Ehud Barak becomes Prime Minister of Israel. During his tenure, Barak attempted to revive the peace negotiations with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). However, his efforts were unsuccessful.

The WHO deletes homosexuality from its list of mental diseases. Precisely 14 years later, the first same-sex marriages in the United States were performed as Massachusetts became the first state to legalize them.

Germany ratifies the Treaty of Warsaw. Chancellor Willy Brandt signed the treaty, by which Germany gives up any territorial claims and guarantees the Oder-Neisse line as the valid border to Poland.

The U.S. Supreme Court declares racially segregated public schools unconstitutional. Despite this landmark decision, de facto racial segregation was upheld for years in some areas of the United States.

The Royal Air Force dambusters wreck three German dams. The RAF squadron used revolutionary bouncing bombs to avoid the torpedo nets protecting the dams. The audacious air raid was depicted in a 1954 war film.