Historical Events
CMT Music Awards
Apr 2 22nd CMT Video Music Awards: Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown, Lainey Wilson, and Jelly Roll win
- Apr 2 41st NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: American Airlines Center Dallas, Texas: LSU defeat Iowa Hawkeyes, 102-85 to win Tigers' first-ever national title; MOP: Angel Reese (LSU)
Election of Interest
Apr 2 Finnish parliamentary elections give the center right National Coalition Party led by Petteri Orpo a slender advantage, defeating PM Sanna Marin's center left Social Democrats without a clear majority [1]
- Apr 2 Footage of deepest living fish ever recorded, the snailfish, released caught on camera at depth of 27,349 feet (8,336 meters) in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench, south of Japan [1]
- Apr 2 Lake Tulare, once the largest body of water west of the Mississippi, re-emerges after a series of storms in California's Central Valley to cover 160 square miles [1]
- Apr 3 NASA announces the four astronauts for 2024 Artemis II lunar mission around the Moon - Christina Hammock Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen [1]
- Apr 4 Finland officially joins NATO at a ceremony in Brussels, becoming its 31st member and doubling NATO's border with Russia [1]
Trump Pleads Not Guilty
Apr 4 Former US president Donald Trump pleads not guilty in a NY court to 34 felony counts of falsifying documents related to 2016 hush money payments to a woman alleging they had an extramarital affair
- Apr 5 84th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas: UConn defeat the San Diego State Aztecs, 76–59 for Huskies' 5th national title; MOP: Adama Sanogo (UConn)
- Apr 6 Guinness world record for largest afro at 5ft 5in (165cm) set for the third time by Aevin Dugas of Reserve, Louisiana [1]
- Apr 7 U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk suspends Food and Drug Administration's approval of key abortion pill mifepristone, leading to US government request for legal appeal to stop nationwide ban [1]
87th US Masters Tournament
Apr 9 87th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jon Rahm becomes 4th Spaniard to win the tournament; finishes on -12 to beat Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka by 4 strokes
- Apr 9 Joel Embiid is named the NBA scoring champion for the second straight season, averaging 33.1 points per game
Sports History
Apr 9 Kawhi Leonard leads the Los Angeles Clippers to a win over the Phoenix Suns, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket
Dalai Lama Apologizes
Apr 10 The Dalai Lama apologizes for a video showing him asking a boy to suck his tongue, after widespread criticism [1]
- Apr 11 Largest cosmic explosion ever recorded (AT2021lwx)- fireball 100 x size of the solar system with a brightness 2trillion x the sun’s, thought to be large gas cloud entering a supermassive black hole eight million lights years away [1]
- Apr 11 Myanmar military kill at least 133 civilians, including children, in an airstrike on Kanbalu township in an area not under control of the military junta [1]
- Apr 11 NHL Boston Bruins break record for most team points in a season at 133, in a 5-2 victory over visiting Washington Capitols; Montreal Canadiens held record of 132 since 1977
- Apr 11 Russian volcano Shiveluch erupts spewing ash 20 kilometers into the air in the country's eastern Kamchatka region [1]
- Apr 12 Ghana is the first country to approve a new vaccine for Malaria, the Mosquirix– RTS,S, made at Oxford University. The first time a major new vaccine is first approved in Africa. [1]
- Apr 12 New York City appoints it first-ever rat czar as Kathleen Corradi becomes the city's first-ever director of rat mitigation [1]
- Apr 12 US Environmental Protection Agency proposes landmark set of pollution regulations to drive down greenhouse-gas emissions, including electric vehicles making up 67% of new passenger-car sales by 2032 [1]
- Apr 13 American F.B.I. arrests 21-year-old member of Massachusetts Air National Guard for leaking classified documents, including national security secrets, on an online gaming chat group [1]
- Apr 13 Tropical Cyclone Ilsa makes landfall in remote western Australia, between De Grey and Pardoo Roadhouse, as a category five storm, setting a new sustained wind speed record of 218 kph (135 mph) [1]
- Apr 14 European Space Agency's mission to Jupiter's moons, the Juice satellite launches on an Ariane-5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana [1]
- Apr 14 Royal Bank of Canada named the world's largest financier of fossil fuels, bypassing JPMorgan, according to the Banking on Climate Chaos report by a group of environmental organizations [1]
- Apr 15 Germany ends its use of nuclear power, closing its last three nuclear power plants - Emsland, Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim to focus on renewable energy [1]
- Apr 15 Indian Atiq Ahmed, former lawmaker and convicted criminal, assassinated live on TV along with his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, while under police guard [1]
Phantom of the Opera
Apr 16 Broadway’s longest-running show, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart's musical "Phantom of the Opera", directed by Hal Prince and starring Laird Mackintosh substituting for ill Ben Crawford) and Emelie Kouatchou, closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 13,981 performances and 7 Tony Award wins [1] [2]
- Apr 16 Spanish extreme athlete Beatriz Flamini exits a deep cave in Granada, Spain, after spending 500 days isolated underground in probable world record, as part of social isolation experiment [1]
- Apr 16 Sudan erupts into violence as street fighting and bombing raids strike Khartoum amid a power struggle between military generals al-Burhan and Hamdan, killing more than 83 people and injuring over 1,126 [1]
- Apr 17 New Research shows the Great Pacific Garbage Patch now has coast creatures living and breeding in it, including jellyfish, sponges and worms raising concerns about the spread of invasive species [1]
