Portal:Current events/March 1996

1996

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March 1996 was the third month of that leap year. The month, which began on a Friday, ended on a Sunday after 31 days.

Portal:Current events

Current events of March 1, 1996 (1996-03-01) (Friday) Iraq disarmament crisis: Iraqi forces refuse UNSCOM inspection teams access to five sites designated for inspection. The teams enter the sites only after delays of up to seventeen hours. Current events of March 2, 1996 (1996-03-02) (Saturday) Ranabima Royal College is established in Sri Lanka. The Australian federal election, 1996 is held; Labor's Paul Keating loses to Liberal leader John Howard. Current events of March 3, 1996 (1996-03-03) (Sunday) José María Aznar, leader of the Popular Party, is elected as Prime Minister of Spain, replacing Felipe González. Two more suicide bombs explode in Israel, killing 32 people. The Yahya Ayyash Units admit responsibility, and Palestinian president Yasser Arafat condemns the killings in a televised address. Israel warns of retaliation. Current events of March 6, 1996 (1996-03-06) (Wednesday) Mesut Yılmaz, of ANAP, forms the new government of Turkey (53rd government). A boat carrying market traders capsizes outside Freetown harbour, in Sierra Leone, killing at least 86 people. Chechen rebels attack the Russian government headquarters in Grozny; 70 Russian soldiers and policemen, and 130 Chechen fighters are killed. Current events of March 8, 1996 (1996-03-08) (Friday) China begins surface-to-surface missile testing and military exercises off Taiwanese coastal areas. The United States government condemns the act as provocation, and the Taiwanese government warns of retaliation. Current events of March 9, 1996 (1996-03-09) (Saturday) Jorge Sampaio is the new Portuguese president. Current events of March 11, 1996 (1996-03-11) (Monday) John Howard is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Australia. Current events of March 13, 1996 (1996-03-13) (Wednesday) Dunblane massacre: Unemployed former shopkeeper Thomas Hamilton walks into the Dunblane Primary School in Scotland and opens fire, killing sixteen infant school pupils and one teacher before committing suicide. Current events of March 14, 1996 (1996-03-14) (Thursday) An international peace summit is held in Egypt, in response to escalating terrorist attacks in the Middle East. Current events of March 16, 1996 (1996-03-16) (Saturday) Robert Mugabe is re-elected as President of Zimbabwe, although only 32% of the electorate actually voted. Current events of March 17, 1996 (1996-03-17) (Sunday) Sri Lanka wins the Cricket World Cup by beating Australia in a disappointing final. Current events of March 18, 1996 (1996-03-18) (Monday) The Ozone Disco Club fire in Quezon City, Philippines kills 163 people. Current events of March 19, 1996 (1996-03-19) (Tuesday) Nelson Mandela is granted a divorce from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Current events of March 20, 1996 (1996-03-20) (Wednesday) The UK government announces that Bovine spongiform encephalopathy has likely been transmitted to people. Current events of March 22, 1996 (1996-03-22) (Friday) Sweden's Finance Minister Göran Persson becomes the new Prime Minister of Sweden. Current events of March 23, 1996 (1996-03-23) (Saturday) Taiwan (Republic of China) holds its first direct elections for President; Lee Teng-hui is re-elected. Current events of March 24, 1996 (1996-03-24) (Sunday) Islamists clash with security forces in Kashmir, killing eleven people. The devastating Marcopper mining disaster on the island of Marinduque, Philippines takes place. Current events of March 25, 1996 (1996-03-25) (Monday) An 81-day-long standoff begins between anti-government Freemen and federal officers in Jordan, Montana. The 68th Academy Awards, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, are held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles with Braveheart winning Best Picture. Closest approach to Earth of Comet Hyakutake, one of the closest cometary approaches of the previous 200 years Current events of March 26, 1996 (1996-03-26) (Tuesday) The International Monetary Fund approves a $10,200,000,000 loan to Russia for economic reform. Current events of March 28, 1996 (1996-03-28) (Thursday) Fire breaks out at the Pasar Anyar shopping centre in Bogor, West Java. The first death toll estimate is 78 until rescuers notice that 68 of them are mannequins. Three British soldiers are found guilty of the manslaughter of Danish tour guide Louise Jensen in Cyprus. Allan Ford, Justin Fowler and Geoffrey Pernell receive life sentences for the September 1994 rape/murder.

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