Grand Theft Auto V earns more than half a billion dollars on its first day of release.
Fourpeaked Mountain in Alaska erupts, marking the first eruption for the volcano in at least 10,000 years.
George W. Bush, president of the United States, delivers remarks at the Islamic Center of Washington praising Muslim Americans and condemning Islamophobia in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia join the United Nations.
The first version of the Linux kernel (0.01) is released to the Internet.
Vanessa Williams becomes the first black Miss America.
Former Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza Debayle is killed in Asunción, Paraguay.
The Space Shuttle Enterprise is unveiled by NASA.
Bangladesh, Grenada and Guinea-Bissau join the United Nations.
The Battle of Chawinda is fought between Pakistan and India.
The world's first retractable roof stadium, the Civic Arena, opens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Lehi (also known as the Stern gang) assassinates Count Folke Bernadotte, who was appointed by the United Nations to mediate between the Arab nations and Israel.
The Nizam of Hyderabad surrenders his sovereignty over the Hyderabad State and joins the Indian Union.
World War II: Allied airborne troops parachute into the Netherlands as the "Market" half of Operation Market Garden and British XXX Corps advances into the Netherlands as the "Garden" half of the Operation.
World War II: Soviet troops launch the Tallinn Offensive against Germany and pro-independence Estonian units.
World War II: German forces are attacked by the Allies in the Battle of San Marino.
World War II: A decree of the Soviet State Committee of Defense restores compulsory military training.
World War II: Soviet forces enter Tehran during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran.
World War II: Due to setbacks in the Battle of Britain and approaching autumn weather, Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion.
World War II: The Soviet invasion of Poland begins.