In History, Today on January 7

The French forces, led by Francis, Duke of Guise, captured Calais, the last English possession in mainland France, marking the end of England's territorial claims in France.

Galileo Galilei made his first observation of the four largest moons of Jupiter: Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa, which are now known as the Galilean moons.

The first American commercial bank, the Bank of North America, opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, marking a significant development in the financial history of the United States.

The first transatlantic telephone service was established between New York City and London, marking a significant milestone in global communications.

U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb, escalating the nuclear arms race during the Cold War.

The United States recognized the new Cuban government of Fidel Castro.

Vietnamese forces captured Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, effectively ending the Khmer Rouge regime.

Emperor Hirohito of Japan passed away, ending the Shōwa era and leading to the accession of his son, Akihito, marking the beginning of the Heisei era.

Russia shut off all gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine, escalating a dispute over pricing and debts, which affected several European countries during a cold winter.

The MV Rena, a container ship that had run aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the coast of New Zealand in October 2011, broke in two, leading to a significant environmental disaster.

The Charlie Hebdo shooting occurred when two gunmen attacked the offices of the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, resulting in the deaths of 12 people, including prominent cartoonists.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo held its presidential election, with results announced on January 10, leading to the election of Félix Tshisekedi as President.