Major Events of January 2020: 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 2020 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of January 2020: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Jan 2020 Taliban Attacks in Afghanistan: The Taliban conducts coordinated attacks across three Afghan provinces, killing 23 security force members, demonstrating continued insurgent activity and instability in the region despite ongoing peace negotiations.
02 Jan 2020 US Drone Strike Kills Iranian General Qasem Soleimani: Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a targeted US drone strike in Baghdad on January 3, 2020, under the direct orders of President Donald Trump. The airstrike was justified by the US administration as a preemptive measure against a perceived imminent threat, with President Trump claiming that Soleimani was responsible for killing or severely wounding thousands of Americans and was planning further attacks. The assassination marked a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, sparking international controversy and potential geopolitical repercussions.
03 Jan 2020 U.S. Drone Strike Kills Iranian General Qasem Soleimani: On January 3, 2020, a targeted U.S. military drone strike near Baghdad International Airport killed Major General Qasem Soleimani, a highly influential Iranian military leader and commander of the Quds Force. The strike, authorized by the Trump administration, was carried out in response to perceived imminent threats to American personnel in the region. Soleimani was considered one of the most powerful and strategic military figures in Iran, responsible for coordinating foreign military operations and proxy groups across the Middle East. His assassination dramatically escalated tensions between the United States and Iran, raising global concerns about potential armed conflict and retaliatory actions.
04 Jan 2020 Massive Funeral Procession for Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad: Thousands of mourners gathered in Baghdad for the funeral procession of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, whose death in a U.S. airstrike sparked significant regional tension and international attention. The massive turnout highlighted Soleimani's importance in Iranian and regional geopolitics.
05 Jan 2020 Face the Nation Broadcast Discusses Iran and 2020 Election Dynamics: On this episode of the CBS News political program 'Face the Nation', key political figures provided insights into critical national and international issues. Senators Marco Rubio and Chris Murphy were interviewed, offering perspectives on current political challenges. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed tensions with Iran, providing diplomatic context during a period of heightened geopolitical stress. Additionally, the broadcast featured new CBS Battleground Tracker polling data revealing the evolving landscape of the 2020 presidential primary race, with a leading candidate emerging in the crucial early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
06 Jan 2020 Devastating Floods Devastate Jakarta and Surrounding Regions: In early January 2020, Indonesia experienced catastrophic flooding that severely impacted Jakarta and surrounding areas in West Java and Banten provinces. The torrential rainfall, described as the worst in over a decade, led to widespread destruction and significant human suffering. At least 74 districts were affected, with massive flooding causing extensive damage to infrastructure, disrupting power supplies, and forcing approximately 175,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The natural disaster resulted in the tragic loss of more than 60 lives, highlighting the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events and climate change-related challenges.
07 Jan 2020 First Identification of COVID-19 Coronavirus: Public health officials in China officially identified a novel coronavirus (later named SARS-CoV-2) as the causative agent of an emerging respiratory disease outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province. This marked the initial scientific recognition of what would become the global COVID-19 pandemic, signaling the beginning of a significant worldwide health crisis.
08 Jan 2020 Iran Launches Missile Attack on U.S. Forces in Iraq: In retaliation for the U.S. killing of General Qasem Soleimani, Iran launched Operation Martyr Soleimani, firing ballistic missiles at multiple U.S. Armed Forces facilities in Iraq, including Al Asad Airbase. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned regional countries against allowing U.S. military operations against Iran. In response, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration banned all commercial flights in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman due to escalating geopolitical tensions.
09 Jan 2020 Trump Announces Economic Sanctions Against Iran: President Trump announced new economic sanctions against the Iranian regime following a tense military standoff. After Iran's missile strikes on U.S. troop bases in Iraq resulted in no casualties, Trump indicated that Iran appeared to be 'standing down', choosing diplomatic and economic pressure over military retaliation.
10 Jan 2020 Assassination of Iranian Commander Qassem Soleimani: U.S. President Donald Trump authorized a targeted drone strike at Baghdad International Airport, killing Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Qassem Soleimani. This high-profile military action dramatically escalated tensions between the United States and Iran, raising concerns about potential military conflict in the Middle East.
11 Jan 2020 First COVID-19 Death in Wuhan: Municipal health officials in Wuhan, China, announced the first recorded death from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), marking a critical moment in the early stages of the global pandemic. This event signaled the severity of the emerging health crisis that would soon spread worldwide.
12 Jan 2020 Taal Volcano Eruption in Philippines: On January 12, 2020, the Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupted catastrophically, resulting in 39 fatalities and significant regional destruction. The volcanic event triggered massive evacuations and widespread environmental damage in the surrounding areas.
13 Jan 2020 Diplomatic Efforts to De-escalate U.S.-Iran Tensions: Following the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on January 3, 2020, international diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions emerged. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau engaged with U.S. President Donald Trump on January 13, 2020, discussing the critical need to de-escalate potential conflict with Iran.
14 Jan 2020 Iran Admits Responsibility for Ukrainian Airliner Downing: Iran announced the arrest of several individuals as part of the investigation into the tragic downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which resulted in the loss of all 176 passengers and crew members. The incident highlighted significant tensions and potential military miscalculations in the region.
15 Jan 2020 First COVID-19 Case in Japan: The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare officially confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Japan, marking the beginning of the pandemic's spread in the country. This event would later prove to be a critical moment in the global coronavirus outbreak.
