Discover · History

On this day — February 13

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

2021

Politics

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is acquitted in his second impeachment trial.

2021

Milestone

A major winter storm causes blackouts and kills at least 82 people in Texas and northern Mexico.

2017

Milestone

Kim Jong-nam

brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, is assassinated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

2012

Milestone

The European Space Agency (ESA) conducted the first launch of the European Vega rocket from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

2011

Politics

For the first time in more than 100 years the Umatilla

an American Indian tribe, are able to hunt and harvest a bison just outside Yellowstone National Park, restoring a centuries-old tradition guaranteed by a treaty signed in 1855.

2010

Milestone

A bomb explodes in the city of Pune

Maharashtra, India, killing 17 and injuring 60 more.

2008

Milestone

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd makes a historic apology to the Indigenous Australians and the Stolen Generations.

2007

Politics

Taiwan opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou resigns as the chairman of the Kuomintang party after being indicted on charges of embezzlement during his tenure as the mayor of Taipei; Ma also announces his candidacy for the 2008 presidential election.

2004

Politics

The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics announces the discovery of the universe's largest known diamond, white dwarf star BPM 37093. Astronomers named this star "Lucy" after The Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".

2001

Disaster

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits El Salvador

killing at least 315.

1996

Politics

The Nepalese Civil War is initiated in the Kingdom of Nepal by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre).

1991

Politics

Gulf War: Two laser-guided "smart bombs" destroy the Amiriyah shelter in Baghdad

Allied forces said the bunker was being used as a military communications outpost, but over 400 Iraqi civilians inside were killed.

1984

Milestone

Konstantin Chernenko succeeds the late Yuri Andropov as general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

1983

Disaster

A cinema fire in Turin

Italy, kills 64 people.

1981

Milestone

A series of sewer explosions destroys more than two miles of streets in Louisville

Kentucky.