1901–present 1901 – The Southern Nigeria Protectorate is established within the British Empire. 1901 – The British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia federate as the Commonwealth of Australia; Edmund Barton is appointed the first Prime Minister. 1902 – The first American college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl between Michigan and Stanford, is held in Pasadena, California. 1910 – Captain David Beatty is promoted to rear admiral, and becomes the youngest admiral in the Royal Navy (except for royal family members) since Horatio Nelson. 1912 – The Republic of China is established. 1914 – The SPT Airboat Line becomes the world's first scheduled airline to use a winged aircraft. 1923 – Britain's Railways are grouped into the Big Four: LNER, GWR, SR, and LMS. 1927 – New Mexican oil legislation goes into effect, leading to the formal outbreak of the Cristero War. 1928 – Boris Bazhanov defects through Iran to seek asylum in France. He is the only member of Joseph Stalin's secretariat to have defected from the Soviet Union. 1929 – The former municipalities of Point Grey, British Columbia and South Vancouver, British Columbia are amalgamated into Vancouver. 1932 – The United States Post Office Department issues a set of 12 stamps commemorating the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. 1934 – Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay becomes a United States federal prison. 1934 – A "Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring" comes into effect in Nazi Germany. 1942 – The Declaration by United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations. 1945 – World War II: The German Luftwaffe launches Operation Bodenplatte, a massive, but failed, attempt to knock out Allied air power in northern Europe in a single blow. 1947 – Cold War: The American and British occupation zones in Allied-occupied Germany, after World War II, merge to form the Bizone, which later (with the French zone) became part of West Germany. 1947 – The Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 comes into effect, converting British subjects into Canadian citizens. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen. 1948 – The British railway network is nationalized to form British Railways. 1949 – United Nations cease-fire takes effect in Kashmir from one minute before midnight. War between India and Pakistan stops accordingly. 1956 – Sudan achieves independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom. 1957 – George Town, Penang, is made a city by a royal charter of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. 1957 – Lèse majesté in Thailand is strengthened to include "insult" and changed to a crime against national security, after the Thai criminal code of 1956 went into effect. 1958 – The European Economic Community is established. 1959 – Cuban Revolution: Fulgencio Batista, dictator of Cuba, is overthrown by Fidel Castro's forces. 1960 – Cameroon achieves independence from France and the United Kingdom. 1962 – Western Samoa achieves independence from New Zealand; its name is changed to the Independent State of Western Samoa. 1964 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is divided into the independent republics of Zambia and Malawi, and the British-controlled Rhodesia. 1965 – The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan is founded in Kabul, Afghanistan. 1970 – The defined beginning of Unix time, at 00:00:00. 1971 – Cigarette advertisements are banned on American television. 1973 – Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom are admitted into the European Economic Community. 1976 – A bomb explodes on board Middle East Airlines Flight 438 over Qaisumah, Saudi Arabia, killing all 81 people on board. 1978 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747, crashes into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Bombay, India, due to instrument failure, spatial disorientation, and pilot error, killing all 213 people on board. 1979 – the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Taiwan Relations Act enter into force. Through the Communiqué, the United States establishes normal diplomatic relations with China. Through the Act, the United States guarantees military support for Taiwan. 1981 – Greece is admitted into the European Community. 1982 – Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllar becomes the first Latin American to hold the title of Secretary-General of the United Nations. 1983 – The ARPANET officially changes to using TCP/IP, the Internet Protocol, effectively creating the Internet. 1984 – The original American Telephone & Telegraph Company is divested of its 22 Bell System companies as a result of the settlement of the 1974 United States Department of Justice antitrust suit against AT&T. 1984 – Brunei becomes independent of the United Kingdom. 1985 – The first British mobile phone call is made by Michael Harrison to his father Sir Ernest Harrison, chairman of Vodafone. 1985 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 980 crashes into Mount Illimani in Bolivia, killing all 29 aboard. 1987 – The Isleta Pueblo tribe elect Verna Williamson to be their first female governor. 1988 – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America comes into existence, creating the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. 1989 – The Montreal Protocol comes into force, stopping the use of chemicals contributing to ozone depletion. 1990 – David Dinkins is sworn in as New York City's first black mayor. 