Tukuk-OS📅 February 15
26 events · 12 births · 12 deaths
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What happened on February 15? Below are the notable events chosen by Wikipedia’s editors for this date, followed by celebrated births, deaths and the observances recognised around the world.
Events
- 2018 — Following nationwide protests, Hailemariam Desalegn announced his resignation as prime minister of Ethiopia, remaining in post as a caretaker until he was succeeded by Abiy Ahmed.
2014–2016 Oromo protestsHailemariam DesalegnResignation of Hailemariam Desalegn
- 2013 — A meteor exploded (video featured) over Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, producing a shock wave that injured about 1,500 people.
- 2010 — Two passenger trains collided in Halle, Belgium, when one driver failed to stop at a red signal, resulting in 19 deaths and 171 injuries.
- 2003 — In one of the largest anti-war rallies in history, millions around the world in approximately 800 cities took part in protests against the impending invasion of Iraq.
Anti-war movement15 February 2003 Iraq War protests2003 invasion of Iraq
- 1999 — Abdullah Öcalan, one of the founding members of the militant organization the Kurdistan Workers' Party, was arrested by Turkish security forces in Nairobi, Kenya.
- 1996 — A Long March 3B rocket carrying the communications satellite Intelsat 708 crashed immediately after launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China, destroying a nearby town and killing an unknown number of inhabitants.
- 1995 — Kevin Mitnick, the most wanted computer hacker at the time in the U.S., was arrested and charged with computer fraud and wire fraud.
- 1982 — Murder of four anti-apartheid student activists by South African government forces, who decades later were the first to be indicted for the crime of apartheid.
- 1979 — Don Dunstan (pictured) resigned as Premier of South Australia, ending a decade of sweeping social liberalisation.
- 1976 — The first constitution since the Cuban Revolution, providing for a system of government and law based on those of the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, was adopted by a national referendum.
- 1965 — Canada adopted the Maple Leaf flag, replacing the Canadian Red Ensign.
- 1961 — All 72 people on board Sabena Flight 548, including the entire U.S. figure-skating team, and one person on the ground were killed when the aircraft crashed on approach to Brussels Airport.
- 1949 — Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux began excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves in the West Bank, the location of the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls.
- 1942 — Second World War: Japanese forces led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita captured Singapore with the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history.
- 1940 — The official premiere of Paul Creston's Saxophone Sonata took place at the Carnegie Chamber Hall, with saxophonist Cecil Leeson, who commissioned the work, and Creston on piano.
- 1915 — Sepoys of Indian Muslim background mutinied against their British officers in Singapore.
- 1907 — Japan and the United States signed a gentleman's agreement whereby the former would not permit further emigration to the U.S., while the latter would not limit Japanese immigration.
- 1906 — A team of Italian archaeologists led by Ernesto Schiaparelli discovered the tomb of Kha and Merit (pictured), an ancient Egyptian foreman and his wife, in the workmen's village of Deir el-Medina.
- 1900 — Second Boer War: British cavalry led by John French defeated Boer forces to end a 124-day siege of Kimberley in present-day South Africa.
- 1898 — The United States Navy battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana, Cuba, killing more than 260 people and precipitating the Spanish–American War.
- 1823 — James McBrien made the first official discovery of gold in Australia at Fish River in New South Wales.
- 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: The invasion of Ceylon ended with Johan van Angelbeek, the Batavian governor of the island, surrendering Colombo to British forces.
French Revolutionary WarsInvasion of CeylonJohan van Angelbeek
- 1763 — Prussia, Saxony and the Habsburg monarchy signed the Treaty of Hubertusburg, ending the Third Silesian War.
- 1493 — Christopher Columbus wrote a letter widely distributed upon his return to Portugal that announced the results of his first voyage to the Americas.
Christopher ColumbusColumbus's letter on the first voyageVoyages of Christopher Columbus
- 1113 — Pope Paschal II issued the papal bull Pie postulatio voluntatis, formally recognising the establishment of the Knights Hospitaller.
- 438 — The Codex Theodosianus, a compilation of the laws of the Roman Empire, was published.
Births
- 2004 — Šimon Nemec, Slovak ice hockey player
- 2000 — Jakub Kiwior, Polish footballer
- 1998 — Zachary Gordon, American actor
- 1998 — George Russell, English racing driver
- 1997 — Derrick Jones Jr., American basketball player
- 1997 — Justin Reid, American football player
- 1995 — Megan Thee Stallion, American rapper
- 1994 — Sodapoppin, American Twitch streamer and internet personality
- 1993 — Ravi, South Korean rapper
- 1993 — Geoffrey Kondogbia, Central African footballer
- 1993 — Manuel Lanzini, Argentine footballer
- 1991 — Ángel Sepúlveda, Mexican footballer
Deaths
- 2026 — Robert Duvall, American actor and filmmaker (born 1931)
- 2025 — George Armitage, American film director (born 1942)
- 2025 — Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, Portuguese businessman (born 1937)
- 2025 — Muhsin Hendricks, South African imam, Islamic scholar and LGBT activist (born 1967)
- 2023 — Raquel Welch, American actress and singer (born 1940)
- 2022 — Bappi Lahiri, Indian singer, composer and record producer (born 1952)
- 2022 — P.J. O'Rourke, American author, humorist, and journalist (born 1947)
- 2020 — Caroline Flack, English actress and TV presenter (born 1979)
- 2019 — Lee Radziwill, American socialite (born 1933)
- 2017 — Stuart McLean, Canadian radio broadcaster (born 1948)
- 2016 — George Gaynes, Finnish-American actor (born 1917)
- 2016 — Vanity, Canadian-American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress (born 1959)
Observances & holidays
- Christian feast day: Blessed Michał Sopoćko
- Christian feast day: Claude de la Colombière
- Christian feast day: Faustinus and Jovita
- Christian feast day: Oswiu
- Christian feast day: Quinidius
- Christian feast day: Sigfrid of Sweden
- Christian feast day: Thomas Bray (Episcopal Church)
- Christian feast day: Walfrid
- Christian feast day: 21 Coptic Martyrs of Libya
- Christian feast day: February 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- International Duties Memorial Day (Russia, regional)
- John Frum Day (Vanuatu)
- Liberation Day (Afghanistan)
- National Flag of Canada Day (Canada)
- Parinirvana Day, also celebrated on February 8. (Mahayana Buddhism)
- Statehood Day (Serbia), also observed by the Republic of Srpska since 2025.
- Susan B. Anthony Day (Florida, United States)
- The ENIAC Day (Philadelphia, United States)
- Total Defence Day (Singapore)
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