Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
November 14 Saturday, November 14, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 14 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
6
Holidays
2001
War 25 years ago
War in Afghanistan: Afghan Northern Alliance fighters take over the capital Kabul.
Afghan Northern Alliance fighters capture Kabul from Taliban forces, marking a pivotal shift in the U.S.-led military campaign.
History
What happened on November 14
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -332World history
Alexander the Great is crowned pharaoh of Egypt.
Alexander the Great is crowned pharaoh of Egypt, receiving the title from the high priest of Ptah in Memphis.
- 1680Science
German astronomer Gottfried Kirch discovers the Great Comet of 1680, the first comet to be discovered by telescope.
Gottfried Kirch discovers the Great Comet of 1680, marking the first comet detected using a telescope.
- 1770World history
James Bruce discovers what he believes to be the source of the Nile.
James Bruce claims to have discovered the source of the Nile River in Ethiopia.
- 1812War
Napoleonic Wars: At the Battle of Smoliani, French Marshals Victor and Oudinot are defeated by the Russians under General Peter Wittgenstein.
French marshals Victor and Oudinot suffer defeat at the Battle of Smolensk by Russian forces led by General Peter Wittgenstein.
- 1851Culture
Moby-Dick, a novel by Herman Melville, is published in the USA.
Herman Melville publishes "Moby-Dick," a novel that becomes a seminal work in American literature.
- 1978World history
France conducts the Aphrodite nuclear test as 25th in the group of 29 1975-78 French nuclear tests.
France conducts its 25th nuclear test in a series of 29 tests conducted between 1975 and 1978.
- 1992Disaster
In poor conditions caused by Cyclone Forrest, Vietnam Airlines Flight 474 crashes near Nha Trang, killing 30.
Vietnam Airlines Flight 474 crashes near Nha Trang due to cyclonic conditions, resulting in 30 fatalities.
- 2001War
War in Afghanistan: Afghan Northern Alliance fighters take over the capital Kabul.
Afghan Northern Alliance fighters capture Kabul from Taliban forces, marking a pivotal shift in the U.S.-led military campaign.
- 2008Politics
The first G-20 economic summit opens in Washington, D.C.
World leaders gather for the inaugural G-20 economic summit to address global financial issues.
- 2016Disaster
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes Kaikōura, New Zealand, at a depth of 15 km (9 miles), resulting in the deaths of two people.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes Kaikōura, New Zealand, at a depth of 15 kilometers, killing two people and causing widespread damage.
- 2017Crime
A gunman kills four people and injures 12 others during a shooting spree across Rancho Tehama, California. He had earlier murdered his wife in their home.
A gunman kills four people and injures 12 others during a shooting spree in Rancho Tehama, California, after murdering his wife at home.
- 2019Crime
A mass shooting occurs at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, resulting in three deaths, including that of the perpetrator, and three injuries.
A shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, leaves three dead, including the shooter, and three injured.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 14
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 35
Thinzar Shunlei Yi
Burmese activist
Thinzar Shunlei Yi, a Burmese pro-democracy activist and television host who helped organize mass protests following the 2021 military coup, turns 34 today.
Born
1991
Turns 35
today
Walter Jackson Freeman II
American physician and psychiatrist
1895 – 1972
Aaron Copland
American composer, conductor, and educator
1900 – 1990
Astrid Lindgren
Swedish author and screenwriter
1907 – 2002
Joseph McCarthy
American captain, lawyer, and politician
1908 – 1957
Condoleezza Rice
American political scientist, academic, and politician, 66th United States Secretary of State
b. 1954 · 72
Adam Gilchrist
Australian cricketer and sportscaster
b. 1971 · 55
Music
The number one songs on November 14
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 14, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport November 14, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 14, 2003
Astronomers discover Sedna, a distant trans-Neptunian dwarf planet.
Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David Rabinowitz discover Sedna, a distant trans-Neptunian object.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Anniversary of the Movement of Readjustment (Guinea-Bissau)
International
This is a list of the ten holidays in Guinea-Bissau
Children's Day, celebrated on the birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru (previously on November 20). (India)
International
Children's Day is celebrated in India to raise awareness about the rights, education, and welfare of children
Day of the Colombian Woman (Colombia)
International
Policarpa Salavarrieta Ríos, also known by her nickname of La Pola, was a Neogranadine seamstress who spied for the Revolutionary Forces during the Spanish Reconquista of the Viceroyalty of New Granad
Mobile Brigade Day (Indonesia)
International
The following table indicates declared Indonesian government national holidays
World Diabetes Day (International)
International
World Diabetes Day (WDD) is the primary global awareness campaign focusing on diabetes mellitus and is held on 14 November each year
Dobruja Day (Romania)
International
Dobruja Day is a holiday of Romania celebrated every 14 November that commemorates the incorporation of the region of Northern Dobruja into Romania on 14 November 1878
❝
We are not fighting for power. We are fighting for our right to decide our own future.
— Thinzar Shunlei Yi · born November 14, 1991