Summary of the Day ✨ 1 February (01/02)
On this day, tragedy struck as a five-year-old Moroccan boy died after falling into a deep well while Myanmar’s military coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi from power. Meanwhile, Europe’s sixth-tallest building opened to the public in London as Iceland made history by installing the world’s first openly gay female prime minister.
Historical Events 📜
- 2022: Five-year-old Moroccan boy Rayan Aourram falls into a 32-meter (105 feet) deep well in Ighran village in Tamorot commune, Chefchaouen Province, Morocco, but dies four days later, before rescue workers reached him.
- 2021: A coup d’état in Myanmar removes Aung San Suu Kyi from power and restores military rule.
- 2013: The Shard, the sixth-tallest building in Europe, opens its viewing gallery to the public.
- 2012: Seventy-four people are killed and over 500 injured as a result of clashes between fans of Egyptian football teams Al Masry and Al Ahly in the city of Port Said.
- 2009: The first cabinet of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir was formed in Iceland, making her the country’s first female prime minister and the world’s first openly gay head of government.
- 2007: The National Weather Service in the United States switches from the Fujita scale to the new Enhanced Fujita scale to measure the intensity and strength of tornadoes.
- 2005: King Gyanendra of Nepal carries out a coup d’état to capture the democracy, becoming Chairman of the Councils of ministers.
- 2004: Hajj pilgrimage stampede: In a stampede at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, 251 people are trampled to death and 244 injured.
- 2004: Double suicide attack in Erbil on the offices of Iraqi Kurdish political parties by members of Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad
- 2003: Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during the reentry of mission STS-107 into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
- 2002: Daniel Pearl, American journalist and South Asia Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal, kidnapped on January 23, is beheaded and mutilated by his captors.
- 1998: Rear Admiral Lillian E. Fishburne becomes the first female African American to be promoted to rear admiral.
- 1996: The Communications Decency Act is passed by the U.S. Congress.
- 1992: The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bhopal court declares Warren Anderson, ex-CEO of Union Carbide, a fugitive under Indian law for failing to appear in the Bhopal disaster case.
- 1991: A runway collision between USAir Flight 1493 and SkyWest Flight 5569 at Los Angeles International Airport results in the deaths of 34 people, and injuries to 30 others.
Famous Births 👶
- 2002: Brian Brobbey, Dutch footballer
- 2000: Talanoa Hufanga, American football player
- 1999: Mohamed Abdelmonem, Egyptian footballer
- 1997: Drew Eubanks, American basketball player
- 1997: Jihyo, South Korean singer
- 1996: Ahmad Abughaush, Jordanian taekwondo athlete
- 1996: Doyoung, South Korean singer
- 1994: Anna-Lena Friedsam, German tennis player
- 1994: Julia Garner, American actress
- 1994: Harry Styles, English singer-songwriter and actor
- 1993: Diego Mella, Italian footballer
- 1992: Sean Manaea, American baseball player
- 1991: Blake Austin, Australian rugby league player
- 1990: Tyler Myers, American-Canadian ice hockey player
- 1989: Ricky Pinheiro, Portuguese footballer
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: Horst Köhler, Polish-German economist and politician, 9th President of Germany (born 1943)
- 2025: Fay Vincent, American lawyer and businessman, 8th Commissioner of Baseball (born 1938)
- 2022: Remi De Roo, Canadian bishop of the Catholic Church (born 1924)
- 2021: Dustin Diamond, American actor, director, stand-up comedian, and musician (born 1977)
- 2021: Temur Tsiklauri, Georgian pop singer and actor (born 1946)
- 2019: Jeremy Hardy, English comedian, radio host and panelist (born 1961)
- 2019: Clive Swift, English actor (born 1936)
- 2019: Wade Wilson, American football player and coach (born 1959)
- 2018: Barys Kit, Belarusian rocket scientist (born 1910)
- 2018: Mowzey Radio, Ugandan singer and songwriter (born 1985)
- 2017: Desmond Carrington, British actor and broadcaster (born 1926)
- 2016: Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores, Guatemalan general and politician, 27th President of Guatemala (born 1930)
- 2015: Aldo Ciccolini, Italian-French pianist (born 1925)
- 2015: Udo Lattek, German footballer, manager, and sportscaster (born 1935)
- 2015: Monty Oum, American animator, director, and screenwriter (born 1981)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Abolition of Slavery Day (Mauritius)
- Air Force Day (Nicaragua)
- Christian feast day:
Blessed Candelaria of San José - Christian feast day:
Brigid of Ireland (Saint Brigid’s Day) - Christian feast day:
Verdiana - Christian feast day:
February 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Earliest day on which Constitution Day can fall, while February 7 is the latest; celebrated on the first Monday in February. (Mexico)
- Federal Territory Day (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, Malaysia)
- Foundation Day (of the Ryukyu Kingdom, celebrated in Okinawa Prefecture)
- Heroes Day (Rwanda)
- Saint Brigid’s Day/Imbolc (Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, and some Neopagan groups in the Northern hemisphere)
- Memorial Day of the Republic (Hungary)
- National Freedom Day (United States)
- The start of Black History Month (United States and Canada)
- World Hijab Day