In Melbourne, Australia, a fire in the Burnley Tunnel kills three.

The Iranian Navy seizes Royal Navy personnel in the waters between Iran and Iraq.

A major explosion at the Texas City Refinery kills 15 workers.

The United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, refuses to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube.

Andhra Pradesh Federation of Trade Unions holds its first conference in Hyderabad, India.

In Nasiriyah, Iraq, 11 soldiers of the 507th Maintenance Company as well as 18 U.S. Marines are killed during the first major conflict of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 654 Iraqi combatants are also killed.

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.

Taiwan holds its first direct elections and chooses Lee Teng-hui as President.

Aeroflot Flight 593 crashes in Siberia when the pilot's fifteen-year old son accidentally disengages the autopilot, killing all 75 people on board.

A United States Air Force (USAF) F-16 aircraft collides with a USAF C-130 at Pope Air Force Base and then crashes, killing 24 United States Army soldiers on the ground. This later became known as the Green Ramp disaster.

At an election rally in Tijuana, Mexican presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio is assassinated by Mario Aburto Martínez.

Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann announce cold fusion at the University of Utah.

Strategic Defense Initiative: President Ronald Reagan makes his initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles.

Guatemala's government, headed by Fernando Romeo Lucas García is overthrown in a military coup by right-wing General Efraín Ríos Montt.

Archbishop Óscar Romero of El Salvador gives his famous speech appealing to men of the El Salvadoran armed forces to stop killing the Salvadorans.

The first UNIFIL troops arrived in Lebanon for peacekeeping mission along the Blue Line.

NASA launches Gemini 3, the United States' first two-man space flight (crew: Gus Grissom and John Young).

{{Ship|NS|Savannah}}, the first nuclear-powered cargo-passenger ship, is launched as a showcase for Dwight D. Eisenhower's ''Atoms for Peace'' initiative.

Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world. (Republic Day in Pakistan)

World War II: In the Indian Ocean, Japanese forces capture the Andaman Islands.

The Lahore Resolution (Qarardad-e-Pakistan or the then Qarardad-e-Lahore) is put forward at the Annual General Convention of the All India Muslim League.

The Hungarian air force attacks the headquarters of Slovak air force in the city of Spišská Nová Ves, kills 13 people and began the Slovak–Hungarian War.

Signing of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

The ''Reichstag'' passes the Enabling act of 1933, making Adolf Hitler dictator of Germany.

Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar are hanged during the Indian struggle for independence. Their request to be executed by firing squad is refused. The day is now remembered in India as Shahidi divas or Martyr's day.

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

Theodore Roosevelt leaves New York for a post-presidency safari in Africa. The trip is sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and National Geographic Society.

American diplomat Durham Stevens is attacked by Korean assassins Jeon Myeong-un and Jang In-hwan, leading to his death in a hospital two days later.

The Wright Brothers apply for a patent on their invention of one of the first successful airplanes.

The Raines Law is passed by the New York State Legislature, restricting Sunday sale of alcohol to hotels.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is established by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in Qadian India.

The free Woolwich Ferry officially opens in east London.

War of the Pacific is fought between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru. Chile takes over Arica and Tarapacá, leaving Bolivia as a landlocked country.

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

The First Battle of Kernstown, Virginia, marks the start of Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign. Though a Confederate defeat, the engagement distracts Federal efforts to capture Richmond.

Elisha Otis's first elevator is installed at 488 Broadway New York City.

The ship ''John Wickliffe'' arrives at Port Chalmers carrying the first Scottish settlers for Dunedin, New Zealand. Otago province is founded.

Greek War of Independence: Battle and fall of city of Kalamata.

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

Tsar Paul I of Russia is struck with a sword, then strangled, and finally trampled to death in his bedroom at St. Michael's Castle.

American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry delivers his speech – "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" – at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia.

James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth.

The Tran Dynasty of Vietnam is deposed after 175 years of rule by Ho Quy Ly, a court official.