The last Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army.

The National Hockey League cancels the entire 2004-2005 regular season and playoffs, becoming the first major sports league in North America to do so over a labor dispute.

The Kyoto Protocol comes into force, following its ratification by Russia.

Across Europe, Kurdish rebels take over embassies and hold hostages after Turkey arrests one of their rebel leaders, Abdullah Öcalan.

In Uzbekistan, a bomb explodes and gunfire is heard at the government headquarters in an apparent assassination attempt against President Islom Karimov.

Shaquille O'Neal, at the time playing for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association, makes his only career 3-point shot against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Western Australia's and Australia's first female Premier, Carmen Lawrence, is voted out of office.

Nicaraguan Contras leader Enrique Bermúdez is assassinated in Managua.

The trial of John Demjanjuk, accused of being a Nazi guard dubbed "Ivan the Terrible" in Treblinka extermination camp, starts in Jerusalem.

The Soviet liner {{MS|Mikhail Lermontov||6}} runs aground in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand.

Hezbollah is founded.

The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia kill 75.

The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago, Illinois).

In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service.

Explorer program: Explorer 9 (S-56a) is launched.

Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1.

The "Toddlers' Truce", a controversial television close down between 6.00pm and 7.00pm is abolished in the United Kingdom.

Canadians are granted Canadian citizenship after 80 years of being British subjects. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen.

World War II: American forces land on Corregidor island in the Philippines.

World War II: Red Army troops re-enter Kharkov.

World War II: Altmark Incident: The German tanker Altmark is boarded by sailors from the British destroyer {{HMS|Cossack}}. 299 British prisoners are freed.

Wallace H. Carothers receives a United States patent for nylon.

Elections bring the Popular Front to power in Spain.

Commission of Government is sworn in as form of direct rule for the Dominion of Newfoundland.

The Austrian Civil War ends with the defeat of the Social Democrats and the Republican Schutzbund.

Howard Carter unseals the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

The Council of Lithuania unanimously adopts the Act of Independence, declaring Lithuania an independent state.

Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur Iceland's first football club is founded.

President of France Félix Faure dies in office.

In New York City the Jolly Corks organization is renamed the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington becomes British Secretary of State for War.

American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Donelson, Tennessee.

The French Government passes a law to set the A-note above middle C to a frequency of 435 Hz, in an attempt to standardize the pitch.

Studebaker Brothers wagon company, precursor of the automobile manufacturer, is established.

Weenen Massacre: Hundreds of Voortrekkers along the Blaukraans River, Natal are killed by Zulus.

First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate {{USS|Philadelphia|1799|6}}.

Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, becomes British Prime Minister.

Battle of Great Torrington, Devon – the last major battle of the first English Civil War.

Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with Mongol Khagan of the Mongol Empire.