Unix Timestamp: 1208044800
Sunday, April 13. 2008, 12:00:00 AM UTC

Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3, a North Korean Earth observation satellite, explodes shortly after launch. The United States and other countries had called the impending launch a violation of United Nations Security Council demands.ref name =NK_satellite/ The launch was planned to mark the centenary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the founder of the republic.ref name =NK_satellite

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake occurs in Qinghai, China, killing at least 2,000 and injuring more than 10,000.

Mass media in Fiji protest against government censorship. //english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/04/20094139499153778.html (Al Jazeera)

Tercentenary celebrations of the creation of the SikhKhalsa are held.

Kosovo War: NATO warplanes repeatedly bombed ethic Albanian refugee convoys for two hours over twelve-mile stretch of road after mistaking it for Serbian military trucks between Đakovica and Dečani in western Kosovo, killing at least 73 refugees.

Roermond, the Netherlands, is rocked by an earthquake along the Peel Fault.

Cold War: The Soviet Union apologizes for the Katyn Massacre.

Portugal and the People's Republic of China sign an agreement in which Macau will be returned to China in 1999.

Pope John Paul II officially visits the Synagogue of Rome, the first time a modern Pope has visited a synagogue.

India launches Operation Meghdoot, as most of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir comes under Indian control.

The La Soufrière volcano erupts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Universal Postal Union decides to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese representative, effectively expelling the Republic of China administering Taiwan.

Vietnam War – Nguyen Hue Offensive: Prompted by the North Vietnamese offensive, the United States resumes bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong.

"Apollo 16" (John Young, Ken Mattingly, Charlie Duke) is launched. During the mission, the astronauts achieve a lunar rover speed record of 18 km/h.

An oxygen tank in the Apollo 13 spacecraft explodes, forcing the crew to abort the mission and return in 4 days.

Rev. Ian Paisley wins a by-election to gain a seat in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland.

The National Westminster Bank begins trading in the United Kingdom.

Queensland: The Brisbane Tramways end service after 84 years of operation.

Conservatives win the Greater London Council elections.

United States president Lyndon Johnson signs the 1966 Uniform Time Act, dealing with daylight saving time.

The 36th Academy Awards ceremony is held.

Sidney Poitier is the first black person to win an Academy Award in the catergory Best Actor in a Leading Role in Lilies of the Field

The 33rd Academy Awards ceremony is held.

The Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba begins it fails by April 19.

In Portugal, a coup attempt against António de Oliveira Salazar fails.

The Hadassah medical convoy massacre takes place in British Mandate of Palestine.

WWII: Radio Berlin announces the discovery by Wehrmacht of mass graves of Poles killed by Soviets in the Katyn massacre.

The United States Federal Communications Commission's minimum programming time required of TV stations is cut from 15 hours to 4 hours a week during the war.

The Soviet Union and Japan sign a neutrality pact.ref name=ref1

The New York Rangerswin the Stanley Cup. It would be another 54 years before their next win.

At a meeting in Paris, French Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet meets with Soviet Ambassador Jakob Suritz, and suggests that a peace front comprising France, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, Poland and Romania would deter Germany from war.

John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath" is first published.

Britain offers a guarantee to Romania and Greece.

The Children and Young Persons Act is passed in the United Kingdom.

The State of Massachusetts opens all public offices to women.

Mexican Revolution: Rebels take Agua Prieta on the SonorandashArizona border government troops take the town back April 17 when the rebel leader Red López is drunk.

A new car speed record of is set in Nice, France, by Leon Serpollet.

The Napier Expedition ends with the suicide of Tewodros and the capture of Magdala by the British-Indian task force.

Government of Vietnam is forced to cede the territories of Biên Hòa, Gia Định and Dinh Tuong to France.

American Civil War: Fort Sumter surrenders to Southern forces.

First Anglo-Afghan War: British victory at the Battle of Jellalabad.

Passage of the Catholic Relief Act by Parliament of the United Kingdom granting a substantial measure of Catholic Emancipation in Britain and Ireland.ref name=Pocket On This Day

Eleven-year-old Franz Liszt gives a concert after which he is personally congratulated by Ludwig van Beethoven.

America's first recorded riot, the 'Doctors' Mob', begins. Residents of Manhattan are angry about grave robbers stealing bodies for doctors to dissect. The rioting is suppressed on the 15th.

James Cook arrives in Tahiti on the ship HM Bark \\\\'\\\\'Endeavour\\\\'\\\\', preparing to observe the transit of the planet Venus, which takes place on June 3. After the voyage, the data is found to be inaccurate in determining the distance between the Sun and Earth.

James Cook arrives in Tahiti on the ship HM Bark "Endeavour", preparing to observe the transit of the planet Venus, which takes place on June 3. After the voyage, the data is found to be inaccurate in determining the distance between the Sun and Earth.

George Frideric Handel's oratorio "The Messiah" is first performed in Dublin, Ireland.

Emperor Sakuramachi accedes to the throne of Japan.

The 10th Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh, creates the Khalsa.

King Charles I of England summons the Short Parliament in an attempt to fund the second of the Bishops' Wars.

May ndash France declares war on Spain.

Maronite warlord Fah-al-Din II is executed in Constantinople.

Thirty Years\\' War: Gustav Adolf of Swedendefeats an imperial garrison at the city of Frankfurt an der Oder.

Samuel Argall captures Algonquian princess Pocahontas in Passapatanzy, Virginia to ransom her for some English prisoners held by her father. She is brought to Henricus as hostage.

June ndash At Jamestown, John Rolfe makes the first shipment of West Indian tobacco grown in Virginia to England.

Tsar Boris Godunov dies Feodor II accedes to the Russian throne.

Edict of Nantes: Henry IV of France grants French Huguenots equal rights with Catholics this is considered the end of the French Wars of Religion.

Seven-Year War: The Siege of Busan (an early action in the Japanese invasions of Korea) begins.

Simon Apulia becomes Bishop of Exeter.

Fourth Crusade: The Crusaders take Constantinople by storm, and pillage the city for 3 days.

Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter.

Pope Victor II succeeds Pope Leo IX as the 153rd pope.

An abbey was set up at Tihany, Hungary by András (Andrew) I. The foundation charter was drawn up on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. This is the earliest written record extant in the Hungarian language.