Alina Treiger was ordained as the first female rabbi in Germany since World War II, symbolizing a revival of Jewish life and progressive leadership in post-Holocaust Europe.
📍 Berlin, Germany
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, sparking celebration among ethnic Albanians and opposition from Serbia and several major powers, leading to ongoing international disputes over recognition.
📍 Pristina, Kosovo
Rookie Michael Jordan made his first appearance in the NBA All-Star Game, beginning a legendary career that would transform basketball and global sports culture.
📍 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
China unveiled a five-year plan focused on modernization in agriculture, industry, defense, and science, launching the nation’s rapid economic transformation under Deng Xiaoping’s leadership.
📍 Beijing, China
Formal charges were filed against several U.S. soldiers involved in the 1968 My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War, exposing atrocities and fueling antiwar sentiment globally.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
NASA officially canceled Apollo 20 to repurpose its Saturn V rocket for the Skylab space station program, marking a turning point in the U.S. lunar exploration agenda.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The U.S. Navy successfully tested the Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile, a major development in Cold War-era nuclear deterrence strategy.
📍 Atlantic Ocean, United States Navy Test Range
NASA launched Vanguard 2, the first satellite specifically designed for meteorological observation, providing early data on cloud cover and contributing to climate science.
📍 Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
Chaim Weizmann, a chemist and Zionist leader, was elected the first President of Israel by the Knesset, becoming the ceremonial head of the newly founded state.
📍 Jerusalem, Israel
Julius Streicher, Nazi publisher of antisemitic propaganda, was sentenced to death by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg for crimes against humanity.
📍 Nuremberg, Germany
U.S. forces launched Operation Hailstone, a two-day massive naval and air assault on the Japanese base at Truk Lagoon, crippling Japan’s Pacific fleet during World War II.
📍 Truk Lagoon, Micronesia
The U.S. government launched Voice of America to counter Nazi propaganda and promote American values during World War II, becoming a major tool in public diplomacy.
📍 New York City, United States
Dr. Bernard Fantus conducted the first successful human-to-human transfusion using preserved blood at Cook County Hospital, pioneering modern blood banking.
📍 Chicago, Illinois, United States
The League of Nations held its first official council meeting in Paris, taking early steps toward international diplomacy and conflict prevention after World War I.
📍 Paris, France
The U.S. Congress created the United States Coast Guard by merging the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service, forming a key maritime law enforcement and rescue force.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to begin impeachment proceedings against President Andrew Johnson, the first impeachment of a U.S. president in history.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Giuseppe Garibaldi declared the Roman Republic during Italy’s unification movement, briefly replacing papal rule and promoting republican ideals in defiance of foreign powers.
📍 Rome, Italy
British economist Thomas Malthus published 'An Essay on the Principle of Population,' proposing the theory that population growth would outpace food production, influencing economics and policy.
📍 London, United Kingdom
The British Parliament ended the ban on publishing accounts of its debates, a key step toward government transparency and freedom of the press in democratic societies.
📍 London, United Kingdom
Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake by the Roman Inquisition for heretical views, including belief in an infinite universe and multiple worlds.
📍 Rome, Italy