Explore the major historical events, famous births, and notable deaths that occurred in the year 2002. This year saw 154 significant events. 6 notable figures were born. 11 notable figures passed away.
There are eight denominations of euro coins, ranging from one cent to two euro (the euro is divided into a hundred cents). The coins first came into use in 2002.
29th American Music Awards: Janet Jackson and Lenny Kravitz win. Michael Jackson receives Artist of the Century award.
US President George W. Bush in his State of the Union address describes "regimes that sponsor terror" as an "Axis of Evil," which includes Iraq, Iran, and North Korea
"Blue" country and pop singer LeAnn Rimes (19) weds backup dancer Dean Sheremet (21) at Perkins Chapel in Dallas, Texas
Shortly after the September 11 attacks in 2001, the United States declared the war on terror and subsequently led a multinational military operation against Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
The Osbournes is an American reality television series featuring the domestic life of English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his family— his wife Sharon, their daughter Kelly, and their son…
"Law & Order" actor Benjamin Bratt (38) weds actress-model Talisa Soto (35) in San Francisco, California
66th US Masters Tournament: Tiger Woods becomes the third player to claim back-to-back Masters, three strokes ahead of Retief Goosen of South Africa
Former US President Jimmy Carter arrives in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro, becoming the first President of the United States, in or out of office, to visit the island since Castro's 1959 revolution.
Michael Francis Moore is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. Moore's work frequently addresses various social, political, and economic topics.
The Wire is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by American author and former police reporter David Simon for the cable network HBO.
American Idol is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America.
The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American action-thriller film directed by Doug Liman and written by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron.
FIFA World Cup Final, International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan: Ronaldo scores twice as Brazil beats Germany 2-0 to win a record 5th title; first World Cup held in Asia
Serena Jameka Williams is an American former professional tennis player. She was ranked as the world No.
The African Union (AU) is a continental union of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa.
With a record six races remaining, German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher clinches his fifth F1 World Drivers' Championship with victory in the French Grand Prix at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, his third straight title win
"The Matrix" actor Laurence Fishburne (41) weds actress Gina Torres (33) at The Cloisters museum in New York City
Comedian Tom Green (30) divorces actress Drew Barrymore (26) due to irreconcilable differences after less than a year of marriage
UN Security Council unanimously approves Resolution 1441 on Iraq, forcing Saddam Hussein to disarm or face "serious consequences"
Eminem releases the single 'Lose Yourself' from the soundtrack of "8 Mile", the first rap song to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song
Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage (38) files for divorce from the "Princess of Rock and Roll" Lisa Marie Presley (34) due to irreconcilable differences after 3 months of marriage
Adam Spiegel, known professionally as Spike Jonze, is an American filmmaker, actor, musician, and photographer.
The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004
Eduardo Alberto Duhalde is a former politician from Argentina. A member of the Peronist party, Duhalde served as the interim president of Argentina from January 2002 to May 2003.
The Karine A affair, also known as Operation "Noah's Ark", was an Israeli military action in January 2002 in which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) forces seized MV Karine A, which was a Palestinian...
"If You're Not the One" is a song by New Zealand-British singer Daniel Bedingfield. It was released on 25 November 2002 as the third single from his debut studio album, Gotta Get Thru This (2002).
In a controversial move, Marty Schottenheimer is fired as head coach of the Washington Redskins after just one season
UK declared free of foot-and-mouth cattle disease
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo, or less often Zaire, is a country in Central Africa.
The Sierra Leonean Civil War (1991–2002) was a civil war in Sierra Leone that began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), with support from the special forces of Liberian...
"Tuck Rule Game" AFC Divisional Playoff Game; with under 2 minutes to play New England Patriots trail Oakland Raiders, 13-10 in a driving snowstorm, when a Tom Brady fumble ruled an incomplete pass. Patriots win 16-13 in overtime
Photographs showing al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects shackled and masked are published by the United States military
The Canadian dollar (symbol: $; code: CAD; French: dollar canadien) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $.
Kmart, formerly Kmart Corporation, is a department-store chain and online retailer in the United States and its territories. Originally incorporated in 1899 as S. S.
"American Taliban" John Walker Lindh returns to the United States in FBI custody
Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and the wiki software MediaWiki.
TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-100 crashes in the Andes mountains in southern Colombia killing 92
"Foolish" is the debut solo single by American singer Ashanti. It was released as the lead single from her self-titled debut album (2002) by Def Jam Recordings, AJM, and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc.
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Salt Lake 2002 (Arapaho: Niico'ooowu' 2002; Gosiute Shoshoni: Tit'-so-pi 2002; Navajo: Sooléí 2002; Shoshoni:...
An Iran Air Tupolev Tu-154 crashes prior to landing in Khorramabad, Iran, killing 119
Fishing vessel Tullaghmurray Lass sinks off the coast of Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland killing three members of the same family on board
At the Tri-State Crematory in La Fayette, Georgia, investigators find uncremated bodies disposed of in the woods and buildings on crematorium's property. One of the worst incidents of abuse in the funeral service industry.
