A five-day blizzard started in the south of England and killed 200 people.
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The Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 9 was launched into orbit.
Bertha Landes became the first female mayor of a major city (Seattle) in the US.
Barbie was presented to the public for the first time.
Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda became the last Japanese soldier to surrender, 29 years after WWII ended.
Naples, Italy, banned kissing in public.