On This Day — 22 January

2000s

2024

Ram Mandir is inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh after 500 years of dispute.

Ram Mandir

2009

U.S. President Barack Obama signs an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp; congressional opposition will prevent it being implemented.

Barack Obama

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2007

At least 88 people are killed when two car bombs explode in the Bab Al-Sharqi market in central Baghdad, Iraq.

22 January 2007 Baghdad bombings

2006

Evo Morales is inaugurated as President of Bolivia, becoming the country's first indigenous president.

Evo Morales

1900s

1999

Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons are burned alive by radical Hindus while sleeping in their car in Eastern India.

Graham Staines

1998

Space Shuttle program: space shuttle Endeavour launches on STS-89 to dock with the Russian space station Mir.

Space Shuttle Endeavour

1995

Israeli–Palestinian conflict: Beit Lid suicide bombing: In central Israel, near Netanya, two Gazans blow themselves up at a military transit point, killing 19 Israeli soldiers.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

1992

Space Shuttle program: The space shuttle Discovery launches on STS-42 carrying Dr. Roberta Bondar, who becomes the first Canadian woman and the first neurologist in space.

Space Shuttle program

1987

Philippine security forces open fire on a crowd of 10,000–15,000 demonstrators at Malacañang Palace, Manila, killing 13.

Philippines

1973

The Supreme Court of the United States delivers its decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, legalizing elective abortion in all fifty states. This decision is subsequently overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022.

Supreme Court of the United States

1973

The crew of Apollo 17 addresses a joint session of Congress after the completion of the final Apollo Moon landing mission.

Apollo 17

1973

A chartered Boeing 707 explodes in flames upon landing at Kano Airport, Nigeria, killing 176.

Boeing 707

1973

In a bout for the world heavyweight boxing championship in Kingston, Jamaica, challenger George Foreman knocks down champion Joe Frazier six times in the first two rounds before the fight is stopped by referee Arthur Mercante Sr..

Joe Frazier vs. George Foreman

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1971

The Singapore Declaration, one of the two most important documents to the uncodified constitution of the Commonwealth of Nations, is issued.

Singapore Declaration

1970

The Boeing 747, the world's first "jumbo jet", enters commercial service for launch customer Pan American Airways with its maiden voyage from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to London Heathrow Airport.

Boeing 747

1968

Apollo Program: Apollo 5 lifts off carrying the first Lunar module into space.

Apollo program

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1968

Operation Igloo White, a US electronic surveillance system to stop communist infiltration into South Vietnam begins installation.

Operation Igloo White

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1967

Between dozens and hundreds of anti-Somocista demonstrators are killed by the Nicaraguan National Guard in Managua.

Somoza family

1963

The Élysée Treaty of cooperation between France and West Germany is signed by Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer.

Élysée Treaty

1957

Israel withdraws from the Sinai Peninsula.

Israel

1947

KTLA, the first commercial television station west of the Mississippi River, begins operation in Hollywood.

KTLA

1946

In Iran, Qazi Muhammad declares the independent people's Republic of Mahabad at Chahar Cheragh Square in the Kurdish city of Mahabad; he becomes the new president and Haji Baba Sheikh becomes the prime minister.

Iran

1946

Creation of the Central Intelligence Group, forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Central Intelligence Agency

1944

World War II: The Allies commence Operation Shingle, an assault on Anzio and Nettuno, Italy.

Allies of World War II

1943

World War II: Australian and American forces defeat Japanese army and navy units in the bitterly fought Battle of Buna–Gona.

Battle of Buna–Gona

1941

World War II: British and Commonwealth troops capture Tobruk from Italian forces during Operation Compass.

World War II

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1927

Teddy Wakelam gives the first live radio commentary of a football match, between Arsenal F.C. and Sheffield United at Highbury.

Teddy Wakelam

1924

Ramsay MacDonald becomes the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ramsay MacDonald

1919

Act Zluky is signed, unifying the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian National Republic.

Unification Act

1917

American entry into World War I: President Woodrow Wilson of the still-neutral United States calls for "peace without victory" in Europe.

American entry into World War I

1915

Over 600 people are killed in Guadalajara, Mexico, when a train plunges off the tracks into a deep canyon.

Guadalajara

1906

SS Valencia runs aground on rocks on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, killing more than 130.

SS Valencia

1905

Bloody Sunday occurs in Saint Petersburg, beginning the 1905 revolution.

Bloody Sunday (1905)

1901

Edward VII is proclaimed King of the United Kingdom after the death of his mother, Queen Victoria.

Edward VII

1800s

1890

The United Mine Workers of America is founded in Columbus, Ohio.

United Mine Workers of America

1879

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Isandlwana results in a Zulu victory.

Anglo-Zulu War

1879

Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Rorke's Drift, just some 15 km (9.3 mi) away from Isandlwana, results in a British victory.

Battle of Rorke's Drift

1863

The January Uprising breaks out in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus. The aim of the national movement is to regain Polish–Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth from occupation by Russia.

January Uprising

1849

Second Anglo-Sikh War: The Siege of Multan ends after nine months when the last Sikh defenders of Multan, Punjab, surrender.

Second Anglo-Sikh War

1808

The Portuguese royal family arrives in Brazil after fleeing the French army's invasion of Portugal two months earlier.

House of Braganza

Before 1800

1689

The Convention Parliament convenes to determine whether James II and VII, the last Roman Catholic monarch of England, Ireland and Scotland, had vacated the thrones of England and Ireland when he fled to France in 1688.

Convention Parliament (1689)