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On This Day · The 59th day of the year

February 28

A look at February 28 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Benjamin Raich and Jelena Janković, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2026

    United States

    The United States and Israel launch attacks across Iran, assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Retaliatory strikes are launched by Iran against US military bases in the Gulf, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.

    Country primarily in North
  2. 2024

    Prime minister

    Prime Minister Modi of India inaugurates the 2nd Space Port of India - Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport.

    Top minister of cabinet
  3. 2013

    Pope Benedict XVI

    Pope Benedict XVI resigns as the pope of the Catholic Church, becoming the first pope to do so voluntarily since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.

    Head of the Catholic
  4. 2002

    2002 Gujarat violence

    During the religious violence in Gujarat, 97 people are killed in the Naroda Patiya massacre and 69 in the Gulbarg Society massacre.

    Sectarian violence in the
  5. 1990

    Space Shuttle Atlantis

    Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-36.

    Space Shuttle orbiter (1985–2011)
  6. 1986

    Olof Palme

    Olof Palme, 26th Prime Minister of Sweden, is assassinated in Stockholm.

    Prime Minister of Sweden
  7. 1974

    February 1974 United Kingdom general election

    The British election ends in a hung parliament after the Jeremy Thorpe-led Liberal Party achieved their biggest vote share since 1929.

    History
  8. 1638

    National Covenant

    The Scottish National Covenant is signed in Edinburgh.

    1638 opposition to Scottish
  9. 1525

    Aztecs

    Aztec king Cuauhtémoc is executed on the order of conquistador Hernán Cortés.

    Ethnic group of central
  10. -202

    Emperor Gaozu of Han

    Liu Bang is enthroned as the Emperor of China, beginning four centuries of rule by the Han dynasty.

    Founder and Emperor of
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Famous birthday twins

Born on February 28

Benjamin Raich

b. 1978

Austrian skier

Jelena Janković

b. 1985

Serbian tennis player

Alfred von Schlieffen

b. 1833

German military strategist

Antonio Candreva

b. 1987

Italian footballer

Michel de Montaigne

b. 1533

French philosopher and author

Sepp Maier

b. 1944

German footballer and manager

Linus Pauling

b. 1901

American chemist and activist, Nobel Prize laureate

Sebastian Rudy

b. 1990

German footballer

Deaths

  • 2026Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran
  • 2013Donald Glaser, American physicist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 2011Annie Girardot, French actress
  • 1966Charles Bassett, American captain, engineer, and astronaut
  • 1929Clemens von Pirquet, Austrian physician and immunologist
  • 1648Christian IV of Denmark, King of Denmark

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: February 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —Kalevala Day, also known as the Finnish Culture Day (Finland)
  • —National Science Day (India)
  • —Peace Memorial Day (Taiwan)
  • —Andalusia Day (Spain)

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