Osun Defender History Corner: January 22 In Focus

Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashback and recall some events that marked this day.

January 22, 1506

The first contingent of the Swiss Guard arrives at the Vatican.

January 22, 1771

Spain cedes the Falkland Islands to Britain.

January 22, 1879

Anglo-Zulu War: Battle of Rorke’s Drift begins.

January 22, 1901

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom dies after 63 years on the throne.

January 22, 1924

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

January 22, 1946

In Iran, Qazi Muhammad declares the independent people’s Republic of Mahabad at Chuwarchira Square in the Kurdish city of Mahabad. He is the new president and Hadschi Baba Scheich is the prime minister.

January 22, 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.

January 22, 1987

Pennsylvania politician R. Budd Dwyer shoots and kills himself at a press conference on live national television, leading to debates on boundaries in journalism ethics.

January 22, 1990

Robert Tappan Morris is convicted of releasing the 1988 Internet Computer worm.

January 22, 2002

Kmart becomes the largest retailer in United States history to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

January 22, 2006

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

January 22, 2007

The jury portion of the trial against Robert Pickton, accused of being Canada’s worst serial killer, opens in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.

January 22, 2017

The roof of the Plasco Building in Tehran, Iran, collapses after it is engulfed in a fire, killing at least 20 people.

January 22, 2018

A bombing at the Save the Children organization in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad kills at least six people and wounds 27.

January 22, 2019

A mine dam collapses near Brumadinho, Brazil, killing at least 270 people.

January 22, 2020

The United States and the Taliban sign an agreement in Doha, Qatar, aimed at bringing peace to Afghanistan.

January 22, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization declares a public health emergency of international concern regarding COVID-19.

January 22, 2020

United Nations officials confirm that at least 22 people have been killed and 1,030 have been injured during the 2019–20 Iranian protests.

January 22, 2021

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine is released from house arrest after being detained following the presidential election.

January 22, 2021

Over 340 protesters are detained in Russia as demonstrations take place across the country in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on January 22. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.