2001 Mars Odyssey is a robotic spacecraft orbiting the planet Mars. The project was developed by NASA, and contracted out to Lockheed Martin, with an expected cost for the entire mission of US$297...
A fire on an overcrowded train near El Ayyat, Egypt, kills at least 373 people after a cooking gas cylinder explodes
Canadian world champion women's ice hockey team wins first of 4 consecutive Winter Olympic gold medals with a 3-2 win over the United States at Salt Lake City
Angolan revolutionary politician and military leader of UNITA, Jonas Savimbi is killed in a military ambush in the province of Moxico
Sky Disc of Nebra, world's oldest map of the stars at 3,600 years old, recovered in police sting operation in Basal, Switzerland after being illegally excavated in Germany [1]
IXX Winter Olympic Games close in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
The Envisat environmental satellite successfully reaches an orbit 800 kilometers (500 miles) above the Earth on its 11th launch, carrying the heaviest payload to date at 8500 kilograms (9.5 tons).
40-year old South African boxer ‘Baby Jake’ Matlala ends his 22-year career with a 7th-round TKO win over Columbia’s Juan Herrera to retain his WBU junior flyweight title in Johannesburg
Citizens of Switzerland narrowly vote in favor of their country becoming a member of the United Nations
Canada bans human embryo cloning but permits government-funded scientists to use embryos leftover from fertility treatments or abortions
U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda ends (started on March 2) after killing 500 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters with 11 allied troop fatalities
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three others are charged with murder for the kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan
TV reality show "The Bachelor" hosted by Chris Harrison debuts on ABC in the US
The Passover massacre was a suicide bombing carried out by Hamas at the Park Hotel in Netanya, Israel on 27 March 2002, during a Passover seder.
Israeli forces surround the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem into which armed Palestinians had retreated. A siege ensues.
The Angolan government and UNITA rebels sign a peace treaty ending the Angolan Civil War
Palestinian suicide bomber (female) kills 7 and injures 104 (among them 9 Arabs) at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem.
Pedro Carmona, interim president of Venezuela, resigns one day after taking office
Air China Boeing 767-200, flight CA129, crashes into a hillside during heavy rain and fog near Busan, South Korea, killing 128 people
Four Canadian Forces soldiers are killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire from two United States Air Force F-16s, the first deaths in a combat zone for Canada since the Korean War
The 2002 NFL draft was the 67th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible professional football players.
Robert Steinhäuser infiltrates and kills 17 at Gutenberg-Gymnasium in Erfurt, Germany before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot.
Pioneer 10 (originally designated Pioneer F) is a NASA space probe launched in 1972 that completed the first mission to the planet Jupiter.
The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, Superstition Mountain G&CC: Jim Thorpe wins his lone career major title with birdie on first playoff hole against John Jacobs
The United States is re-elected to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, one year after losing the seat it had held for 50 years
Padres closer Trevor Hoffman sets MLB record for saves for one team (321) in 4-3 win v Chicago Cubs in San Diego
Marad massacre of eight Hindus near Palakkad in Kerala
"The Good Stuff" is a song written by Jim Collins and Craig Wiseman and recorded by the American country music artist Kenny Chesney.
China Northern Airlines Flight 6136 (CBF6136/CJ6136) was a Chinese domestic passenger flight from Beijing Capital International Airport to Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport.
38-day stand-off in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem comes to an end when Palestinians inside agree to have 13 suspected militants among them deported
Anaheim Angels crush the Chicago White Sox 19-0. The Angels join the 1923 Indians, 1939 Yankees and 1950 Red Sox as the only teams to beat two opponents by 19 or more runs in the same season
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands unveils the Man With Two Hats monument in Ottawa and Apeldoorn, symbolically linking both the Netherlands and Canada for their assistance throughout World War II
Micky Ward beats Arturo Gatti by majority decision in a junior welterweight boxing bout in Uncasville, Connecticut; 'The Ring' Fight of the Year; first fight in their legendary trilogy
The independence of East Timor is recognized by Portugal, formally ending 23 years of Indonesian rule and 3 years of provisional UN administration (Portugal itself was the former colonizer of East Timor until 1976)
American civil rights movement: a jury in Birmingham, Alabama, convicts former Ku Klux Klan member Bobby Frank Cherry of the 1963 murders of four girls in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church
The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,...
The Treaty Between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions (SORT), also known as the Treaty of Moscow, was a strategic arms reduction treaty between...
A train crash in Tenga, Mozambique, kills 197 people
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 32 member states—30 in Europe and 2 in North America.
The New Jersey Nets defeat the Boston Celtics 96-88 in Game 6 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Championship, winning the series 4 games to 2 to advance to their first NBA Finals appearance.
