The Treaty of Lisbon, reforming the European Union’s constitutional framework and creating the permanent position of President of the European Council, came into force, strengthening EU governance.
📍 Lisbon, Portugal
Taiwan opened its first Human Rights Museum to commemorate victims of the White Terror era and educate the public about past authoritarian abuses and the value of democracy.
📍 Jing-Mei, Taipei, Taiwan
Pope John Paul II ceremonially opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, initiating the Great Jubilee of the year 2000—a major event of celebration and spiritual renewal in the Catholic Church.
📍 Vatican City
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was formally signed into law by the leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., creating one of the largest free trade zones in the world.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
At the Malta Summit, U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared the Cold War over, signaling a new era of diplomacy and cooperation.
📍 Malta
Japan launched its first high-speed freight railway line, integrating bullet-train technology for cargo and establishing a model for efficient logistics in modern transportation systems.
📍 Tokyo, Japan
Former Beatle John Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment by Mark David Chapman, shocking the world and leaving a lasting cultural and musical legacy.
📍 New York City, United States
The Beatles' album 'Rubber Soul' was released in the United States, marking a major turning point in their artistic evolution and influencing the future of rock music worldwide.
📍 United States / United Kingdom
The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, outlining fundamental rights and freedoms and laying the foundation for modern international human rights law.
📍 Paris, France
Jim Morrison, poet, counterculture icon, and frontman of The Doors, was born. His lyrical style and rebellious persona left a lasting mark on rock music and youth culture.
📍 Melbourne, Florida, United States
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Congress declared war on Japan, officially entering World War II and marking a major turning point in global military history.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan formally declared war on the United States and the British Empire, igniting the Pacific War front of World War II.
📍 Tokyo, Japan
Japanese forces launched the Nanjing Massacre, committing mass killings and atrocities against Chinese civilians after capturing the city, leaving an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 dead.
📍 Nanjing, China
The Council of the League of Nations met for the first time in Geneva, marking an early effort at establishing international diplomacy and collective security after World War I.
📍 Geneva, Switzerland
British naval forces defeated a German squadron off the coast of the Falkland Islands during World War I, securing control of the South Atlantic and avenging a previous defeat at Coronel.
📍 Falkland Islands
Diego Rivera, influential Mexican artist and pioneer of large-scale public murals with socialist themes, was born. His art inspired political movements and Latin American modernism.
📍 Guanajuato, Mexico
Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, affirming that Mary, mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin, a major development in Catholic doctrine.
📍 Vatican City
Eli Whitney, the American inventor best known for creating the cotton gin and popularizing interchangeable parts in manufacturing, was born. His inventions transformed U.S. agriculture and industry.
📍 Westborough, Massachusetts, United States
John Banister, a pioneering English anatomist and physician who helped establish the early study of human anatomy in Britain, died. His lectures influenced generations of medical students.
📍 London, England
Bodhi Day commemorates the day when Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and became the Buddha, a central spiritual event in Mahayana Buddhism.
📍 Bodh Gaya, India