Major Events of January 2001: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from January 2001 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of January 2001: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Jan 2001 Euro Currency Launch: The Euro is officially introduced as the common currency in 12 European Union countries, representing a significant milestone in European economic integration and monetary policy.
02 Jan 2001 J.P. Morgan Corporate Restructuring: J.P. Morgan officially changes its corporate name to J.P. Morgan Chase, signaling a major strategic rebranding and potential merger in the financial services industry.
03 Jan 2001 Hillary Clinton Becomes Senator: Hillary Clinton was sworn in as a U.S. senator from New York, making history as the first former First Lady to win elective office. Her transition from the White House to the Senate represented a significant milestone in American political history.
04 Jan 2001 RuneScape Classic Launch: RuneScape, initially known as RuneScape Classic, was officially released by Jagex, marking the beginning of one of the most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) in internet history. The game would go on to become a significant cultural phenomenon, particularly among young internet users in the early 2000s.
06 Jan 2001 The United States Congress presided over Vice President Al Gore, President of the Senate. This certifies George Walker Bush's victory in the Electoral College and makes him the winner of 2000 presidential election.
07 Jan 2001 'Friends' Cast Wins People's Choice Award: Cast members Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow of the hit sitcom 'Friends' received the award for Favorite Television Comedy Series at the 27th Annual People's Choice Awards in Pasadena, California. This recognition highlighted the show's immense popularity during its peak years.
09 Jan 2001 Apple Launches iTunes: Apple Inc. announced iTunes at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, introducing a revolutionary software platform for organizing, playing, and managing digital music and videos, which would later transform the digital media landscape.
10 Jan 2001 Wikipedia's Launch as a Collaborative Encyclopedia: Wikipedia is founded as a complementary project to Nupedia, an earlier online encyclopedia. Within five days, it will become an independent website, marking the beginning of a revolutionary collaborative knowledge platform.
11 Jan 2001 The merger of America Online & Time Warner is approved by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to create AOL Time Warner.
12 Jan 2001 Death of Vladimir Semichastny, Former KGB Leader: Vladimir Semichastny, a prominent Soviet intelligence officer who served as the head of the KGB during the 1960s, passed away. Born in 1924, he was a significant figure in the Soviet intelligence apparatus during the Cold War era.
13 Jan 2001 Devastating El Salvador Earthquake of 2001: A catastrophic magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck El Salvador, causing widespread destruction across Central America. The seismic event was felt from Mexico City to Colombia, resulting in massive loss of life and infrastructure damage. At least 844 people were killed, 4,723 injured, with 108,226 houses completely destroyed and over 150,000 buildings severely damaged. The earthquake's impact was particularly devastating, leaving thousands homeless and causing significant humanitarian crisis.
14 Jan 2001 Environmental Maritime Disaster in Taiwan: A Greece-registered cargo ship carrying 60,000 tonnes of iron ore ran aground near the Kenting National Park in Taiwan, resulting in a significant environmental incident where approximately 1.3 million litres of fuel oil were leaked into the surrounding marine ecosystem.
15 Jan 2001 Wikipedia Launch: Wikipedia, the free, collaborative online encyclopedia, was officially launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, marking a revolutionary moment in digital knowledge sharing and collaborative information platforms.
16 Jan 2001 Assassination of Laurent-Désiré Kabila: Congolese President Laurent-Désiré Kabila was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards in Kinshasa, marking a significant moment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's tumultuous political history. The assassination occurred in the presidential office, abruptly ending Kabila's leadership during the ongoing Second Congo War.
17 Jan 2001 Philippine Impeachment Drama: Dramatic moment in Philippine political history when impeachment proceedings against President Joseph Estrada collapse after senators refuse to open a crucial evidence envelope, leading to public protests and political upheaval.
18 Jan 2001 Dale Earnhardt Fatal Crash at Daytona 500: NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt tragically dies during a catastrophic crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. His death shocked the racing world and led to significant safety reforms in motorsports.
19 Jan 2001 Wikipedia Launched: Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger introduce Wikipedia, a groundbreaking free online encyclopedia that would revolutionize information sharing globally.
