NASA NASA's MESSENGER space probe becomes the first space craft ever to enter into orbit around Mercury.
European Space Agency At a two-day council meeting of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Paris, Europe comes to an agreement to extend its operations at the International Space Station (ISS) until 2020.
Lao People's Revolutionary Party The ninth congress of the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party opens in Vientiane, Laos, where policy is set for the next five years.
Asylum seeker Asylum seekers stage another riot at the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre burning parts of the Australian government facility.
Taoiseach Taoiseach Enda Kenny visits President of the United States Barack Obama at the White House for the annual Saint Patrick's Day festivities. Obama announces he is to visit Ireland in May and is excited at the prospect of visiting the home of his great, great, great, great, great, grandfather in Moneygall.
Haiti Officials suggest Haiti's first democratically elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide is to return there tomorrow after seven years exile in South Africa. The U.S. expresses concern at this development, fearing Aristide could "destabalise" Haiti.
William Hague UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is challenged by MP Ann Clwyd over the treatment of Bradley Manning, a former Welsh schoolboy reported to be imprisoned in solitary confinement and stripped naked by the United States.
Chancellor Angela Merkel announces a "measured exit" from nuclear power for Germany as it can no longer be "business as usual" following events in Japan.
President Hugo Chávez backtracks on plans to develop nuclear power in Venezuela saying he has noted the ongoing crisis in Japan and that the use of nuclear energy is "something extremely risky and dangerous for the whole world".
Radiation detectors trigger alarms at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as radiation enters the United States.
Helicopters drop water on the stricken Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant to cool overheated fuel rods inside the core.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Prince William of Wales visits Christchurch, New Zealand, to inspect relief efforts for the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
The New York Times "The New York Times" newspaper announces it is to start charging people who access content on its website.
Rupert Murdoch Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is sued for nepotism over the $675 million purchase of his daughter, Elisabeth Murdoch's, Shine Limited and providing a seat for her on the board.
John Dee It is announced that "Doctor Dee", a stage show based on the life of John Dee written by and starring Damon Albarn, is to have its premiere at the Manchester International Festival in July.
Gennady Yanin Gennady Yanin, the director of the Russian Bolshoi ballet troupe, resigns and is replaced by Yan Godovsky. Russian media wonders if erotic photos which appeared on the internet, allegedly of him, were part of a smear campaign.
Death mask The U.S. government involves itself in a row over the 3200-year-old death mask of nineteenth dynasty noblewoman Ka-Nefer-Nefer, thought to have been stolen.
Côte d'Ivoire Dozens of people are killed in nationwide violence in Côte d'Ivoire, as fears of a civil war grow.
The United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay condemns the "shocking" use of force against protesters.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi claims that Nicolas Sarkozy received funding from Libya ahead of the 2007 French presidential election.
The Libyan military says it will cease fighting on Sunday in order for the rebels to give themselves in.
The International Committee of the Red Cross withdraws from the rebel held city of Benghazi, Libya, fearing an attack from forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.
Himself on fire Hundreds of people protest in western China after the self-immolation of a Tibetan monk in Aba, Sichuan.
Yerevan Thousands of opposition supporters rally in Yerevan, Armenia, demanding the resignation of the government.
Miranshah At least 40 people, most believed to be civilians, are killed near Miranshah after United States drones bomb Pakistan in the deadliest such attack by the United States since 2006. Tribesmen describe a "massacre" as tribal people, elders, local traders and members of the tribal police are killed.