North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, escalating tensions with neighboring countries and drawing condemnation from the international community.
📍 Sea of Japan, East Asia
In a significant expansion of the Western alliance, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic officially joined NATO, ending decades of post-Soviet isolation and aligning with Western security structures.
📍 Brussels, Belgium
Armenia inaugurated the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute to commemorate the victims of the 1915 genocide by the Ottoman Empire. It serves as a major center for education and remembrance.
📍 Yerevan, Armenia
Philips introduced the Digital Compact Cassette (DCC), a digital audio tape format designed to replace analog cassettes. It failed commercially but contributed to digital audio innovation.
📍 Eindhoven, Netherlands
Larry King launched his now-iconic talk show on CNN, transforming cable news broadcasting with his distinctive interviewing style and global guest list over the decades that followed.
📍 United States (CNN Headquarters)
The island nation of Mauritius gained independence from the United Kingdom, ending centuries of colonial rule and becoming a sovereign state within the Commonwealth.
📍 Port Louis, Mauritius
The play 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' by Edward Albee opened on Broadway, becoming an iconic piece of American theater known for its raw dialogue and psychological complexity.
📍 New York City, United States
Steve Harris, bassist and founding member of the legendary British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, was born. The group became one of the most influential in global rock history.
📍 Leytonstone, London, United Kingdom
Charlie Parker, the pioneering American jazz saxophonist and a leading figure in the development of bebop, died at the age of 34. His influence on modern jazz remains profound.
📍 New York City, United States
China’s Communist leadership officially adopted its First Five-Year Plan, focusing on rapid industrialization and collectivization based on the Soviet model, reshaping the Chinese economy and society.
📍 Beijing, China
U.S. President Harry Truman addressed Congress and introduced the Truman Doctrine, pledging aid to countries threatened by communism. It marked the start of America's Cold War foreign policy.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
German troops entered Austria and completed the annexation of the country into Nazi Germany. The Anschluss violated the Treaty of Versailles and marked a major step toward World War II.
📍 Vienna, Austria
Mahatma Gandhi began the Salt March, a 240-mile protest against British salt taxes in colonial India. The act of civil disobedience became a pivotal moment in India's struggle for independence.
📍 Sabarmati, India
Sun Yat-sen, widely regarded as the father of modern China and leader of the Xinhai Revolution that ended imperial rule, died of cancer in Beijing. His vision continues to influence both China and Taiwan.
📍 Beijing, China
Jack Kerouac, a central figure in the Beat Generation and author of the influential novel 'On the Road', was born. His work inspired decades of counterculture and literary experimentation.
📍 Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts of the USA in Savannah, Georgia, with the aim of empowering young girls and fostering leadership, community service, and outdoor skills.
📍 Savannah, Georgia, United States
Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2, also known as the 'Resurrection Symphony,' was performed in its entirety for the first time. The piece became a cornerstone of the Romantic repertoire.
📍 Berlin, Germany
Coca-Cola was sold in bottles for the first time in Vicksburg, Mississippi. This innovation transformed the beverage industry and laid the foundation for Coca-Cola’s global dominance.
📍 Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States
One of the most severe blizzards in American history struck the Northeast, dumping up to 55 inches of snow and killing over 400 people. It paralyzed cities and transformed emergency planning.
📍 Northeastern United States
An early uprising took place in Constantinople as part of the Greek War of Independence against Ottoman rule. This marked one of the first major acts in Greece’s push for nationhood.
📍 Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey)