Unix Timestamp: 1143072000
Thursday, March 23. 2006, 12:00:00 AM UTC

Naval forces of Iran's Revolutionary Guardseize Royal Navy personnel in disputed Iran-Iraq waters.

An explosion takes place at one of BP's largest oil refineries in Texas City, killing 15 and injuring more than 170.

The 2003 Cricket World Cup ends as Australia beat India by 125 runs in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A passenger bus hits a remote-controlled land mine in the Chechen capital, killing at least 8.

A 2000-pound (900 kg) meteorite explodes over Chicago shortly before midnight, raining fragments over the city. //www.space.com/spacewatch/mystery_monday_040419.html

U.S. forces seize control of Saddam International Airport, changing the airport's name to Baghdad International Airport.

Two million to three million trade union members rally in Rome in protest both of labor legislation filed by Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi and of the assassination of Marco Biagi, an advisor to the Labor Minister, by the re-formed Red Brigades.//www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/03/24/witaly24.xmlsSheet=/news/2002/03/24/ixworld.html 2m workers march through Rome in anti-terror protest Labor leaders threaten a general strike if the legislation is passed.//www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/mar/27/philipwillan Italian unions call first general strike for 20 years

Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milošević surrenders to police special forces, to be tried on charges of war crimes.

Hainan Island incident: A Chinese fighter jet bumps into a U.S. EP-3E surveillance aircraft, which is forced to make an emergency landing in Hainan, China. The U.S. crew is detained for 10 days and the F-8 Chinese pilot, Wang Wei, goes missing and is presumed dead.

The deorbit of Russian space station Mir was carried out near Nadi, Fiji, with Mir falling into the Pacific Ocean.

In the Netherlands, the Act on the Opening up of Marriage goes into effect. The Act allows same-sex couples to marry legally for the first time in the world since the reign of Nero.

The Russian "Mir" space station is disposed of, breaking up in the atmosphere before falling into the southern Pacific Ocean near Fiji.

Gunmen assassinate Paraguay's Vice President Luis María Argaña.

NATO launches air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This marks the first time NATO has attacked a sovereign country.

Fire in the Mont Blanc Tunnel kills 39 people, closing the tunnel for nearly 3 years.

70th Academy Awards ceremony held in Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles, California.

The 68th Academy Awards, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, are held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California with "Braveheart" winning Best Picture.

Islamists clash with security forces in Kashmir, killing 11.

An 81-day long standoff begins between antigovernment Freemen and federal officers in Jordan, Montana.

The devastating Marcopper mining disaster on the island of Marinduque, Philippines takes place.

The Republic of China or Taiwan holds its first direct elections for president Lee Teng-hui is re-elected.

Green R disaster: Two military aircraft collide over Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina causing 24 fatalities.

The biggest tornado outbreak in 1994 occurs in the southeastern United States 1 tornado hits a Goshen United Methodist Church in Piedmont, Alabama, killing 22 people.

The Eurofighter takes its first flight in Manching, Germany.

TV tycoon Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing coalition wins the Italian general election.

March 23–28 ndash The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia passes constitutional changes revoking the autonomy of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo, triggering six days of rioting by the Albanian minority, during which at least 29 people were killed.

Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann announce that they have achieved cold fusion at the University of Utah.

OCAM dissolved.

General Rahimuddin Khan becomes the first man in Pakistan's history to rule over 2 of its provinces, after becoming interim Governor of Sindh.

Strategic Defense Initiative: U.S. President Ronald Reagan makes his initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles. The media dub this plan Star Wars.

Watergate scandal (United States): In a letter to Judge John Sirica, Watergate burglar James W. McCord Jr. admits that he and other defendants have been pressured to remain silent about the case. He names former Attorney General John Mitchell as 'overall boss' of the operation.

General Alejandro Lanusse of Argentina takes power in a military coup.

Pope Paul VI and Arthur Michael Ramsey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, meet in Rome.

"Gemini 3": NASA launches the United States' first 2-person crew (Gus Grissom, John Young) into Earth orbit.

"Dansevise" by Grethe Jørgen Ingmann (music by Otto Francker, text by Sejr Volmer-Sørensen) wins the Eurovision Song Contest 1963 for Denmark.

