January 1996

Monday 01:

Curaçao gains limited self-government, though it remains within free association with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Friday 05:

Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone.

Sunday 07:

One of the worst blizzards in American history hits eastern states killing more than 100.

Monday 08:

An Antonov 32 cargo jet crashes into the central market in Kinshasa, Zaire killing more than 350

Tuesday 09:

Sun Microsystems announces the formation of JavaSoft.

Thursday 11:

Haiti becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty.

Sunday 14:

Jorge Sampaio is elected president of Portugal.

Wednesday 17:

The Czech Republic applies for membership of the European Union.

Saturday 20:

Yasser Arafat is elected president of the Palestinian Authority.

Wednesday 24:

Polish Premier Jozef Oleksy resigns amid charge he spied for Moscow.

Friday 26:

Whitewater scandal: Hillary Rodham Clinton testifies before a grand jury.

Saturday 27:

Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara deposes the first democratically elected president of Niger, Mahamane Ousmane, in a military coup.

Sunday 28:

Super Bowl XXX: The Dallas Cowboys win their fifth Super Bowl title by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17.

Monday 29:

First release of Duke Nukem 3D.

Tuesday 30:

Suspected leader of the Irish National Liberation Army Gino Gallagher is killed while in line for his unemployment benefit.

Wednesday 31:

Dragonball Z ends in Japan.