The 56th Annual Tony Awards ceremony was held at Radio City Music Hall on June 2, 2002 and broadcast by CBS. "The First Ten" awards ceremony was telecast on PBS television.
The first direct electronic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans is carried out by Kevin Warwick in the United Kingdom
Near-Earth asteroid 2002 MN misses Earth by 75,000 miles (120,000 km), about one-third of the distance between Earth and the Moon
Lilo & Stitch is a 2002 American animated science fiction comedy-drama film written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, based on an original story created by Sanders.
An earthquake in western Iran measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale kills more than 261 people.
The Igandu train disaster occurred during the early morning of June 24, 2002, in Tanzania. It is one of the worst rail accidents in African history.
Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball executive and former professional player. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), and then spent his entire nine-year National...
In South Africa, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the Treatment Action Campaign table a national HIV/AIDS treatment plan in the National Economic, Development and Labour Council
Naval clashes between South and North Korea lead to the death of six South Korean sailors and the sinking of a North Korean vessel
Bashkirian Airlines (flight 2937) Tupolev TU-154 and a DHL (German cargo) Boeing 757 collide in mid-air over Ueberlingen, southern Germany, killing 71
James Stephen Fossett (April 22, 1944 – September 3, 2007) was an American businessman and a record-setting aviator, sailor, and adventurer.
Early morning house fire claims lives of 3 children and 3 firefighters in Gloucester City, New Jersey; careless cigarette smoking the likely cause
A scandal breaks out in the United Kingdom when news reports accuse MI6 of sheltering Abu Qatada, supposed European Al Qaeda leader
"American Taliban" John Walker Lindh pleads guilty to supplying aid to the enemy and to possession of explosives during the commission of a felony
Bartenders doing tricks with fire start a major fire in a night club in Lima, Peru that kills 25 and injures 100
Telecom giant WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the then largest such filing in United States history
Israel assassinates Salah Shahade, the Commander-in-Chief of Hamas's military arm, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, along with 14 civilians
The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), a treaty including Germany, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, expires 50 years after it entered into force
James Anthony Traficant Jr. ( TRAF-ih-kənt; May 8, 1941 – September 27, 2014) was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XVII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Manchester 2002, were an international multi-sport event for the members of the Commonwealth held in...
A Sukhoi Su-27 fighter crashes during an airshow at Lviv, Ukraine, killing 85 and injuring more than 100 in the largest airshow disaster in history
Nine coal miners trapped in the flooded Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, are rescued after 77 hours underground
Polaroid Corporation was an American company that made instant film and cameras, which survives as a brand for consumer electronics. The company was founded in 1937 by Edwin H.
Soham murders: 10-year-old school girls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells go missing from the town of Soham, Cambridgeshire
32-year-old reliever Robb Nen becomes the 16th and youngest closer to record 300 career saves as he protects the Giants' 11-10 lead against the Cubs
New Zealand beats South Africa 30-23 in Durban to win their fourth Tri Nations Rugby Series; All Blacks score four tries to two
The Women's Peace Train has traditionally been used by women's groups as a means of protesting war, militarization, and the impact of violence on women and children.
A Russian Mi-26 helicopter carrying troops is hit by a Chechen missile outside Grozny, killing 127 soldiers and injuring 20 in the worst attack in helicopter history
A group of Iraqis opposed to the regime of Saddam Hussein takes over the Iraqi Embassy in Berlin for five hours before releasing their hostages and surrendering
2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2002nd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 2nd year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st...
After blowing an 11-run lead to Kansas City, Scott Hatteberg's bottom of the 9th walk-off home run gives Oakland a historic MLB victory, 12-11; A's set an AL record 20-game winning streak
Rookie quarterback David Carr throws for 2 TDs as the Houston Texans beat the Dallas Cowboys 19-10 to become only the second expansion team, after the 1961 Minnesota Vikings, to win their inaugural game
MLB Arizona Diamondbacks' left-handed pitcher Randy Johnson reaches 300 strikeouts for the fifth consecutive season, extending his Major League record
A neutral country is a sovereign state that is neutral towards belligerents in a specific war or holds itself as permanently neutral in all future conflicts (including avoiding entering into military...
Through extreme and coordinated effort, the Pentagon is rededicated after repairs are completed exactly one year after the attack on the building
NFL Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon begins NFL record-tying (Kurt Warner, Steve Young) streak of 6 consecutive 300-yard passing games, throwing for 403 yards in 30-17 victory at Pittsburgh
The Kolka–Karmadon rock-ice slide occurred on the northern slope of the Mount Kazbek massif in North Ossetia–Alania on 20 September 2002, following a partial collapse of the Kolka Glacier.
The project that became Firefox today began as an experimental branch of the Mozilla Suite called m browser).
Possible bolide meteor impact causes the Vitim event in Siberia, Russia
Overcrowded Senegalese ferry MV Joola capsizes off the coast of Gambia, killing more than 1,000
Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia.
