Unix Timestamp: 1237507200
Friday, March 20. 2009, 12:00:00 AM UTC

President Chen Shui-bian wins the Taiwanese presidential election by 0.2% of the vote. The day before, he and Vice President Annette Lu were shot. Lien Chan refuses to concede and demands a recount. A controversial peace referendum opposed by the People's Republic of China is invalidated.

Mary Ann Wright, a U.S. diplomat in Mongolia, resigned out of disagreement with George W. Bush's Mideast policy, his approach to North Korea and the domestic consequences of the War on Terrorism.

The British Government announces that Bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been likely transmitted to people.

Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. Members of the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult release sarin gas on 5 subway trains in Tokyo, killing 13 and injuring 5,510.

Italian journalist Ilaria Alpi and TV cameraman Miran Hrovatin are assassinated in Somalia.

Warrington bomb attacks: An IRA bomb explodes in Warrington Town Centre and kills 2 children, Jonathan Ball and Tim Parry.

Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering.

Clint Malarchuk of the NHL Buffalo Sabres suffers an almost fatal injury when another player accidentally slits his throat.

Australian Prime MinisterBob Hawke weeps on national television as he admits marital infidelity.

Asteroid 4581 Asclepius approaches the Earth at a distance of 700,000 kilometers.

Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the EPLF enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet.

AZT: Zidovudine (or, more commonly, Azidothymidine) is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

The "Mi Amigo", the ship that housed pirate radio station "Radio Caroline", sinks ("Radio Caroline" returns aboard a new ship in 1983).

\'\'Mafioso\'\'Angelo Bruno is murdered in Philadelphia.

"Mafioso" Angelo Bruno is murdered in Philadelphia.

Argentina military forces depose president Isabel Peron.

A general strike takes place in the People's Republic of Congo.

Patty Hearst is found guilty of armed robbery of a San Francisco bank.

A British government White Paper on Northern Ireland proposes the re-establishment of an Assembly elected by proportional representation, with a possible All-Ireland council.

American President Richard Nixon signs the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, banning cigarette television advertisements in the United States with effect from January 1, 1971.

Japan Airlines Flight 351, carrying 131 passengers and 7 crew from Tokyo to Fukuoka, is hijacked by Japanese Red Army members. All passengers are eventually freed.

Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (ACCT) (Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique).

American Motors Corporation introduces the Gremlin.

The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.

NASA's "Explorer 1", the first American satellite and Explorer program spacecraft, reenters Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit.

All Kinds of Everything, sung by Dana (music and text by Derry Lindsay and Jackie Smith), wins the Eurovision Song Contest 1970 for Ireland.

The World Cup Trophy (the Jules Rimet) is stolen at an exhibition it is later found by a dog named Pickles and his owner David Corbett.

The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organization) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962.

June 6 – The first United Nations Conference on Trade and Development takes place.

The French newspaper "L'Express" reveals that the French army tortures Algerian prisoners.

The French newspaper "L'Express" reveals that the French army tortures Algerian prisoners.

Tunisia gains independence from France.

Evan Hunter's movie adaptation of the novel "Blackboard Jungle" premieres in the United States, featuring the famous single, "Rock Around the Clock", by Bill Haley and His Comets. Teenagers jump from their seats to dance to the song.

The last two executions in The Netherlands take place.

The United States Senate ratifies a peace treaty with Japan.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is elected Prime Minister of the Gold Coast.

Tornadoes ravage the lower Mississippi River Valley, leaving 208 dead, through March 22.

The Polish government decides to confiscate the property of the Polish Catholic Church.

The Chicago, Burlington Quincy, Denver Rio Grande Western, and Western Pacific railroads inaugurate the "California Zephyr" passenger train between Chicago and Oakland, California, as the first long distance train to feature Vista Dome cars as regular equipment.

WWII: RAF Flight Sergeant Nicholas Alkemade's bomber is hit over Germany, and he has to bail out without a parachute from a height of over 4,000 meters. Tree branches interrupt his fall and he lands safely on deep snow.

At an emergency meeting in London to deal with the Romanian crisis, French Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet suggests to Lord Halifax that the ideal state for saving Romania from a German attack is Poland.

Dachau, the first Naziconcentration c, is completed (it opens March 22).

