Today in 1993, 32 years ago: Czechoslovakia, after 74 years of history, is divided into two new states: Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Today in 1970, 55 years ago: a law on the receipt of wages in the event of illness comes into force in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Today in 1960, 65 years ago: Cameroon achieves independence from France and the United Kingdom.
Today in 2019, 6 years ago: in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro is sworn in as president of the country, succeeding Michel Temer in office.
Today in 1965, 60 years ago: The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan is founded in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Today in 1913, 111 years ago: in Spain, the Ministry of the Interior establishes censorship on film material.
Today in 2011, 13 years ago: NASA succeeds in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon.
Today in 1951, 73 years ago: Cold War: The Marshall Plan expires after distributing more than US$13.3 billion in foreign aid to rebuild Western Europe.
Today in 1852, 172 years ago: Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, President of the French Republic, issues a decree in which he re-establishes the French eagle of the Legion of Honor.
Today in 1853, 171 years ago: A dinner party is held inside a life-size model of an iguanodon created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Sir Richard Owen in south London, England.
Today in 2014, 10 years ago: A New Year's Eve celebration stampede in Shanghai kills at least 36 people and injures 49 others.
Today in 1687, 337 years ago: The first Huguenots set sail from France to the Cape of Good Hope.
Today in 1994, 30 years ago: The First Chechen War: The Russian Ground Forces begin a New Year's storming of Grozny.
Today in 1924, 100 years ago: in São Paulo (Brazil) the San Silvestre Race is inaugurated, which is held annually until today.
Today in 1961, 63 years ago: RTÉ, Ireland's state broadcaster, launches its first national television service.
Today in 1879, 145 years ago: Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
Today in 1999, 25 years ago: The first high-definition television blockbuster entitled El Día del Milenio is made.
Today in 1929, 95 years ago: in India, the National Congress, inspired by Gandhi, declares itself in favor of the complete independence of India.
Today in 1956, 68 years ago: The Romanian Television network begins its first broadcast in Bucharest.
Today in 1968, 56 years ago: MacRobertson Miller Airlines Flight 1750 crashes near Port Hedland, Western Australia, killing all 26 people on board.
Today in 1999, 25 years ago: Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijacking ends after seven days with the release of 190 survivors at Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan.
Today in 1942, 82 years ago: World War II: The Royal Navy defeats the Kriegsmarine at the Battle of the Barents Sea. This leads to the resignation of Grand Admiral Erich Raeder a month later.
Today in 1759, 265 years ago: Arthur Guinness signs a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum and starts brewing Guinness.
Today in 1998, 26 years ago: The European Exchange Rate Mechanism freezes the values of the legacy currencies in the Eurozone, and establishes the value of the euro currency.
Today in 2001, 23 years ago: The government of José María Aznar eliminates compulsory military service.
Today in 1965, 59 years ago: Jean-Bédel Bokassa, leader of the Central African Republic army, and his military officers begin a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko.
Today in 1958, 66 years ago: in Havana, dictator Fulgencio Batista leaves for exile. Fidel Castro's revolutionary government begins.
Today in 1844, 180 years ago: in Spain a Royal Order for the creation of railways was approved.
Today in 2015, 9 years ago: a large fire takes place in The Address, a large skyscraper in the city of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and near the Burj Khalifa. The fire broke out at 21:30 local time (UTC +4). Despite the sheer magnitude of the fire, the New Year's celebration in the city (with fireworks) was not interrupted. 14 injuries were reported.
Today in 1968, 56 years ago: The first flight of the Tupolev Tu-144, the first civilian supersonic transport in the world.
Today in 1983, 41 years ago: Benjamin Ward is appointed New York City Police Department's first ever African American police commissioner.
Today in 2009, 15 years ago: there is a partial lunar eclipse and a blue moon at the same time, visible in Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania.
Today in 1982, 42 years ago: in the Basque Country, the Euskal Telebista signal, in the Basque language, with the message of the Basque lehendakari Carlos Garaikoetxea, begins its broadcasts (in tests). Years later, it would be renamed, Euskal Telebista Bat.