Unix Timestamp: 1048809600
Friday, March 28. 2003, 12:00:00 AM UTC

Qatar recognizes Libyan rebels as the representative of the Libyan people, after a deal to market crude oil. //www.euronews.net/2011/03/28/oil-down-on-libyan-rebel-gains/ (EuroNews) //article.wn.com/view/2011/03/28/Qatar_recognises_Libyan_rebels_after_oil_deal/ (WorldNews.com) //www.qnaol.net/QNAEn/Local_News/Politics1/Pages/QatarRecognizesLibyanNationalTransitionCouncil.aspx (Qatar News Agency)

Armed gunmen take 32 children and two teachers hostage in the centre of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The gunmen later surrendered and released the hostages. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6501695.stm (BBC) //www.smh.com.au/news/world/hostage-taker-agrees-to-surrender/2007/03/28/1174761532412.html?s_cid=rss_smh (AFP via Sydney Morning Herald)

The UK Ministry of Defence has published exact co-ordinates of the location of the Royal Navy personnel when they were seized by Iran. According to this data the soldiers were 1.7 nautical miles within Iraqi waters at the time of their capture. //www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1579646.ece (The Times)

A scramjet jet engine, Hyshot III, designed to fly at 7 times the speed of sound, is successfully tested at Woomera, South Australia.

Arab–Israeli conflict: Delegates to the summit of the Arab League endorse the land for peace plan proposed by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

Shell House Massacre: Inkatha Freedom Party and ANC supporters battle in central Johannesburg South Africa.

French legislative election, 1993: Gaullists win a majority and Édouard Balladur becomes Prime Minister.

U.S. President George H. W. Bush posthumously awards Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal.

Talpiot Tomb is found in Jerusalem.

Dick Smith of Dick Smith Foods tows a fake iceberg to Sydney Harbour.

The Philippine College of Commerce, through a presidential decree, is converted to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

New Zealand National Airways Corporation the Domestic airline of New Zealand was merged with New Zealand's international airline, Air New Zealand.

"Stump v. Sparkman" (435 U.S. 349): The Supreme Court of the United States hands down a 5–3 decision in a controversial case involving involuntary sterilization and judicial immunity.

A fire in the maternity wing at Kucic Hospital in Rijeka, former Yugoslavia, kills 25 people.

Süleyman Demirel of AP forms the new government of Turkey (39th government, a four-party coalition, so-called First National Front ())

In his final game on the sideline, John Wooden coaches UCLA to its 10th national chionship in 12 seasons when the Bruins defeat Kentucky 92-85 in the title game at San Diego, California.

U.S. Army Lieutenant William Calley is found guilty of 22 murders in the My Lai massacre and sentenced to life in prison (later pardoned).

"The Ed Sullivan Show" airs its final episode.

A Los Angeles, California jury recommends the death penalty for Charles Manson and 3 female followers.

Former United States General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower dies after a long illness in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C..

Brazilian high school student Edson Luís de Lima Souto is shot by the police in a protest for cheaper meals at a restaurant for low-income students. The aftermath of his death was one of the first major events against the military dictatorship.

Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force bomb the "Torrey Canyon" and sink her.

A 13-day TV strike begins in the U.S.

The first French nuclear submarine, "Le Redoutable", is launched.

Pope Paul VI issues the encyclical "Populorum Progressio".

The SEACOM telephone cable is inaugurated.

King Saud of Saudi Arabia abdicates the throne.

Puerto Rico's first television station, "WKAQ-TV", commences broadcasting.

A World War II Japanese booby trap explodes on Corregidor island, killing 28 people.

In Italy a ship full of weapons and ammunition explodes in the port of Naples, killing 600.

Spring ndash Holocaust: the Nazi Germanextermination cTreblinka II opens in occupied Poland near the village of Treblinka. Between July 23, 1942 and October 1943, around 850,000 people are killed there,ref name=Generalgouvernement, 2004, pp. 257–281

WWII: Operation Chariot - British Commandos raid St. Nazaire on the coast of Western France.

April ndash Holocaust: the Nazi German extermination c Sobibor opens in occupied Poland on the outskirts of the town of Sobibór. Between April 1942 and October 1943, at least 160,000 people are killed in the c.

Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara.

Japanese forces withdraw from Shandong province to their garrison in Tsingtao bringing an end to the Jinan Incident.

"Regia Aeronautica", the air force of Fascist Italy, is founded.

The 1920 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak hits the Great Lakes region and Deep South states.

The first Roman Catholic Liturgy is celebrated by Archbishop John Ireland at the newly consecrated Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Over 1,000 tonnes of waste are removed from demolished buildings in Sydney, Australia, in areas affected by an outbreak of the bubonic plague.

Washington State University is founded in Pullman, Washington.

Republican Jules Ferry makes primary education in France free, non-clerical (laique) and obligatory.

Anglo-Zulu War ndash Battle of Hlobane: British forces suffer a defeat.

American Civil War ndash Battle of Glorieta Pass: In New Mexico, Union forces succeed in stopping the Confederate invasion of New Mexico territory (the battle began on March 26).

France declares war on Russia.

Four Christians are ordered burnt alive in Antananarivo, Madagascar by Queen Ranavalona I and 14 others are executed.

Henri Christophe is proclaimed King Henri I, turning the northern State of Haiti into the Kingdom of Haiti.

Washington College (now Washington Jefferson College) is chartered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

H. W. Olbers discovers the asteroid Pallas.

Juan Bautista de Anza finds the site for the Presidio of San Francisco.

March 28 ndash A fire in the City of London causes over a million pounds worth of damage.

April ndash Maastricht is conquered by Maurice de Saxe.

The foundation stone of Valletta (Malta's Capital City) is laid by Grand Master Jean de la Valette.

The Vikings also sack Hamburg and Melun.

Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collect a huge ransom in exchange for leaving.

Jacob of Serugh becomes bishop of Batnan.

In Ireland, the Diocese of Kildare is erected.

The "Memoirs of Eminent Monks" is compiled.

The Eastern and Western churches reconcile their differences, ending the Acacian Schism.

Valentinian I founded the Valentinian Dynasty and settles in Paris. He establishes a militia to defend the region. His reign ensures the Roman Empire a few years of relative security.

Valens, brother of Valentinian I, is appointed co-emperor ("Augustus") in the palace of Hebdomon (Turkey). He begins the first anti-pagan persecutions.

Valentinian I rules from Caledonia (Scotland) to the Rhine frontier the Western Roman Empire and Valens reigns from the Danube to the Persian border the Eastern Roman Empire.

The Council of Laodicea decides some disciplinary questions of the Christian church and attempts to establish the Biblical canon, but fails.

Britain is forced to endure fierce Barbarian raids.

Pertinax is assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard, who storm the imperial palace. The Empire is auctioned off, Marcus Didius Julianus the highest bidder, offers 300 million sesterces for the throne.