January 24th


1857: The University of Calcutta is formally founded as the first full-fledged university in south Asia. 14 million students enroll... and that was just the sophomore class.


1972: Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi is found hiding in a Guam jungle, where he had been since the end of World War II. To make the transition easier for him, authorities tell him Sony won the war.


2009: Pope Benedict XVI rescinds the excommunications of four bishops consecrated without papal consent in 1988. It turns out all four of them were really needed to round out the Vatican softball team.