1993 – Dissolution of Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia is divided into the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. 1994 – The Zapatista Army of National Liberation initiates twelve days of armed conflict in the Mexican state of Chiapas. 1994 – The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) comes into effect. 1995 – The World Trade Organization comes into being. 1995 – The Draupner wave in the North Sea in Norway is detected, confirming the existence of freak waves. 1995 – Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU. 1998 – Following a currency reform, Russia begins to circulate new rubles to stem inflation and promote confidence. 1998 – Argentinian physicist Juan Maldacena publishes a landmark paper initiating the study of AdS/CFT correspondence, which links string theory and quantum gravity. 1999 – The Euro currency is introduced in 11 member nations of the European Union (with the exception of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and Sweden). 2001 – Greece adopts the Euro, becoming the 12th Eurozone country. 2004 – In a vote of confidence, General Pervez Musharraf wins 658 out of 1,170 votes in the Electoral College of Pakistan, and according to Article 41(8) of the Constitution of Pakistan, is "deemed to be elected" to the office of President until October 2007. 2007 – Bulgaria and Romania join the EU.Enlargement, 3 years after , Europa (web portal) 2007 – Adam Air Flight 574 breaks apart in mid-air and crashes near the Makassar Strait, Indonesia, killing all 102 people on board. 2009 – Sixty-six people die in a nightclub fire in Bangkok, Thailand. 2010 – A suicide car bomber detonates at a volleyball tournament in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan, killing 105 and injuring 100 more. 2011 – A bomb explodes as Coptic Christians in Alexandria, Egypt, leave a new year service, killing 23 people. 2011 – Estonia officially adopts the Euro currency and becomes the 17th Eurozone country. 2013 – At least 60 people are killed and 200 injured in a stampede after celebrations at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 2015 – The Eurasian Economic Union comes into effect, creating a political and economic union between Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. 2017 – An attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, during New Year's celebrations, kills 39 people and injures 79 others. 2023 – Croatia officially adopts the Euro, becoming the 20th Eurozone country, and becomes the 27th member of the Schengen Area. 2024 – A 7.5 earthquake strikes the western coast of Japan, killing more than 500 people and injuring over 1,000 others. A majority of direct deaths were due to collapsed homes. 2024 – Disney's copyright protection on Steamboat Willie and the original Mickey Mouse expires as they enter the public domain. 2024 – Artsakh ceases to exist. 2025 – 14 people are killed and 35 others injured during a vehicle-ramming and shooting attack in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1901–present 1901 – the southern nigeria protectorate is established within the british empire 1901 – the british colonies of new south wales queensland victoria south australia tasmania and western australia federate as the commonwealth of australia; edmund barton is appointed the first prime minister 1902 – the first american college football bowl game the rose bowl between michigan and stanford is held in pasadena california 1910 – captain david beatty is promoted to rear admiral and becomes the youngest admiral in the royal navy (except for royal family members) since horatio nelson 1912 – the republic of china is established 1914 – the spt airboat line becomes the world's first scheduled airline to use a winged aircraft 1923 – britain's railways are grouped into the big four lner gwr sr and lms 1927 – new mexican oil legislation goes into effect leading to the formal outbreak of the cristero war 1928 – boris bazhanov defects through iran to seek asylum in france he is the only member of joseph stalin's secretariat to have defected from the soviet union 1929 – the former municipalities of point grey british columbia and south vancouver british columbia are amalgamated into vancouver 1932 – the united states post office department issues a set of 12 stamps commemorating the 200th anniversary of george washington's birth 1934 – alcatraz island in san francisco bay becomes a united states federal prison 1934 – a "law for the prevention of genetically diseased offspring" comes into effect in nazi germany 1942 – the declaration by united nations is signed by twenty-six nations 1945 – world war ii the german luftwaffe launches operation bodenplatte a massive but failed attempt to knock out allied air power in northern europe in a single blow 1947 – cold war the american and british occupation zones in allied-occupied germany after world war ii merge to form the bizone which later (with the french zone) became part of west germany 1947 – the canadian citizenship act 1946 comes into effect converting british subjects into canadian citizens prime minister william lyon mackenzie king becomes the first canadian citizen 1948 – the british railway network is nationalized to form british railways 1949 – united nations cease-fire takes effect in kashmir from one minute before midnight war between india and pakistan stops accordingly 1956 – sudan achieves independence from egypt and the united kingdom 1957 – george town penang is made a city by a royal charter of queen elizabeth ii of the united kingdom 1957 – lèse majesté in thailand is strengthened to include "insult" and changed to a crime against national security after the thai criminal code of 1956 went into effect 1958 – the european economic community is established 1959 – cuban revolution fulgencio batista dictator of cuba is overthrown by fidel castro's forces 1960 – cameroon achieves independence from france and the united kingdom 1962 – western samoa achieves independence from new zealand; its name is changed to the independent state of western samoa 1964 – the federation of rhodesia and nyasaland is divided into the independent republics of zambia and malawi and the british-controlled rhodesia 1965 – the people's democratic party of afghanistan is founded in kabul afghanistan 1970 – the defined beginning of unix time at 000000 1971 – cigarette advertisements are banned on american television 1973 – denmark ireland and the united kingdom are admitted into the european economic community 1976 – a bomb explodes on board middle east airlines flight 438 over qaisumah saudi arabia killing all 81 people on board 1978 – air india flight 855 a boeing 747 crashes into the arabian sea off the coast of bombay india due to instrument failure spatial disorientation and pilot error killing all 213 people on board 1979 – the joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations and taiwan relations act enter into force through the communiqué the united states establishes normal diplomatic relations with china through the act the united states guarantees military support for taiwan 1981 – greece is admitted into the european community 1982 – peruvian javier pérez de cuéllar becomes the first latin american to hold the title of secretary-general of the united nations 1983 – the arpanet officially changes to using tcp/ip the internet protocol effectively creating the internet 1984 – the original american telephone & telegraph company is divested of its 22 bell system companies as a result of the settlement of the 1974 united states department of justice antitrust suit against at&t 1984 – brunei becomes independent of the united kingdom 1985 – the first british mobile phone call is made by michael harrison to his father sir ernest harrison chairman of vodafone 1985 – eastern air lines flight 980 crashes into mount illimani in bolivia killing all 29 aboard 1987 – the isleta pueblo tribe elect verna williamson to be their first female governor 1988 – the evangelical lutheran church in america comes into existence creating the largest lutheran denomination in the united states 1989 – the montreal protocol comes into force stopping the use of chemicals contributing to ozone depletion 1990 – david dinkins is sworn in as new york city's first black mayor 1993 – dissolution of czechoslovakia czechoslovakia is divided into the czech republic and slovak republic 1994 – the zapatista army of national liberation initiates twelve days of armed conflict in the mexican state of chiapas 1994 – the north american free trade agreement (nafta) comes into effect 1995 – the world trade organization comes into being 1995 – the draupner wave in the north sea in norway is detected confirming the existence of freak waves 1995 – austria finland and sweden join the eu 1998 – following a currency reform russia begins to circulate new rubles to stem inflation and promote confidence 1998 – argentinian physicist juan maldacena publishes a landmark paper initiating the study of ads/cft correspondence which links string theory and quantum gravity 1999 – the euro currency is introduced in 11 member nations of the european union (with the exception of the united kingdom denmark greece and sweden) 2001 – greece adopts the euro becoming the 12th eurozone country 2004 – in a vote of confidence general pervez musharraf wins 658 out of 1170 votes in the electoral college of pakistan and according to article 41(8) of the constitution of pakistan is "deemed to be elected" to the office of president until october 2007 2007 – bulgaria and romania join the euenlargement 3 years after  europa (web portal) 2007 – adam air flight 574 breaks apart in mid-air and crashes near the makassar strait indonesia killing all 102 people on board 2009 – sixty-six people die in a nightclub fire in bangkok thailand 2010 – a suicide car bomber detonates at a volleyball tournament in lakki marwat pakistan killing 105 and injuring 100 more 2011 – a bomb explodes as coptic christians in alexandria egypt leave a new year service killing 23 people 2011 – estonia officially adopts the euro currency and becomes the 17th eurozone country 2013 – at least 60 people are killed and 200 injured in a stampede after celebrations at félix houphouët-boigny stadium in abidjan ivory coast 2015 – the eurasian economic union comes into effect creating a political and economic union between russia belarus armenia kazakhstan and kyrgyzstan 2017 – an attack on a nightclub in istanbul turkey during new year's celebrations kills 39 people and injures 79 others 2023 – croatia officially adopts the euro becoming the 20th eurozone country and becomes the 27th member of the schengen area 2024 – a 75 earthquake strikes the western coast of japan killing more than 500 people and injuring over 1000 others a majority of direct deaths were due to collapsed homes 2024 – disney's copyright protection on steamboat willie and the original mickey mouse expires as they enter the public domain 2024 – artsakh ceases to exist 2025 – 14 people are killed and 35 others injured during a vehicle-ramming and shooting attack in new orleans louisiana