Basketball legend Kobe Bryant dies in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
Browse Historical Events by Month:
What Happened in January?
Tragic deaths, ravaged cities, and great acts of heroism. Discover what happened this month in history and the defining moments that shaped the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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At 11 p.m. GMT (midnight Central European Time) on January 31, 2020, the UK formally withdraws its membership from the European Union (EU). The departure initiated an 11-month transition period that concluded on December 31, 2020.
During the transition period. the UK was out of the EU but continued to follow most EU rules and trade arrangements. On January 1, 2021, the transition period ended and the UK officially left the EU's single market and customs union.
Democrats win both Senate seats in the State of Georgia's runoff elections, giving them control of the U.S. Senate.
Pro-Trump supporters storm the United States Capitol in a violent insurrection, disrupting the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory forcing lawmakers into hiding.
Twitter permanently suspends then-President Donald Trump's account, citing the risk of further incitement of violence.
The U.S. House of Representatives impeaches President Donald Trump for the second time, charging him with "incitement of insurrection."
Uganda holds presidential elections, resulting in a controversial win for incumbent President Yoweri Museveni.
Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021 with Kamala Harris as Vice President.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) enters into force on January 22, 2021, 90 days after the 50th ratification, as per Article 15 of the Treaty. marking a significant step in nuclear disarmament efforts.
While major nuclear-armed states have not signed, the TPNW has strong support, with numerous countries as Parties and Signatories, creating a growing global norm against nuclear weapons.
Anti-government protests erupt in Russia, demanding the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and Kremlin’s most prominent foe. Russian police arrested more than 850 protesters, some of whom took to the streets in minus 58 Fahrenheit frigid temperatures.
The UK surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, becoming the first European country to reach this grim milestone.
GameStop stocks surge due to a Reddit-driven trading frenzy by small investors, challenging Wall Street hedge funds.
The European Union introduces new export controls on COVID-19 vaccines effective on January 30, 2021, amid supply shortages.