On this day
Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
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Autos on Friday column on solemn ceremony in Rome at which Cardinal Angelo Sodano blesses cars, buses and other vehicles, and asks patron saint of motorists to watch over Rome's drivers; photos (M)
In Russia, Backlash at Iran After Iran's president made a rare state visit, more Russians are questioning the prudence of selling arms and nuclear technology to a country accused of terrorist links. PAGE A8
Population of New York City surges past 8 million for first time; 6 percent growth spurt in last decade outpaces state and suburbs for first time in decades; figures released from 2000 census show city grew by 456,000 people to 8,008,278, accounting for more than two-thirds of total state population gain; analysts say decade of sustained immigration, combined with several years of prosperity, helped drive increase by drawing newcomers and persuading New Yorkers to stay put; it is not clear how much of increase is due to more accurate count; city officials say they believe at least half of city increase reflects actual growth; over all, New York State grew at slower rate of 4 percent; in upstate region, only handful of towns and cities show any growth at all; New York City population began to slip in 1950's and grew only slightly or declined in every 10-year census until 1990; census figures offer preview of more detailed demographic picture to come; map (L)
Vast majority of growth in New York City's population count occurred in Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx, in neighborhoods that are being transformed by arrival of unprecedented number of largely Hispanic and Asian immigrants; proportion of blacks remains stable at just under one-quarter of city's official population count; Latinos now outnumber blacks in city for first time; nearly one in 10 New Yorkers is Asian; whites have dwindled to just over third; largest increase is in Queens, where population count grew by 225,000, more than 11 percent since 1990 census; counts for Brooklyn and Bronx each rise by more than 85,000 people; Staten Island count increased by 60,000, or 15 percent; maps showing previous census counts in boroughs (L)
Shares of Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux SA soar after company reports stronger-than-expected growth of revenue and earnings last year (S)
Music on My Birthday
The Top 50 albums for the chart week of March 14, 2001, covering March 16, 2001.
Dave Matthews Band
Shaggy
DJ Clue
Project Pat
Dido
2001Kyle Hamilton, American football player[†]
Kyle Devin Hamilton is an American professional football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, earning consensus All-American honors in 2021 before being selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
2001Bob Wollek, French race car driver (born 1943)[†]
Robert Jean Wollek, nicknamed "Brilliant Bob", was a race car driver from Strasbourg, France. He won a total of 76 races in his career, 71 in Porsche cars, including four editions of the 24 Hours of Daytona and one edition of the 12 Hours of Sebring. He died in a road accident in Florida while riding a bicycle back to his accommodation after the day's practice sessions for the following day's race, the 12 Hours of Sebring.
2001A series of bomb blasts in the city of Shijiazhuang, China kill 108 people and injure 38 others, the biggest mass murder in China in decades.[†]
The Shijiazhuang bombings, also known as Jin Ruchao bombings and March 16 bombings, were a series of bomb blasts that took place on March 16, 2001, in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province in North China. A total of 108 people were killed, and 38 others injured when within a short period of time several bombs exploded near four apartment buildings. Investigations found that Jin was motivated by hatred for his ex-wife, ex-mother-in-law and a lover; he had previously threatened to blow up their buildings.
In 2001, the world population was approximately 6,254,936,459 people[†]