Seattle running back Shaun Alexander sets an NFL record for most touchdowns in a half with 5 in the 1st half of a 48-23 win against the Minnesota Vikings at Seahawks Stadium; runs for 4 plus an 80-yard reception
ICC Men's Cricket Champions Trophy at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo: due to rain, there is no result, and India and Sri Lanka are declared joint winners
Free agent center Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese-born player in the NBA, signs a 3-year offer sheet with the Los Angeles Clippers; he is waived in 2003 and moves to the Miami Heat
A sniper is a military or paramilitary marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding the target's detection capabilities.
For the first time in its 42-year history, the Anaheim Angels win a postseason series by beating the Yankees 9-5 to take the ALDS 3-1
Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.
Bomb attack in a shopping mall in Vantaa, Finland, kills seven people
Terrorists explode two bombs in Bali's nightclub district killing 202 and injuring 209 mostly foreign tourists
Michael Schumacher wins season ending Japanese F1 Grand Prix for his record 11th victory of the year and 3rd straight World Drivers Championship; title margin: 67 points from Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello
Moscow Theatre Siege begins: Chechen rebels seize the House of Culture theater in Moscow and take approximately 700 theater-goers hostage
Police arrest spree killers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, ending the Beltway sniper attacks in the area around Washington, D.C.
Moscow Theatre Siege ends: Approximately 50 Chechen rebels and 150 hostages die when Russian Spetsnaz storm a theater building in Moscow, which had been occupied by the rebels during a musical performance three days before
The British ITV Network airs a regional service for the last time in England and Wales, LWT loses its identity completely
In the deadliest disaster in Vietnam during peacetime, the Ho Chi Minh City ITC Inferno, a fire destroys a luxurious department store with 1,500 people shopping, killing over 60 people and resulting in over 100 people missing
Television broadcasts in the United Kingdom began in 1932, however, regular broadcasts would only begin four years later.
A federal grand jury in Houston, Texas, formally indicts former Enron Corp. chief financial officer Andrew Fastow on 78 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice related to the collapse of his ex-employer
Mark Messier plays his 1,616th NHL game, a 3-2 Rangers loss against the St. Blues, to move into 2nd place on the all-time games played list; passes Larry Murphy and ends career with 1,756 games, just 11 shy of Gordie Howe
Chinese authorities arrest cyber-dissident He Depu for signing pro-democracy letter to the 16th Communist Party Congress
Vienna ( vee-EN-ə; German: Wien [viːn] ; Austro-Bavarian: Wean [veɐ̯n]) is the capital, most populous city, and one of the nine states of Austria.
Iran bans advertising of products from the United States
The Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum inaugurated in Lambayeque, Peru, displaying the treasure-filled tombs from the Moche culture discovered by Walter Alva [1]
Argentina defaults on an $805 million World Bank payment.
Sir Richard Starkey, known as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles.
NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.
New climate-controlled vault to conserve and display the Sarajevo Haggadah illuminated manuscript (c. 1350) dedicated in Sarajevo’s National Museum
The Caribbean Community Heads of Government meet with the Government of Cuba and declare the date "CARICOM-Cuba Day" to celebrate diplomatic ties between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Republic of Cuba
Joseph Steven Sakic born July 7, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player.
68th Heisman Trophy Award: Carson Palmer, USC (QB)
Second Congo War: The Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord which makes provision for transitional governance and legislative and presidential elections within two years.
A MQ-1 Predator is shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25, the first time in history that an aircraft and a modern unmanned drone engage in combat
Lil Mosey, American musician, known for american rapper, was born on 2002-01-25. Lathan Moses Stanley Echols, known professionally as Lil Mosey, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter.
Sophia Lillis, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 2002-02-13. Sophia Lillis is an American actress.
Brooke Raboutou is born
Natalia Grossman is born
Rowan Blanchard is born
Billie Eilish, American musician, known for american singer-songwriter, was born on 2002-12-18. Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell is an American singer-songwriter.
Astrid Lindgren, Swedish children's writer, known for swedish children's writer, died on 2002-01-28. Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays.
Waylon Jennings, American country musician, known for american country musician, died on 2002-02-13. Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, and actor.
Kevin Smith dies
Spike Milligan, Irish comedian and writer, known for irish comedian and writer, died on 2002-02-27.
Dudley Moore, English actor, comedian and musician, known for english actor, comedian and musician, died on 2002-03-27.
Milton Berle, American comedian and actor, known for american comedian and actor, died on 2002-03-27.
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother dies
Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian anthropologist and adventurer, known for norwegian anthropologist and adventurer, died on 2002-04-18.
Stephen Jay Gould, American biologist and historian of science, known for american biologist and historian of science, died on 2002-05-20.
Ted Williams, American baseball player, known for american baseball player, died on 2002-07-05.
Adolph Green, American dramatist, known for american dramatist, died on 2002-10-23.
