Barack Obama inaugurated as the 44th and first African-American President of the United States.

Philippine president Joseph Estrada is ousted in a nonviolent 4-day revolution, and is succeeded by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The China News Service announces new government restrictions on Internet use aimed especially at Internet cafés.

Air Inter Flight 148 crashes near Strasbourg, France, killing 82 passengers and 5 crew.

Sudan's government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening the civil war between the country's Muslim north and Christian south.

Black January|Tragedy at Baku

Church of England envoy Terry Waite is kidnapped in Lebanon.

Martin Luther King, Jr. day is celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time.

Twenty minutes after Ronald Reagan is inaugurated, at age 69 the oldest man ever to be inaugurated as U.S. President, Iran releases 52 American hostages. It is the first Presidential inauguration to be held at the west front of the Capitol.

Jimmy Carter is inaugurated as the 39th President of the United States. He is the last President inaugurated at the east front of the Capitol, which had been the traditional site for Presidential inaugurations since 1829.

The Houston Cougars defeat the UCLA Bruins 71-69 to win the Game of the Century.

John F. Kennedy is inaugurated as the youngest elected and first Roman Catholic President of the U.S. His inaugural address is one of the most memorable of the 20th century.

Hendrik Verwoerd announces a plebiscite on whether South Africa should become a Republic.

The first flight of the Vickers Vanguard.

The National Negro Network is established with 40 charter member radio stations.

Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated as the first Republican President in twenty years.

Point Four Program a program for economic aid to poor countries announced by United States President Harry S. Truman in his inaugural address for a full term as President.

Franklin Roosevelt's fourth and final inauguration is held at the White House due to wartime considerations.

World War II: Hungary agrees to an armistice with the Allies.

World War II: At the Wannsee Conference held in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee, senior Nazi German officials decided on the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question", accelerating The Holocaust.

Franklin Roosevelt is the only President inaugurated for a third term.

Franklin Roosevelt is inaugurated for a second term as U.S. President. This is the first inauguration on January 20. The date was changed from March 4 by the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

Edward VIII becomes King of the United Kingdom.

"Fujifilm", the foundation of Fujifilm, the photographic and electronic industry in "Tokyo", "Japan".

''In Old Arizona'', the first full-length talking motion picture filmed outdoors, is released.

The first Constitution of Turkey is adopted, making fundamental changes in the source and exercise of sovereignty by consecrating the principle of national sovereignty.

The American Civil Liberties Union is founded.

At the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, the first official basketball game is played.

The United States Senate allows the Navy to lease Pearl Harbor as a naval base.

L.A. Thompson patents the roller coaster.

Hong Kong Island is occupied by the British.

Dumont D'Urville discovers Adélie Land, Antarctica.

In the Battle of Yungay, Chile defeats an alliance between Peru and Bolivia.

John Marshall is appointed the Chief Justice of the United States.

The third and main part of First Fleet arrives at Botany Bay. Arthur Phillip decides that Botany Bay is unsuitable for the location of a penal colony, and decides to move to Port Jackson.

The Kingdom of Great Britain signs a peace treaty with France and Spain, officially ending hostilities in the Revolutionary War.

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth cedes Kiev, Smolensk, and left-bank Ukraine to the Tsardom of Russia in the Treaty of Andrusovo.

Charles I of England goes on trial for treason and other "high crimes".

The Mexican city of León is founded by order of the viceroy Don Martín Enríquez de Almanza.

Christian II is forced to abdicate as King of Denmark and Norway.

The present-day location of Rio de Janeiro is first explored.

Edward Balliol abdicates as King of Scotland.

Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek becomes king of Poland.

In Westminster, the first English parliament conducts its first meeting held by Simon de Montfort in the Palace of Westminster, now also known colloquially as the "Houses of Parliament".

Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Pope Fabian is martyred.