Summary of the Day ✨ 12 February (12/02)
Bangladesh’s Nationalist Party won a landslide victory after 19 years while Macedonia renamed itself North Macedonia, and Pope Francis met Patriarch Kirill for the first time since 1054. A commuter plane crashed in New York killing 50 as San Francisco began issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
Historical Events 📜
- 2026: In the first general election since the July Revolution in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, wins a landslide victory upon returning to power after almost 19 years. A referendum held alongside was also approved by the majority of voters.
- 2019: The country known as the Republic of Macedonia renames itself the Republic of North Macedonia in accordance with the Prespa agreement, settling a long-standing naming dispute with Greece.
- 2016: Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sign an Ecumenical Declaration in the first such meeting between leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches since their split in 1054.
- 2009: Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashes into a house in Clarence Center, New York while on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, killing all 49 on board and one on the ground.
- 2004: The city of San Francisco begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in response to a directive from Mayor Gavin Newsom.
- 2002: The trial of Slobodan Milošević, the former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, begins at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. He dies four years later before its conclusion.
- 2002: An Iran Airtour Tupolev Tu-154 crashes in the mountains outside Khorramabad, Iran while descending for a landing at Khorramabad Airport, killing 119.
- 2001: NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft touches down in the “saddle” region of 433 Eros, becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid.
- 1999: United States President Bill Clinton is acquitted by the United States Senate in his impeachment trial.
- 1994: Four thieves break into the National Gallery of Norway and steal Edvard Munch’s iconic painting The Scream.
- 1993: Two-year-old James Bulger is abducted from New Strand Shopping Centre by two ten-year-old boys, who later torture and murder him.
- 1992: The current Constitution of Mongolia comes into effect.
- 1990: Carmen Lawrence becomes the first female Premier in Australian history when she becomes Premier of Western Australia.
- 1988: Cold War: The 1988 Black Sea bumping incident: The U.S. missile cruiser USS Yorktown (CG-48) is intentionally rammed by the Soviet frigate Bezzavetnyy in the Soviet territorial waters, while Yorktown claims innocent passage.
- 1983: One hundred women protest in Lahore, Pakistan against military dictator Zia-ul-Haq’s proposed Law of Evidence. The women were tear-gassed, baton-charged and thrown into lock-up. The women were successful in repealing the law.
Famous Births 👶
- 2001: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Georgian footballer
- 2000: Kim Ji-min, South Korean actress
- 1994: Kemal Bilmez, Belgian politician
- 1994: Arman Hall, American sprinter
- 1994: Paxton Lynch, American football player
- 1993: Bud Dupree, American football player
- 1993: Rafinha, Brazilian footballer
- 1993: Jennifer Stone, American actress
- 1992: Magda Linette, Polish tennis player
- 1991: Patrick Herrmann, German footballer
- 1991: Kane Richardson, Australian cricketer
- 1990: Katherine Barrell, Canadian actress, director, writer, and producer
- 1990: Robert Griffin III, American football player
- 1989: Josh Harrellson, American basketball player
- 1988: DeMarco Murray, American football player
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2022: Ivan Reitman, Slovak-Canadian actor, director, and producer (born 1946)
- 2020: Christie Blatchford, Canadian newspaper columnist, journalist and broadcaster (born 1951)
- 2020: Geert Hofstede, Dutch social psychologist (born 1928)
- 2019: Gordon Banks, English footballer (born 1937)
- 2019: Lyndon LaRouche, American political activist (born 1922)
- 2019: Pedro Morales, Puerto Rican professional wrestler and commentator (born 1942)
- 2018: Bill Crider, American author (born 1941)
- 2017: Al Jarreau, American singer (born 1940)
- 2017: Anna Marguerite McCann, first female American underwater archaeologist (born 1933)
- 2016: Dominique D’Onofrio, Italian-Belgian footballer and coach (born 1953)
- 2016: Yannis Kalaitzis, Greek cartoonist (born 1945)
- 2016: Yan Su, Chinese general and composer (born 1930)
- 2015: Movita Castaneda, American actress and singer (born 1916)
- 2015: Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Malaysian cleric and politician, 12th Menteri Besar of Kelantan (born 1931)
- 2015: Gary Owens, American radio host and voice actor (born 1934)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Benedict of Aniane - Christian feast day:
Julian the Hospitaller - Christian feast day:
Martyrs of Abitinae - Christian feast day:
Meletius of Antioch - Christian feast day:
February 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - Georgia Day (Georgia (U.S. state))
- Lincoln’s Birthday (United States)
- Red Hand Day (United Nations)
- Union Day (Myanmar)