In History, Today on January 7

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declares that order had mostly been restored after days of violent protests over fuel price increases.

Elon Musk surpasses Jeff Bezos to become the world's richest person, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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.

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 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.

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.

An Egyptian Boeing 737 charter flight crashed into the Red Sea, leading to the deaths of all 148 people on board.

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.

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

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

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 Siege of Bataan begins during World War II.

Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval sign the Franco-Italian Agreement.

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

The distress signal 'CQD' is established, later replaced by 'SOS'.

William Kennedy Dickson received a patent for motion picture film, which contributed significantly to the development of the film industry.

The Fort Tejon earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9, shook Southern California. It was one of the most powerful earthquakes in the state's history.

The British Empire annexed Hong Kong Island from China following the First Opium War. The cession was formalized in 1842 by the Treaty of Nanking.

The HMS Beagle, carrying Charles Darwin, arrived at Sydney, Australia during its second voyage. This expedition played a critical role in Darwin's formulation of his theory of evolution by natural selection.

The Embargo Act of 1807 was passed in the United States, intended to prohibit American ships from trading in foreign ports and to stop the British and French from violating U.S. shipping neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars.

The Treaty of Tolentino is signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and representatives from the Papal States, imposing a heavy financial indemnity on the papacy.

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries travel from Dover, England, to Calais, France, in a gas balloon, marking the first successful overflight of the English Channel.

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.

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 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.

Alfonso IV was crowned King of Portugal after the death of his father, King Denis.

Battle of Ashdown: King Æthelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred the Great defeat the invading Danish army.

Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon River, signaling the start of the Roman Civil War.