Major Events of March 2009: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from March 2009 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of March 2009: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Mar 2009 Breakthrough in Stem Cell Research: Canada's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute announced a groundbreaking method for creating embryonic-like stem cell lines, potentially offering new therapeutic approaches for spinal-cord injuries and Parkinson's disease.
- 02 Mar 2009 Dow Jones Industrial Average Drops Below 7,000: The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted below 7,000 points for the first time since May 1997, dropping 299.64 points or 4.24 percent to close at 6,763.29. This milestone signaled the deepening severity of the late 2000s financial crisis.
- 03 Mar 2009 Terrorist Attack on Sri Lankan Cricket Team in Lahore: A coordinated terrorist attack targeted a bus carrying the Sri Lankan national cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan. Twelve gunmen ambushed the team near Gaddafi Stadium, resulting in eight fatalities and multiple injuries. The attack led to the immediate abandonment of the scheduled Test match and significantly impacted international cricket tours to Pakistan.
- 04 Mar 2009 ICC Arrest Warrant for Sudan's President: The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an unprecedented arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, charging him with war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. This marks the first time a sitting head of state has been indicted by the ICC since its establishment in 2002.
- 05 Mar 2009 Bank of England Launches Quantitative Easing: The Bank of England announces a significant economic intervention by creating 75 billion pounds (US$106 billion) of new money to revive lending and stimulate the economy. Chancellor Alistair Darling authorizes the potential expansion of this measure up to 150 billion pounds. Simultaneously, the central bank reduces lending interest rates from 1% to a historic low of 0.5 percent.
- 06 Mar 2009 Tragic Car Accident Claims Zimbabwe PM's Wife: Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's Prime Minister, is seriously injured in a car accident south of Harare, which tragically kills his wife Susan. The incident occurs during a politically tumultuous period in Zimbabwe's history.
- 07 Mar 2009 NASA Launches Kepler Space Telescope: NASA successfully launched the unmanned Kepler telescope from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission's primary objective was to orbit the Sun and search for Earth-like planets that could potentially host life, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- 08 Mar 2009 Obama Assesses Afghanistan War Progress: U.S. President Barack Obama candidly stated that troops in Operation Enduring Freedom were "not winning" the war in Afghanistan, signaling potential strategic reconsideration.
- 09 Mar 2009 US-China Maritime Tension: The United States government reported that five Chinese ships harassed the USNS Impeccable in the South China Sea, escalating maritime tensions between the two global powers.
- 10 Mar 2009 Suicide Attack in Baghdad: A devastating suicide attack in Baghdad, Iraq, claimed the lives of 33 people, highlighting the ongoing security challenges and sectarian tensions in the region.
- 11 Mar 2009 Winnenden School Shooting: A tragic school shooting in Winnenden, Germany, resulted in the death of 16 people and injury of 11 others. The shooter, Tim Kretschmer, a recent graduate, killed multiple victims before taking his own life. This devastating incident prompted Germany to implement stricter weapons control regulations.
- 12 Mar 2009 Bernie Madoff Pleads Guilty to Massive Financial Fraud: Financier Bernie Madoff pleaded guilty to orchestrating one of the largest and most devastating Ponzi schemes in Wall Street's history, defrauding investors of billions of dollars.
- 13 Mar 2009 UN Human Rights Commissioner Accuses Sri Lanka of War Crimes: Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, publicly accused both Sri Lanka's Armed Forces and the Tamil Tigers of committing war crimes during the ongoing conflict.
- 14 Mar 2009 Russia Considers Strategic Bomber Deployment: Russia's Air Force suggested the potential strategic positioning of bombers in Cuba or Venezuela, indicating potential geopolitical tensions.
- 15 Mar 2009 Space Shuttle Discovery Launches ISS Mission: NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-119, carrying the S6 truss segment to the International Space Station.
- 16 Mar 2009 Josef Fritzl Pleads Guilty to Horrific Crimes: Josef Fritzl, an Austrian man, pleaded guilty to multiple serious criminal charges including rape, incest, and grievous bodily harm. His case shocked the world with its extreme nature of prolonged abuse and imprisonment of his own daughter.
- 17 Mar 2009 Madagascar Political Coup: A significant political upheaval occurred in Madagascar when President Marc Ravalomanana was overthrown in a military-backed coup following a month of intense protests in Antananarivo. The military subsequently appointed opposition leader Andry Rajoelina as the new president, dramatically altering the country's political landscape.
- 18 Mar 2009 US Federal Reserve Purchases Treasury Bonds: In an unprecedented move since the 1960s, the US Federal Reserve announces it will purchase up to US$300 Billion of Treasury bonds, simultaneously expanding its existing securities and debt purchase program to US$1.45 trillion.
- 19 Mar 2009 US House Votes on Executive Compensation Tax: In response to the financial crisis, the United States House of Representatives voted to impose a 90% tax on executive compensation for companies receiving aid under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signaling a strong governmental stance on financial accountability.
- 20 Mar 2009 Discovery of Subatomic Particle Y(4140): Scientists at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory made a significant breakthrough by discovering a new subatomic particle designated as Y(4140), contributing to our understanding of particle physics.
- 21 Mar 2009 Oakland Police Shooting Tragedy: Four police officers were killed while confronting an armed convict named Lovelle Mixon in Oakland, California, in a devastating incident of line-of-duty violence.
- 22 Mar 2009 India-Pakistan Border Tensions: Gunfire exchange occurred at the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, underscoring the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
- 23 Mar 2009 US Treasury Announces Bond Purchase Plan: The United States Treasury Department revealed plans to purchase high-yield bonds from banks, a strategic move aimed at stabilizing the financial sector during the 2009 economic crisis.
- 24 Mar 2009 Mass Grave of Irish Immigrants Discovered: Immaculata University uncovered a significant historical find: a mass grave containing the remains of 57 Irish immigrants in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, shedding light on the challenging immigrant experience.
- 25 Mar 2009 North Korea Missile Preparation: North Korea prepares a Taepodong-2 ballistic missile for potential launch between April 4th and 8th, raising international tensions and security concerns.
- 26 Mar 2009 Obama Announces New Afghanistan Strategy: United States President Barack Obama unveiled a comprehensive new military strategy for operations in North-West Pakistan and Afghanistan, signaling a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and military engagement in the region.
- 27 Mar 2009 UK Economic Contraction: The United Kingdom's economy contracted by 1.6% in the fourth quarter of 2008, reflecting the early stages of the global financial crisis.
- 28 Mar 2009 Obama Launches Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate: President Obama announced the creation of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, signaling a commitment to international cooperation on environmental challenges.
- 29 Mar 2009 Rick Wagoner Resigns from General Motors: Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO of General Motors, stepped down amid the company's financial crisis and ongoing restructuring efforts during the global economic downturn.
- 30 Mar 2009 Obama Orders GM CEO Rick Wagoner to Resign: In a significant move during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, US President Barack Obama directly intervened in General Motors' leadership, compelling CEO Rick Wagoner to step down as part of the government's restructuring efforts for the struggling automotive giant.
- 31 Mar 2009 Migrant Boat Disaster: A devastating maritime tragedy resulted in the death of at least 200 illegal migrants attempting to travel from North Africa to Europe, highlighting the perilous Mediterranean migration crisis.