Barack Obama is sworn in as U.S. president. Obama became the country's first black president.

The Iran hostage crisis ends. 52 U.S. citizens were released after 444 days at the hands of a group of Islamists.

The killing of a student activist sets the stage for the Bangladesh Liberation War. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the establishment of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation.

Nazi officials meet to organize the extermination of Jews. During the Wannsee Conference in Berlin, the Nazis discussed what they called the “Final Solution to the Jewish question”.

Fujifilm is founded. The Japanese photography and electronics company soon became a global player in its field.