Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's trial for crimes against humanity began under the Iraqi Special Tribunal. It marked a symbolic moment for international justice following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
📍 Baghdad, Iraq
NASA launched Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107, which ended in tragedy when the shuttle disintegrated during reentry, killing all seven crew members and leading to major changes in space safety protocols.
📍 Kennedy Space Center, United States
In the wake of 9/11, the U.S. Treasury designated and froze assets of key financiers linked to Osama bin Laden. This move highlighted the global financial campaign against terrorism.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, was publicly presented by scientists at the Roslin Institute. Her existence sparked ethical debates on cloning and biotechnology worldwide.
📍 Edinburgh, Scotland
The Algerian military intervened to cancel the parliamentary elections to prevent an Islamist party from taking power. This triggered a bloody civil war that lasted over a decade and cost more than 150,000 lives.
📍 Algiers, Algeria
Deng Xiaoping began his 'Southern Tour' in China to reassert the importance of economic reforms and opening up to the world, laying the foundation for China’s transformation into a global economic power.
📍 Shenzhen, China
The U.S.-led coalition launched Operation Desert Storm to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait, initiating the combat phase of the Persian Gulf War. It marked a significant post-Cold War military intervention with global ramifications.
📍 Kuwait and Iraq
In a surprising political shift, Soviet authorities began to acknowledge the illegality of their occupation of the Baltic States, setting the stage for the eventual independence of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia later that year.
📍 Moscow, USSR
The Supreme Court of India began hearing the Shah Bano case, which became a landmark judgment in favor of Muslim women's right to alimony and sparked national debates over personal laws and secularism.
📍 New Delhi, India
Helmut Kohl assumed leadership of the Christian Democratic Union, setting the stage for his long tenure as Chancellor of West Germany and later unified Germany. He played a central role in the fall of the Berlin Wall and European integration.
📍 Bonn, West Germany
The Economist, one of the world's most influential weekly publications, released its first U.S. edition, marking a major step in its global reach and influence on economic and political thought.
📍 New York, United States
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi left Iran as revolutionary fervor swept the country, leading to the collapse of the monarchy and establishment of the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.
📍 Tehran, Iran
France conducted a nuclear test at the Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia, part of its ongoing weapons testing program. The event drew global criticism over environmental and geopolitical concerns.
📍 Mururoa Atoll, French Polynesia
The Soviet Luna 21 mission successfully landed on the Moon, deploying the Lunokhod 2 rover. It furthered lunar exploration and demonstrated the USSR’s continued achievements in space technology during the Cold War.
📍 Moon (Sea of Serenity)
The Addis Ababa Agreement was signed, officially ending the First Sudanese Civil War between the northern government and southern rebels. Although fragile, it marked a rare instance of peace in the region until conflict reignited in later decades.
📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Notorious American serial killer Albert Fish was executed in Sing Sing Prison. His gruesome crimes and psychological profile influenced forensic psychology and public awareness of mental illness in criminal behavior.
📍 Ossining, New York, United States
The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took effect, initiating Prohibition and outlawing the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. It led to widespread organized crime and was repealed in 1933.
📍 United States
The League of Nations held its first council meeting in Paris, marking the first international attempt to maintain world peace following World War I, though it ultimately failed to prevent future conflicts.
📍 Paris, France
The U.S. Senate ratified the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Spanish-American War. The treaty ceded control of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the United States, marking a major shift in global colonial power.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The British Museum officially added the Rosetta Stone to its collection. This artifact was key in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs and became one of the most important archaeological discoveries in human history.
📍 London, England