Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
March 30 Monday, March 30, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 30 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
4
Holidays
2009
Crime 17 years ago
Twelve gunmen attack the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore, Pakistan.
Twelve gunmen storm the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore, Pakistan, killing eight people and wounding dozens in an eight-hour siege.
History
What happened on March 30
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 598European history
Avar-Byzantine wars: The Avars lift the siege at the Byzantine stronghold of Tomis. Their leader Bayan I retreats north of the Danube River after the Avaro-Slavic army is decimated by the plague.
The Avars lift their siege at the Byzantine fortress of Tomis, with leader Bayan I retreating north of the Danube after plague decimates his Avaro-Slavic army.
- 1282European history
The people of Sicily rebel against the Angevin king Charles I, in what becomes known as the Sicilian Vespers.
Sicilians rise up against Angevin King Charles I, an event later termed the Sicilian Vespers.
- 1296UK history
Edward I sacks Berwick-upon-Tweed, during armed conflict between Scotland and England.
Edward I razes Berwick-upon-Tweed, marking a brutal phase in the Scottish-English conflict.
- 1699Religion
Guru Gobind Singh establishes the Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab.
Guru Gobind Singh founds the Khalsa, a community of Sikhs dedicated to purity and courage.
- 1841World history
The National Bank of Greece is founded in Athens.
The National Bank of Greece, the country's first modern financial institution, is established in Athens to support the newly independent nation's economic development.
- 1885War
The Battle for Kushka triggers the Panjdeh Incident which nearly gives rise to war between the Russian and British Empires.
The Battle for Kushka sparks the Panjdeh Incident, a tense standoff that nearly leads to war between Russia and Britain.
- 1949War
Cold War: A riot breaks out in Austurvöllur square in Reykjavík, when Iceland joins NATO.
A riot erupts in Austurvöllur square as Iceland joins NATO, reflecting tensions during the Cold War.
- 1965War
Vietnam War: A car bomb explodes in front of the United States Embassy, Saigon, killing 22 and wounding 183 others.
A car bomb explodes outside the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, killing 22 and injuring 183.
- 2006Disaster
Cyclone Glenda, one of the strongest tropical cyclones in the Australian region makes landfall near Onslow, Western Australia.
Cyclone Glenda, a powerful tropical cyclone, makes landfall near Onslow, causing widespread damage and disruption.
- 2009Crime
Twelve gunmen attack the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore, Pakistan.
Twelve gunmen storm the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore, Pakistan, killing eight people and wounding dozens in an eight-hour siege.
- 2019Religion
Pope Francis visits Morocco.
Pope Francis meets with King Mohammed VI and addresses interfaith harmony in Rabat.
- 2023US history
Donald Trump becomes the first former United States president to be indicted by a grand jury.
Donald Trump becomes the first former U.S. president to be indicted by a grand jury.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 30
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 29
Cha Eun-woo
South Korean singer, actor, and model
Cha Eun-woo, member of the South Korean boy band Astro and star of TV series including True Beauty, turns 29 today.
Born
1997
Turns 29
today
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Argentinian soldier and politician, 13th Governor of Buenos Aires Province
1793 – 1877
Mary Calkins
American philosopher and psychologist
1863 – 1930
Melanie Klein
Austrian-English psychologist and author
1882 – 1960
John Barnhill
American basketball player and coach
1938 – 2013
Samantha Stosur
Australian tennis player
b. 1984 · 42
Palak Muchhal
Indian playback singer
b. 1992 · 34
Music
The number one songs on March 30
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on March 30, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport March 30, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 30, 2017
SpaceX conducts the world's first reflight of an orbital class rocket.
SpaceX launches a previously flown orbital-class rocket, marking the first reuse of its kind.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Land Day (Palestine)
International
Land Day, recurring on March 30, is a day of commemoration for Palestinians, both Arab citizens of Israel and those in the Israeli-occupied territories of the events of that date in 1976 in Israel
National Doctors' Day (United States)
International
National Doctors' Day is a day celebrated to recognize the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities
Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day (Trinidad and Tobago)
International
Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day is an annual public holiday celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago on 30 March
School Day of Non-violence and Peace (Spain)
International
The School Day of Non-violence and Peace is an observance founded by the Spanish poet Llorenç Vidal Vidal in Majorca in 1964 as a starting point and support for a pacifying and non-violent education o