Two car bombs are found at Piccadilly Circus, in the heart of London.

''Hamdan v. Rumsfeld'': The U.S. Supreme Court rules that President George W. Bush's plan to try Guantanamo Bay detainees in military tribunals violates U.S. and international law.

Naval clashes between South Korea and North Korea lead to the death of six South Korean sailors and sinking of a North Korean vessel.

The Sampoong Department Store collapses in the Seocho-gu district of Seoul, South Korea, killing 501 and injuring 937.

Space Shuttle program: STS-71 Mission (''Atlantis'' docks with the Russian space station ''Mir'' for the first time.)

The Seychelles become independent from the United Kingdom.

Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from the Soviet Union to Canada while on tour with Bolshoi Ballet.

Isabel Perón is sworn in as the first female President of Argentina. Her husband, President Juan Peron, had delegated responsibility due to weak health and died two days later.

The U.S. Supreme Court rules the death penalty could constitute "cruel and unusual punishment".

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 is signed, officially creating the United States Interstate Highway System.

Carpathian Ruthenia is annexed by the Soviet Union.

Joseph-Armand Bombardier of Canada receives patent for sprocket and track traction system used in snow vehicles.

The Outerbridge Crossing and Goethals Bridge in Staten Island, New York are both opened.

First test of Wallace Turnbull's controllable pitch propeller.

Arthur Meighen returns to office as Prime Minister of Canada.

Canada House opens in London, England.

France grants 1 km² at Vimy Ridge "freely, and for all time, to the Government of Canada, the free use of the land exempt from all taxes".

The Irish Nationalist and British diplomat Sir Roger Casement is sentenced to death for his part in the Easter Rising.

Jina Guseva attempts to assassinate Grigori Rasputin at his home town in Siberia.

Doukhobors burn their weapons as a protest against conscription by the Tsarist Russian government.

Street railway in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, commences operation.

Hyde Park and several other Illinois townships vote to be annexed by Chicago, forming the largest United States city in area and second largest in population.

France annexes Tahiti.

Greek politician Charilaos Trikoupis publishes a manifesto in the Athens daily ''Kairoi'' entitled "Who's to Blame?" in which he lays out his complaints against King George. He is elected Prime Minister of Greece the next year.

Ninety-nine people are killed in Canada's worst railway disaster near St-Hilaire, Quebec.

Autocephaly officially granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to the Church of Greece.

Coal is discovered on Vancouver Island.

Alexander Macdonell and over five hundred Roman Catholic highlanders leave Scotland to settle in Glengarry County, Ontario.

New Governor Charles de la Ralière Des Herbiers arrives at Isle Royale (Cape Breton Island).

At the Battle of Konotop the Ukrainian armies of Ivan Vyhovsky defeat the Russians led by Prince Trubetskoy.

Charles I of England defeats a Parliamentarian detachment at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge, the last battle won by an English King on English soil.

The Globe Theatre in London, England burns to the ground.

Jacques Cartier is the first European to reach Prince Edward Island.

Skanderbeg defeats an Ottoman invasion force at Torvioll.

Sverre is crowned King of Norway.

Raymond of Poitiers is defeated and killed at the Battle of Inab by Nur ad-Din Zangi.