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Major Events of January 1996: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from January 1996 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of January 1996: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jan 1996 Dayton Peace Accords Take Effect: The Dayton Peace Accords, which formally ended the devastating Bosnian War, officially came into effect, marking a significant milestone in resolving the complex ethnic conflict in the Balkans.
  • 02 Jan 1996 US Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia: The United States deployed military troops to Northern Bosnia as part of a critical peacekeeping mission, aimed at maintaining order and preventing further conflict between Bosnian Serbs and Muslims in the aftermath of the Bosnian War.
  • 03 Jan 1996 Motorola StarTAC Mobile Phone Launch: Motorola introduces the StarTAC, the world's smallest and lightest mobile phone at the time, marking a significant milestone in mobile phone design and technology. This revolutionary clamshell flip phone would go on to sell over 60 million units, fundamentally changing personal communication technology.
  • 04 Jan 1996 Egyptian Government Reshuffled by President Mubarak: President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt appointed a new government in response to widespread allegations of corruption surrounding the parliamentary elections held in late 1995. This governmental restructuring was aimed at addressing public concerns and restoring confidence in the political system.
  • 05 Jan 1996 Assassination of Hamas Bombmaker Yahya Ayyash: Yahya Ayyash, a prominent Hamas bombmaker, is killed by an Israeli intelligence operation involving a booby-trapped cell phone, marking a significant moment in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • 06 Jan 1996 Assassination of Yahya Ayyash, Hamas Military Leader: Yahya Ayyash, a prominent Palestinian militant leader and chief bombmaker for Hamas, was killed. Known as 'The Engineer', he was responsible for planning numerous suicide bombings against Israeli targets during the First Intifada.
  • 07 Jan 1996 North American Blizzard of 1996: One of the most severe blizzards in American history strikes the eastern United States, causing significant disruption and loss of life. Philadelphia receives a record 30 inches of snowfall, New York City's public schools close for the first time in 18 years, and the federal government in Washington, D.C. is closed for several days. The storm results in over 150 fatalities.
  • 08 Jan 1996 Death of François Mitterrand: François Mitterrand, the long-serving President of France who led the country from 1981 to 1995, passed away at the age of 79. A prominent socialist politician, Mitterrand was a significant figure in modern French political history, serving as president for 14 years and playing a crucial role in European integration.
  • 09 Jan 1996 First Chechen War: Kizlyar Hostage Crisis: During the First Chechen War, Chechen separatists launched a strategic raid against a helicopter airfield and a civilian hospital in Kizlyar, Dagestan. The operation escalated into a massive hostage crisis involving thousands of civilians, marking a critical and brutal moment in the conflict.
  • 10 Jan 1996 King Hussein of Jordan Visits Israel: On January 10, 1996, King Hussein of Jordan made a historic visit to Israel, symbolizing the improving diplomatic relations between Jordan and Israel during the 1990s peace process. This visit was a notable moment in Middle Eastern diplomacy, demonstrating potential for regional cooperation.
  • 11 Jan 1996 Space Shuttle Mission STS-72: NASA launched the Space Shuttle on mission STS-72 with the primary objective of retrieving the Japanese Space Flyer Unit, demonstrating international cooperation in space exploration and technology.
  • 12 Jan 1996 Russian and US Joint Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia: Russian troops arrived in Bosnia as part of a multinational peacekeeping operation, marking a significant collaborative effort between Russia and the United States in the aftermath of the Bosnian War. This joint mission aimed to maintain peace and stability in the region following the Dayton Peace Agreement.
  • 13 Jan 1996 Italian Government Leadership Change: Prime Minister Lamberto Dini resigned after unsuccessful all-party negotiations to confirm his government. President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro initiated new talks to form a replacement government, signaling a period of political transition in Italy.
  • 14 Jan 1996 Jorge Sampaio Elected President of Portugal: Jorge Sampaio was democratically elected as the President of Portugal, marking a significant moment in Portuguese political history. As a prominent socialist politician, Sampaio would go on to serve two consecutive terms from 1996 to 2006, playing a crucial role in Portugal's post-revolutionary democratic consolidation.
  • 15 Jan 1996 Les Baxter's Passing: Les Baxter, a renowned American musician, orchestra leader, and composer, died at the age of 73. Known for his innovative work in exotica and orchestral music, Baxter was an influential figure in mid-20th century American musical landscape.
  • 16 Jan 1996 Coup in Sierra Leone: President Valentine Strasser was overthrown in a military coup by the chief of defence, Julius Maada Bio. Bio pledged to restore democratic governance and hold elections in February, marking a significant political transition in Sierra Leone.
  • 17 Jan 1996 Murder of Amber Hagerman Leads to AMBER Alert System: On January 17, 1996, Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl, was tragically murdered in Arlington, Texas. Her devastating death would later inspire the creation of the AMBER Alert system, a critical child abduction response mechanism now used across the United States to help locate missing children.
  • 18 Jan 1996 Death of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao: Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), a prominent political leader and three-time Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, passed away. Known for his charismatic leadership and film career, NTR was a significant figure in South Indian politics who founded the Telugu Desam Party.
  • 19 Jan 1996 North Cape Oil Spill: A significant environmental disaster occurred when the tugboat Scandia experienced an engine fire, forcing it ashore on Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The incident resulted in the North Cape Barge leaking approximately 820,000 gallons of home heating oil, causing substantial ecological damage to the coastal region.
  • 20 Jan 1996 Yasser Arafat Re-elected as Palestinian Authority President: Yasser Arafat was re-elected as the president of the Palestinian Authority, solidifying his leadership role in Palestinian politics during a critical period of the Middle East peace process.
  • 21 Jan 1996 France's Final Nuclear Weapons Test: France conducted its last nuclear weapons test, marking the end of its nuclear testing program and signaling a shift towards international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
  • 22 Jan 1996 Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou Resigns: Andreas Papandreou, the long-serving Prime Minister of Greece, officially resigned from his position due to significant health complications. Following his resignation, a new government was formed under the leadership of Costas Simitis, marking a significant transition in Greek political leadership.
  • 23 Jan 1996 Java Programming Language First Release: On January 23, 1996, Sun Microsystems publicly released the first version of the Java programming language, marking a significant milestone in software development. This object-oriented, platform-independent language would go on to revolutionize web and enterprise computing.
  • 24 Jan 1996 Polish Premier's Resignation Amid Espionage Allegations: Józef Oleksy, the Polish Prime Minister, resigned from his position following serious accusations of spying for Moscow during a sensitive period in Poland's post-Communist transition. His resignation highlighted ongoing tensions and potential Russian influence in Eastern European politics. Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz was subsequently appointed as his replacement, ensuring governmental continuity during a politically turbulent time.
  • 25 Jan 1996 Germany's First Holocaust Remembrance Day: Germany officially observed its inaugural Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking a significant step in acknowledging and commemorating the atrocities of the Nazi era.
  • 26 Jan 1996 US Presidential Leadership: Bill Clinton was serving as the 42nd President of the United States, leading the country during a period of economic growth and technological advancement.
  • 27 Jan 1996 Germany's First Holocaust Remembrance Day: Germany officially observes its first Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the victims of Nazi persecution and genocide.
  • 28 Jan 1996 Dallas Cowboys Win Super Bowl XXX: The Dallas Cowboys made NFL history by becoming the first franchise to win three Super Bowls in four seasons, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. This was the Cowboys' 5th Super Bowl championship, with Defensive Back Larry Brown named Most Valuable Player.
  • 29 Jan 1996 France Ends Nuclear Testing: President Jacques Chirac announced a 'definitive end' to French nuclear weapons testing, signaling a significant shift in France's defense and international diplomacy strategy.
  • 30 Jan 1996 Magic Johnson's NBA Comeback: NBA superstar Magic Johnson made his historic return to the Los Angeles Lakers, playing his first game since retiring in 1991 due to his HIV diagnosis. This moment was pivotal in challenging public perceptions about HIV and athletes, symbolizing resilience and breaking down stigmas.
  • 31 Jan 1996 Colombo Central Bank Bombing: A devastating terrorist attack occurred when an explosives-filled truck rammed into the gates of the Central Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka, causing massive destruction. The attack killed at least 86 people and injured approximately 1,400 civilians, marking one of the most significant terrorist incidents in Sri Lanka's civil conflict.