Today in History: January 26

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, Bahamian Mark Knowles and Canadian Daniel Nestor won the men’s doubles championship defeating Frances’ Michaël Llodra and Fabrice Santoro: 7–6 and 6–3, At the 2002 Australian Open in Melbourne

It was the first Grand Slam title captured by both players.

In 2012, Princess Margaret Hospital officials announced the historical successful separation of conjoined parasitic twins. Consultant neurosurgeon for both PMH and Doctors Hospital Dr. Magnus Ekedede led the surgical team.

Dr. Ekedede said at the time, the surgery was essential for the survival of the normal baby who would have died as the parasitic twin was consuming most of the nutrients and was developing an infection.

Also on this day in history, two single mothers and more than 10 children were left homeless after the houses burned down in a small yard in Union Village. The fire started in a tiny bedroom in one of the homes. At the time the women said they believed the fire was the work of an arsonist as the homes were without electricity.

In 2018, a memorial service was held for six plane crash victims in North Andros the community gathered at Cathedral of Olives Baptist Church to celebrate the lives of the victims who died in a tragic plane crash on January 17, 2018.

Framed portraits of Ricardo Campbell, Desiree Rusell, Destinique Wilson, Darren Clarke, Margaret Adderley, and Valentino Russell each adorned in flowers, were placed in front of the stage.

On January 26, 2020, Exuma recorded first case of COVID-19. At the time there were 342 confirmed cases of the virus.

Two months later, then Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced a State of Emergency imposing the first in a series of extended lockdowns.

In 2020 basketball legend Kobe Bryant and four others died in a helicopter crash. The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 on the morning of.

Bryant won five NBA championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was an 18-time NBA All-Star who wore the number 24 during his 20-year career with the team.