1946⚡ Event
First UN General Assembly session convenes
The first session of the United Nations General Assembly convened in London with representatives from 51 member states.
politics
This Week in History: Week 2
January 8 – January 14
Over 104 historical moments took place during these 7 days of the calendar year. Explore our curated digest of the most world-changing events, iconic births, and notable deaths.
Explore the Full Daily Timelines
Major Events (January 8 – January 14)(20)
1964⚡ Event
Surgeon General Warns of Smoking Dangers
U.S. surgeon general Luther Terry issued a warning that tobacco smoking may be hazardous to health, linking it to lung cancer and other illnesses.
medicinelaw
1964⚡ Event
Zanzibar Revolution
Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah was overthrown by rebels led by John Okello. This event ended 200 years of Arab dominance in Zanzibar.
politicswar
1977⚡ Event
Moscow bombings
Three bombs attributed to Armenian nationalists exploded across Moscow. Seven people were killed and 37 people were injured.
politicswar
1981⚡ Event
Trans-en-Provence UFO sighting
A local farmer in Trans-en-Provence, France, reported a UFO sighting. This event is claimed to be perhaps the most completely and carefully documented sighting of all time.
exploration
1985⚡ Event
Sinclair C5 launched
Sir Clive Sinclair launched the Sinclair C5 personal electric vehicle, which became a cult collectible despite its commercial failure.
technologyeconomics
1986⚡ Event
Gateway Bridge Opens in Brisbane
The Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, Australia, opened as the largest prestressed-concrete, single-box bridge in the world.
technologyexploration
1991⚡ Event
Jeremy Wade Delle suicide
Jeremy Wade Delle committed suicide in his high-school class in Richardson, Texas. This event inspired the Pearl Jam song "Jeremy".
entertainmentmusic
1992⚡ Event
Discovery of first exoplanets
Radio astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail announced the discovery of two exoplanets orbiting pulsar PSR B1257+12. This marked the first confirmed detection of planets outside our solar system.
sciencespace
1993⚡ Event
Braer Storm reaches peak intensity
The Braer Storm, the strongest extratropical cyclone ever recorded in the North Atlantic, reached its peak intensity.
disaster
1996⚡ Event
Kizlyar hostage crisis
Chechen separatists launched raids in Kizlyar, Dagestan, initiating the Kizlyar hostage crisis during the First Chechen War. Thousands of civilians were involved.
warpolitics
2003⚡ Event
Illinois Governor Commutes Death Sentences
Following the discovery of Jon Burge's extraction of forced confessions, the governor of Illinois commuted the death sentences of 167 prisoners and pardoned four others.
law
2007⚡ Event
Guinean general strike begins
A general strike began in Guinea to force President Lansana Conté to resign, eventually leading to the appointment of two new prime ministers.
politics
2010⚡ Event
Togo national football team attack
Gunmen attacked the bus transporting the Togo national football team to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Three people were killed.
sportswar
2011⚡ Event
Tucson shooting
Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at a public meeting held by U.S. representative Gabby Giffords in Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed and twelve others were injured.
politicslaw
2011⚡ Event
Iran Air Flight 277 crash
Iran Air Flight 277 crashed near Urmia Airport, Iran, in poor weather conditions. 78 of the 105 people on board were killed.
disaster
2013⚡ Event
Bulo Marer Hostage Rescue Attempt
French special forces failed in an attempted rescue of a DGSE agent, who had been taken hostage in 2009 by al-Shabaab, in Bulo Marer, Somalia.
politicswar
2015⚡ Event
Mozambique funeral beer poisoning
Contaminated beer served at a funeral in Tete Province, Mozambique, killed 75 people and made at least 230 others ill.
disastermedicine
2015⚡ Event
Hypercacher kosher supermarket siege
A hostage situation occurred at a Jewish market in Vincennes, related to the Charlie Hebdo shooting.
law
2024⚡ Event
North Korean Migrant Workers Unrest
Several thousand North Korean migrant workers in Helong engaged in civil unrest, including a factory occupation and hostage-taking, due to unpaid wages.
politicseconomics
Famous Birthdays This Week(15)
2000🎂 Birth
Noah Cyrus
Noah Cyrus, American singer, songwriter, and actress, was born.
musicentertainmentarts
2001🎂 Birth
Peter Mamouzelos
Australian rugby league player Peter Mamouzelos was born.
sportsentertainment
Notable Deaths This Week(15)
2024🕊️ Death
Rashid Khan
Indian classical musician Rashid Khan died. He was born in 1968.
musicentertainment
2025🕊️ Death
Black Bart
American professional wrestler Black Bart died. He was born in 1948.
entertainmentsports
2025🕊️ Death
Bill McCartney
Bill McCartney was an American football player and coach, born in 1940.
sports
2025🕊️ Death
Sam Moore
Sam Moore is an American soul singer-songwriter, born in 1935.
musicentertainment
Trending Topics This Week
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