Unix Timestamp: 948240000
Wednesday, January 19. 2000, 12:00:00 AM UTC

News International pays out compensation to 37 people, including the actor Jude Law and politician John Prescott. over phone hacking by the "News of the World". //www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16629036 (BBC)

Large quantities of oil still remain under beaches over 20 years after an Exxon Valdez oil spill in the Prince William Sound, Alaska. //uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE60G1QJ20100117 (Reuters) //news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8465607.stm (BBC)

Twelve of the thirteen suspects in Norway's NOKAS robbery case from 2004, are found guilty and given sentences from 4 - 19 years in prison. //www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1608731.ece (Aftenposten)

The IPCC publishes its fourth assessment report, having concluded that global climate change is very likely to have a predominantly human cause.

Hurricane force winds claim at least 40 lives in Western Europe including 10 lives in Britain and 11 in Germany, and other victims in The Netherlands (6), Poland (6), Czech Republic (3) and France (3). //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6277537.stm (BBC) //www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/18/world/main2372142.shtml (CBS News) //edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/01/19/europe.storm.ap/index.html (CNN)

The furore over the treatment towards contestant Shilpa Shetty in Celebrity Big Brother 2007, by contestants including Jade Goody, has resulted in Jade being evicted by popular vote from the show, due to heightened concerns over safety, after the issue reached a lowpoint in UK-Indian relations. //news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6281223.stm (BBC News)

Chinese President Hu Jintao signs a series of economic deals with Sudan.

Martti Ahtisaari unveils a United Nations plan for the final status of KosovoSerbian leaders denounce the proposal.

The State of Israel releases $100 million in frozen assets to President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority, in order to bolster the president's position.

Yasser Arafat returns to Hebron after more than 30 years, and joins celebrations over the handover of the last Israeli-controlled West Bank city.

Record cold temperatures hit the eastern United States. The coldest temperature ever measured in Indiana state history, −36°F (−38°C), is recorded in New Whiteland, Indiana.

The Bulgarian presidential election is won by Zhelyu Zhelev, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces.

The first PC virus, Brain, starts to spread.

High-ranking Naziwar criminalKlaus Barbie is arrested in Bolivia.

United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity.

Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama.

Federal Appeals Court Judge William H. Webster is appointed FBI Director.

Jimmy Carter wins the Iowa Democratic Caucus.

– Fears are growing about the economy of the United Kingdom, where unemployment is now exceeding 1 million for the first time since World War II.

– President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto announces that Pakistan will immediately begin a nuclear weapons programme.

The Libertarian enclave Minerva on a platform in the South Pacific, sponsored by the Phoenix Foundation, declares independence. Soon neighboring Tonga annexes the area and dismantles the platform.

Representatives of 23 western oil companies begin negotiations with OPEC in Tehran to stabilize oil prices. February 14 they sign a treaty with 6 Khalij el-Arab countries.

Indira Gandhi is elected Prime Minister of India she is sworn in January 24.

The unmanned "Gemini 2" is launched on a suborbital test of various spacecraft systems.

A counter-coup occurs in the Dominican Republic the old government returns except for the new president Rafael Filiberto Bonnelly.

The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan is signed in Washington, D.C.

The game Scrabble debuts.

71.1% of all television sets in the United States are tuned in to "I Love Lucy" to watch Lucy give birth.

The Poe Toaster first appears at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe.

A shipwreck near Athens, Greece kills 392.

The Bell X-1 is launched for the first time.

Establishment of United States VIII Bomber Command, later to become the Eighth Air Force, in Savannah, Georgia.

Japanese forces invade Burma.

WWII: British troops attack Italian-held Eritrea.

Howard Hughes establishes a record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

Coopers Inc. sells the world's first briefs.

Great Britain sends troops to China.

The United States Senate votes against joining the League of Nations.

Russian Constituent Assembly proclaims Russian Democratic Federative Republic, but was dissolved by Bolshevik government on same day.

Silvertown explosion: A blast at a munitions factory in London kills 73 and injures over 400. The resulting fire causes over £2,000,000 worth of damage.

The first west-east transatlantic radio broadcast is made from the United States to England (the first east-west broadcast having been made in 1901).

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan is formed.

The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires begins service in Roselle, New Jersey (it was built by Thomas Edison).

American Civil War: Georgia secedes from the Union.

Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Il Trovatore" premieres in performance at Teatro Apollo in Rome.

Captain Charles Wilkes' United States Exploring Expedition sights what becomes known as Wilkes Land in the southeast quadrant of Antarctica, claiming it for the United States and providing evidence that Antarctica is a complete continent.

The British East India Company captures Aden.

August Klingemann's adaptation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Faust" premieres in Braunschweig.ref name=Armstrong1881

An army of 5,423 soldiers, led by General José de San Martín, starts crossing the Andes from Argentina to liberate Chile and then Peru.

The British occupy the Cape of Good Hope.

The Batavian Republic is proclaimed.

John Wilkes is expelled from the House of Commons of Great Britain for seditious libel.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu gives birth to a daughter.

May ndash Blackbeard leads 400 sailors in 4 ships to blockade the port of Charleston, South Carolina. The "Queen Anne's Revenge" and "Adventure" are both lost at Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, 1 week later. Blackbeard allows Stede Bonnet to once again command the "Revenge", which is renamed the "Royal James". Bonnet rescues 25 sailors abandoned by Blackbeard on a sandbar and continues his life of piracy.

May ndash Blackbeard leads 400 sailors in 4 ships to blockade the port of Charleston, South Carolina. The "Queen Anne\'s Revenge" and "Adventure" are both lost at Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, 1 week later. Blackbeard allows Stede Bonnet to once again command the "Revenge", which is renamed the "Royal James". Bonnet rescues 25 sailors abandoned by Blackbeard on a sandbar and continues his life of piracy.

San Agustin Church in Manila is officially completed it is currently the oldest church in the Philippines

King Christian II of Denmark and Norway defeats the Swedes at Lake Åsunden. The Swedish regent Sten Sture the younger is mortally wounded in the battle. He is rushed towards Stockholm, in order to lead the fight against the Danes from there, but dies from his wounds on February 3.

Treaty of Barcelona: Charles VIII of France returns Cerdagne and Roussillon to Ferdinand of Aragon.

Hundred Years\\' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England, which brings Normandy under the control of England.

Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England, which brings Normandy under the control of England.

Treaty of Lyck confirms an alliance between Vytautas and the Teutonic Knights in the Lithuanian Civil War against Vytautas's cousin, Jogaila.

Pope Benedict VI succeeds Pope John XIII as the 134th pope.

Roman troops in Britain proclaim Magnus Maximus Emperor. He crosses over to the continent and makes Trier his capital.ref name=isbn0-85991-625-1Gaul, the Italian provinces and Hispania proclaim loyalty to him.

Arcadius is elevated to Emperor.ref name=isbn1-57958-316-4

Niall becomes High King of Ireland. Annals of the Four Masters //www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005A/index.html Annals of the Four Masters

King Shapur II, ruler of the Persian Empire, age 70, dies after a 69-year reign in which he conquered Armenia and transferred multitudes of people from the western lands to Susiana (Khuzistan). The great town Nishapur in Khorasan (eastern Parthia) is also founded by him. His brother Ardashir II, governor-king of Adiabene, is placed by the nobles on the throne.

Buddhism is declared to be a state religion.

Britain is forced to endure fierce Barbarian raids.

Emperor Gratian elevates Flavius Theodosius at Sirmium, giving him the title "Augustus" with power over all the eastern provinces. Theodosius comes to terms with the Visigoths and settles them in the Balkans as military allies ("foederati").

Gratian renounces the title "Pontifex Maximus".

Gratian refuses the title of Eastern Emperor.

The War of the Feishui is fought in China.