The USS "Langley" is commissioned as the first United States Navy aircraft carrier.

The USS \'\'Langley\'\' is commissioned as the first United States Navyaircraft carrier.

Mexican Revolution: Venustiano Carranza announces his Plan of Guadalupe, and begins his rebellion against Victoriano Huerta's government as head of the "Constitutionals".

Sung Chiao-jen, a founder of the Chinese nationalist party (KMT), is wounded in an assassination attempt and dies 2 days after.

Grover Shoe Factory disaster: A boiler explosion, building collapse and fire in Brockton, Massachusetts kills 58.

At Sing Sing, Martha M. Place becomes the first woman executed in an electric chair.

In Belgium, Adam Worth is sentenced to 7 years for robbery (he is released in 1897).

The first ever French rugby chionship final takes place in Paris. Pierre de Coubertin referees the match, which Racing Club de France wins 4–3 over Stade Français.

Wilhelm II of Germany dismisses Otto von Bismarck.

The very first Romani language operetta premieres in Moscow, Russia.

Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

British gunboats enter Monrovia, with Arthur Havelock demanding that Liberia cede disputed territory to the British colony of Sierra Leone.

Costa Rican troops rout Walker's soldiers.

The Boston Public Library opens to the public.

Taiping Rebellion: A rebel army of around 750,000 seizes Nanjing, killing 30,000 Imperial troops.

"Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe is published.

Burlington Arcade opens in London.

Napoleon enters Paris after escaping from Elba with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000 beginning his Hundred Days rule.

Venezuela achieves home rule: Vicente Emparán, Governor of the Captaincy General, is removed by the people of Caracas and a junta is installed.

April through Summer ndash Kingdom of Hawaii unified.

Alessandro Volta describes his new invention, the voltaic pile, the first chemical battery, in a letter to the Royal Society.

April ndash Voting begins in the United States presidential election, 1800 it will last until October. The result is not announced until February 1801.

A new capital of North Carolina and county seat of the newly formed Wake County is established after North CarolinaState Senator and surveyor William Christmas submits his design for the city. A few months later the capital is officially named Raleigh in honor of Sir Walter Raleigh.

The "Great Fire" of Boston, Massachusetts, destroys 349 buildings.

MayndashJuly ndash 'Tacky\'s War', a slave rebellion, occurs in Jamaica.

Nader Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne, including the Koh-i-Noor.

Tuscarora War: Colonel James Moore's Carolina militia launches a major offensive against Fort Neoheroka.

Leisler\'s Rebellion: A new governor arrives in New York ndash Jacob Leisler surrenders after a standoff of several hours.

Leisler's Rebellion: A new governor arrives in New York ndash Jacob Leisler surrenders after a standoff of several hours.

Richard Frethorne begins writing a letter to his parents from Jamestown, Virginia.

Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor dies, leaving the Holy Roman Empire without an official leader to deal with the Bohemian Revolt.

The United East India Company is established by the United Provinces States-General in Amsterdam, with the stated intention of capturing the spice trade from the Portuguese.

In the German town Memmingen the phlet "The Twelve Articles: The Just and Fundamental Articles of All the Peasantry and Tenants of Spiritual and Temporal Powers by Whom They Think Themselves Oppressed" is published , the first human rights related document written in Europe.

The Battle of Nibley Green in England is the last fought between the private armies of feudal magnates.

November ndash the pope grants the status of Crusade to king of Castile's ongoing invasion of the muslim kingdom of Murcia.ref name=negotiating

Pope Gregory IX excommunicates Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Mongol invasion of Rus is in progress, bringing with it a pandemic of Rinderpest.

Foundation of Netley Abbey in England.

The main tower of Lincoln Cathedral in England collapses.

Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor conducts the Siege of Faenza.

Emperor Temmu assumes the Chrysanthemum throne of Japan at the Palace of Kiyomihara in Asuka.

Maximinus Thrax, age 62, is proclaimed emperor. He has a Gothic father and an Alan mother. Maximinus a Thracian, is the first foreigner to hold the Roman throne.

Future Emperor of Cao Wei, Cao Fang, is instated as the Prince of Qi.

Crisis of the Third Century: The Roman Empire is under pressure by the Alemanni, Franks, Goths, Quadi and Sassanids (Persia).