Discover · History

On this day — March 14

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

Observed today

Pi Day

3.14 gets its own holiday — half math appreciation, half excuse to eat pie. Recognized by the US Congress in 2009 because why not.

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2021

Milestone

Burmese security forces kill at least 65 civilians in the Hlaingthaya massacre.

2019

Disaster

Cyclone Idai makes landfall near Beira

Mozambique, causing devastating floods and over 1,000 deaths.

2017

Milestone

A naming ceremony for the chemical element nihonium takes place in Tokyo

with then Crown Prince Naruhito in attendance.

2008

Milestone

A series of riots

protests, and demonstrations erupt in Lhasa and subsequently spread elsewhere in Tibet.

2007

Milestone

The Nandigram violence in Nandigram

West Bengal, results in the deaths of at least 14 people.

2006

Milestone

The 2006 Chadian coup d'état attempt ends in failure.

2006

Milestone

Operation Bringing Home the Goods

Israeli troops raid an American-supervised Palestinian prison in Jericho to capture six Palestinian prisoners, including PFLP chief Ahmad Sa'adat.

1995

Milestone

Norman Thagard becomes the first American astronaut to ride to space on board a Russian launch vehicle.

1991

Milestone

Escondida in Chile's Atacama Desert – which was to become the worlds most productive copper mine – is officially inaugurated.

1988

Milestone

In the Johnson South Reef Skirmish Chinese forces defeat Vietnamese forces in an altercation over control of one of the Spratly Islands.

1982

Milestone

The South African government bombs the headquarters of the African National Congress in London.

1980

Politics

LOT Polish Airlines Flight 007 crashes during final approach near Warsaw

Poland, killing 87 people, including a 14-man American boxing team.

1979

Milestone

Alia Royal Jordanian Flight 600 crashes at Doha International Airport

killing 45 people.

1978

Politics

The Israel Defense Forces launch Operation Litani

a seven-day campaign to invade and occupy southern Lebanon.

1972

Milestone

Sterling Airways Flight 296 crashes near Kalba

United Arab Emirates while on approach to Dubai International Airport, killing 112 people.