There are eight denominations of euro coins, ranging from one cent to two euro (the euro is divided into a hundred cents). The coins first came into use in 2002.
29th American Music Awards: Janet Jackson and Lenny Kravitz win. Michael Jackson receives Artist of the Century award.
US President George W. Bush in his State of the Union address describes "regimes that sponsor terror" as an "Axis of Evil," which includes Iraq, Iran, and North Korea
"Blue" country and pop singer LeAnn Rimes (19) weds backup dancer Dean Sheremet (21) at Perkins Chapel in Dallas, Texas
Shortly after the September 11 attacks in 2001, the United States declared the war on terror and subsequently led a multinational military operation against Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
The Osbournes is an American reality television series featuring the domestic life of English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his family— his wife Sharon, their daughter Kelly, and their son…
"Law & Order" actor Benjamin Bratt (38) weds actress-model Talisa Soto (35) in San Francisco, California
66th US Masters Tournament: Tiger Woods becomes the third player to claim back-to-back Masters, three strokes ahead of Retief Goosen of South Africa
Former US President Jimmy Carter arrives in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro, becoming the first President of the United States, in or out of office, to visit the island since Castro's 1959 revolution.
Michael Francis Moore is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. Moore's work frequently addresses various social, political, and economic topics.
The Wire is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by American author and former police reporter David Simon for the cable network HBO.
American Idol is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America.
The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American action-thriller film directed by Doug Liman and written by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron.
FIFA World Cup Final, International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan: Ronaldo scores twice as Brazil beats Germany 2-0 to win a record 5th title; first World Cup held in Asia
Serena Jameka Williams is an American former professional tennis player. She was ranked as the world No.
The African Union (AU) is a continental union of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa.
With a record six races remaining, German Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher clinches his fifth F1 World Drivers' Championship with victory in the French Grand Prix at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, his third straight title win
"The Matrix" actor Laurence Fishburne (41) weds actress Gina Torres (33) at The Cloisters museum in New York City
Comedian Tom Green (30) divorces actress Drew Barrymore (26) due to irreconcilable differences after less than a year of marriage
UN Security Council unanimously approves Resolution 1441 on Iraq, forcing Saddam Hussein to disarm or face "serious consequences"
Eminem releases the single 'Lose Yourself' from the soundtrack of "8 Mile", the first rap song to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song
Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage (38) files for divorce from the "Princess of Rock and Roll" Lisa Marie Presley (34) due to irreconcilable differences after 3 months of marriage
Adam Spiegel, known professionally as Spike Jonze, is an American filmmaker, actor, musician, and photographer.
The European Union announces that Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia will become members from May 1, 2004
Eduardo Alberto Duhalde is a former politician from Argentina. A member of the Peronist party, Duhalde served as the interim president of Argentina from January 2002 to May 2003.
The Karine A affair, also known as Operation "Noah's Ark", was an Israeli military action in January 2002 in which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) forces seized MV Karine A, which was a Palestinian...
"If You're Not the One" is a song by New Zealand-British singer Daniel Bedingfield. It was released on 25 November 2002 as the third single from his debut studio album, Gotta Get Thru This (2002).
In a controversial move, Marty Schottenheimer is fired as head coach of the Washington Redskins after just one season
UK declared free of foot-and-mouth cattle disease
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo, or less often Zaire, is a country in Central Africa.
The Sierra Leonean Civil War (1991–2002) was a civil war in Sierra Leone that began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), with support from the special forces of Liberian...
"Tuck Rule Game" AFC Divisional Playoff Game; with under 2 minutes to play New England Patriots trail Oakland Raiders, 13-10 in a driving snowstorm, when a Tom Brady fumble ruled an incomplete pass. Patriots win 16-13 in overtime
Photographs showing al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects shackled and masked are published by the United States military
The Canadian dollar (symbol: $; code: CAD; French: dollar canadien) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $.
Kmart, formerly Kmart Corporation, is a department-store chain and online retailer in the United States and its territories. Originally incorporated in 1899 as S. S.
"American Taliban" John Walker Lindh returns to the United States in FBI custody
Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and the wiki software MediaWiki.
TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-100 crashes in the Andes mountains in southern Colombia killing 92
"Foolish" is the debut solo single by American singer Ashanti. It was released as the lead single from her self-titled debut album (2002) by Def Jam Recordings, AJM, and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc.
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Salt Lake 2002 (Arapaho: Niico'ooowu' 2002; Gosiute Shoshoni: Tit'-so-pi 2002; Navajo: Sooléí 2002; Shoshoni:...
An Iran Air Tupolev Tu-154 crashes prior to landing in Khorramabad, Iran, killing 119
Fishing vessel Tullaghmurray Lass sinks off the coast of Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland killing three members of the same family on board
At the Tri-State Crematory in La Fayette, Georgia, investigators find uncremated bodies disposed of in the woods and buildings on crematorium's property. One of the worst incidents of abuse in the funeral service industry.
