Discover · History

On this day — February 11

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

Observed today

Make a Friend Day

An encouragement to strike up a conversation with a stranger, or at least reply to that dormant group chat. Adult friendship is hard; this is a nudge.

🇺🇸🇨🇦

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2024

Politics

2024 Finnish presidential election

Alexander Stubb is elected as the 13th president of Finland.

2020

Milestone

COVID-19 pandemic

The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2.

2018

Milestone

Saratov Airlines Flight 703 crashes near Moscow

Russia with 71 deaths and no survivors.

2017

Disaster

North Korea test fires a ballistic missile across the Sea of Japan.

2016

Milestone

A man shoots seven people dead at an education center in Jizan Province

Saudi Arabia.

2015

Milestone

A university student is murdered as she resists an attempted rape in Turkey

sparking nationwide protests and public outcry against harassment and violence against women.

2015

Milestone

The European Space Agency's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle is launched on a Vega rocket.

2014

Milestone

A military transport plane crashes in a mountainous area of Oum El Bouaghi Province in eastern Algeria

killing 77 people.

2013

Milestone

The Vatican confirms that Pope Benedict XVI will resign the papacy as a result of his advanced age.

2013

Politics

Militants claiming to be from the Sultanate of Sulu invade Lahad Datu District

Sabah, Malaysia, beginning the Lahad Datu standoff.

2011

Politics

Arab Spring: The first wave of the Egyptian revolution culminates in the resignation of Hosni Mubarak and the transfer of power to the Supreme Military Council after 17 days of protests.

2008

Politics

Rebel East Timorese soldiers seriously wound President José Ramos-Horta

Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado is killed in the attack.

2001

Milestone

A Dutch programmer launches the Anna Kournikova virus infecting millions of emails via a trick photo of the tennis star.

2000

Milestone

Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on STS-99 to conduct the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission.

1999

Milestone

Pluto crosses Neptune's orbit, ending a nearly 20-year period when it was closer to the Sun than the gas giant

Pluto is not expected to interact with Neptune's orbit again until 2231.