China launched its indigenous high-bypass turbofan engine project to power the C919 passenger jet, signaling its ambition to compete with Boeing and Airbus in commercial aviation.
📍 Shanghai, China
The first Rare Disease Day was launched to raise awareness about rare conditions that affect a small percentage of the population. It has since grown into a global health advocacy movement.
📍 Global
NATO officially ended its military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, handing over security responsibilities to European Union forces. The operation had helped stabilize the region after the 1990s Balkan conflicts.
📍 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia officially ceased to exist, replaced by a looser state union of Serbia and Montenegro. It marked the end of a historic chapter in Balkan political identity.
📍 Belgrade, Serbia
Michael Jordan retired from professional basketball for the second time, ending his legendary run with the Chicago Bulls. His influence on global sports marketing and the NBA was unmatched.
📍 Chicago, United States
President George H. W. Bush declared a ceasefire and official end to the Persian Gulf War, following the expulsion of Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The war marked a major U.S.-led military coalition effort and reshaped regional power dynamics.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The International Atomic Energy Agency officially admitted the People's Republic of China, integrating the country into global frameworks for nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation.
📍 Vienna, Austria
The final episode of the TV series M*A*S*H aired on CBS, attracting over 105 million viewers in the U.S. It remains the most-watched scripted television episode in history, marking a milestone in entertainment history.
📍 United States
The Airbus A310 completed its maiden flight, marking a major step in European aerospace collaboration. The wide-body jet became widely used for medium to long-haul international travel.
📍 Toulouse, France
Conservationist Dian Fossey established the Digit Fund, later known as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, to protect endangered mountain gorillas. The organization became a global leader in wildlife conservation.
📍 Rwanda
The Cuban opposition ended its nationwide general strike aimed at weakening Batista’s regime. Although it failed to topple the government, it intensified momentum for the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro.
📍 Havana, Cuba
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first large-scale human trials of Enovid, which later became the first birth control pill. It revolutionized reproductive health and women’s autonomy.
📍 United States
A catastrophic avalanche struck the village of Blons in Austria, killing 125 people. It prompted international advances in avalanche monitoring, rescue technology, and mountain safety standards.
📍 Blons, Austria
James Watson and Francis Crick submitted their seminal paper describing the double helix structure of DNA to the journal Nature, launching a new era in genetics and molecular biology.
📍 Cambridge, United Kingdom
The North Korean regime officially claimed that Kim Jong-il, future Supreme Leader of North Korea, was born on this date. His leadership later shaped one of the world's most isolated and militarized states.
📍 Baekdu Mountain, Korea (claimed); Siberia (disputed)
Famed illusionist Harry Houdini performed his first public straitjacket escape in front of a crowd in London, launching one of his signature acts and transforming modern stage magic.
📍 London, United Kingdom
Ahmed Shawqi, known as the 'Prince of Poets' in Arabic literature, was born in Cairo. His works bridged classical Arabic poetry with modern themes, earning him lasting influence across the Arab world.
📍 Cairo, Egypt
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was officially chartered, becoming the first commercial railway in the United States. It laid the foundation for a nationwide transportation network and played a critical role in U.S. industrialization.
📍 Baltimore, Maryland, United States
The U.S. Department of War created the Bureau of Indian Affairs to manage relations with Native American tribes, initiating a controversial and complex history of federal-tribal interactions.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Michelangelo completed the initial design and drawing phase for the Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes, which later became one of the most celebrated masterpieces of Renaissance art and religious expression.
📍 Vatican City