The social networking website Facebook is launched by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates under the name "TheFacebook" at thefacebook.com. The site allowed students to create profiles, upload photos, and connect with others based on shaered classes and interests. Over 1,200 students registered in the first day and a month later mor than half of Harvard’s undergraduates had signed up.
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What Happened in February?
Emperor ascensions, legendary battles, and assassinations. Discover what happened this month in history. Explore pivotal events from February that helped shape the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was killed by a massive car bomb on February 14, 2005, in Beirut, sparking the Cedar Revolution. The assassination, killed 22 people and led to widespread protests against Syrian influence, forcing the withdrawal of Syrian troops after a 30-year presence.
A UN tribunal, later linked the attack to Hezbollah members, transforming Lebanon's political landscape.
The Kyoto Protocol officially entered into force on February 16, 2005. It had been signed (adopted) in Kyoto, Japan, on December 11, 1997. The international treaty was a major step in global climate policy as it aimed to achieve reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
It was succeeded by the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change signed by 196 parties at COP21 in Paris on December 12, 2015. The Paris agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, and has seen nearly universal participation. However, it allows for voluntary withdrawal.
The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin, Italy. on February 10, 2006, lasting until February 26.
A suicide one ton bomb detonates in a busy market in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, killing 139 people and injuring over 300 people. The bomb brought down at least 10 buildings and coffee shops and completely destroyed market stalls in a largely Shi‘ite area.
Kosovo formally declares independence from Serbia established the Republic of Kosovo as a sovereign state on February 17, 2008. The move was supported by the U.S. and major European powers but contested by Serbia and its allies, including Russia. The declaration followed a 78-day NATO bombing campaign in 1999 that ended a crackdown on ethnic Albanians.
Fidel Castro, formally resigns as president of Cuba after 49 years of complete rule. He was succeeded by his brother Raúl. Fidel had been out of the public eye for 19 months following serious intestinal surgery.
Australian wildfires, known as "Black Saturday," claim the lives of 173 people injured over 400 and destroy thousands of homes on February 7, 2009. The fires which burned over 1.1 million acres, were caused by extreme heat and drought conditions, resulting in a state of emergency and subsequent government investigations
The 2010 Winter Olympics open in Vancouver, Canada.
The Web site WikiLeaks begins posting classified U.S. government documents on February 18, 2010 with the release of a single diplomatic cable known as "Reykjavik13". The documents were provided by army intelligence analyst Bradley (later Chelsea) Manning.
The total release of information released over a few months is believed to be the largest unauthorized release of state secrets in U.S. history. Manning was arrested in May 2010, and sentenced in 2013, to 35 years in military prison for violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses. Julian Assange and WikiLeaks facilitated the publication of this data, leading to intense debate over national security, state secrecy, and the role of modern media.
A magnitude-8.8 earthquake strikes central Chile on February 27, 2010, causing widespread damage and triggering a devastating tsunami with waves reaching up to 29 meters (95 feet). It caused over 500 deaths, destroyed 370,000 homes, affecting 12 million people with an estimated 30 billion in damage. It was the most powerful earthquake to strike the region since the 9.5 magnitude, 1960 earthquake and one of the 10 strongest earthquakes ever recorded.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigns on February 11, 2011, amidst widespread protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square which had lasted 18 days. His resignation was a pivotal moment in the Arab Spring uprisings.
A meteor explodes over Chelyabinsk, Russia, on February 15, 2013, injuring over 1,000 people from its shockwave.
Benedict XVI resigns on February 28, 2013 at age 85, due to declining health, becoming the first pope to resign in 600 years. He gave a final public address at St. Peter's Square the day before, which was attended by more than 50,000 people. He took the title Pope Emeritus" and was succeeded by Pope Francis. He passed away on December 31, 2022, at age 95.
2014, February 7-23
The 2014 Winter Olympics are held in Sochi, Russia from February 7 to 23, 2014
"Birdman" wins the Academy Award for Best Picture on February 22, 2015 at the 87th Academy Awards.
Pope Francis meets Patriarch Kirill in Havana at the first meeting between Catholic and Russian Orthodox church heads for nearly 1,000 years.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, dies at the age of 79, on February 13, 2016. He had been appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. At the time of his death, Scalia was the longest-serving member of the Court and known as a champion of originalism and textualism.
Super Bowl LI on on February 5, 2017, sees the New England Patriots come back from a 28-3 third-quarter deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in the first-ever Super Bowl overtime game.
2018, February 9-25
The 2018 Winter Olympics are held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. from February 9–25, 2018, with some events beginning on February 8.