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20 February 2023
Holidays, observances, history and sky information for this date.
Holidays
No listed India public holiday for this date.
Observances
No UN observance in the current list for this date.
Selected anniversaries
Anniversary
2010 - Severe flooding and mudslides on the island of Madeira, Portugal, killed 51 people.2010 deadly natural disasters in Portugal
Anniversary
2009 - The Tamil Tigers attempted to crash two aircraft laden with C-4 in suicide attacks on Colombo, Sri Lanka, but the planes were shot down before they reached their targets.Tamil militant organisation in Sri Lanka (1976–2009)
Anniversary
1998 - At the age of 15, American figure skater Tara Lipinski became the then-youngest winner of an Olympic gold medal in the history of the Winter Olympic Games.Ice sport performed on figure skates
Anniversary
1992 - Appearing on the talk show Larry King Live, U.S. industrialist Ross Perot announced that he would begin a presidential campaign if "ordinary people" wanted him to run for office.American television talk show
Anniversary
1988 - The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast voted to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia, triggering the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.Autonomous region of the Azerbaijan SSR (1923–1991)
Historical events
History
2016 - Six people are killed and two injured in multiple shooting incidents in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.Spree shooting in Michigan, U.S.
History
2015 - Two trains collide in the Swiss town of Rafz resulting in as many as 49 people injured and Swiss Federal Railways cancelling some services.2015 rail transport accident in Rafz, Switzerland
History
2014 - Dozens of Euromaidan anti-government protesters die in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, many reportedly killed by snipers.2013–14 protests in Ukraine
History
2010 - In Madeira Island, Portugal, heavy rain causes floods and mudslides, resulting in at least 43 deaths, in the worst disaster in the history of the archipelago.Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic
History
2009 - Two Tamil Tigers aircraft packed with C4 explosives en route to the national airforce headquarters are shot down by the Sri Lankan military before reaching their target, in a kamikaze style attack.Failed terrorist attack in Sri Lanka
History
2005 - Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout.2005 Spanish referendum on the introduction of a European Constitution
History
2003 - During a Great White concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island, a pyrotechnics display sets the Station nightclub ablaze, killing 100 and injuring over 200 others.American rock band
History
2002 - A cooking gas cylinder explodes on board an Egyptian National Railways train in El Ayyat, causing a fire and killing over 370 people.Fire on an Egyptian National Railways Cairo–Luxor train, 20 February 2002
History
1998 - American figure skater Tara Lipinski, at the age of 15, becomes the youngest Olympic figure skating gold-medalist at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.American sports commentator (born 1982)
History
1991 - In the Albanian capital Tirana, a gigantic statue of Albania's long-time leader, Enver Hoxha, is brought down by mobs of angry protesters.Capital city of Albania
Notable births
Born
2004 - Jared McCain, American basketball playerAmerican basketball player (born 2004)
Born
2003 - Olivia Rodrigo, American actress and singerAmerican singer-songwriter and actress (born 2003)
Born
2000 - Josh Sargent, American soccer playerAmerican soccer player (born 2000)
Born
1999 - Jarrett Culver, American basketball playerAmerican basketball player (born 1999)
Born
1996 - Clarke Schmidt, American baseball playerAmerican baseball player (born 1996)
Born
1995 - Elle Purrier St. Pierre, American track and field athleteAmerican runner (born 1995)
Notable deaths
Died
2025 - David Boren, American lawyer and politician, 21st Governor of Oklahoma (born 1941)American lawyer and politician (1941–2025)
Died
2025 - Jerry Butler, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1939)American soul singer and songwriter (1939–2025)
Died
2024 - Andreas Brehme, German footballer (born 1960)German footballer (1960–2024)
Died
2024 - Yoko Yamamoto, Japanese actress (born 1942)Japanese actress (1942–2024)
Died
2021 - Nurul Haque Miah, Bangladeshi professor and writer (born 1944)Professor at Dhaka College (1944–2021)
Died
2021 - Mauro Bellugi, Italian footballer (born 1950)Italian footballer (1950–2021)
Died
2020 - Joaquim Pina Moura, Portuguese Minister of Economy and Treasury and MP (born 1952)Portuguese politician (1952–2020)
Sky
Moon phase
New Moon
0.0% illuminated
Lunar age: 29.5 days
Sun zodiac
Pisces
1.57 degrees
Constellation: Aquarius
Moon zodiac
Pisces
4.46 degrees
Constellation: Aquarius
Astronomy events
No major astronomy event in the current calendar for this date.