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Major Events of January 2015: 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 2015 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of January 2015: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jan 2015 Palestine Joins International Criminal Court: The Palestine Authority signs a treaty to become a member of the International Criminal Court, a significant diplomatic move in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • 02 Jan 2015 U.S. Sanctions Against North Korea: In response to North Korea's alleged involvement in the Sony hacking attack, the United States imposed additional sanctions targeting the North Korean Special Operation Force and 10 government officials, escalating tensions in international relations.
  • 03 Jan 2015 Baga Massacre by Boko Haram: Boko Haram militants systematically destroyed the entire town of Baga in north-east Nigeria's Borno State, committing a devastating massacre that resulted in approximately 2,000 civilian deaths. This brutal attack represents one of the most significant and horrific acts of violence by the terrorist group in its ongoing insurgency.
  • 04 Jan 2015 Boston Marathon Bombing Trial Jury Selection Begins: Jury selection commenced for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's trial in Boston, with 1,200 potential jurors. Candidates must be willing to potentially impose the death penalty if Tsarnaev is convicted.
  • 05 Jan 2015 SpaceX Achieves First Rocket Stage Landing: SpaceX successfully landed the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, a groundbreaking moment in reusable rocket technology that would revolutionize space exploration and significantly reduce launch costs.
  • 06 Jan 2015 Cuba-US Relations Thaw: Cuba released political prisoners as part of a historic agreement with the United States, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough in relations between the two countries.
  • 07 Jan 2015 Charlie Hebdo Terrorist Attack: On January 7, 2015, a horrific terrorist attack occurred at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine known for its controversial cartoons. Masked gunmen stormed the building, executing 12 people, including journalists and police officers, in a brutal assault linked to the magazine's previous satirical depictions of the Prophet Mohammad.
  • 08 Jan 2015 Charlie Hebdo Shooting: On January 7-8, 2015, the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack occurred in Paris, with Hamyd Mourad identified as one of the suspects. During this period, three mosques in France were also attacked by unknown assailants who fired guns and threw grenades.
  • 09 Jan 2015 Charlie Hebdo Terrorist Attack Conclusion: French security forces shot and killed two al-Qaida-linked brothers suspected of carrying out the rampage at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The brothers were cornered in Dammartin-en-Goële, and a hostage situation at a nearby printing facility was resolved with the suspects' deaths. This incident occurred concurrently with another hostage situation at a Jewish market in Paris, where four hostages were killed and two police officers were injured.
  • 10 Jan 2015 Child Suicide Bomber in Maiduguri, Nigeria: A deeply disturbing incident involved a female suicide bomber, reportedly around 10 years old, who killed herself and 19 others at a market in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria. The event highlighted the tragic exploitation of children in terrorist activities.
  • 11 Jan 2015 Charlie Hebdo Terrorist Attack: Two masked gunmen stormed the office of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical weekly magazine in Paris, killing 12 people, including the paper's top editor, Stephane Charbonnier, several cartoonists, and two police officers. Five others were critically injured.
  • 12 Jan 2015 Ohio State Wins College Football National Championship: Ohio State University's football team defeated Oregon 42-20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, claiming the national title.
  • 13 Jan 2015 Charlie Hebdo Terrorist Attack in Paris: Armed terrorists attacked the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing 12 people and injuring 11 in a shocking act of violence targeting freedom of expression.
  • 14 Jan 2015 Charlie Hebdo Publishes Counterpoint Edition: In the aftermath of the tragic terrorist attack, Charlie Hebdo magazine released a defiant edition, symbolizing resilience and freedom of expression.
  • 15 Jan 2015 Swiss National Bank Abandons Euro Exchange Rate Cap: The Swiss National Bank unexpectedly abandoned the cap on the Swiss franc's value relative to the euro, causing significant turmoil in international financial markets. This sudden policy shift led to dramatic currency fluctuations and economic uncertainty.
  • 16 Jan 2015 Supreme Court to Hear Same-Sex Marriage Case: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consolidate and hear appellate rulings on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage, with oral arguments scheduled for April and a potential ruling by June.
  • 17 Jan 2015 Ukrainian Crisis: Donetsk Airport Conflict Escalates: Tensions rise between the Ukrainian Army and pro-Russian rebels over control of Donetsk International Airport, marking another critical moment in the ongoing conflict.
  • 18 Jan 2015 Pope Francis's Massive Holy Mass in Manila: Pope Francis conducted a historic Holy Mass in Manila, drawing the largest papal gathering since the 1995 World Youth Day Mass. His homily powerfully addressed issues of poverty, corruption, and the importance of family, particularly children.
  • 19 Jan 2015 NASA Dawn Mission to Ceres: NASA released new images from the Dawn spacecraft as it approached Ceres, the largest object in the Asteroid Belt, preparing to enter orbit on March 6.
  • 20 Jan 2015 President Obama Delivers State of the Union Address: President Barack Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address to the United States Congress, outlining his vision for the country and highlighting national achievements and future goals.
  • 21 Jan 2015 Houthi Rebels Seize Yemen's Presidential Palace: Houthi rebels dramatically seized Yemen's presidential palace in Sanaa, effectively staging a coup against President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. The United Nations Security Council condemned the violent takeover, which destabilized the U.S.-backed government and key counterterrorism ally.
  • 22 Jan 2015 European Central Bank's Massive Monetary Stimulus: The European Central Bank announced an unprecedented monetary stimulus program, committing to print and inject over one trillion euros into the European economy in an aggressive attempt to combat economic stagnation and stimulate growth.
  • 23 Jan 2015 Death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia passed away at age 90, ending his reign as the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques. He was immediately succeeded by his half-brother Salman Al Saud, with Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud elected as Crown Prince.
  • 24 Jan 2015 Rocket Attack in Mariupol, Ukraine: A devastating rocket attack on an open-air market in Mariupol, Ukraine, resulted in at least 27 fatalities and over 90 injuries. Pro-Russian rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko announced an offensive against the city, escalating tensions in the ongoing Donbass conflict.
  • 25 Jan 2015 Mamasapano Clash in Philippines: A significant and deadly clash occurred in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippines, resulting in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters, and 5 Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. This violent incident severely threatened ongoing peace negotiations in the region.
  • 26 Jan 2015 Kurdish Forces Recapture Kobanî from ISIL: A significant turning point in the Syrian Civil War occurred when the People's Protection Units (YPG) successfully recaptured the strategic city of Kobanî from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), marking a crucial moment in the conflict against terrorist forces.
  • 27 Jan 2015 70th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation: A commemorative ceremony was held on January 27, 2015, marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi German concentration and extermination camp. The event included an on-site ceremony and an online stream featuring a documentary about the Holocaust.
  • 28 Jan 2015 Groundbreaking Astronomical Discovery: Researchers from the University of Rochester and University of Leiden published a landmark discovery in the Astrophysical Journal: J1407b, the first known non-stellar object with a super ring system, potentially a massive exoplanet or brown dwarf.
  • 29 Jan 2015 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Accident Declaration: Malaysia officially declares Flight 370 lost over the Indian Ocean as an accident, enabling families of victims to seek compensation despite the lack of conclusive evidence.
  • 30 Jan 2015 Greek Debt Crisis Negotiations: In a significant diplomatic move, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis met with Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem, declaring Greece's intention to renegotiate its international debt and bypass traditional lending institutions.
  • 31 Jan 2015 Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict: During the 2014-15 Russian military intervention into Ukraine, separatists backed by Russia and Ukraine engage in peace talks while fighting continues across eastern Ukraine.