NASA launched the Genesis spacecraft to collect solar wind particles and return them to Earth, aiming to study the composition of the Sun and the origins of the solar system.
📍 Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
The U.S. Senate officially recognized National Tartan Day, honoring Scottish-American heritage and the historic contributions of Scots to American society and governance.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Following the assassination of President Habyarimana, Hutu extremists launched a campaign of mass murder against Tutsi civilians, beginning one of the worst genocides of the 20th century.
📍 Kigali, Rwanda
Hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina began sheltering more than 1,000 people at the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali, an act later dramatized in 'Hotel Rwanda'.
📍 Kigali, Rwanda
Pizza Hut recorded the first-ever online food order via the internet, a pioneering moment in e-commerce that foreshadowed the global digital food delivery industry.
📍 Santa Cruz, California, United States
NASA successfully launched the Intelsat VI F-3 satellite aboard a Titan III rocket, extending global communication networks and supporting international broadcasting infrastructure.
📍 Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
The first U.S. criminal case using DNA fingerprinting evidence was decided in Florida, revolutionizing forensic science and establishing DNA as a standard legal tool.
📍 Orlando, Florida, United States
Following the Iranian Revolution, the country held a referendum in which an overwhelming majority voted in favor of establishing an Islamic Republic, reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitics.
📍 Tehran, Iran
NASA launched Pioneer 11, the second mission to explore the outer planets. It became the first spacecraft to encounter Saturn and provided crucial data on the planet’s rings and atmosphere.
📍 Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
France formally recognized Algeria’s independence through the Évian Accords, ending a brutal war and granting sovereignty to one of Africa’s largest nations.
📍 Évian-les-Bains, France
The Treaty of Rome came into effect establishing EURATOM, aimed at creating a specialized market for nuclear power in Europe and promoting peaceful uses of atomic energy.
📍 Rome, Italy
French colonial troops opened fire on Tunisian protesters demanding democratic reforms, an event that intensified nationalist sentiment and the struggle for independence in North Africa.
📍 Tunis, Tunisia
The United States officially recognized the Nationalist government of China, strengthening ties with Chiang Kai-shek’s regime and shaping early 20th-century East Asian geopolitics.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Mahatma Gandhi led a nationwide hartal (mass protest) against the Rowlatt Act, marking a pivotal moment in India’s nonviolent struggle against British colonial rule.
📍 India
The United States formally declared war on Germany, entering World War I and marking a turning point in the global conflict as American resources and troops shifted the balance.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The Bolshevik Party began publishing Pravda, which became the official newspaper of the Soviet Union and a powerful tool for disseminating communist ideology worldwide.
📍 Saint Petersburg, Russia
The first modern Olympic Games officially opened in Athens, Greece, reviving an ancient tradition and establishing a global sporting event that continues to this day.
📍 Athens, Greece
The Swedish East India Company was granted its charter, launching Sweden into Asian maritime trade and expanding its global economic ambitions during the age of mercantilism.
📍 Gothenburg, Sweden
Raphael, one of the most celebrated artists of the Italian Renaissance, was born. His works and influence remain foundational in the history of Western art.
📍 Urbino, Italy
Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV issued the Golden Bull of Sicily to Rudolf I, granting him the title of King of Bohemia and reinforcing imperial authority in Central Europe.
📍 Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia