Evo Morales is inaugurated as President of Bolivia, becoming the country's first indigenous president.

Kmart becomes the largest retailer in United States history to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons are burned alive by radical Hindus while sleeping in their car in Eastern India.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Beit Lid massacre

Rebel forces occupy Zaire's national radio station in Kinshasa and broadcast a demand for the government's resignation.

Gulf War: Three SCUDs and one Patriot missile hit Ramat Gan in Israel, injuring 96 people. Three elderly people die of heart attacks.

Robert Tappan Morris, Jr. is convicted of releasing the 1988 Internet Computer worm.

Pennsylvania politician R. Budd Dwyer shoots and kills himself at a press conference on live national television, leading to debates on boundaries in journalism.

The Apple Macintosh, the first consumer computer to popularize the computer mouse and the graphical user interface, is introduced during Super Bowl XVIII with its famous ''"1984"'' television commercial.

The Supreme Court of the United States delivers its decision in Roe v. Wade, legalizing elective abortion in all fifty states.

The Boeing 747, the world's first "jumbo jet", enters commercial service for launch customer Pan American Airways with its maiden voyage from John F Kennedy International Airport to London Heathrow Airport.

Operation Igloo White, a US electronic surveillance system to stop communist infiltration into South Vietnam begins installation.

Apollo 5 lifts off carrying the first Lunar module into space.

The Elysée treaty of cooperation between France and Germany is signed by Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer.

The Organization of American States suspends Cuba's membership.

Knox Mine Disaster: Water breaches the River Slope Mine near Pittston City, Pennsylvania in Port Griffith; 12 miners are killed.

The New York City "Mad Bomber", George P. Metesky, is arrested in Waterbury, Connecticut and is charged with planting more than 30 bombs.

Israel withdraws from the Sinai Peninsula.

The first Jet airliner, the de Havilland Comet, enters service for BOAC.

KTLA, the first commercial television station west of the Mississippi River, begins operation in Hollywood, California.

Iran: Qazi Muhammad declares the independent people's Republic of Mahabad at Chuwarchira Square in the Kurdish city of Mahabad. He is the new president; Hadschi Baba Scheich is the prime minister.

Creation of the ''Central Intelligence Group'', forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency.

World War II: The Allies commence Operation Shingle, an assault on Anzio, Italy.

World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass.

Sir Isaac Isaacs is sworn in as the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia.

First live radio commentary of a football match anywhere in the world, between Arsenal F.C. and Sheffield United at Highbury.

Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Act Zluky is signed, unifying the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian National Republic.

World War I: President Woodrow Wilson of the still-neutral United States calls for "peace without victory" in Europe.

SS Valencia runs aground on rocks on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, killing more than 130.

Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg, beginning of the 1905 revolution.

Edward VII is proclaimed King after the death of his mother, Queen Victoria.

Leaders of six Australian colonies meet in Melbourne to discuss confederation.

The United Mine Workers of America is founded in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbia Phonograph is formed in Washington, D.C.

Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Rorke's Drift

Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Isandlwana

Arthur Tooth, an Anglican clergyman is taken into custody after being prosecuted for using ritualist practices.

The January Uprising breaks out in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. The aim of the national movement is to regain Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian Commonwealth from occupation by Russia.

Ashantis defeat British forces in the Gold Coast.

Spain cedes Port Egmont in the Falkland Islands to the United Kingdom.

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, opens the Diet of Worms.

The first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrives at the Vatican.

Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus.