In History, Today on February 26

Russia continued its invasion of Ukraine, with major attacks on Kyiv and other cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his refusal to flee Kyiv and called for international support and more severe sanctions against Russia.

The United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, aimed at ending the 18-year war in Afghanistan.

India conducted airstrikes in Balakot, Pakistan, targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp, following a terrorist attack in Pulwama, Kashmir. This marked a significant escalation in India-Pakistan tensions.

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit Papua New Guinea, causing significant damage and triggering landslides across the region. The earthquake resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with many people left homeless and in need of assistance.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States voted to regulate broadband internet service as a public utility, a landmark decision for net neutrality.

A hot air balloon crash near Luxor, Egypt, killed 19 tourists, marking one of the deadliest ballooning accidents in history.

Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenager, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, leading to nationwide protests and debates over racial profiling and gun laws in the United States.

The Republic of Macedonia submitted an application for membership in the European Union, marking a significant step in its efforts to join the EU.

The Taliban destroyed two giant Buddha statues in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, which were carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan Valley and dated back to the 6th century.

The World Trade Center in New York City was bombed by terrorists, killing six people and injuring over a thousand.

The Iran-Contra affair: The Tower Commission rebuked U.S. President Ronald Reagan for not controlling his national security staff, leading to a major political scandal.

Egypt and Israel established full diplomatic relations following the Camp David Accords.

The first launch of a Saturn IB (AS-201), an uncrewed mission, was conducted successfully by NASA as part of the Apollo program, marking a significant step in the buildup to human space exploration.

The February 26 Incident occurred in Japan, an attempted coup d'état by young officers of the Imperial Japanese Army.

Adolf Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe to be re-formed, violating the Treaty of Versailles.

President Calvin Coolidge signed an Executive Order establishing the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, protecting the Teton Range and its surrounding area.

President Woodrow Wilson signed an act of the U.S. Congress establishing the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

HMHS Britannic, the third and largest Olympic-class ocean liner of the White Star Line, was launched. It was intended to be a transatlantic passenger ship but was instead used as a hospital ship during World War I.

The first New York City subway line was opened to the public, known as the Beach Pneumatic Transit, an experimental pneumatic subway line. However, it was not converted into a full-scale transit system.

The National Academy of Sciences was founded in the United States by an Act of Congress, which was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. The National Academy of Sciences aimed to ‘investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art.’

The Second French Republic was proclaimed following the abdication of King Louis-Philippe, marking the end of the July Monarchy.

Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile on the island of Elba, beginning his return to power known as the Hundred Days.

The Bank of England issues the first one pound note, marking a significant development in the history of British banknotes and the financial system.

Galileo Galilei was formally banned by the Roman Catholic Church from teaching or defending the heliocentric ideas of Copernicus.

Christopher Marlowe, an English playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era, is baptized.

The Battle of Benevento took place, marking a decisive victory for Charles of Anjou over Manfred of Sicily, leading to the end of Hohenstaufen rule in southern Italy.

Roger II, King of Sicily, died, leading to the succession of his son, William I, who became King of Sicily, marking a period of instability as he faced revolts from local barons and nobility.

The death of Carloman, the Frankish mayor of the palace of Austrasia, occurs, leading to the consolidation of power by his brother Pepin the Short.

Valentinian I is proclaimed Roman Emperor.