On This Day: September 20th

Roughly four million people, mostly students, demonstrate across the world to address climate change. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden leads the demonstration in New York City.

At least 161 people die after a ferry capsizes close to the pier on Ukara Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania.

Hurricane Maria makes landfall in Puerto Rico as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, resulting in 2,975 deaths, US$90 billion in damage, and a major humanitarian crisis.

The United States military ends its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time.

A dump truck full of explosives detonates in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others.

Between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters march on Jena, Louisiana, United States, in support of six black youths who had been convicted of assaulting a white classmate.

Civil unrest in the Maldives breaks out after a prisoner is killed by guards.

In an address to a joint session of Congress and the American people, U.S. President George W. Bush declares a "war on terror".

The United Kingdom's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service building is attacked by individuals using a Russian-built RPG-22 anti-tank missile.

South Ossetia declares its independence from Georgia.