• January 21 - The first patient in the United States is diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19).
  

• January 23 - Wuhan Lockdown: China locks down the city of Wuhan and its 9 million people in a belated effort to control the city's COVID-19 outbreak.
  

• January 26 - Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) American Basketball Hall of Fame guard, along with his daughter, Gianna, and 7 others, perish in a helicopter crash. He died at 41.
  

• January 31- Brexit: United Kingdom formally withdraws from the European Union.
  

• February 11 - Snow fell in Baghdad, Iraq, for the second time in a century.
  

• February 24 - Former film producer Harvey Weinstein is found guilty of rape.
  

• March 11 - The World Health Organization officially declares COVID-19 a global pandemic.
  

• March 30 - International Olympic Committee announces the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Games will be held July 23-August 8 in 2021.
  

• September 26 - President Donald Trump nominates Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
  

• October 26 - US Senate confirms Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
  

• October 31 - New Zealand Rugby Union team routs Australia 43-5 in Sydney to retain the Bledisloe Cup (2-1) for the 18th straight series. It was the Wallabies' largest-ever defeat by All Blacks.
  

• November 7 - Four days after election day, Joe Biden is proclaimed president; Kamala Harris is elected vice president.

• November 15 - SpaceX Falcon 9 launches first regular flight to International Space Station with four astronauts, three from NASA, one Japanese.

• November 25 - Caitlin Clark makes her collegiate debut for the Iowa Hawkeyes, recording 27 points, eight rebounds, and four assists against Northern Iowa.

• December 13 - British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finishes 3rd in season-ending Abu Dhabi GP to claim record equaling 7th F1 World Drivers Championship by 124 points from teammate Valtteri Bottas; Mercedes' 7th straight Constructors title.

• December 25 - New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara equals Ernie Nevers 1929 NFL record of 6 touchdowns in a single game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Notable Deaths -

Kenny Rogers (1938-2020) American pop and country singer-songwriter ("The Gambler"; "Through the Years"), died of natural causes at 81.

Little Richard (1932-2020) American rock 'n' roll pioneer, piano player, singer-songwriter ("Tutti Frutti", "Lucille"), and sometime preacher, died at 87.

Olivia de Havilland (1916-2020) British American Academy Award-winning actress (All the King's Men; The Adventures of Robin Hood; Gone with the Wind; The Heiress), died at 104.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) Supreme Court Justice died of pancreatic cancer at 87.

Sean Connery (1930-2020) Scottish actor and producer (James Bond films; Indiana Jones), died at 90.

Notable Deaths in Sports -

Don Larsen (1929-2020), American MLB pitcher who pitched the only perfect game in World Series history in Game 5, 1956 (World Series MVP 1956; NY Yankees), died from esophageal cancer at 90.

Henri Richard (1936-2020) Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (record 11 Stanley Cups; 9 x NHL All Star; Montreal Canadiens), died from Alzheimer's disease at 84.

Don Shula (1930-2020) American Pro Football Hall of Fame coach (Super Bowl 1972, 73; Miami Dolphins; Baltimore Colts; NFL Coach of the Year 1964, 67, 68, 72), died at 90.

Gale Sayers (1943-2020) American College and Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback, 4x Pro Bowl, 2x NFL rushing leader (Chicago Bears), died from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease at 77.

 

2019

2021

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