A mining company's dam collapses in Brumadinho, Brazil, a south-eastern city, killing 270 people.
An Ariane 5 rocket is launched carrying SES-14, Al Yah 3, and NASA's Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk, but the satellites end up in the wrong orbit.
A clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in the Philippines kills 44 members of Special Action Force (SAF), at least 18 from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and five from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
At least 50 people are killed and 120 people are injured in a prison riot in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
The first wave of the Egyptian revolution begins throughout the country, marked by street demonstrations, rallies, acts of civil disobedience, riots, labour strikes, and violent clashes.
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Na'ameh, Lebanon, killing 90.
Mexican professional wrestler Juana Barraza is arrested in connection with the serial killing of at least ten elderly women.
A stampede at the Mandhradevi temple in Maharashtra, India kills at least 258.
Invasion of Iraq: A group of people leave London, England, for Baghdad, Iraq, to serve as human shields, intending to prevent the U.S.-led coalition troops from bombing certain locations.
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hits western Colombia killing at least 1,000.
During a historic visit to Cuba, Pope John Paul II demands political reforms and the release of political prisoners while condemning US attempts to isolate the country.
A suicide attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Sri Lanka's Temple of the Tooth kills eight and injures 25 others.
Billy Bailey becomes the last person to be hanged in the United States.
The Norwegian rocket incident: Russia almost launches a nuclear attack after it mistakes Black Brant XII, a Norwegian research rocket, for a US Trident missile.
The spacecraft Clementine by BMDO and NASA is launched.
Five people are shot outside the CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Two are killed and three wounded.
Avianca Flight 052 crashes in Cove Neck, New York, killing 73.
The National Resistance Movement topples the government of Tito Okello in Uganda.
Mother Teresa is honored with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
Pope John Paul II starts his first official papal visits outside Italy to The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.