Unix Timestamp: 1080777600
Thursday, April 1. 2004, 12:00:00 AM UTC

Albania and Croatia are admitted to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Albania and Croatia join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. //www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jPTmqJDexK-a1IWV9lsNDP9t0Fpw (AFP via Google News)

A human rights group in Sri Lanka has blamed local security forces for the massacre of 17 aid workers in 2006 and accused the government of a cover-up. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7324061.stm (BBC News)

Ukrainian political rivals rally in Kiev in response to the threat that President Viktor Yushchenko might dissolve the parliament and call for new elections. //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6512941.stm (BBC)

The US Supreme Court hears oral arguments for "Grutter v. Bollinger", (regarding the University of Michigan Law Schools' affirmative action admissions policy), and "Gratz and Hamacher v. Bollinger", (examining the university's undergraduate admissions policy.)

Prisoner of war United States Army Private Jessica Lynch is rescued by U.S. forces from Nasiriya, Iraq //news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2908477.stm (BBC News).

Former president of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milošević surrenders to police special forces, to be tried on charges of war crimes.

The first legal same-sex marriage in the Netherlands is celebrated.

Japanese prime minister Obuchi Keizo suffers a stroke and falls into a coma.

In Laramie, Wyoming, Russell Henderson pleads guilty to kidnapping and felony murder, in order to avoid a possible death penalty conviction for the apparent hate crime killing of Matthew Shepard.

Nunavut, an Inuit homeland, is created from the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories to become Canada's third territory.

Two Libyans suspected of bringing down Pan Am flight 103 in 1988 are handed over to Scottish authorities for eventual trial in the Netherlands. The United Nations suspends sanctions against Libya.

A bomb explodes at the Valley of the Fallen Church in SpainGRAPO claims responsibility.

Kosovo War: Kosovo's main border crossings are closed by Serbian forces to prevent ethnic Albanians from leaving.

Dialog Telekom launches Sri Lanka's first GSMmobile phone network.

The Vatican orders the moving of the Carmeliteconvent at Auschwitz.

Comedy Central is launched in its current format.

Daylight saving time is introduced in the Soviet Union.

April 18 ndash Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria, and forget about, leaving him there without food or drink.

The small market town of Hay-on-Wye declares independence from the UK, as a publicity stunt.

The United Kingdom lifts all restrictions on gold ownership.

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier enters service with the Royal Air Force.

The longrunning soap opera "General Hospital" debuted on ABC.

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop is established.

The first new conscripts join the Bundeswehr.

Winston Churchill resigns as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Richard J. Daley defeats Robert Merrian to become Mayor of Chicago by a vote of 708,222 to 581,555.

EOKA A starts a revolution British rule in Cyprus (taken over from the Ottoman Empire in 1878 and a Crown Colony since 1925).

U.S. President Harry S Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur of his Far Eastern commands.

Female suffrage begins in Greece.

After its removal from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1950, the Stone of Scone resurfaces on the altar of Arbroath Abbey.

WWII ndash Battle of Okinawa: The U.S. 10th Army lands on Okinawa.

The Spanish Civil War comes to an end when the last of the Republican forces surrender.

Aden becomes a British crown colony. Bombing of Jaén, Spain by Nazi forces

Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker kill 2 young highway patrolmen near Grapevine, Texas.

The recently elected Nazis under Julius Streicher organize a one-day boycott of all Jewish-owned businesses in Germany.

U.S. Bureau of Prohibition founded (under Department of the Treasury).

The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service are merged to form the Royal Air Force.

Penny post established between the United Kingdom and Australia.

The rank of Chief Petty Officer is established in the United States Navy.

The city of Maebashi is founded by the samurai Makuba Kawai.

Following a failed attempt at a coup, French defense minister Georges Boulanger is forced to flee the country.

Mumbai Fire Brigade is established.

The British steamer RMS ''Atlantic'' sinks off Nova Scotia, killing 547.

