On February 27

Russian statesman and politician Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, was assassinated in central Moscow.

Violent riots, perceived to have been instigated by a train fire that killed 59 Hindu pilgrims, broke out in the Indian state of Gujarat, killing at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, over three days.

The multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green.

The Armenian community of Sumgait in Azerbaijan was the target of a violent pogrom (memorial pictured).

The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, known for its performances of Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas, gave its final performance.

The Sunday People revealed that James Humphreys, a notorious pornographer, had bribed a senior London police officer with a holiday to Cyprus and Beirut.

Two dissident Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilots bombed the Independence Palace in Saigon in a failed attempt to assassinate President Ngo Dinh Diem.

American biochemists Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discovered carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, which is now used extensively as the basis of the radiocarbon dating method to date archaeological and geological samples.

The Reichstag building, the seat of the German parliament in Berlin, was set on fire in a pivotal event in the establishment of the Nazi regime.

FC Bayern Munich, Germany's most successful football club, was founded.

The current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships.

Peninsular War: In the south of France, Spanish, British and Portuguese soldiers under the command of the Marquess of Wellington defeated French soldiers in the Battle of Orthez, causing the French to retreat east.

American Revolutionary War: A Patriot victory at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge resulted in the arrests of 850 Loyalists over the following days.

Sweden signed the Treaty of Stolbovo to end the Ingrian War with Russia, making large territorial gains.

The Treaty of Berwick was signed, setting the terms under which an English fleet and army could enter Scotland to expel French troops defending the regency of Mary of Guise (pictured).