20 Interesting Facts About January 25 in History
These events that happened on January 25 throughout the years reflect significant moments in history, marked by political upheaval, natural disasters, human rights activism, and tragic accidents, each shaping global affairs in profound ways.
- Alyana Aguja
- 8 min read
These are some events on January 25 that stretch over decades, including key moments in world politics, social movements, and environmental disasters. The violent uprisings and coups are set against tragic accidents and heroic acts, each telling a story of the complexity of human interaction, government power, and social change. While so different, these events reveal the struggles of human beings in conflicts, justice, and survival.
1. 1971 – Idi Amin leads a coup deposing Milton Obote and becomes Uganda’s president
Bernard Gotfryd from Wikipedia
In 1971, Idi Amin masterminded a military coup that removed then-president Milton Obote from office. Amin took complete control of the country and went on to govern Uganda with a fist of iron, using severe methods, among them human rights violations on an extensive scale. His rule ended in the loss of hundreds of thousands of people and plunged Uganda into turmoil for years.
2. 1979 – Pope John Paul II begins his first official papal visits outside Italy to The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Mexico
Gregorini Demetrio from Wikipedia
Pope John Paul II made the first official papal visit outside Italy in 1979 to the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. The main purpose of this visit was to strengthen the Catholic Church’s influence in the Americas and reach out to local communities. This visit also provoked constructive dialogue between the church and most governments in Latin America.
3. 1980 – Mother Teresa received the Bharat Ratna
Image from Wikipedia
Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award. Mother Teresa received it in 1980 when she was recognized for her charitable works at the hands of the Missionaries of Charity. She received it because of her dedication to helping the poor, the sick, and the destitute throughout her life. The compassion with which she did the work, without any reward in return, was a significant gesture to the human race and made her a global icon for charity.
4. 1986 – The National Resistance Movement Overthrows the government of Tito Okello of Uganda
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The National Resistance Movement led by Yoweri Museveni overthrew the military leader Tito Okello’s government in Uganda. In 1986, this would be the first step to ushering in Yoweri Museveni to rule for several decades and mark the end of the civil war. The coup had been a critical turning point in Uganda’s long history of political instability.
5. 1990 Avianca Flight 052 crashed in Cove Neck, New York, killing 73
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Avianca Flight 052 was a Colombian commercial flight that crashed in Cove Neck, New York, in 1990 after running out of fuel. In total, 73 people were killed in the crash, and it was blamed on a mix of poor communication between the flight crew and air traffic controllers as well as mechanical failures. It led to a higher level of scrutiny over airline safety protocols and air traffic control procedures.
6. 1993 – Five people are shot outside the CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia
Carol M. Highsmith from Wikipedia
In 1993, five people were shot outside the CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Two people were killed, while three were wounded. The shooter was later identified as a Bosnian national who had targeted the CIA in retaliation for the U.S. involvement in international conflicts. This incident raised concerns over security at sensitive government facilities.
7. 1994 – BMDO and NASA launched Clementine
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory from Wikipedia
The Clementine spacecraft is a joint project between the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA to survey the Moon. Launched in 1994, the mission provided highly informative data on the surface of the Moon and evidence of water ice at the lunar poles. Clementine has furthered the exploration of the Moon and space science.
8. 1995 – The Norwegian rocket incident
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Russia almost launched a nuclear attack after it mistook Black Brant XII, a Norwegian research rocket, for a US Trident missile in 1995. The incident was a significant moment in the post-Cold War era, highlighting the risks of miscommunication and misunderstandings between nuclear powers. Fortunately, the Russian officials refrained from retaliation, and the incident brought home the precarious balance of international security.
9. 1996 – Billy Bailey was the last person hanged in the United States
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Billy Bailey was the last person to be executed by hanging in the United States in 1996, which marked the end of the death penalty through hanging in the country. His execution took place in Delaware, where hanging had been the method of execution until it was replaced by lethal injection. Bailey’s case brought to the fore the debate over capital punishment and its methods in the U.S.
10. 1998 – During a historic visit to Cuba, Pope John Paul II demands political reforms and the release of political prisoners while condemning US attempts to isolate the country
Zkoty1953 from Wikipedia
Pope John Paul II’s visit to Cuba in 1998 was a significant moment in Cuban history. During his visit, the Pope called for political reforms and the release of political prisoners. He also condemned the U.S. efforts to isolate Cuba and called for greater freedom and respect for human rights on the island. His visit was seen as a step toward improving relations between the Vatican, Cuba, and the broader international community.
11. 1998 – Suicide attack by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam kills eight and injures 25 at Sri Lanka’s Temple of the Tooth
Image from Wikipedia
In 1998, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam carried out a suicide bombing attack at Sri Lanka’s Temple of the Tooth, killing eight and injuring 25 others. It was part of the ongoing civil conflict between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government. The bombings targeted one of the most sacred places of the Sri Lankans, so national and international condemnation ensued.
12. 1999 – In western Colombia, at least 1,000 are killed by a 6.0 strength earthquake
Image from Wikipedia
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia in 1999 and brought with it a death toll of over 1,000 besides infrastructural damage. Other than the deaths, a large number of people were displaced and became homeless. Rescue work in the disaster-struck regions was constrained by the region’s topography and the calamity’s size.
13. 2003 – Invasion of Iraq
Image from Wikipedia
During the Iraq War that started in 2003, a group of anti-war activists from London went to Baghdad to act as human shields in an attempt to prevent the U.S.-led coalition forces from bombing civilian infrastructure. The move drew the world’s attention and was just part of the larger protests against the invasion. Although it never stopped the war, it translated into the world speaking against the military operation.
14. 2005 – At least 258 killed in stampede at Mandhradevi temple in Maharashtra, India
Image from Wikipedia
In 2005, a stampede at the Mandhradevi temple in Maharashtra, India, killed at least 258 people who were participating in a religious pilgrimage. The stampede was triggered by overcrowding and panic among the pilgrims rushing to participate in the religious ceremony. The tragedy highlighted the dangers of mass gatherings at crowded religious venues in India.
15. 2006 – Mexican Professional wrestler Juana Barraza arrested for murders of at least ten elderly women
Shana Lewis from Wikipedia
In the year 2006, one Mexican professional wrestler by the name of Juana Barraza, dubbed “La Mataviejitas” or (The Little Old Lady Killer) was arrested as she was one of the biggest perpetrators of murder cases of the aged women which happened in several years before being convicted of involvement in this murder case. Barraza’s arrest and trial became a high-profile case in Mexico’s battle with serial crime.
16. 2010 – Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashed off the coast of Na’ameh, Lebanon, killing 90
Paul Randell Mouiser from Wikipedia
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 had just taken off from Beirut, Lebanon, and was flying over the Mediterranean Sea. Technical malfunctions, coupled with potential pilot error, were identified as possible causes of the crash. This tragedy marked one of the worst air crashes involving an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
17. 2011 – Initial Wave of the Egyptian Revolution
Open Clip Art from Wikipedia
In 2011, Egypt was plunged into a period of intense political upheaval as citizens rose up against President Hosni Mubarak’s regime. The first wave of the revolution, which led to massive protests in Cairo and around the rest of the country for political reforms and an end to corruption, eventually caused Mubarak to step down and made Egypt shift towards political change.
18. 2013 – Dozens die in Venezuelan prison riot
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In what is reported as the deadliest prison riot in Venezuela for years, over 50 people died, and more than 120 people were injured, according to prison officials. Violence erupted due to overcrowding and lack of basic resources amid ongoing tensions between prisoners and the authorities. This incident underscored the prolonged crisis within Venezuela’s penal system.
19. 2015– A clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in the Philippines kills 44 members of Special Action Force (SAF), at least 18 from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and five from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
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The 2015 clash in Mamasapano, Philippines, resulted in the deaths of 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF), along with multiple fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. This confrontation was part of the larger conflict between the Philippine government and armed separatist groups. The tragedy brought tensions between the Philippine government and the MILF, with the consequence of significant loss of life.
20. 2019 – A mining company’s dam bursts in Brumadinho, a south-eastern city in Brazil, killing 270 people
Image from Wikipedia
A mining company’s negligence caused the 2019 catastrophe that killed 270 people after a dam burst in Brumadinho, Brazil. The mudslide, triggered by the dam break, buried some of the closest communities and inflicted devastating environmental destruction. It was one of the world’s greatest environmental catastrophes.
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