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20 January 2023
Holidays, observances, history and sky information for this date.
Holidays
No listed India public holiday for this date.
Observances
No UN observance in the current list for this date.
Selected anniversaries
Anniversary
2018 - A group of Taliban gunmen attacked and took hostages at the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul, Afghanistan, sparking a 12-hour battle that left at least 21 people dead.Afghan Islamist militant organization
Anniversary
2009 - During a national financial crisis, thousands of people protested (pictured) at the Icelandic parliament in Reykjavík.Default of three major Icelandic banks
Anniversary
2009 - In Washington, D.C., Barack Obama was inaugurated as the first African-American president of the United States.56th United States presidential inauguration
Anniversary
1990 - The Soviet Red Army violently cracked down on Azeri pro-independence demonstrations in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR.Soviet army and air force from 1918 to 1946
Anniversary
1969 - Bengali student activist Amanullah Asaduzzaman was shot and killed by East Pakistani police, an event that led to the Bangladesh Liberation War.20th-century Bengali student activist
Historical events
History
2018 - A group of four or five gunmen attack The Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, sparking a 12-hour battle. The attack kills 40 people and injures many others.Attack in Afghanistan
History
2018 - Syrian civil war: The Government of Turkey announces the initiation of the Afrin offensive and begins shelling Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) positions in Afrin Region.2011–2024 armed conflict in Syria
History
2009 - A protest movement in Iceland culminates as the 2009 Icelandic financial crisis protests start.Island country in the Atlantic Ocean
History
2001 - President of the Philippines Joseph Estrada is ousted in a nonviolent four-day revolution, and is succeeded by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.Head of state and government
History
1992 - Air Inter Flight 148, an Airbus A320-111, crashes into a mountain near Strasbourg, France, killing 87 of the 96 people on board.1992 aviation accident in France
History
1991 - Sudan's government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening the civil war between the country's Muslim north and Christian south.Country in Northeast Africa
History
1990 - Protests in Azerbaijan, part of the Dissolution of the Soviet Union.Violent 1990 crackdown in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR
History
1986 - In the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time.U.S. holiday, 3rd Monday of January
History
1986 - Leabua Jonathan, Prime Minister of Lesotho, is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by General Justin Lekhanya.Prime Minister of Lesotho from 1965 to 1986
History
1981 - Twenty minutes after Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States of America, Iran releases 52 American hostages.President of the United States from 1981 to 1989
Notable births
Born
2003 - J. J. McCarthy, American football playerAmerican football player (born 2003)
Born
2003 - Antonia Ružić, Croatian tennis playerCroatian tennis player (born 2003)
Born
2000 - Tyler Herro, American basketball playerAmerican basketball player (born 2000)
Born
1995 - Joey Badass, American rapper and actorAmerican rapper and actor (born 1995)
Born
1995 - Calum Chambers, English footballerEnglish association football player (born 1995)
Born
1995 - José María Giménez, Uruguayan footballerUruguayan footballer (born 1995)
Notable deaths
Died
2025 - Lynn Ban, Singaporean jewelry designer (born 1972)Singaporean jewelry designer (1972–2025)
Died
2025 - Cecile Richards, American activist and former Planned Parenthood president (born 1957)American activist (1957–2025)
Died
2024 - Norman Jewison, Canadian actor, director, and producer (born 1926)Canadian filmmaker (1926–2024)
Died
2022 - Meat Loaf, American singer and actor (born 1947)American singer and actor (1947–2022)
Died
2021 - Sibusiso Moyo, Zimbabwean politician, army general (born 1960)Zimbabwean politician (1960–2021)
Died
2021 - Mira Furlan, Croatian actress and singer (born 1955)Croatian-American actress and singer (1955–2021)
Died
2020 - Jaroslav Kubera, Czech politician (born 1947)Czech politician (1947–2020)
Died
2020 - Tom Fisher Railsback, American politician, member of the Illinois and U.S. House of Representatives (born 1932)American politician and lawyer (1932–2020)
Sky
Moon phase
New Moon
2.5% illuminated
Lunar age: 28.1 days
Sun zodiac
Aquarius
0.15 degrees
Constellation: Capricornus
Moon zodiac
Capricorn
10.56 degrees
Constellation: Sagittarius
Astronomy events
No major astronomy event in the current calendar for this date.