Births on January 1

Kōji Yakusho, Japanese actor.

Kōji Hashimoto (橋本広司, Hashimoto Kōji, born 1 January 1956), known professionally as Kōji Yakusho (役所広司, Yakusho Kōji), is a Japanese actor.

26 Jul

Suez Crisis
Following the World Bank's refusal to fund building the Aswan Dam, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, sparking international condemnation.
17 Oct

Bobby Fischer
Donald Byrne and Bobby Fischer play a famous chess game called The Game of the Century. Fischer beat Byrne and wins a Brilliancy prize.
23 Oct

Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Thousands of Hungarians protest against the government and Soviet occupation. (The Hungarian Revolution is crushed on November 4).
4 Nov

Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Soviet troops enter Hungary to end the Hungarian revolution against the Soviet Union, that started on October 23. Thousands are killed, more are wounded, and nearly a quarter million leave the country.
12 Nov

Sudan
Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia join the United Nations.