2014 A ship carrying 900 Syrians is intercepted and safely brought to shore by the Italian coast guard; the ship had been manned by human traffickers who abandoned the vessel after setting the navigation system on a collision course with the Italian coast 2014 Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has announced his resignation; the 89-year-old president indicated after reelection in 2013 that he would retire before the end of the 7-year term 2013 Breaking with long-standing tradition among Russian heads of state, President Vladimir Putin delivered two New Year's speeches rather than one; he made his second stres from Khaborovsk, a city that experienced devastating floods this summer 2013 The famous final New Year's Eve countdown in Times Square will be lead by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor; she will have the honor of pushing he ceremonial countdown button to start the descent of the Times Square New Year's Eve ball 2012 A study conducted at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, announces the a harmful type of space radiation may accelerate the development of Alzheimer's disease 2012 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recovers from a cancer operation; his Cabinet ministers get together to pray for his recovery 2011 A string of 35 fires in Hollywood burn within a 5-hour timeframe, causing at least $350,000 in damage 2011 In North Korea, Kim Jong-un is given the tile of Supreme Commander of North Korea's armed forces 2010 In Tunisia, a protester dies of injuries incurred during continued protests over unemployment and living conditions 2010 Italy's plan to ban plastic bags goes into effect; the country was using 20 billion plastic bags a year - about 300 per person 2008 One leap second is added to the end of the year 1999 Control of Panama Canal reverts to Panama 1999 The London Eye, the world's largest Ferris wheel, opens by the banks of the Thames 1998 U.S. movie box office hits record $6.24 billion for year 1997 Intel cuts price of Pentium II-233 MHz from $401 to $268 1997 Marv Levy, retires as coach of Buffalo Bills 1997 Microsoft buys Hotmail E-mail service 1997 More Swedes died than were born in 1997, 1st time since 1809 1997 Orlando Hernandez, half-brother of pitcher Livan, defects from Cuba 1997 South African and U.S. surgeons separate Zambian Siamese twins joined at the head 1995 "Danny Gans on Broadway" closes at Neil Simon New York City 1995 "Having Our Say" closes at Booth Theater New York City after 308 performances 1995 "Heiress" closes at Cort Theater New York City after 340 performances 1995 "Paul Roebson" closes at Longacre Theater New York City after 14 performances 1995 "Racing Demon" closes at Vivian Beaumont Theater New York City after 48 performances 1995 "Tempest" closes at Broadhurst Theater New York City after 71 performances 1995 62nd Sugar Bowl: Virginia Tech beats Texas 1995 Cartoonist Bill Watterson ends his "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip 1995 Matthew Elliott scores separate cricket century same day for Victoria 1994 1st snowless December in Baltimore Maryland 1994 Anti Apartheid Group of Netherlands (AABN) disbands 1993 Barbra Striesand does her 1st live public concert in 20 years 1993 Loveboat actress Jill Whelan (27) weds Brad St. John (33) 1992 Target date for Europe's single market 1992 WCBS TV news anchor Carol Martin weds Joe Terry 1991 CPN, Communist Party of Netherland, last day of existance 1991 Daniel R McCarthy elected New York Yankee managing general partner 1991 Dow Jones closes at record high 3168.83 1991 J Donald Crump resigned as CFL Commissioner 1991 U.S.S.R., last day of existence 1990 Iraq begins a military draft of 17 year olds 1990 Sci-Fi Channel on cable TV begins transmitting 1990 United Somali Congress seizes Presidential Palace 1989 "Me and My Girl" closes at Marquis Theater New York City after 1420 performances 1989 "Threepenny Opera" closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater New York City after 65 performances 1989 Actress Annabella Sciorra (Jungle Fever) weds Joe Petruzzi 1989 Fog Bowl: Heavy fog rolls in on Bears 20-12 victory over Eagles 1989 Jockey Kent Desormeaux sets record with 598 wins in a year 1986 Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in San Juan, Puerto Rico kills 97 1986 Russian TU-144 flies for 1st time faster than sound 1986 WIS-AM in Columbia South Carolina changes call letters to WVOC (now WOMG) 1984 Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen loses his arm in a car crash 1984 New York City subway gunman Bernhard Goetz surrenders to police in New Hampshire 1984 Rajiv Gandhi takes office as India's 6th Prime Minister succeeds his mother, Indira Gandhi 1984 Test Cricket debut of Mohammad Azharuddin, vs. England at Calcutta 1984 U.S. leaves UNESCO 1983 Brunei gains complete independence from Britain 1983 Jose Happart installed as mayor of Voeren Belgium 1983 Nigeria's National Assembly dissolves after military coup 1982 CBS Mystery Theater final episode on radio after 8 years 1982 NBC radio cancels almost all of its network daily