Over 150 Chadian soldiers are killed in eastern Chad by members of the rebel UFDC. The rebel movement sought to overthrow Chadian president Idriss Deby.

Cyclone Larry makes landfall in eastern Australia, destroying most of the country's banana crop.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits Fukuoka, Japan, its first major quake in over 100 years. One person is killed, hundreds are injured and evacuated.

Stephen Harper wins the leadership of the newly created Conservative Party of Canada, becoming the party's first leader.

2003 invasion of Iraq: In the early hours of the morning, the United States and three other countries begin military operations in Iraq.

Seattle, Washington's professional sports stadium, the Kingdome is demolished.

Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after murdering Georgia sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and critically wounding Deputy Aldranon English.

Legoland California, the only Legoland outside of Europe, opens in Carlsbad, California.

A sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway kills 12 and wounds 1,300 persons.

An IRA bomb explodes, killing two children in Warrington, Northwest England.

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

Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet.

The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT.

Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The Radio Caroline ship, Mi Amigo founders in a gale off the English coast.

Ian Ball attempts, but fails, to kidnap Her Royal Highness Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark Phillips in The Mall, outside Buckingham Palace, London.

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

Tunisia gains independence from France.

The United States Senate ratifies a peace treaty with Japan.

Fujiyoshida, a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in the center of the Japanese main island of Honshū is founded.

With a Musicians Union ban lifted, the first telecasts of classical music in the United States, under Eugene Ormandy and Arturo Toscanini, are given on CBS and NBC.

World War II: General Douglas MacArthur, at Terowie, South Australia, makes his famous speech regarding the fall of the Philippines, in which he says: "I came out of Bataan and I shall return".

Giuseppe Zangara is executed in Florida's electric chair for fatally shooting Anton Cermak in an assassination attempt against President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The Arts Club of Chicago hosts the opening of Pablo Picasso's first United States showing, entitled ''Original Drawings by Pablo Picasso'', becoming an early proponent of modern art in the United States.

The {{USS|Langley|CV-1}} is commissioned as the first United States Navy aircraft carrier.

Albert Einstein publishes his general theory of relativity.

In New Haven, Connecticut, the first international figure skating championship takes place.

Sung Chiao-jen, a founder of the Chinese Nationalist Party, is wounded in an assassination attempt and dies 2 days later.

The premiere of the very first Romani language operetta is staged in Moscow, Russia.

The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is signed.

An earthquake completely destroys Mendoza, Argentina.

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

Revolutions of 1848 in the German states: King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicates.

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

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

Nadir Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne.

Sir Walter Raleigh is freed from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment.

The Dutch East India Company is established.

The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden.