Unix Timestamp: 1231027200
Sunday, January 4. 2009, 12:00:00 AM UTC

Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi dies after setting himself on fire a month earlier, sparking anti-government protests in Tunisia and later other Arab nations. These protests become known collectively as the Arab Spring.

A representation of President of the United States Barack Obama is found hanging by a noose with the epitaph Plains, Georgia. Home of Jimmy Carter, our 39th President. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8438852.stm (BBC)

Police search for a mystery man who goes missing after sparking a security alert at Newark Liberty International Airport in the United States, causing the airport to be completely locked down. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8438863.stm (BBC) //www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/newark-airport-in-lockdown-after-security-scare-20100104-loy0.html ("The Sydney Morning Herald")

The tallest man-made structure to date, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is officially opened.ref name=USAtoday

NASA announces "//www.nature.com/nature/journal/v445/n7123/index.html Nature" article, Cassini-Huygens found methane lakes on Titan, a moon of Saturn. //www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/jpl-cassini-20070103.html (NASA) //www.saturndaily.com/reports/Titan_Has_Liquid_Lakes_Scientists_Reports_Nature_999.html (Saturn Daily)

Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel, suffers a severe stroke and cerebral hemorrhage.

Gunmen assassinate the Governor of Baghdad, Ali Al-Haidri.

Clonaid announces the birth of another human baby clone to a pair of Dutch parents, both female. Clonaid also says there will be four other cloned babies delivered by February 2003.

Tom Daschle accuses President Bush and the Republicans of having caused the most dramatic fiscal deterioration in our nation's history.

Jagex Games Studios launches RuneScape

Sanjeev Nanda kills three policemen in New Delhi with his car, an act for which he was later acquitted, resulting in a sharp drop in public confidence in the Indian legal system.

Gunmen open fire on Shia Muslims worshiping in a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 16 and injuring 25.

Wilaya of Relizane massacres of 4 January 1998 in Algeria: Over 170 are killed in 3 remote villages.

Hosni Mubarak, the president of Egypt, appoints a new government in response to accusations of corruption in the parliamentary elections in late 1995.

The United Nations Security Council votes unanimously to condemn Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

Two trains collide in Sangi, Pakistan, killing between 200 and 300 people and injuring an estimated 700 others.

Gulf of Sidra incident (1989): Two Libyan MiG-23 Floggers are engaged and shot down by 2 US Navy F-14 Tomcats.

1987 Maryland train collision: An Amtrak train en route from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Massachusetts collides with Conrail engines at Chase, Maryland, killing 16.

Global Positioning System time epoch begins at 00:00 UTC.

The president of Sicily, Piersanti Mattarella, is killed by the Mafia.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission.

The State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of the dead and injured in the Kent State shootings.

A referendum in Chile supports the policies of Augusto Pinochet.

The pilot episode of the longest-running TV comedy series in the world "Last of the Summer Wine" is broadcast in the United Kingdom.

The Doors' self-titled debut album is released.

Spain and Romania sign in Paris an agreement establishing full consular and commercial relations (not diplomatic ones).

Charlie Chaplin launches his last film, "A Countess From Hong Kong", in the UK.

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaims his Great Society during his State of the Union Address.

New York City introduces a subway train that operates without a crew on board.

Sputnik 1 (launched on October 4, 1957) falls to Earth from its orbit and burns up.

After 69 years the last issue of "Collier's Weekly" Magazine is published.

– February 22 ndash Series of winter storms in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado and Nevada ndash winds of up to 72 mph ndash tens of thousands of cattle and sheep perish.

RMS "Caronia" of the Cunard Line departs Southton for New York on her maiden voyage.

RMS \\'\\'Caronia\\'\\' of the Cunard Line departs Southton for New York on her maiden voyage.

Burma gains its independence from the United Kingdom.

WWII: The Battle of Monte Cassino begins.

The United States and United Kingdom give up territorial rights in China.

Culbert Olson, 29th Governor of California, is succeeded by Earl Warren.

The short subject "Elmer's Pet Rabbit" is released, marking the second appearance of Bugs Bunny, and also the first to have his name on a title card.

The short subject "Elmer's Pet Rabbit" is released, marking the second appearance of Bugs Bunny, and also the first to have his name on a title card.

WWII: Axis powers: Luftwaffe General Hermann Göring assumes control of most war industries in Germany.

England celebrates its first ever win over the All Blacks in Rugby Union, in particular the 2 famous tries by The Prince HH Alexander Obolensky.

Dry Tortugas National Park is established.

German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa.

The Scout Association is incorporated throughout the British Commonwealth by Royal Charter.

Strikes in Belgium and Germany lead to mining riots.

The Irish leader John Edward Redmond calls for a revolt against British rule.

Dr. Henry A. Rowland of Johns Hopkins University announces a theory about the cause of the Earth's magnetism.

A British force is ambushed by Chief Ologbosere, son-in-law of the Oba of Benin. This leads to a punitive expedition against Benin.

Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state.

A military alliance is established between the French Third Republic and the Russian Empire.

An Act to Regulate Appointments in the Marine Hospital Service of the United States is signed by President Grover Cleveland. It establishes a Commissioned Corps of officers as a predecessor to the current U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

The first successful appendectomy is performed by Dr. William W. Grant on Mary Gartside.

The Fabian Society is founded in London.

"Life" magazine is founded is founded in New York City.

The New Apostolic Church, a Christian and chiliastic church, established in Hamburg, Germany.

Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the U.S government.

France: The Vicomte de Martignac succeeds the Comte de Villèle as Prime Minister of France.

King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies is succeeded by his son Francis I of the Two Sicilies.

Australian seal hunterFrederick Hasselborough discovers Cbell Island in the subantarctic.

Britain declares war on Spain and Naples.

The Netherlands, Britain France sign the Triple Alliance.

The Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire.

First English Civil War: Charles I attempts to arrest 6 leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape.

Major eruption of the stratovolcanoMount Parker (Philippines).

Anne of Brittany announces that all those who would ally with the king of France will be considered as guilty of the crime of lese-majesty.