features 1982 TV soap "Doctors" ends 19 year run 1981 CNN Headline News debuts 1981 Lt Jerry Rawlings becomes head of Ghana, suspends constitution 1981 Netherlands unemployment stands at record 475,000 1980 A Jewish owned hotel in Nairobi Kenya is bombed killing 18 1980 New York Islanders greatest shutout margin (9-0) vs Chicago Black Hawks 1980 Senegal president Leopold Senghor resigns 1979 Winterland Rock Concert Hall in San Francisco closes after 556 concerts 1978 "Magic Show" closes at Cort Theater New York City after 1859 performances 1978 "Runaways" closes at Plymouth Theater New York City after 199 performances 1978 CIA director, Admiral Stansfield Turner retires from the Navy 1978 Iran shah names Chapour Bakhtiar premier 1978 Taiwan's final day of diplomatic relations with US 1977 "Bubbling Brown Sugar" closes at ANTA Theater New York City after 766 performances 1977 "Man of La Mancha" closes at Palace Theater New York City after 124 performances 1977 Amir Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah becomes leader of Kuwait 1977 Cambodia drops diplomatic relations with Vietnam 1977 Donald Woods, a banned white editor flees South Africa 1977 Ted Bundy escapes from jail in Colorado 1976 TV soap "Somerset" ends 6 year run 1976 The Cars played their 1st gig 1975 42nd Sugar Bowl: Alabama 13 beats Penn State 6 1974 41st Sugar Bowl: Nebraska 13 beats Florida 10 1974 Free agent pitcher Catfish Hunter signs $3M 5 year New York Yankees contract 1974 Gold legal in U.S., Franklin Mint strikes Panama's Gold 100 balboa coin 1974 Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks join Fleetwood Mac 1974 New York Yankees sign Jim "Catfish" Hunter to 5 years for record $3.75 million 1974 Popular Electronics displays Altair 8800 computer 1973 40th Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame 24 beats Alabama 23 1973 61st Australian Mens Tennis: John Newcombe beats O Parun (63 67 75 61) 1973 Johan Cruyff chosen European soccer Player of year 1972 39th Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma 14 beats Penn State 0 1972 Leap second day; also in 1973-79, 1987 1972 Miami Dolphins beat Pittsburgh Steelers 21-7 in AFC championship game 1972 Washington Redskins beat Dallas Cowboys 26-3 in NFC championship game 1971 KAID TV channel 4 in Boise, Idaho (PBS) begins broadcasting 1971 Lieutenant General Robert E Cushman,, Jr., USMC, ends term as deputy director of CIA 1970 Congress authorizes Eisenhower dollar coin 1970 President Allende nationalizes Chilean coal mines 1970 Would have been start of Australia/England Test Cricket at MCG, washed out 1969 Congo-Brazzaville becomes People's republic, under major Ngouabi 1968 1st supersonic airliner flown (Russian TU-144) 1968 1st test flight of Tupolev TU 144 1968 New York Jets win AFL championship 1967 "Henry, Sweet Henry" closes at Palace Theater New York City after 80 performances 1967 1st NBA game at Great Western Forum, Los Angeles Lakers beat Houston 147-118 1967 Oakland Raiders beat Houston Oilers 40-7 in AFL championship game 1967 Packers beat Cowboys 21-17 in NFL championship game (-13 degrees F) 1966 Monkee's "I'm a Believer" hits #1 and stays there for 7 weeks 1966 Test Cricket debut of Bishen Singh Bedi, India vs. WI Calcutta, 2-92 1966 Toboggan Chutes begin operation in Cleveland Metroparks 1964 Donald Campbell (UK) sets world water speed record (276.33 mph) 1964 Indonesia proclaims expelled from the UN 1963 Chicago Bears win NFL championship 1963 Dear Abby show premieres on CBS radio (runs 11 years) 1963 Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir played music together for the 1st time 1962 "Match Game" debuts on NBC with host Gene Rayburn 1962 American Basketball League announces suspension of operation 1962 Dutch leave New Guinea 1962 Katanga becomes part of Democratic Republic of Congo 1962 Ohio ends suit against Reds when they agree to stay in Cincinnati for 10 yrs 1961 "lrma La Douce" closes at Plymouth Theater New York City after 527 performances 1961 1st performance of Beach Boys 1961 Beach Boys play their debut gig under that name 1961 Failed coup by Syrian group in Lebanon 1961 Green Bay Packers shutout New York Giants 37-0 in NFL championship game 1961 Marshall Plan expires after distributing more than $12 billion 1958 47th Davis Cup: USA beats Australia in Brisbane (3-2) 1958 Cubans dictator Batista flees 1958 International Geophyscial Year ends 1958 Willie Shoemaker 1st jockey to win national riding championship 4X 1957 AAU awards Bobby Morrow, James Sullivan Memorial Trophy 1955 "Vamp" closes at Winter Garden Theater New York City after 60 performances 1953 Hulan Jack sworn in as Manhattan Borough president 1953 WFBC (now WYFF) TV channel 4 in G'ville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (NBC) begins 1953 Willie Shoemaker shatters record, riding 485 winners in a year 1951 1st battery to convert radioactive energy to electrical announced 1950 Jockeys W Shoemaker and Joe Culmone set record of 388 wins in a year 1949 18 countries recognize Republic Indonesia 1948 Dutch police actions up Java gone on strike 1946 French troops leave