16 Jan 2020 First Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump: The first impeachment of President Donald Trump formally moved into its trial phase in the United States Senate. The historic proceedings centered on allegations that Trump had abused his presidential power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, and Biden's son Hunter, in an attempt to gain political advantage. This marked only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, highlighting the significant political tension of the era.
17 Jan 2020 Lesotho PM Announces Resignation Amid Murder Investigation: Prime Minister Tom Thabane of Lesotho announced his impending resignation after an arrest warrant was issued for his current wife, Maesiah Thabane, in connection with the 2017 murder of his previous wife, Lipolelo Thabane. The scandal reveals complex personal and political tensions.
18 Jan 2020 Taliban Proposes Truce in Afghanistan: In a significant diplomatic development, the Taliban proposed a ten-day reduction in violence to the Afghan government, seeking potential peace negotiations. However, the Afghan government rejected the proposal, criticizing the term 'reduction in violence' as being too vague and lacking clear legal or military definitions. This rejection highlighted the ongoing complexity and challenges in establishing a meaningful dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
19 Jan 2020 Storm Gloria Devastates Northern Spain: Storm Gloria, the tenth named storm of the 2019–20 European windstorm season, made a catastrophic landfall in northern Spain, resulting in at least 13 fatalities. The extreme weather event was characterized by heavy rainfall causing widespread flooding, accompanied by powerful winds and destructive coastal storm surges that inflicted significant damage across the region.
20 Jan 2020 Devastating Australian Bushfires of 2020: The Australian bushfire crisis of early 2020 was an unprecedented environmental disaster. By January 20th, the fires had claimed 20 lives, including three heroic volunteer firefighters. The scale of destruction was immense, with approximately 6 million hectares (14.8 million acres) of land scorched, causing massive ecological and economic damage. The fires devastated wildlife habitats, destroyed property, and created significant environmental and humanitarian challenges for Australia.
21 Jan 2020 First U.S. COVID-19 Case Confirmed: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially announced the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (later known as COVID-19) in the United States, specifically in Snohomish County, Washington. This marked the beginning of the pandemic's spread in the United States, which would dramatically transform global health and society in the following months.
22 Jan 2020 CDC Expands Coronavirus Screening at Major U.S. Airports: On January 22, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first travel-related case of COVID-19 in the United States, involving a patient from Washington state. In response to the emerging public health threat, the CDC expanded coronavirus screening protocols by adding two critical international airports to its monitoring network: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). This decision was part of the initial efforts to detect and contain the potential spread of the novel coronavirus, which would soon develop into a global pandemic.
23 Jan 2020 COVID-19 Outbreak: Wuhan Lockdown Begins: In a critical public health response, Chinese authorities implemented a comprehensive lockdown of Wuhan, the epicenter of the emerging coronavirus outbreak. The city of 11 million people had its urban transportation systems suspended, including buses, subways, ferries, and long-distance passenger transport. Mandatory mask-wearing in public spaces was instituted to control virus transmission. The travel ban was quickly expanded to nearby cities, marking a significant moment in the early stages of what would become a global pandemic. At the time, over 570 coronavirus cases had been reported with 17 fatalities, and initial international spread was detected in the United States, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.
24 Jan 2020 Shanghai Disney Resort COVID-19 Precaution: Shanghai Disney Resort proactively closes ahead of Lunar New Year in response to emerging disease outbreak, signaling early global awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
25 Jan 2020 Global Coronavirus Outbreak Escalates: The coronavirus pandemic began to show its global impact, with increasing death tolls and countries implementing restrictive measures. The United States confirmed its second case, while Hong Kong declared a health emergency, canceling Lunar New Year celebrations and limiting mainland connections.
26 Jan 2020 Tragic Helicopter Crash Kills Kobe Bryant and Daughter: On January 26, 2020, a devastating helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, claimed the lives of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other passengers. The Sikorsky S-76B aircraft was en route from John Wayne Airport to Camarillo Airport when it crashed under unclear weather conditions, shocking the sports world and global community.
27 Jan 2020 FDA Initiates COVID-19 Medical Countermeasures Development: In a pivotal moment during the early stages of the global pandemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a comprehensive strategy to accelerate the development of medical interventions against the novel coronavirus. The agency committed to collaborating with key interagency partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to rapidly respond to the emerging public health crisis. This initiative was crucial in mobilizing scientific and regulatory resources to combat the spread of COVID-19 and develop potential treatments and vaccines.
28 Jan 2020 Tragic Helicopter Crash Claims Lives of Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gianna: Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna tragically died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. The accident shocked the sports world and global community, cutting short the lives of a beloved NBA star and his promising young basketball prodigy. Nine people in total perished in the crash, including the pilot and other passengers.
29 Jan 2020 CDC Implements Quarantine for Wuhan Repatriates: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented a mandatory 14-day federal quarantine for all 195 U.S. citizens who were repatriated from Wuhan, China, as a precautionary measure to prevent potential COVID-19 transmission.
30 Jan 2020 WHO Declares COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: The World Health Organization officially declares the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, signaling the global severity of the emerging pandemic.
31 Jan 2020 Brexit: United Kingdom Leaves European Union: The United Kingdom formally withdrew from the European Union after 47 years of membership, marking a significant geopolitical shift in European history. This historic departure, known as Brexit, occurred at 23:00 GMT on January 31, 2020, ending the country's long-standing relationship with the European Union and initiating a complex process of political and economic recalibration.