February 14

On February 14, 1924, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company rebrands as International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). This change reflects the company's expanding focus beyond punch-card tabulation machines to a diverse range of business equipment and services. Under the IBM name, it would soon pioneer innovations in data processing, mainframe computing, and later personal computing. The rebranding marks a key milestone in its transformation into a global technology leader. IBM's growth would significantly influence the evolution of the information technology industry throughout the 20th century and beyond.

On February 14, 1946, Prime Minister Clement Attlee's Labour government enacted the nationalization of the Bank of England. The Bank, founded in 1694 as a private institution, became a publicly owned entity under the Bank of England Act 1946. This move aimed to grant the government direct control over monetary policy to support postwar economic reconstruction. Nationalization reflected the broader wave of public ownership that defined Attlee's government, including coal, railways, and utilities. By bringing the central bank under state control, policymakers sought to stabilize inflation and direct credit to priority sectors. The Bank of England's transformation into a public institution laid the foundation for modern UK monetary governance.

On February 14, 1966, known as Decimal Day, Australia officially replaced the imperial monetary system with decimal currency. The Currency Act of 1965 introduced the Australian dollar, set at two dollars to one pound, and divided into 100 cents. A nationwide public education campaign, 'Dot,' familiarized citizens with new coins and banknotes before the switch. The transition streamlined financial transactions, accounting, and pricing, aligning Australia with global decimal systems. While initial adjustments surprised many, the change proved efficient and durable, shaping modern Australian commerce. Decimalization remains a landmark reform in the nation's economic history.

In 1983, United American Bank of Knoxville, Tennessee, collapsed under the weight of fraudulent loans and embezzlement orchestrated by its president, Jake Butcher. The bank's aggressive expansion and risky lending practices masked deep financial troubles that culminated in bankruptcy. Regulators and law enforcement launched investigations that uncovered the scale of the fraud. Butcher was eventually convicted on multiple counts of bank fraud and sentenced to prison. The collapse and trial shook confidence in regional banking and led to stricter oversight in Tennessee's financial sector. It remains one of the most prominent banking scandals of the 1980s in the American South.

The 1989 settlement saw Union Carbide pay $470 million to the Indian government to compensate victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas leak, which exposed over half a million people to lethal toxins. The catastrophic accident at the pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, claimed thousands of lives instantly and left survivors with long-term health issues. Union Carbide faced global outrage and protracted legal battles over its responsibility and the adequacy of its response. Critics argued that the settlement amount was insufficient to cover medical costs and economic losses. The agreement brought some financial relief to victims but sparked ongoing debates over corporate accountability and environmental justice. The Bhopal legacy continues to influence industrial safety regulations worldwide.

On February 14, 2005, three former university students unveiled YouTube, an online video-sharing site. Built to simplify video uploads and sharing, it introduced an easy-to-use platform for users worldwide. The service rapidly gained popularity, becoming a hub for viral clips, music, and user-generated content. YouTube’s growth transformed online media consumption and launched a new era of digital entertainment. It later became the world’s largest video platform and a key tool for creators, marketers, and educators.