History
On this day in 2001: Wikipedia debuts as a free, open encyclopaedia and reshapes global knowledge sharing
Wikipedia officially debuted on 15 January 2001, marking a turning point in how information is created, curated and accessed worldwide....
Read moreDetailsOn this day in 2011: Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali stepped down
Former Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali stepped down in January 2011 after weeks of mass protests driven by poverty,...
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On this day in 1942: Henry Ford patented plastic automobile construction
d modern composite engineering by decades. A search for lighter, cheaper carsBy the late 1930s, Henry Ford had become increasingly...
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On this day in 1959: Berry Gordy launches Tamla Records
On this day in 1959, Detroit songwriter and producer Berry Gordy took a decisive step that would reshape American music,...
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On this day in 2014: Ariel Sharon died at age 85
Ariel Sharon was one of the most consequential and divisive figures in Israel’s modern history, a man whose life mirrored...
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On this day in 49
In January 49 BCE, Julius Caesar’s decision to lead his army across the Rubicon River transformed a political crisis into...
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On this day in 1960: Construction began on the Aswan High Dam in Egypt
Construction began on the Aswan High Dam in January 1960, marking one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in modern...
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On this day in 2016: Mexican criminal Joaquín Guzmán (“El Chapo”) was captured
Mexican criminal Joaquín Guzmán, widely known as “El Chapo,” was captured in a landmark operation that marked one of the...
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On this day in 1610: Galileo’s discovery of Jupiter’s four moons
In January 1610, an Italian astronomer peering through a crude telescope made a discovery that would permanently alter humanity’s understanding...
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On this day in 1967: Composer A.R. Rahman, known as “the Mozart of Madras,” was born in Madras
Born in Madras—today’s Chennai—on 6 January 1967, A. R. Rahman has become one of the most influential composers of the...
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