Lebanon 1946 President Truman officially proclaims end of WW II 1945 Bradman scores 112, his 1st post-War century, SA vs. Australia Services 1945 Ratification of United Nations Charter completed 1944 48 people die in a train accident in Ogden, Utah 1944 Japanese army evacuates harbor city Akyab 1943 New York City's Times Square greets Frank Sinatra at Paramount Theater 1942 60 U boats sunk this month (330,000 ton) 1942 Battle in Barents Sea 1942 Potatoes rationed in Holland 1941 Young Park (2) in the Bronx named in honor of Samuel Young 1940 37 U boats sunk this month (213,000 ton) 1939 25 U boats sunk this month (81,000 ton) 1938 Dr. R N Harger's "drunkometer," 1st breath test, introduced in Indiana 1935 CPH becomes Dutch Communist Party 1935 Charles Darrow patents Monopoly 1934 Helen Richey becomes 1st woman to pilot an airmail transport 1932 John P O'Brien sworn-in as mayor of New York City 1930 Pontifical encyclical Casti connubii against mixed marriages 1930 U.S. tobacco industry produced 123 billion cigarettes in 1930 1929 Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Divini illius magistri 1927 Ponsford scores 336 against SA, giving him 1146 for month 1925 14th congress of CPSU decides to accelerate industry 1924 Hubble announces existence of distant galaxies 1923 1st transatlantic radio broadcast of a voice, Pittsburgh-Manchester 1923 BBC begins using Big Ben chime ID 1923 H Tierney/J McCarthy's musical "Kid Boots," premieres in New York City 1921 Last San Francisco firehorses retired 1920 Roy Park makes 1st-ball duck in only Test Cricket India, vs. England at MCG 1918 Kid Gleason replaces Pants Rowland as White Sox manager 1917 Dutch Social-democratic trade union NVV counts 159,450 members 1914 Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Cap Huston purchase New York Yankees for $460,000 1911 Marie Curie receives her 2nd Nobel Prize 1910 U.S. tobacco industry produced 9 billion cigarettes in 1910 1907 For 1st time a ball drops at Times Square to signal new year 1907 G Mahler conducts the Metropolitan Opera 1906 French/British/Italian treaty concerning rights on Abyssinia 1902 Boers and British army sign peace treaty 1897 Brooklyn's last day as a city, it incorporates into New York City (1/1/1898) 1896 25th auto built in US 1890 Ellis Island, in New York City, opens as a U.S. immigration depot 1879 Cornerstone laid for Iolani Palace (only royal palace in U.S.) 1879 Cornerstone laid for Honolulu's Iolani Palace 1879 Edison gives 1st public demonstration of his incandescent lamp 1879 Gilbert/Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance," premieres in New York City 1879 Opera "Pirates of Penzance" is produced (New York City) 1870 J D Schneiter patents rocket mail in France, (not done) 1862 Battle of Stone's River, Tennessee (Stone River, Monfreesboro) 1862 Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee 1862 President Lincoln signs act admitting West Virginia to Union 1862 Skirmish at Parker Cross Roads, Tennessee 1862 Union ironclad ship "Monitor" sank off Cape Hatteras, NC 1861 22,990 mm of rain falls in Cherrapunji Assam in 1861, world record 1859 Dutch colony in Dutch Indies counts 4,800 slaves 1857 Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa as new capital of Canada 1852 Future president and Mrs. Rutherford B Hayes marry 1841 Alabama becomes 1st state to license dental surgeons 1805 End of French Republican calendar; France returns to Gregorianism 1783 Import of African slaves banned by all of the Northern states 1781 Bank of North America, 1st U.S. bank opens 1779 English fleet beat Dutch Merchant vessels 1776 Rhode Island establishes wage and price controls to curb inflation: Limit is 70 cents a day for carpenters, 42 cents for tailors 1775 Battle of Quebec; Americans unable to take British stronghold 1762 Mozart family moves from Vienna to Salzburg 1758 British expeditionary army occupies Goree (Dakar) Senegal 1756 Russia joins the Alliance of Versailles 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlies army meets with de Esk 1744 James Bradley announces discovery of Earth's nutation motion (wobble) 1711 Duke of Marlborough fired as English army commander 1708 Great Alliance captures Bridge 1700 Frisia/Groningen adopt Gregorian calendar, tomorrow is 1/12/1701 1688 Pro-James II-earl of Devonshire occupies Nottingham 1687 1st Huguenots depart France to Cape of Good Hope 1680 Amsterdam opera at Leidsegracht opens 1670 France and England sign Boyne-treaty 1669 France and Brandenburg sign secret treaty 1621 Hungarian King Bethlen Gabor/Ferdinand II sign Treaty of Mikulov 1604 Admiral Steven van der Haghen's fleet reaches Bantam 1600 British East India Company chartered 1564 Willem van Orange demands freedom of conscience/religion 1502 Cesare Borgia (son of pope Alexander VI) occupies Urbino 1492 100,000 Jews expelled from Sicily 870 Skirmish at Englefield: Ethelred of Wessex beats Danish invasion army 765 Coffin of Ho-tse Shen-hui interred in a stupa built in China 406 80,000 Vandels attack the Rhine at Mainz 335 St. Silvester I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
