Summary of the Day ✨ 29 February (29/02)
Violence erupted in multiple regions as Israeli forces killed over 100 Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza while pro-government supporters in Venezuela wounded five during an attack on opposition leader Juan Guaidó; simultaneously, peace efforts advanced with the US-Taliban Doha Agreement for Afghanistan and Malaysia appointed a new prime minister amid political turmoil, while Luxembourg made history by becoming the first country to offer free public transportation nationwide.
Historical Events 📜
- 2024: The Flour Massacre took place in the Gaza Strip: Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for aid amidst the Gaza war, killing over 100 and wounding 750.
- 2020: During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos shoot at disputed President and Speaker of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and his supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, leaving five injured.
- 2020: The United States and the Taliban sign the Doha Agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan.
- 2020: Muhyiddin Yassin is appointed as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia, amid the 2020 Malaysian political crisis.
- 2020: Luxembourg becomes the first country in the world to render public transport free nationwide.
- 2016: In the Miqdadiyah bombing: at least 40 people are killed and 58 others wounded following a suicide bombing by ISIL at a Shi’ite funeral in the city of Miqdadiyah, Diyala, Iraq.
- 2012: North Korea agrees to suspend uranium enrichment and nuclear and long-range missile tests in return for US food aid.
- 2008: The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence withdraws Prince Harry from a tour of Afghanistan after news of his deployment is leaked to foreign media.
- 2008: Misha Defonseca admits to fabricating her memoir, Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years, in which she claims to have lived with a pack of wolves in the woods during the Holocaust.
- 2004: Jean-Bertrand Aristide is removed as president of Haiti following a coup.
- 2004: Angelina Jolie wears a White Marc Bouwer dress to the 76th Academy Awards, which has since been placed on numerous lists for best Oscars fashion.
- 2000: Chechens attack a guard post near Ulus Kert, eventually killing 84 Russian paratroopers during the Second Chechen War.
- 1996: Faucett Perú Flight 251 crashes in the Andes; all 123 passengers and crew are killed.
- 1996: The Siege of Sarajevo officially ends.
- 1992: A referendum is begun in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the determination of Bosnian independence.
Famous Births 👶
- 2008: Rémi Himbert, French footballer
- 2004: Lydia Jacoby, American swimmer
- 2004: Abdukodir Khusanov, Uzbek footballer
- 2000: Tyrese Haliburton, American basketball player
- 2000: Ferran Torres, Spanish footballer
- 2000: Jesper Lindstrøm, Danish footballer
- 1996: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, New Zealand rugby league player
- 1996: Norberto Briasco, Argentine-Armenian footballer
- 1996: Reece Prescod, British sprinter
- 1996: Claudia Williams, New Zealand tennis player
- 1992: Sean Abbott, Australian cricketer
- 1992: Eric Kendricks, American football player
- 1992: Jessica Long, American paralympic swimmer
- 1992: Jessie T. Usher, American actor
- 1992: Saphir Taïder, Algerian footballer
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2024: Ali Hassan Mwinyi, 2nd President of Tanzania and 3rd President of Zanzibar (born 1925)
- 2024: Brian Mulroney, 18th Prime Minister of Canada (born 1939)
- 2020: Dieter Laser, German actor (born 1942)
- 2020: Éva Székely, Hungarian Hall of Fame swimmer and 1952 Olympic champion (born 1927)
- 2016: Wenn V. Deramas, Filipino director and screenwriter (born 1966)
- 2016: Gil Hill, American police officer, actor and politician (born 1931)
- 2016: Josefin Nilsson, Swedish singer (born 1969)
- 2016: Mumtaz Qadri, Pakistani assassin, executed (born 1985)
- 2016: Louise Rennison, English author (born 1951)
- 2012: Davy Jones, English singer, guitarist and actor (born 1945)
- 2012: Sheldon Moldoff, American illustrator (born 1920)
- 2012: P. K. Narayana Panicker, Indian social leader (born 1930)
- 2008: Janet Kagan, American author (born 1946)
- 2008: Erik Ortvad, Danish painter and illustrator (born 1917)
- 2008: Akira Yamada, Japanese scholar and philosopher (born 1922)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- As a Christian feast day:
Saint John Cassian - As a Christian feast day:
February 29 in the Orthodox church - Rare Disease Day (in leap years; usually celebrated in common years on February 28)
- Bachelor’s Day (Ireland and United Kingdom)