19 March 1565

Flydubai Flight 981 crashed during an aborted landing at Rostov-on-Don Airport, Russia, resulting in the deaths of all 62 passengers and crew on board.

First Libyan Civil War: The French Air Force launched Opération Harmattan, beginning foreign military intervention in Libya.

The gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B, the farthest object from Earth that was observable by the naked eye, was observed.

The gamma-ray burst GRB 080319B was observed, setting a record for the farthest event from Earth observable with the naked eye.

American televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as the host of The PTL Club in the midst of a sex scandal.

The American cable television network C-SPAN, covering government proceedings and public-affairs programming, was launched.

Between 300,000 and 500,000 Brazilians attended the March of the Family with God for Liberty (pictured), in protest against the government of João Goulart and against communism.

Influential American musician Bob Dylan released his eponymous debut album, mainly comprising traditional folk, blues and gospel songs.

Established by Clara Zetkin, Käte Duncker, and others, International Women's Day was first observed.

American Civil War: The last battle of the Carolinas Campaign, the Battle of Bentonville, began, which contributed to the ultimate Union victory in the war.

American explorer Benjamin Morrell departed Antarctica after a voyage later plagued by claims of fraud.

King Charles IV of Spain was forced to abdicate in favour of his son Ferdinand VII as a result of the Tumult of Aranjuez.

The Edict of Amboise was signed, ending the first war in the French Wars of Religion and inaugurating a period of official peace that lasted until 1567.

Mongol conquest of Song China: Zhao Bing (pictured), the last Song emperor, drowned at the end of the Battle of Yamen, bringing the Song dynasty to an end after three centuries.

The Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Venice signed a treaty that renegotiated and extended by two years a previous treaty between them.

The Swiss Government brokers a deal for UBS to buy out rival Credit Suisse in an attempt to calm the 2023 banking crisis.

The first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, resigns from office after nearly three decades, leaving Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as the acting President and successor.

Flydubai Flight 981 crashes while attempting to land at Rostov-on-Don international airport, killing all 62 on board.

An explosion occurs in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, killing five people and injuring 36.

Libyan Civil War: After the failure of Muammar Gaddafi's forces to take Benghazi, the French Air Force launches Opération Harmattan, beginning foreign military intervention in Libya.

GRB 080319B: A cosmic burst that is the farthest object visible to the naked eye is briefly observed.

Catalina affair: A Swedish DC-3 shot down by a Soviet MiG-15 in 1952 over the Baltic Sea is finally recovered after years of work.

The Konginkangas bus disaster kills 23 and injures 14 people in Äänekoski, Finland.

United States President George W. Bush addresses the nation, announcing the invasion of Iraq.