March 29, 2012 (Thursday)
Arts and culture
- The death is announced of award-winning poet, essayist and public intellectual Adrienne Rich, credited with bringing the oppression of women and lesbians to the forefront of poetic discourse. (The Guardian)
Business and economy
- Workers in Spain commence a general strike over government austerity measures. (BBC)
- Queues form at petrol stations across the United Kingdom after government ministers urged motorists to top up their fuel tanks ahead of a possible strike by fuel tanker drivers. (BBC) (The Guardian)
- Smart phone pioneer Research in Motion announces major shake-ups in executive ranks and a strategic review in its earnings report. (Reuters)
Disasters
- At least 13 people are killed at the San Pedro Sula prison in Honduras. (BBC)
International relations
- The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa meet in New Delhi, India, for the 2012 BRICS summit. (Reuters)
Law and crime
- Two Italians set themselves on fire in Bologna and Verona. (BBC) (IOL) (Indian Express)
- Police in Ankara fire tear gas and water cannons on thousands of demonstrators. (Al Jazeera)
- Hana Shalabi ends her 43-day hunger strike and is exiled to the Gaza Strip. (BBC)
Politics and elections
- Sten Tolgfors resigns as Swedish Minister of Defence due to allegations that he knew about plans to assist Saudi Arabia in building a weapons plant. (Reuters)
- Iranian-born Israeli politician Shaul Mofaz is elected as leader of the Kadima party and Israel's leader of opposition. (Haaretz)
- George Galloway of the Respect Party wins the United Kingdom House of Commons constituency of Bradford West in a by-election. (BBC)
Science
- The UK government says that viaspan, a solution used to preserve some donor organs, could be contaminated with bacteria after routine tests detected Bacillus cereus in the solution used to test the sterility of viaspan. (BBC)
Sport
- Stuart Lancaster is named permanent England rugby union head coach after signing a four-year contract. (BBC)