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Key Events on January 8
January 8 has seen pivotal events. On this day in 1992, US President George HW Bush vomited at a state dinner in Tokyo with Japan’s then-prime minister, Kiichi Miyazawa. It also marks the birthdays of Elvis Presley and Stephen Hawking, the foundation of the Democratic Party, and Brazil’s 2023 Congressional protests.
Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán captured
On January 8, 2016, Mexican law enforcement captured Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, head of the Sinaloa drug cartel. His capture came six months after his dramatic escape from Altiplano prison through a mile-long tunnel equipped with lighting, ventilation, and a motorcycle track.
The operation involved Mexican marines storming a safe house in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, following a shootout with Guzmán’s security team. Guzmán’s capture was a major victory for Mexican authorities and brought an end to his years of evading justice.
Extradited to the United States in 2017, he was later convicted on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and murder, and sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years.
Ramzi Ahmed Yousef sentenced to life in prison
On January 8, 1998, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, the architect of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 240 years by a US federal court.
The attack involved a truck bomb detonated in the underground parking garage of the North Tower, killing six people, including a pregnant woman, and injuring over 1,000.
Yousef’s plan was to bring down the Twin Towers and cause mass casualties. Though he failed in his larger objective, the attack was one of the first major acts of international terrorism on US soil. His sentencing was a landmark moment in the fight against terrorism.
Woodrow Wilson’s ‘Fourteen Points’
On January 8, 1918, US President Woodrow Wilson delivered his Fourteen Points speech to a joint session of Congress, presenting a framework for peace following the devastation of World War I.
The speech highlighted principles such as open diplomacy, free trade, arms reduction, and self-determination for nations. It also proposed the establishment of the League of Nations, a precursor to today’s United Nations.
Though not fully adopted in the Treaty of Versailles, the Fourteen Points were influential in shaping modern international relations and promoting a vision of global cooperation.
George Washington’s first State of the Union address
On January 8, 1790, George Washington delivered the first-ever State of the Union address to Congress in New York City, then the US capital. His speech outlined key priorities for the young nation, including the importance of a strong economy, a well-regulated militia, and national unity.
This historic address set the precedent for the State of the Union as an annual presidential tradition, providing an opportunity to outline legislative agendas and reflect on the nation’s progress.
Anniversary of Grimaldi rule in Monaco
January 8 marks the anniversary of the Grimaldi family’s rule in Monaco, which began in 1297. François Grimaldi, disguised as a monk, seized the fortress of Monaco, laying the foundation for his family’s enduring reign.
Today, the Grimaldis remain one of the longest-reigning families in history. Under their leadership, Monaco has transformed into a global hub for luxury tourism, finance, and cultural diplomacy.
George HW Bush’s infamous incident in Japan
On January 8, 1992, US President George HW Bush made headlines when he vomited and fainted during a state banquet hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa. The incident, caused by a stomach virus, occurred as Bush leaned forward to speak with Miyazawa, leading to an awkward moment that was broadcast globally.
From moments of political significance to notorious criminal captures, January 8 has been witness to a diverse range of events.
As part of Firstpost’s ongoing series, ‘History Today’, we explore some of the most defining occurrences of this day.
This day, that year
- 1828: The Democratic Party of the United States is officially founded.
- 1935: Elvis Presley, “The King of Rock and Roll,” is born in Tupelo, Mississippi.
- 1942: Stephen Hawking, renowned theoretical physicist and author of A Brief History of Time, is born in Oxford, England.
- 1959: Charles de Gaulle is inaugurated as the first president of France’s Fifth Republic.
- 2011: US Representative Gabby Giffords is shot during an assassination attempt in Tucson, Arizona; six others are killed, and Giffords survives despite a severe head injury.
- 2023: Thousands of protesters storm Brazil’s Congress, presidential palace, and Supreme Court, rejecting the presidential election results and demanding military intervention.
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