaimed its independence from Colombia.

John Willis Menard elected to U.S. House of Representatives. He became the first African-American to be elected to the house.

The first Opium War between China and Britain broke out.

The Times of India founded. The world's largest English-language daily was launched as a bi-weekly as the Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce in Bombay, India.

English Long Parliament forms.

Great Patent granted to Plymouth Colony.

English parliament accepts Act of Supremacy: Henry VIII becomes Head of Church of England.