The Scandinavian States of the Nordic Council sign the Helsinki Convention on Nordic Co-operation.

Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev meets French president Charles de Gaulle in Paris.

Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic, and a national holiday is observed in the country including the former East Pakistan state.

The Soviet Union recognizes the sovereignty of East Germany. Soviet troops remain in the country.

In Vietnam, the Viet Minh capture the main airstrip of Dien Bien Phu. The remaining French Army units there are partially isolated.

RCA manufactures the first color TV set (12-inch screen price: $1,000)

The 26th Academy Awards ceremony is held.

WWII: Members of the Italian Resistance attack Nazis marching in Via Rasella, killing 33.

The drugs Vicodin and Lortab are first produced in Germany.

WWII: The Germans burned down the Ukrainian village of Yelino (Koriukivka Raion), killing 296 civilians.

The "Pakistan Resolution" is rallied around by the All-India Muslim League Muslims from every corner of India meet up around Iqbal Park, Lahore (now in modern-day Pakistan).

The Slovak-Hungarian War begins.

The "Reichstag" passes the Enabling Act, making Adolf Hitler dictator of Germany.

Indian revolutionary leaders Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev are hanged by the British Government.

Éamon de Valera organizes Fianna Fáil in Ireland.

Queensland, Australia abolishes the Legislative Council (Upper House).

The German government asks France for permission to use its own troops against the rebellious Ruhr Red Army in the French-occupied area.

Irish War of Independence: The Black and Tans special constables arrive in Ireland.

Admiral Horthy declares that Hungary is a monarchy without anyone on the throne.

In Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini founds his Fascist political movement.

The term American Empire is coined in San Francisco.

The New York State Legislature passes the Raines Law, restricting Sunday alcoholic beverage sales to hotels.

Claiming to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founds the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in India.

First Boer War comes to an end.

The University of California is founded in Oakland, California when the Organic Act is signed into California law.

William III of the Netherlands accepts an offer of 5,000,000 guilders from Napoleon III for the sale of Luxembourg, leading to the Luxembourg Crisis.

Elisha Otis' first elevator is installed (at 488 Broadway, New York City).

Edict of Toleration, allowing Jews to settle in the Holy Land.

April ndash The Fleet Prison for debtors in London is closed.

The "Boston Morning Post" first records the use of OK (oll korrect).

The Mexican Academy of Language is established.

After traveling through the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the Pacific Ocean, explorers Lewis and Clark and their "Corps of Discovery" begin their journey home.

TsarPaul I of Russia is murdered. He is succeeded by his son Alexander I.

American Revolution: Patrick Henry, a delegate to the Second Virginia Convention after the VirginiaHouse of Burgesses was disbanded by the Royal Governor, delivers his Give me Liberty, or give me Death! speech at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia.

The "Halifax Gazette", the first Canadian newspaper, is published.

remiere performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's ""'First Köthen Funeral music""' at the St. James Church, Köthen in the evening in honor of the Funeral of his former employer Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen

Tuscarora War: Fort Neoheroka falls to the Carolina militia, effectively ending the Tuscarora nation's military strength. Two Tuscaroran allies, the Machapunga and Coree tribes, continue offensive actions against North Carolina.

James Francis Edward Stuart unsuccessfully tries to land at the Firth of Forth.

Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660): By the Treaty of Paris, France and England form an alliance against Spainref name=Cassell's Chronology England will receive Dunkirk.

Anglo-Spanish War: Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish silver fleet under heavy fire at Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The Jews of New Amsterdam (later New York) are granted freedom of religion as full citizens.

The Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. Again Catherine de' Medici and Charles IX make substantial concessions to the Huguenots.

The Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. Again Catherine de' Medici and Charles IX make substantial concessions to the Huguenots.

Emperor Gelawdewos of Ethiopia, defending his lands against the invasion of Nur ibn Mujahid, Sultan of Harar, is killed in battle. His brother Menas succeeds him as king.

Stephen is elected pope, but dies three days after and is not considered legitimate because he was not consecrated.

Battle of Uhud (Muhammad retreats against the inhabitants of Mecca), which they consider a victory.