A team of suicide bombers attacked three hotels in Amman, Jordan. 56 people died from the blasts. The Al-Qaeda terrorist network claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The web browser, Mozilla Firefox, was released. It was the first browser to challenge Microsoft Internet Explorer's domination in the market, which had lasted for several years.

Microsoft releases the much anticipated Halo 2 game. It sets a gaming entertainment record by grossing approximately $125 Million on its release day.

East Germany opens checkpoints along the Berlin Wall allowing its citizens to travel to West Germany for the first time.

Italian footballer, Alessandro Del Piero, was born in San Vendemiano. He was part of the team that won the 2006 world cup in Germany and is one of the most famous footballers of the 1990's and early 2000's.

President of France, Charles de Gaulle, died at the age of 80. He was the head of the Free French government-in-exile during World War II and is considered as one of the greatest heroes of france by its people.

Robert McNamara was appointed president of the Ford Motor Company. He was the first non-Ford family member to serve in that post. He quit only a month later to join the administration of the new elected president, John F. Kennedy.

Cambodia gained its independence from France.

Albert Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Mary Jane Kelly was murdered by Jack the Ripper, she was his last known victim.

A huge fire destroyed approximately 800 buildings in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It has since been known as the Great Boston Fire of 1872.