Paris, France. A range of significant events occurred on February 19 across several countries, including major political developments, disasters, protests, and notable deaths.
1951: Death of Andre Gide
French novelist Andre Gide died. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1947.
1997: Death of Deng Xiaoping
Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping died at 93. He ruled from 1978 until retiring from his last official post in 1990, but his influence remained supreme until his death.
1999: Toronto Maple Leafs stadium move
The Toronto Maple Leafs moved to a new stadium after occupying Maple Leaf Gardens since 1931.
2000: Protest in Vienna over coalition government
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of Hofburg Palce in Vienna, protesting the new coalition of conservatives and Joerg Haiders far-right Freedom Party.
2003: Iran plane crash kills 276
A Russian-built Il-76 military transport plane carrying members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard including 18 aircrew smashed into a mountainside in southeastern Iran, killing all 276 aboard. It was Iran’s worst air disaster to date.
2006: Police raid at Torino Olympics
Italian police raided the Austrian Nordic team in a drug raid at the Torino 2006 Olympics.
2007: Bombs on India-Pakistan train
Two bombs exploded aboard a train bound from India to Pakistan, burning to death 68 passengers, most of them Pakistanis.
2008: Fidel Castro announces retirement
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said that he will not return to lead the communist country, retiring as president 49 years after he seized power in a revolution and became a central figure of the Cold War.
2008: Mary Queen of Scots execution warrant viewed
A warrant for execution of Mary Queen of Scots was viewed in London.
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