The British steamer RMS "Atlantic" sinks off Nova Scotia, killing 547.

The Hton Normal and Agricultural Institute is established in Hton, Virginia.

The Strait Settlement of Singapore, formerly ruled from Calcutta, becomes a Crown Colony under the jurisdiction of the Colonial Office in London.

American Civil War ndash Battle of Five Forks: In Petersburg, Virginia, Confederate General Robert E. Lee begins his final offensive.

The Spanish and the British end their alliance with France in the French intervention in Mexico..

"Hard Times" begins serialisation in Charles Dickens' magazine, "Household Words".

The Second Burmese War begins.

After 10 days, the insurrection in Brescia is ended by Austrian troops.

Vicente Guerrero becomes the president of Mexico.

Samuel Morey patents the internal combustion engine.

A Proclamation, signed By order of the Committee of Organisation for forming a Provisional Government, begins the Radical War in Scotland.

At Federal Hall, the United States House of Representatives attains its first quorum and elects congressman Frederick Muhlenberg as the first Speaker of the House.

King 1st Jan Kazimierz crowns Our Lady of Częstochowa (the Black Madonna) as Queen and Protector of Poland in the cathedral of Lwów after the miraculous saving of the monastery of Jasna Góra during The Deluge, an event which actually changed the course of the war.

Åmål, Sweden is granted its city charter.

The Plymouth, Massachusetts colonists create the first treaty with native Americans.

Pope Leo XI succeeds Pope Clement VIII as the 232nd pope.

Capture of Brielle: The Sea Beggars, Netherlandish Calvinist rebels, capture the port city of Brielle. This leads to a wave of uprisings in Holland and Zealand against SpanishHabsburg rule, leaving most of those provinces (with the exception of Amsterdam), under rebel control.

English guilds subject to state control.

April ndash The inhabitants of Benevento, Italy rise against the pope and demand some political autonomy. The rebellion is crushed by William of Frejus and the archbishop of Naples.

Berwick-upon-Tweed is retaken by the Scottish from the English.

Kings Towne on the River Hull (Kingston upon Hull) is granted city status by Royal Charter of King Edward I of England.

Fredegund becomes the mistress of Chilperic I after the murder of Galswintha.

A Turkish khan sends emissaries to Byzantium.

Æthelric succeeds his brother Adda as king of Bernicia (traditional date).

The Turks and Sassanids succeed in destroying the Hepthalite empire.

Sigebert I of Austrasia repels an attack from the Avars.

Ceawlin of Wessex defeats Ethelbert of Kent at the Battle of Wibbandun.

King Alboin leads the Lombards into Italy refugees fleeing from them go on to found Venice.

Leovigild succeeds his brother Liuva I as king of the Visigoths.

Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian as co-ruler as an incurable wound saps his strength.

Majorian is acclaimed emperor by the Roman army after defeating 900 Alamanni near Lake Maggiore (Italy).

Constantine the Great, from the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, Rome, is started to be made. It is now kept at Palazzo dei Conservatori, Rome.

Crown Prince Jin Chengdi, age 4, succeeds his father Jin Mingdi as emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. During his reign he is largely advised by regents, his uncle Yu Liang and high-level officials.

Emperor Diocletian elevates his friend Maximian to co-emperor, giving him the title Augustus. The Bagaudae are crushed, after their revolt in Gaul.

Tuoba Chuo succeeds his brother Tuoba Xilu as chieftain of the Tuoba clan.

Carausius, commander of the "Classis Britannica", is accused of piracy and sentenced to death. He responds by declaring himself emperor of Britain and Northwestern Gaul. His forces comprise of the newly built Roman fleet and three legions in Britain. The Carausian Revolt is supported by Gaulish merchant ships and barbarian mercenaries.

Diocletian divides the empire in two, after economic and military problems. He gives Maximian control over the Western Roman Empire and appoints himself ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire (later known as the Byzantine Empire).