2001 Mars Odyssey is a robotic spacecraft orbiting the planet Mars. The project was developed by NASA, and contracted out to Lockheed Martin, with an expected cost for the entire mission of US$297...
A fire on an overcrowded train near El Ayyat, Egypt, kills at least 373 people after a cooking gas cylinder explodes
Canadian world champion women's ice hockey team wins first of 4 consecutive Winter Olympic gold medals with a 3-2 win over the United States at Salt Lake City
Angolan revolutionary politician and military leader of UNITA, Jonas Savimbi is killed in a military ambush in the province of Moxico
Sky Disc of Nebra, world's oldest map of the stars at 3,600 years old, recovered in police sting operation in Basal, Switzerland after being illegally excavated in Germany [1]
IXX Winter Olympic Games close in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
The Envisat environmental satellite successfully reaches an orbit 800 kilometers (500 miles) above the Earth on its 11th launch, carrying the heaviest payload to date at 8500 kilograms (9.5 tons).
40-year old South African boxer ‘Baby Jake’ Matlala ends his 22-year career with a 7th-round TKO win over Columbia’s Juan Herrera to retain his WBU junior flyweight title in Johannesburg
Citizens of Switzerland narrowly vote in favor of their country becoming a member of the United Nations
Canada bans human embryo cloning but permits government-funded scientists to use embryos leftover from fertility treatments or abortions
U.S. invasion of Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda ends (started on March 2) after killing 500 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters with 11 allied troop fatalities
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three others are charged with murder for the kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan
TV reality show "The Bachelor" hosted by Chris Harrison debuts on ABC in the US
The Passover massacre was a suicide bombing carried out by Hamas at the Park Hotel in Netanya, Israel on 27 March 2002, during a Passover seder.
Israeli forces surround the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem into which armed Palestinians had retreated. A siege ensues.
The Angolan government and UNITA rebels sign a peace treaty ending the Angolan Civil War
Palestinian suicide bomber (female) kills 7 and injures 104 (among them 9 Arabs) at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem.
Pedro Carmona, interim president of Venezuela, resigns one day after taking office
Air China Boeing 767-200, flight CA129, crashes into a hillside during heavy rain and fog near Busan, South Korea, killing 128 people
Four Canadian Forces soldiers are killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire from two United States Air Force F-16s, the first deaths in a combat zone for Canada since the Korean War
The 2002 NFL draft was the 67th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible professional football players.
Robert Steinhäuser infiltrates and kills 17 at Gutenberg-Gymnasium in Erfurt, Germany before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot.
Pioneer 10 (originally designated Pioneer F) is a NASA space probe launched in 1972 that completed the first mission to the planet Jupiter.
The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, Superstition Mountain G&CC: Jim Thorpe wins his lone career major title with birdie on first playoff hole against John Jacobs
The United States is re-elected to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, one year after losing the seat it had held for 50 years
Padres closer Trevor Hoffman sets MLB record for saves for one team (321) in 4-3 win v Chicago Cubs in San Diego
Marad massacre of eight Hindus near Palakkad in Kerala
"The Good Stuff" is a song written by Jim Collins and Craig Wiseman and recorded by the American country music artist Kenny Chesney.
China Northern Airlines Flight 6136 (CBF6136/CJ6136) was a Chinese domestic passenger flight from Beijing Capital International Airport to Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport.
38-day stand-off in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem comes to an end when Palestinians inside agree to have 13 suspected militants among them deported
Anaheim Angels crush the Chicago White Sox 19-0. The Angels join the 1923 Indians, 1939 Yankees and 1950 Red Sox as the only teams to beat two opponents by 19 or more runs in the same season
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands unveils the Man With Two Hats monument in Ottawa and Apeldoorn, symbolically linking both the Netherlands and Canada for their assistance throughout World War II
Micky Ward beats Arturo Gatti by majority decision in a junior welterweight boxing bout in Uncasville, Connecticut; 'The Ring' Fight of the Year; first fight in their legendary trilogy
The independence of East Timor is recognized by Portugal, formally ending 23 years of Indonesian rule and 3 years of provisional UN administration (Portugal itself was the former colonizer of East Timor until 1976)
American civil rights movement: a jury in Birmingham, Alabama, convicts former Ku Klux Klan member Bobby Frank Cherry of the 1963 murders of four girls in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church
The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,...
The Treaty Between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions (SORT), also known as the Treaty of Moscow, was a strategic arms reduction treaty between...
A train crash in Tenga, Mozambique, kills 197 people
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 32 member states—30 in Europe and 2 in North America.
The New Jersey Nets defeat the Boston Celtics 96-88 in Game 6 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Championship, winning the series 4 games to 2 to advance to their first NBA Finals appearance.
The 56th Annual Tony Awards ceremony was held at Radio City Music Hall on June 2, 2002 and broadcast by CBS. "The First Ten" awards ceremony was telecast on PBS television.
The first direct electronic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans is carried out by Kevin Warwick in the United Kingdom
Near-Earth asteroid 2002 MN misses Earth by 75,000 miles (120,000 km), about one-third of the distance between Earth and the Moon
Lilo & Stitch is a 2002 American animated science fiction comedy-drama film written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, based on an original story created by Sanders.
An earthquake in western Iran measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale kills more than 261 people.
The Igandu train disaster occurred during the early morning of June 24, 2002, in Tanzania. It is one of the worst rail accidents in African history.
Yao Ming is a Chinese basketball executive and former professional player. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), and then spent his entire nine-year National...
In South Africa, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the Treatment Action Campaign table a national HIV/AIDS treatment plan in the National Economic, Development and Labour Council
Naval clashes between South and North Korea lead to the death of six South Korean sailors and the sinking of a North Korean vessel
Bashkirian Airlines (flight 2937) Tupolev TU-154 and a DHL (German cargo) Boeing 757 collide in mid-air over Ueberlingen, southern Germany, killing 71
James Stephen Fossett (April 22, 1944 – September 3, 2007) was an American businessman and a record-setting aviator, sailor, and adventurer.
Early morning house fire claims lives of 3 children and 3 firefighters in Gloucester City, New Jersey; careless cigarette smoking the likely cause
A scandal breaks out in the United Kingdom when news reports accuse MI6 of sheltering Abu Qatada, supposed European Al Qaeda leader
"American Taliban" John Walker Lindh pleads guilty to supplying aid to the enemy and to possession of explosives during the commission of a felony
Bartenders doing tricks with fire start a major fire in a night club in Lima, Peru that kills 25 and injures 100
Telecom giant WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the then largest such filing in United States history
Israel assassinates Salah Shahade, the Commander-in-Chief of Hamas's military arm, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, along with 14 civilians
The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), a treaty including Germany, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, expires 50 years after it entered into force
James Anthony Traficant Jr. ( TRAF-ih-kənt; May 8, 1941 – September 27, 2014) was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XVII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Manchester 2002, were an international multi-sport event for the members of the Commonwealth held in...
A Sukhoi Su-27 fighter crashes during an airshow at Lviv, Ukraine, killing 85 and injuring more than 100 in the largest airshow disaster in history
Nine coal miners trapped in the flooded Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, are rescued after 77 hours underground
Polaroid Corporation was an American company that made instant film and cameras, which survives as a brand for consumer electronics. The company was founded in 1937 by Edwin H.
Soham murders: 10-year-old school girls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells go missing from the town of Soham, Cambridgeshire
32-year-old reliever Robb Nen becomes the 16th and youngest closer to record 300 career saves as he protects the Giants' 11-10 lead against the Cubs
New Zealand beats South Africa 30-23 in Durban to win their fourth Tri Nations Rugby Series; All Blacks score four tries to two
The Women's Peace Train has traditionally been used by women's groups as a means of protesting war, militarization, and the impact of violence on women and children.
A Russian Mi-26 helicopter carrying troops is hit by a Chechen missile outside Grozny, killing 127 soldiers and injuring 20 in the worst attack in helicopter history
A group of Iraqis opposed to the regime of Saddam Hussein takes over the Iraqi Embassy in Berlin for five hours before releasing their hostages and surrendering
2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2002nd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 2nd year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st...
After blowing an 11-run lead to Kansas City, Scott Hatteberg's bottom of the 9th walk-off home run gives Oakland a historic MLB victory, 12-11; A's set an AL record 20-game winning streak
Rookie quarterback David Carr throws for 2 TDs as the Houston Texans beat the Dallas Cowboys 19-10 to become only the second expansion team, after the 1961 Minnesota Vikings, to win their inaugural game
MLB Arizona Diamondbacks' left-handed pitcher Randy Johnson reaches 300 strikeouts for the fifth consecutive season, extending his Major League record
A neutral country is a sovereign state that is neutral towards belligerents in a specific war or holds itself as permanently neutral in all future conflicts (including avoiding entering into military...
Through extreme and coordinated effort, the Pentagon is rededicated after repairs are completed exactly one year after the attack on the building
NFL Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon begins NFL record-tying (Kurt Warner, Steve Young) streak of 6 consecutive 300-yard passing games, throwing for 403 yards in 30-17 victory at Pittsburgh
The Kolka–Karmadon rock-ice slide occurred on the northern slope of the Mount Kazbek massif in North Ossetia–Alania on 20 September 2002, following a partial collapse of the Kolka Glacier.
The project that became Firefox today began as an experimental branch of the Mozilla Suite called m browser).
Possible bolide meteor impact causes the Vitim event in Siberia, Russia
Overcrowded Senegalese ferry MV Joola capsizes off the coast of Gambia, killing more than 1,000
Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia.
