Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Myanmar killing over 130,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless.

Yelwa massacre of more than 630 nomad Muslims by Christians in Nigeria.

From the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, US President George W. Bush announced in a nationally televised address in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner that major combat operations in Iraq had ended.

Marad massacre of eight Hindus near Palakkad in Kerala.

President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military.

Panamanian election, 1999: Mireya Moscoso becomes the first woman to be elected President of Panama.

The European Central Bank is founded in Brussels in order to define and execute the European Union's monetary policy.

During the Croatian War of Independence, Serb forces fire cluster bombs at Zagreb, killing 7 and wounding over 175 civilians.

In a bus disaster in Poland, 32 people die.

Falklands War: The British nuclear submarine HMS ''Conqueror'' sinks the Argentine cruiser ARA ''General Belgrano''.

In the early morning hours a fire broke out at the Sunshine mine located between Kellogg and Wallace, ID, killing 91 workers.

The British ocean liner ''Queen Elizabeth 2'' departs on her maiden voyage to New York City.

First ascent of Shishapangma the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the Eight-thousanders.

Vietnam War: An explosion sinks the USS ''Card'' while docked at Saigon. Viet Cong forces are suspected of placing a bomb on the ship.

Berthold Seliger launches a rocket with three stages and a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres near Cuxhaven. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany.

Tennessee Williams wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof''.

The world's first ever jet airliner, the De Havilland Comet 1 makes its maiden flight, from London to Johannesburg.

The "Battle of Alcatraz" takes place, killing two guards and three inmates.

World War II: Fall of Berlin: The Soviet Union announces the capture of Berlin and Soviet soldiers hoist their red flag over the ''Reichstag'' building.

World War II: The US 82nd Airborne Division liberates Wöbbelin concentration camp finding 1000 dead inmates, most starved to death.

World War II: Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign

''Gleichschaltung'': Adolf Hitler bans trade unions.

Comedian Jack Benny's radio show airs for the first time.

The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis, Indiana.

General Motors acquires the Chevrolet Motor Company of Delaware.

Menelik II, Emperor of Ethiopia, signs a treaty of amity with Italy, which gives Italy control over Eritrea.

The Congo Free State is established by King Léopold II of Belgium.

Cree and Assiniboine warriors win the Battle of Cut Knife, their largest victory over Canadian forces during the North-West Rebellion.

''Good Housekeeping'' magazine goes on sale for the first time.

The Spanish Socialist Worker's Party is founded in Casa Labra Pub (city of Madrid) by the historical Spanish workers' leader Pablo Iglesias.

The April Uprising breaks out in Bulgaria.

Peruvian defenders fight off Spanish fleet at the Battle of Callao.

American Civil War: Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning to camp after reconnoitering during the Battle of Chancellorsville. He succumbs to pneumonia eight days later.

After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of the HMS ''Challenger'', declares the Swan River Colony in Australia.

Marriage of Léopold of Saxe-Coburg and Charlotte Augusta.

Outbreak of the Peninsular War: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation. Francisco de Goya later memorializes this event in his painting The Second of May 1808.

John Maitland becomes Duke of Lauderdale and Earl of March.

King Charles II of England grants a permanent charter to the Hudson's Bay Company to open up the fur trade in North America.

Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Loch Leven Castle.

John Knox returns from exile to Scotland to become the leader of the beginning Scottish Reformation.

Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason and witchcraft.

Otto the Merry, Duke of Austria, becomes Duke of Carinthia.

William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great.

King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter.