The Nagorno-Karabakh War is triggered by der Autonomous Oblast's secession from Azerbaijan. Today, Nagorno-Karabakh is a de facto independent state, but the territory is still internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

The first U.S. citizen to orbit the Earth lands safely in the Atlantic Ocean. John Glenn's 5-hour spaceflight came almost a year after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth on April 12, 1961.

U.S. bombers attack German aircraft manufacturing centers, in a bombing campaign that became known as the “Big Week”. The goal was to achieve air superiority to secure the invasion of Europe.

Works to build Australia's capital city commence. Canberra is an entirely planned city and was chosen as the Australian capital as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne.

Tchaikovsky's ballet “Swan Lake” is premiered. It is one of the world's best-known ballets.