Unix Timestamp: 1235260800
Sunday, February 22. 2009, 12:00:00 AM UTC

March 14 ndash Uncertainty over Libyan oil output causes crude oil prices to rise 20% over a two-week period following the Arab Spring, causing the 2011 energy crisis.

Uncertainty in Libya leads to falls in world stock markets and increases in crude oil prices. //online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703529004576159902709491200.html ("Wall Street Journal")

The Northern Rock bank is formally nationalized by the British government. //news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7258492.stm (BBC News)

Japan records a trade surplus of ¥4.4 billion in January due to lower oil prices and strong exports. //edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/02/21/japan.economy.reut/ (Reuters via CNN)

More than 500 people are killed and over 1,000 injured, after entire villages are flattened in an earthquake (6.4 on the Richter scale) in the Zarand region of Kerman province in southern Iran.

In Tirana, Albania, a crowd of up to 20,000 protesters, led by ex-president and opposition party leader Sali Berisha, demanded once again that Prime Minister Fatos Nano resign for failing to improve the economy. This protest, though a peaceful one, comes on the heels of a more violent protest two weeks ago in which protesters threw rocks at police and tried to storm the Prime Minister's office. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3509877.stm (BBC) //www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/72161/1/.html (ChannelNewsAsia)

In Memphis, Tennessee, Mike Tyson beats fringe contender Clifford Etienne 49 seconds into round one of a boxing match. In an undercard bout, controversial former skater Tonya Harding loses a four round decision in her women's professional boxing debut.

Moderate Iraqi Shiite cleric Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr is assassinated.

Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Öcalan is charged with treason in Ankara, Turkey.

White supremacistJohn William King is found guilty of kidnapping and killing African AmericanJames Byrd Jr. by dragging him behind a truck for 2 miles (3 km).

In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned, and was born in July 1996.

Aldrich Ames and his wife are charged with spying for the Soviet Union by the United States Department of Justice. Ames is later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment his wife receives 5 years in prison.

UN Security Council Resolution 808 is voted on, deciding that an international tribunal shall be established to prosecute violations of international law in Yugoslavia. The tribunal will is established on May 25 by Resolution 827.

In Thailand, General Sunthorn Kongsompong deposes Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan in a bloodless coup d'état.

Gulf War: Iraq accepts a Russian-proposed cease fire agreement. The U.S. rejects the agreement, but says that retreating Iraqi forces will not be attacked if they leave Kuwait within 24 hours.

The One Meridian Plaza fire in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania kills 3 firefighters and destroys 8 floors of the building.

The United States Olympic Hockey Team defeats the Soviet Union in the semifinals of the Winter Olympics, in the "Miracle on Ice".

Saint Lucia becomes independent of the United Kingdom.

Sino-American relations: Following President Richard Nixon's visit to mainland China, the United States and the People's Republic of China agree to establish liaison offices.

Guyana becomes a Republic within the Commonwealth of Nations.

A new, revised, color production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" airs on CBS. Lesley Ann Warren makes her TV debut in the title role. The show becomes an annual tradition.

Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500.

ArchbishopMakarios returns to Cyprus from exile.

The USS Tuscaloosa, USS New Orleans, USS Tennessee and USS West Virginia are struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

Elvis Presley enters the United States music charts for the first time, with "Heartbreak Hotel".

In Chicago's Democratic primary, Mayor Martin H. Kennelly loses to the head of the Cook County Democratic Party, Richard J. Daley, 364,839 to 264,77.

"Tom and Jerry" cartoon "Cat Fishin'", is released.

Uruguay declares war on Germany and Japan.

United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe organized from the Eighth Air Force's strategic planning staff subsuming strategic planning for all US Army Air Forces in Europe and Africa.

Members of White Rose are executed in Nazi Germany.

General George Marshall transmits a direct order to General Douglass MacArthur in President Roosevelt's name, ordering MacArthur himself to turn over command of the Philippines to a subordinate and report to Australia to assume command of the large American force being built up there. The orders are worded to allow MacArthur to choose the exact moment of his departure for various reasons, he will not leave until March 12 (Eastern Date).

HMS "Shropshire" (73) bombards Barawa, on the coast between Kismayo and Mogadishu.

In Tibet, province of Ando, 4-year-old Tenzin Gyatso is proclaimed the "tulku" (rebirth) of the thirteenth Dalai Lama.

March ndash Anastasios Papoulas leads a coup against the Greek government however, the attempt fails and he is later captured and executed for treason.

Airplanes are banned from flying over the White House.

Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night", starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, is released. It becomes a smash hit and the first of Capra's great screen classics. It becomes the first film to win all 5 of the major Academy Awards ndash Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. Gable and Colbert receive their only Oscars for this film.

Calvin Coolidge becomes the first President of the United States to deliver a radio broadcast from the White House.

Following intense nationalist agitation after World War I, Great Britain proclaims Egypt formally independent but continues to occupy the country militarily and control its politics.

In Emeryville, California, the first dog racing track to employ an imitation rabbit opens.

Following the assassination of his rival Song Jiaoren, Yuan Shikai uses military force to dissolve China's parliament and rules as a dictator.

Mexican Revolution: Assassination of President Francisco I. Madero and Vice President José María Pino Suárez. Is succeeded by General Victoriano Huerta.

The House of Romanov celebrates the 300th anniversary of its succession to the throne, amidst an outpouring of monarchist sentiment in Russia.

Woodrow Wilson succeeds William Howard Taft as the 28th President of the United States.

President Grover Clevelandsigns a bill admitting North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington as U.S. states.

In Utica, New York, Frank Woolworth opens the first of many 5 and 10-cent Woolworth stores.

Johns Hopkins University is founded in Baltimore, Maryland.

Tennessee adopts a new constitution that abolishes slavery.

American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is officially inaugurated in Richmond, Virginia, to a 6-year term as president of the Confederate States of America.

Shoe-making workers of Lynn, Massachusetts, struck successfully for higher wages. The strike in Lynn and Natick, Massachusetts, spread throughout New England and involved 20,000 workers. The strike was for higher wages and included women. The workers won their major demands.

Pennsylvania State University is founded as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania.

The U.S. Congress appropriates $30,000 to create the U.S. Camel Corps.

Alexander II of Russia ascends the Russian throne, upon the death of his father Nicholas I.

Washington University in St. Louis is founded as Eliot Seminary.

Faustin Soulouque declares himself Emperor of Haiti.

The state of Michigan formally abolishes the death penalty.

Mexican-American War ndash The Battle of Buena Vista: 5,000 American troops under General Zachary Taylor use their superiority in artillery to drive off 15,000 Mexican troops under Antonio López de Santa Anna, defeating the Mexicans the next day.

Treaty of Turkmenchay: Russian-Persian peace treaty: Russia captures Eastern Armenia from Persia.

Spain cedes Florida to the United States by the Adams-Onís Treaty in exchange for the American renunciation of any claims on Texas that it might have from the Louisiana Purchase and $5 million.

The Last invasion of Britain begins. French forces under the command of American Colonel William Tate land near Fishguard in Wales.

February 23 ndash Battle of Toulon: The British fleet is defeated by a Franco-Spanish fleet.

St. Peter\\\'s Flood ndash First storm tide in the North Sea strikes the coast of Germany, drowning thousands. The island of Juist is split in half and the western half of Buise is probably washed away.

St. Peter's Flood ndash First storm tide in the North Sea strikes the coast of Germany, drowning thousands. The island of Juist is split in half and the western half of Buise is probably washed away.

The "Académie française" in Paris is formally constituted as the national academy for the preservation of the French language.ref name=aH

Galileo's "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems" is published.

Native American Quadequine introduces popcorn to English colonists.

'(approx.)" ndash Sophie Jagiellon marries Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne. A few months later, he decides to return to France, and leaves Naples with most of his army, leaving a force under his cousin Gilbert, Count of Montpensier as viceroy. Syphilis is first definitely recorded during this invasion.

Murder of William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas by James II of Scotland at Stirling Castle.

March ndash Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor becomes the last to be crowned in Rome.

Robert II becomes the first Stuart king of Scotland after the death of his uncle, David II.

The Jubilee of Pope Boniface VIII is celebrated. It is at this celebration that Giovanni Villani decides to write his universal history of Florence, the "Cronica".

The oldest known bronze handgun in the world is dated to this year, a Chinese gun found in Acheng District that was once used to suppress the rebellion of the Christian Mongol Prince Nayan in 1287–1288.

Pope Nicholas IV succeeds Pope Honorius IV as the 191st pope.

A succession struggle erupts in Flanders between Richilde, widow of Baldwin VI and her brother-in-law Robert the Frisian, son of Baldwin V. Robert defeats Richilde and her nephew Arnulf III in the Battle of Cassel and is appointed count by King Philip.

Samson of Dol is ordained as bishop in Brittany on the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter.

Ecclesius becomes a bishop of Ravenna.