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Major Events of February 2010: 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 2010 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of February 2010: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 2010 Obama's 2011 Budget Proposal: US President Barack Obama announced a comprehensive $3.8 trillion budget program for fiscal year 2011, projecting a record-breaking deficit of $1.56 trillion. This budget proposal reflected the significant economic challenges facing the United States in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
  • 02 Feb 2010 Lancet Retracts Controversial MMR Vaccine Study: The Lancet Medical Journal fully retracted a controversial paper that had claimed a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, ending a 12-year international scientific dispute.
  • 03 Feb 2010 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Pakistan Bombing: Seven U.S. soldiers were killed in a bombing near a girls' school in Pakistan, underscoring the ongoing security challenges and tensions in the region.
  • 04 Feb 2010 Curfew Imposed in Srinagar After Protest Killing: Authorities in Srinagar, Kashmir, imposed a curfew following violent protests triggered by the killing of a 15-year-old boy during a demonstration, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.
  • 05 Feb 2010 Northern Ireland Peace Process Milestone: After two weeks of negotiations, the longest in the Northern Ireland peace process, Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) agreed to devolve power from Westminster starting 12 April 2010.
  • 06 Feb 2010 Snowmageddon: Historic Northeast Snowstorm: A severe nor'easter, nicknamed 'Snowmageddon', struck the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina to New York. Record-breaking snowfall was recorded: 32.9 inches at Washington Dulles, 28.5 inches in Philadelphia, 21.1 inches in Pittsburgh, and 18.2 inches in Atlantic City.
  • 07 Feb 2010 New Orleans Saints Win Super Bowl XLIV: The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida, claiming their first NFL championship. This historic victory was particularly meaningful for the city of New Orleans, which was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
  • 08 Feb 2010 NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour Mission: Six astronauts aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour launched from Florida to complete the installation of the final two major components of the International Space Station, representing a crucial milestone in space exploration.
  • 09 Feb 2010 Maguindanao Massacre Legal Proceedings: Andal Ampatuan Jr., a former ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and 196 others were charged with murder in connection with the notorious Maguindanao massacre that occurred in November 2009.
  • 10 Feb 2010 Haiti Earthquake Death Toll Estimate: Haitian officials reported at least 230,000 fatalities from the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, potentially making it the deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century. The death toll was expected to potentially increase further.
  • 11 Feb 2010 Iran Declares Nuclear Capability: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran had achieved a 20% uranium enrichment rate, declaring the country a nuclear state. This proclamation significantly escalated international tensions regarding Iran's nuclear program.
  • 12 Feb 2010 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Vancouver: The XXI Olympic Winter Games officially opened in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky lit the outdoor Olympic cauldron in a memorable moment. The games featured 2,600 athletes from 82 nations competing in 86 different events, marking a significant international sporting spectacle.
  • 13 Feb 2010 Major NATO Offensive in Afghanistan: The largest military operation in Afghanistan since the 2001 Taliban overthrow was launched, involving over 15,000 American, British, and Afghan troops. Operation Moshtarak aimed to defeat Taliban-controlled areas in Helmand Province.
  • 14 Feb 2010 Alexandre Bilodeau Wins First Canadian Olympic Gold on Home Soil: Alexandre Bilodeau made history by winning Canada's first gold medal in men's freestyle ski moguls during the Vancouver Winter Olympics, becoming a national hero.
  • 15 Feb 2010 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver: The 2010 Winter Olympic Games were held in Vancouver, Canada, featuring international athletic competitions across various winter sports disciplines.
  • 16 Feb 2010 Pope Addresses Catholic Church Abuse Scandal: Pope Benedict XVI issued a statement after meeting with Irish bishops, explicitly labeling paedophilia a 'heinous crime', while his nuncio refused to appear before an Irish parliamentary inquiry.
  • 17 Feb 2010 Fraudulent Passports in Hamas Commander Assassination: Investigations revealed that fake Irish passports used in the Dubai assassination of a senior Hamas military commander contained valid numbers but mismatched identities, prompting an urgent investigation by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.
  • 18 Feb 2010 WikiLeaks Publishes Classified Documents: WikiLeaks releases the first of hundreds of thousands of classified documents disclosed by Chelsea Manning, a pivotal moment in digital whistleblowing and information transparency.
  • 19 Feb 2010 Hamas Commander Assassinated in Dubai: Mahmoud al Mabhouh, a senior Hamas commander, was killed in Dubai, sparking international controversy and diplomatic tensions in the Middle East.
  • 20 Feb 2010 Karzai Addresses Civilian Casualties: Afghan President Hamid Karzai addressed parliament, presenting a poignant photo of an 8-year-old girl who lost 12 family members during Operation Moshtarak due to an ISAF rocket strike. He passionately urged foreign troops to minimize civilian casualties during military operations.
  • 21 Feb 2010 63rd British Academy Film Awards Celebrate 'The Hurt Locker': The 63rd British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) were held, with 'The Hurt Locker' winning Best Film and Kathryn Bigelow receiving Best Director, highlighting significant achievements in cinema.
  • 22 Feb 2010 Pediatrician Indicted on Child Abuse Charges: A Delaware pediatrician was indicted on 471 felony charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of 103 children, with video evidence supporting the prosecution's case.
  • 23 Feb 2010 Dubai Assassination Passport Scandal: The United Arab Emirates identified two more fake Irish passports connected to the assassination of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, a senior Hamas official in Dubai, bringing international attention to the complex diplomatic and security implications.
  • 24 Feb 2010 Toyota President Apologizes to US Congress: Toyota President Akio Toyoda formally apologized to the United States Congress regarding serious safety issues that resulted in multiple deaths and global vehicle recalls, addressing a major automotive crisis.
  • 25 Feb 2010 Viktor Yanukovych Elected President of Ukraine: Viktor Yanukovych was elected as the fourth President of Ukraine in a significant political transition.
  • 26 Feb 2010 Kim Yu-Na Wins Olympic Gold in Figure Skating: Kim Yu-Na, a South Korean figure skater, won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics with a historic performance. She set a new world record in both short program and free skating, achieving a total score of 228.56. This victory marked a significant milestone, as she became the first South Korean figure skater to win gold at the Olympic Games.
  • 27 Feb 2010 Chile Earthquake and Tsunami: A devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck 75 miles off the coast of central Chile, causing massive destruction and triggering a significant tsunami. The earthquake was powerful enough to be felt 900 km away in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and resulted in at least 708 fatalities. The disaster caused extensive damage, with 1.5 million houses impacted. Multiple aftershocks followed, including a magnitude 6.9 quake. A 90cm tsunami wave reached northern Japan approximately 24 hours after the initial event.
  • 28 Feb 2010 2010 Winter Olympics Close in Vancouver: The 2010 Winter Olympics concluded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. An estimated 3.5 billion people watched the games worldwide, with Canada achieving a historic performance by winning 14 gold medals - the most ever by a single nation at the Winter Games.