January 4th

Dubai opened the world's tallest skyscraper, the 2,717-foot gleaming glass-and-metal tower Burj Khalifa.

California Democrat Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke and his powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert.

Afghans approved a new constitution.

Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura was sworn in as governor of Minnesota.

The 104th Congress convened, the first entirely under Republican control since the Eisenhower era. Newt Gingrich was elected speaker of the House.

President Richard Nixon refused to hand over tape recordings and documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.

President Johnson outlined his 'Great Society' in his State of the Union address.

Longest recorded strike ends-33 yrs-Danish barbers' assistants.

Nobel Prize-winning French author Albert Camus died in a car accident at age 46.

Luna 1 (Mechta) becomes 1st craft to leave Earth's gravity.

Sputnik 1 falls to Earth from orbit. The Soviet Union was the first nation to send an artificial Earth satellite into space.

During the Korean War, North Korean and Communist Chinese forces captured the city of Seoul.

Burma (Myanmar) gained independence from Great Britain.

Billboard magazine publishes its 1st music hit parade.

In Gonzales v. Williams, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that citizens of Puerto Rico are not aliens and can enter the U.S. freely.

Utah was admitted as 45th state in the United States.

Dr. William W. Grant of Davenport, Iowa, performed what is thought to be the first appendectomy.

The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at 10-12 Broad near Wall Street in New York City.

Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government.