Today in 1995, 30 years ago: during the first war with Chechnya, Russian troops take Grozny.
Today in 2009, 16 years ago: in Bangkok (Thailand) a discotheque burns down, leaving 59 dead and 212 injured.
Today in 1826, 199 years ago: in the state of Estado de México, Naucalpan becomes a municipality.
Today in 1914, 111 years ago: the world's first scheduled airline enters service in the United States, between St. Peterburg and Tampa, both in the state of Florida.
Today in 1830, 195 years ago: William I, King of Württemberg establishes the Order of Frederick.
Today in 2007, 18 years ago: in Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva takes over as president for the second time.
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.