Seattle running back Shaun Alexander sets an NFL record for most touchdowns in a half with 5 in the 1st half of a 48-23 win against the Minnesota Vikings at Seahawks Stadium; runs for 4 plus an 80-yard reception
ICC Men's Cricket Champions Trophy at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo: due to rain, there is no result, and India and Sri Lanka are declared joint winners
Free agent center Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese-born player in the NBA, signs a 3-year offer sheet with the Los Angeles Clippers; he is waived in 2003 and moves to the Miami Heat
A sniper is a military or paramilitary marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding the target's detection capabilities.
For the first time in its 42-year history, the Anaheim Angels win a postseason series by beating the Yankees 9-5 to take the ALDS 3-1
Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.
Bomb attack in a shopping mall in Vantaa, Finland, kills seven people
Terrorists explode two bombs in Bali's nightclub district killing 202 and injuring 209 mostly foreign tourists
Michael Schumacher wins season ending Japanese F1 Grand Prix for his record 11th victory of the year and 3rd straight World Drivers Championship; title margin: 67 points from Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello
Moscow Theatre Siege begins: Chechen rebels seize the House of Culture theater in Moscow and take approximately 700 theater-goers hostage
Police arrest spree killers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, ending the Beltway sniper attacks in the area around Washington, D.C.
Moscow Theatre Siege ends: Approximately 50 Chechen rebels and 150 hostages die when Russian Spetsnaz storm a theater building in Moscow, which had been occupied by the rebels during a musical performance three days before
The British ITV Network airs a regional service for the last time in England and Wales, LWT loses its identity completely
In the deadliest disaster in Vietnam during peacetime, the Ho Chi Minh City ITC Inferno, a fire destroys a luxurious department store with 1,500 people shopping, killing over 60 people and resulting in over 100 people missing
Television broadcasts in the United Kingdom began in 1932, however, regular broadcasts would only begin four years later.
A federal grand jury in Houston, Texas, formally indicts former Enron Corp. chief financial officer Andrew Fastow on 78 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice related to the collapse of his ex-employer
Mark Messier plays his 1,616th NHL game, a 3-2 Rangers loss against the St. Blues, to move into 2nd place on the all-time games played list; passes Larry Murphy and ends career with 1,756 games, just 11 shy of Gordie Howe
Chinese authorities arrest cyber-dissident He Depu for signing pro-democracy letter to the 16th Communist Party Congress
Vienna ( vee-EN-ə; German: Wien [viːn] ; Austro-Bavarian: Wean [veɐ̯n]) is the capital, most populous city, and one of the nine states of Austria.
Iran bans advertising of products from the United States
The Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum inaugurated in Lambayeque, Peru, displaying the treasure-filled tombs from the Moche culture discovered by Walter Alva [1]
Argentina defaults on an $805 million World Bank payment.
Sir Richard Starkey, known as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles.
NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.
New climate-controlled vault to conserve and display the Sarajevo Haggadah illuminated manuscript (c. 1350) dedicated in Sarajevo’s National Museum
The Caribbean Community Heads of Government meet with the Government of Cuba and declare the date "CARICOM-Cuba Day" to celebrate diplomatic ties between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Republic of Cuba
Joseph Steven Sakic born July 7, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player.
68th Heisman Trophy Award: Carson Palmer, USC (QB)
Second Congo War: The Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord which makes provision for transitional governance and legislative and presidential elections within two years.
A MQ-1 Predator is shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25, the first time in history that an aircraft and a modern unmanned drone engage in combat
Lil Mosey, American musician, known for american rapper, was born on 2002-01-25. Lathan Moses Stanley Echols, known professionally as Lil Mosey, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter.
Sophia Lillis, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 2002-02-13. Sophia Lillis is an American actress.
Brooke Raboutou is born
Natalia Grossman is born
Rowan Blanchard is born
Billie Eilish, American musician, known for american singer-songwriter, was born on 2002-12-18. Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell is an American singer-songwriter.
Astrid Lindgren, Swedish children's writer, known for swedish children's writer, died on 2002-01-28. Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays.
Waylon Jennings, American country musician, known for american country musician, died on 2002-02-13. Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, and actor.
Kevin Smith dies
Spike Milligan, Irish comedian and writer, known for irish comedian and writer, died on 2002-02-27.
Dudley Moore, English actor, comedian and musician, known for english actor, comedian and musician, died on 2002-03-27.
Milton Berle, American comedian and actor, known for american comedian and actor, died on 2002-03-27.
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother dies
Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian anthropologist and adventurer, known for norwegian anthropologist and adventurer, died on 2002-04-18.
Stephen Jay Gould, American biologist and historian of science, known for american biologist and historian of science, died on 2002-05-20.
Ted Williams, American baseball player, known for american baseball player, died on 2002-07-05.
Adolph Green, American dramatist, known for american dramatist, died on 2002-10-23.