20 Jan 2001 George W. Bush Presidential Inauguration: George W. Bush was officially inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States, succeeding Bill Clinton. He became the second son of a former president to assume the presidency, following John Quincy Adams in 1825. Bush came to office after a highly controversial and closely contested 2000 election against Al Gore, which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court.
21 Jan 2001 Patty Hearst Presidential Pardon: In his final hours as President, Bill Clinton granted a presidential pardon to Patty Hearst, a high-profile kidnapping victim turned bank robber who had been convicted in 1976 for her involvement with the Symbionese Liberation Army.
22 Jan 2001 Texas 7 Capture in Colorado: Four members of the notorious 'Texas 7' criminal gang were apprehended in a convenience store near Woodland Park, Colorado. During this capture, a fifth member of the group committed suicide inside a nearby motorhome. This event marked the conclusion of a high-profile manhunt for a group of escaped prisoners who had committed multiple crimes.
23 Jan 2001 Tiananmen Square Self-Immolation Incident: On January 23, 2001, five individuals set themselves on fire in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, an event that became highly controversial. Falun Gong practitioners claimed the incident was staged by the Chinese Communist Party to discredit their spiritual movement and justify further persecution. The self-immolation was widely reported in Chinese state media and led to increased public sentiment against Falun Gong.
24 Jan 2001 Capture of the 'Texas 7' Fugitives: In Colorado Springs, Colorado, law enforcement successfully apprehended the final two members of the notorious 'Texas 7' prison escapees, concluding a high-profile manhunt that had captured national attention.
25 Jan 2001 Douglas DC-3 Crash in Venezuela: On January 25, 2001, a 50-year-old Douglas DC-3 aircraft crashed near Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, resulting in a tragic loss of 24 lives. The aging aircraft, which had been in service for half a century, experienced a fatal accident that highlighted the potential risks of operating older aircraft without modern safety upgrades.
26 Jan 2001 Gujarat Earthquake of 2001: A devastating magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Gujarat region of India, causing massive destruction across the Bhuj-Ahmadabad-Rajkot area. The catastrophic event resulted in at least 20,085 fatalities, 166,836 injuries, and widespread infrastructure damage, with approximately 339,000 buildings destroyed and 783,000 buildings damaged. The earthquake's impact was felt across northern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and western Nepal, making it one of the most significant seismic events in the region's recent history.
27 Jan 2001 Oklahoma State University Basketball Team Plane Crash: A tragic plane crash occurred 40 miles east of Denver, resulting in the deaths of multiple Oklahoma State University basketball team members and support staff. Ten people, including players and crew members, were killed in the devastating incident.
28 Jan 2001 Hamid Karzai Raises Afghanistan's Flag in Washington: Afghanistan Interim Authority Chairman Hamid Karzai participated in a significant diplomatic event at the Afghanistan Embassy in Washington. Alongside U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Afghanistan Charge d'affairs Haron Amin, Karzai oversaw the official flag raising ceremony, symbolizing a new chapter in Afghanistan's international relations following the fall of the Taliban regime.
29 Jan 2001 Indonesian Student Protests Against Presidential Corruption: On January 29, 2001, thousands of student protesters in Indonesia dramatically stormed the parliament building, demanding the resignation of President Abdurrahman Wahid. The protesters accused the president of significant involvement in corruption scandals, highlighting growing public frustration with governmental misconduct and lack of transparency.
30 Jan 2001 Johnnie Johnson: Legendary RAF Pilot Dies: Johnnie Johnson, a renowned English Royal Air Force pilot and one of the most distinguished fighter pilots of World War II, died on January 30, 2001. Johnson was a celebrated combat veteran who played a crucial role during the Battle of Britain and became one of the most successful Allied fighter pilots of the war.
31 Jan 2001 Lockerbie Bombing Trial Verdict: In a landmark international trial, a Scottish court in the Netherlands delivered a significant verdict in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing case. Libyan national Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was convicted for his role in the terrorist attack that occurred over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, while another Libyan defendant was acquitted.