NASA loses communication with the Mars Observer almost a year after its launch:
The robotic space probe was tasked with exploring and studying the Red Planet.

Latvia gains full independence from the Soviet Union:
The Republic of Latvia was fully incorporated as a Soviet republic after the Second World War. Independence for the Baltic state was achieved after a peaceful revolution known as the Singing Revolution, which began in Estonia.

The Mona Lisa is stolen:
The famed Leonardo da Vinci painting was stolen by a Louvre employee. It was recovered 2 years later in Italy.