November 20: What Happened on This Day in History

• 2022: The 2022 FIFA World Cup officially commenced in Qatar, marking a historic moment as the first World Cup hosted in the Middle East. This tournament garnered significant global attention not only for its sporting significance but also for the unprecedented regional location.
• 2020: The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) escalated tensions by launching rockets at Bahir Dar, the capital of Ethiopia's Amhara Region. The early morning attack, which occurred around 1:40 am, raised significant concerns about potential broader regional conflict. Amhara Region authorities characterized the attack as 'illegal' and reported no immediate damage, though the incident highlighted the growing volatility in the region.
• 2019: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term appropriations bill designed to prevent a potential government shutdown. The stopgap measure, which passed with a vote of 231-192, aims to extend federal funding through December 20, 2019. This temporary solution requires Senate approval and presidential signature to prevent the closure of government offices. The bill highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining consistent government funding and the recurring need for last-minute legislative interventions.
• 2007: Ian Smith, the controversial Prime Minister of Rhodesia who led the country during its Unilateral Declaration of Independence, passed away. Born in 1919, Smith was a significant figure in African colonial history.
• 2005: The Washington Post officially criticized journalist Bob Woodward regarding his involvement in the CIA leak investigation, highlighting tensions within journalistic ethics and confidential source reporting.
• 2003: British actor Robert Addie died after battling cancer. Born in 1960, he was known for his work in film and television.
• 2001: In Washington, D.C., President George W. Bush officially dedicated the United States Department of Justice Headquarters Building as the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. The dedication ceremony commemorated Robert F. Kennedy's 76th birthday, honoring the late attorney general and civil rights advocate.
• 1996: On November 20, 1996, a devastating fire erupted in the Garley Building, a multi-story office complex in Hong Kong, resulting in a tragic loss of 41 lives and injuring 81 people. The incident was one of the deadliest building fires in Hong Kong's modern history, highlighting significant concerns about fire safety and building regulations in densely populated urban areas.
• 1993: A tragic aviation disaster occurred when an Avioimpex Yak-42D aircraft crashed into Mount Trojani near Ohrid, Macedonia. The flight was originally traveling from Geneva, Switzerland to Skopje but was diverted due to poor weather conditions. The crash resulted in the loss of all 116 people on board: 115 passengers and 8 crew members, making it North Macedonia's deadliest aviation accident in history.
• 1979: A significant terrorist uprising occurred at the sacred Kaaba site in Mecca during the annual pilgrimage. Approximately 1,500 militants seized control of the Grand Mosque, taking around 6,000 hostages. The Saudi government, with assistance from French special forces, ultimately suppressed the revolt after an intense confrontation.

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November 20th marks the 324th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 325th in case of leap years).

There are 41 days remaining until the end of the year.

November 20th is the 20th day of the month of November.

What day of the week is November 20?

On November 20th, 2025 the day of the week is Thursday.

Holidays and Observances on November 20

The zodiac sign associated with November 20th is Scorpio according to the Western Zodiac.

More about November 20 zodiac

What is special about the Scorpio sign?

• Scorpio personality traits and attitude
• Scorpio most and least compatible signs
• Why November born are so special