On This Day: March 3rd

A bomb blast in Karachi, Pakistan, kills at least 48 people and injured 200 others in a predominantly Shia Muslim area.

James Roszko murders four Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables during a drug bust at his property in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta, then commits suicide. This is the deadliest peace-time incident for the RCMP since 1885 and the North-West Rebellion.

Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling.

Margaret Wilson is elected as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, beginning a period lasting until August 23, 2006, where all the highest political offices (including Elizabeth II as Head of State), were occupied by women, making New Zealand the first country for this to occur.

An amateur video captures the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers.

United Airlines Flight 585 crashes on its final approach to Colorado Springs killing everyone on board.

The Australia Act 1986 commences, causing Australia to become fully independent from the United Kingdom.

A magnitude 8.3 earthquake strikes the Valparaíso Region of Chile, killing 177 and leaving nearly a million people homeless.

The USS Nautilus is decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register.

Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashes at Ermenonville near Paris, France killing all 346 aboard.