Berlin, Germany – January 15 marks the anniversary of several major events throughout history. From the arrest and execution of German Communist leaders Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in 1919 to the induction of musician Johnny Cash into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, this day has seen its fair share of significant occurrences.
In 2001, the free content encyclopaedia website Wikipedia was launched online, revolutionizing the way information is accessed and shared. And in 2009, a remarkable incident unfolded as a US Airways jet with 155 people on board successfully ditched in the frigid Hudson River off Manhattan after hitting a flock of geese. Miraculously, everyone on board was rescued.
The day also marked a tragic event in 1969 when the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 5 achieved the first docking of two unmanned spacecraft in Earth orbit, while in 2006, Kuwait mourned the passing of Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the ruler who spearheaded the rebuilding of the Gulf Arab state after the U.S.-led forces ended Iraq’s occupation in 1991.
On a more somber note, January 15 also saw the cessation of banknotes printed with the face of Saddam Hussein as legal tender in Iraq in 2004. Additionally, in 2005, a U.S. military jury sentenced soldier Charles Graner to 10 years in prison for his role in the abuse of prisoners at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison.
The day has also been marked by events related to sports and international relations. In 1997, international goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar found himself in court for match-fixing charges, while that same year, Princess Diana made a poignant trip to a minefield in Angola, shedding light on the devastating impact of landmines.
In sum, January 15 has been a day of both triumph and tragedy, spanning historical, cultural, and political milestones.