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Major Events of February 2008: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from February 2008 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of February 2008: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 2008 Baghdad Market Suicide Bombing: In Baghdad, Iraq, two coordinated suicide bombers launched a devastating attack on a central market, killing 72 civilians and wounding an additional 149 people, highlighting the ongoing violence during the Iraq War.
  • 02 Feb 2008 Suicide Bombing in Dimona, Israel: A Palestinian suicide bombing at a shopping center in Dimona, Israel, resulted in one bomber killed and 13 others injured, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.
  • 03 Feb 2008 Super Bowl XLII: In a stunning upset, the New York Giants defeat the previously undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII at Glendale, Arizona. Quarterback Eli Manning is named Most Valuable Player (MVP), leading his team to a memorable victory.
  • 04 Feb 2008 Bush Reveals Record-Breaking Federal Budget: President George W. Bush presents a massive $3.1 trillion spending plan for fiscal 2009, including $515 billion in military spending and $70 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan operations. This is the first electronically presented budget, with significant cuts to domestic programs.
  • 05 Feb 2008 Super Tuesday Presidential Primaries: 24 states hold Republican and Democratic caucus elections to select presidential nominees. Barack Obama wins 12 states for Democrats, while Hillary Clinton secures 7. On the Republican side, John McCain wins 8 states, Mitt Romney takes 6, and Mike Huckabee claims 5.
  • 06 Feb 2008 US Senate Rejects Economic Stimulus Package: The United States Senate rejected a $158 billion economic stimulus plan through a procedural vote of 58 to 41, falling short of the 60 votes required to advance the legislation, reflecting complex political and economic negotiations.
  • 07 Feb 2008 Bhutto Death Investigation Conclusion: Scotland Yard investigators reported that former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto died from a head injury caused by a suicide bomb attack.
  • 08 Feb 2008 Scotland Yard's Findings on Bhutto's Death: Scotland Yard detectives investigating the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto concluded that she was killed by a bomb blast, not gunfire, adding complexity to the circumstances of her assassination.
  • 09 Feb 2008 Barack Obama Wins Multiple Democratic Contests: Senator Barack Obama from Illinois won Democratic Party caucuses in Nebraska, Washington, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the primary in Louisiana during the 2008 Presidential Election campaign.
  • 10 Feb 2008 Suicide Bombing in Iraq: A tragic suicide car bomb attack at Balad market killed 25 people. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Iraq to meet with General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.
  • 11 Feb 2008 9/11 Terrorism Prosecution: The United States initiated legal proceedings against six alleged al-Qaeda operatives, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, for their involvement in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for war crimes.
  • 12 Feb 2008 2008 US Presidential Primary Results: On Super Tuesday, Barack Obama won the Democratic primaries in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, taking the lead in delegate count against Hillary Clinton for the first time. Simultaneously, John McCain secured victories in the Republican primaries for the same states.
  • 13 Feb 2008 Australian Prime Minister's Apology to Stolen Generations: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivers a historic formal apology to the Stolen Generations, acknowledging the systemic racism and trauma inflicted on Indigenous Australian children who were forcibly removed from their families.
  • 14 Feb 2008 Northern Illinois University Shooting: On Valentine's Day 2008, a tragic mass shooting occurred at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb County, Illinois. Stephen Kazmierczak, a former student, entered a lecture hall and fired over 50 shots, killing five students and injuring 21 others before taking his own life. The incident shocked the campus and the nation, highlighting ongoing concerns about campus safety and gun violence.
  • 15 Feb 2008 Steve Fossett Legally Declared Dead: After five months of uncertainty following his plane's disappearance in Nevada, adventurer Steve Fossett was officially declared legally dead by the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, Illinois.
  • 16 Feb 2008 President Bush Begins African Tour in Benin: U.S. President George W. Bush commenced a significant five-nation diplomatic tour of Africa, starting in Benin. This visit underscored the United States' diplomatic engagement with the African continent during his presidency.
  • 17 Feb 2008 Kosovo Declares Independence from Serbia: Kosovo's parliament officially declared independence from Serbia, a significant geopolitical event that was supported by some countries but opposed by others. The declaration was accompanied by tensions, including two hand grenades being thrown at international community buildings in Kosovska Mitrovica.
  • 18 Feb 2008 Kosovo Independence Recognition: The United States and major European powers officially recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia, a pivotal moment in the Balkan region's geopolitical landscape and a significant diplomatic development.
  • 19 Feb 2008 Toshiba Abandons HD DVD Format: Toshiba of Japan announces it is discontinuing its HD DVD format, effectively ending the high-definition optical disc format war with Sony's Blu-Ray technology.
  • 20 Feb 2008 Obama and McCain Advance in Presidential Primaries: Barack Obama secured decisive victories in the Democratic caucuses of Wisconsin and Hawaii, defeating Hillary Clinton. Simultaneously, John McCain won the Wisconsin Republican primary, strengthening his path to the presidential nomination.
  • 21 Feb 2008 Belgrade Embassy Riots: In Belgrade, Serbia, protesters stormed and set fire to the US Embassy, with attacks also targeting British, German, Croatian, and Turkish embassies. The riots were a response to Kosovo's declaration of independence.
  • 22 Feb 2008 Putin Criticizes Kosovo Independence: Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly condemned the recognition of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence by several world powers, describing it as a 'terrible precedent' that could have far-reaching and unpredictable global consequences.
  • 23 Feb 2008 Microsoft Abandons HD DVD for Xbox 360: Microsoft officially announced it would discontinue HD DVD player production for the Xbox 360, marking a significant moment in the format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray.
  • 24 Feb 2008 Fidel Castro Retires from Cuban Presidency: After 32 years of leadership, Fidel Castro retires as the President of Cuba and the Council of Ministers, though he remains head of the Communist Party for three more years.
  • 25 Feb 2008 Iraqi Parliament Passes Reconciliation Legislation: The Iraqi Parliament approves a landmark legislative package including provincial power laws, a 2008 budget, and an amnesty law, representing a critical step towards national reconciliation in a post-conflict environment.
  • 26 Feb 2008 Global Seed Vault Established: The Global Seed Vault officially opened in Svalbard, Norway, creating a critical repository to preserve global crop diversity and protect against potential genetic losses in other gene banks.
  • 27 Feb 2008 Death of William F. Buckley Jr.: William F. Buckley Jr., a prominent American writer, political commentator, and intellectual, passed away at age 82 in Stamford, Connecticut. He was the host of the influential TV show 'Firing Line' from 1966-1999 and is widely credited with founding the modern conservative movement in U.S. politics. Buckley also founded the influential National Review magazine, which became a cornerstone of conservative intellectual discourse.
  • 28 Feb 2008 Kenya Power-Sharing Agreement: In a landmark political resolution, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga signed a comprehensive power-sharing deal to end post-election tensions. The agreement established a coalition government with Odinga becoming prime minister, sharing cabinet posts, and committing to constitutional amendments to formalize the power-sharing arrangement.
  • 29 Feb 2008 Deadly Terrorist Attack in Pakistan: A tragic series of terrorist attacks in Pakistan's North West Province resulted in the deaths of three police officers from a bomb explosion, followed by a devastating suicide bombing at the funeral that killed an additional 27 people.