Bhutan officially becomes a democracy, with its first ever general election.

The Arab League votes 21-1 in favor of a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional removal of U.S. and British soldiers from Iraq.

S&P 500 index reaches an intraday high of 1,552.87, a peak that, due to the collapse of the dot-com bubble, it will not reach again for another seven-and-a-half years.

Kosovo War: NATO commences air bombardment against Yugoslavia, marking the first time NATO has attacked a sovereign country.

A tornado sweeps through Dantan in India killing 250 people and injuring 3000 others.

Jonesboro massacre: Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden, aged 11 and 13 respectively, fire upon teachers and students at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas; five people are killed and ten are wounded.

Discovery of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

Exxon Valdez oil spill: In Prince William Sound in Alaska, the ''Exxon Valdez'' spills 240,000 barrels (42,000 m³) of petroleum after running aground.

The Loscoe gas explosion leads to new UK laws on landfill gas migration and gas protection on landfill sites.

Archbishop Óscar Romero is killed while celebrating Mass in San Salvador.

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

In Argentina, the armed forces overthrow the constitutional government of President Isabel Perón and start a 7-year dictatorial period self-styled the ''National Reorganization Process''. Since 2006, a public holiday known as Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice is held on this day.

Kenyan athlete Kip Keino defeats Jim Ryun at the first-ever professional track meet in Los Angeles, California.

The United Kingdom imposes direct rule over Northern Ireland.

NASA spacecraft Ranger 9, equipped to convert its signals into a form suitable for showing on domestic television, brings images of the Moon into ordinary homes before crash landing.

The Party of the African Federation is launched by Léopold Sédar Senghor and Modibo Keita.

Entertainer Elvis Presley is conscripted into the U.S. Army.

World War II: In an event later dramatized in the movie ''The Great Escape'', 76 prisoners begin breaking out of Stalag Luft III.

Ardeatine Massacre: German troops kill 335 Italian civilians in Rome.

The longest game in NHL history is played between Detroit and Montreal. Detroit scored at 16:30 of the sixth overtime and won the game 1-0.

U.S. Congress passes the Tydings-McDuffie Act allowing the Philippines to become a self-governing commonwealth.

Greece becomes a republic.

The first issue of the Georgian Bolshevik newspaper ''Dro'' is published.

Mayor of New York City Robert Anderson Van Wyck breaks ground for a new underground "Rapid Transit Railroad" that would link Manhattan and Brooklyn.

A. A. Popov makes the first radio signal transmission in history.

Robert Koch announces the discovery of mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis.

The British frigate {{HMS|Eurydice|1843|6}} sinks, killing more than 300.

Canada gives African Canadian men the right to vote.

In Hiram, Ohio a group of men beat, tar and feather Mormon leader Joseph Smith, Jr..

American Revolutionary War: The Kingdom of Great Britain passes the Quartering Act that requires the Thirteen Colonies to house British troops.

''Naturalization of Hieronimus de Salis'' Parliamentary Act is passed.

James VI of Scotland also becomes James I of England.

Turko-Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus.