North Korea and the United States signed an agreement under whose terms, North Korea was required to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections. The deal never actually go into effect and the tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world continue to this day (2006).

A coup d'etat in Somalia brings Siad Barre to power. He ruled Somalia for 22 years under what is considered as one of the most brutal dictatorships ever to rule an African country. Somalia has had no official government body ever since Siad Barre was deposed in 1991 (as of 2006).

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, opened to the public. It is one of the most famous is a modern art museums in the world which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Women in France acquired the right to vote for the first time.

The first ever Japanese kamikaze attack took place against the HMAS Australia. The plane that struck the ship was carrying a 200 kg bomb.

In Kragujevac, Yugoslavia, thousands of civilians, including women and children, were executed by German soldiers as a reprisal for an attack on German soldiers.

The Republic of Formosa was invaded by Japanese forces. The Republic of Formosa existed on what is today the island nation of Taiwan.

Florence Nightingale and a staff of 38 nurses were sent to offer their services to the battlefront of the Crimean War.

Swedish inventor, Alfred Nobel, was born in Stockholm. He was the inventor of dynamite and the founder of the Nobel Prizes.

British admiral, Horatio Nelson, was killed during the naval battle of Trafalgar. He is considered as one of the greatest military heroes of British history and is one of only 5 non-royal blood persons to receive a state funeral.