- Apr 18 Fox News settles lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million, moments before trial, with Fox admitting it had defamed Dominion during US 2020 election by broadcasting conspiracy theories [1]
- Apr 19 At least 78 people are killed, crushed in a crowd waiting for handouts at a school in Sanaa, Yemen during a Ramadan event [1]
- Apr 20 136 people massacred in village of Karma, Burkina Faso, one of the country worst attacks on civilians, blamed on the country's security forces [1]
- Apr 20 Colombian President Gustavo Petro meets with US President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington [1]
Editor Sacked for AI Interview
Apr 22 Editor of German magazine "Die Aktuelle" sacked after running a so-called interview generated by AI with FI racing driver Michael Schumacher [1]
- Apr 22 Foreign countries begin evacuating their citizens out of Khartoum, Sudan's capital, as fighting continues to escalate, with WHO and UN saying over 400 people killed and 200,000 fled the country [1]
- Apr 22 Record outbreak of dengue fever in northwest Argentina kills over 40 people and infects more than 60,000 [1]
- Apr 23 At least 100 bodies discovered in shallow graves in Shakahola forest, eastern Kenya. Believed to be members of Good News International Church, which encourages salvation through starvation. [1]
- Apr 23 Brooke Raboutou wins a gold medal in bouldering at the IFSC World Cup in Hachioji, Japan
- Apr 23 Chevron Championship Women's Golf, The Club at Carlton Woods: Lilia Vu wins her first major beating fellow American Angel Yin on the first playoff hole
- Apr 23 MLB Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida hits a solo home run and a grand slam in the eight inning in 12-5 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee
- Apr 24 India surpasses China as the worlds most populous country according to UN estimates, with 1,425,775,850 people (estimated to reach 1.7 billion by 2064) [1]
Tucker Carlson Fired
Apr 24 Tucker Carlson, Fox News most popular prime-time host, is fired from the cable network [1]
- Apr 26 US President Joe Biden announces his bid for a second term saying he has a “job to finish” [1]
- Apr 26 Writer E. Jean Carroll testifies in a NY court that Donald Trump raped her in a department store in the 1990s [1]
- Apr 27 Findings from the Zoonomia Project published - where genomes of 240 mammals collected and compared. Reveals 10.7% of the human genome identical to almost all species. [1]
Pence Testifies to Grand Jury
Apr 27 Former Vice President Mike Pence appears before the federal grand jury investigating President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss [1]
The Late Late Show
Apr 27 James Corden's final appearance as host of "The Late Late Show" on CBS, after 1,196 episodes
- Apr 27 NFL Draft: Alabama quarterback Bryce Young first pick by the Carolina Panthers
- Apr 27 Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari awarded Royal Institute of British Architects' Royal Gold Medal for her humanitarian work providing structures for Pakistanis' marginalized communities [1]
Lula Decrees New Indigenous Reserves
Apr 28 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decrees six new indigenous reserves covering 620,000 hectares (1.5m acres), with bans on mining and restrictions on commercial farming [1]
Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Concert
Apr 29 Country singer Willie Nelson hosts first of two-night 90th birthday concerts for himself at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California; guest performers include Lyle Lovett; Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, George Strait; Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Norah Jones, Chris Stapleton, Beck, Edie Brickell, Tom Jones, and Ziggy Marley, among others
- Apr 30 Country singer Willie Nelson hosts second of two-night 90th birthday concerts for himself at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California; guest performers include Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Keith Richards, Bob Wieir, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliffe, Dwight Yoakam, Sheryl Crow, and Billy Strings, among others
- Apr 30 Seattle Kraken become first NHL franchise to earn its first-ever playoff series win against reigning Stanley Cup champion, eliminating Colorado Avalanche in 7 games
Famous Weddings
- Apr 20 Big Bang Theory actor Kevin Sussman marries Addie Hall at Cheekwood Gardens in Nashville
Simone Biles
Apr 22 American Olympic gymnast Simone Biles (26) weds American NFL football player Jonathan Owens (27) in Houston, Texas
- Apr 22 Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg (32) marries businessman Nicholas Bagoy (33) at Luxembourg Town Hall [1]
Famous Deaths
- Apr 1 Hans "Buffy" Ettmayer, Austrian soccer midfielder (30 caps; FC Wacker Innsbruck, VfB Stuttgart, Hamburger SV, Freiburger FC), dies at 76
- Apr 1 Ken Buchanan, Scottish boxer (undisputed world lightweight champion 1971), dies from dementia at 77
- Apr 2 Salim Durani, Indian cricket all-rounder (29 Tests, 1 x 100, 74 wickets, BB 6/73; Saurashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan), dies from cancer at 88
- Apr 2 Seymour Stein [Steinbigle], American music label executive (Sire Records- signed Madonna, Ramones, Talking Heads), and co-founder of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, dies of cancer at 80 [1]
- Apr 3 Nigel Lawson, British journalist and politician (UK Chancellor 1983-89, reformed tax laws), dies at 91 [1]
- Apr 4 Birger Jensen, Danish soccer goalkeeper (19 caps; Club Brugge KV 328 games), dies at 72
Craig Breedlove (1937-2023)
Apr 4 American auto racer (5 x world land speed record holder; first to reach 500mph (800km/h) and 600mph (970km/h), dies of cancer at 86
- Apr 4 Vivian Trimble, American alt-rock keyboardist (Luscious Jackson; Dusty Trails), dies of cancer at 59
- Apr 5 Ian McIntosh, Zimbabwean rugby union coach (South Africa 1993-94; Natal), dies at 84
- Apr 5 Sergio "Bobo" Gori, Italian soccer midfielder, forward (3 caps; Vicenza, Cagliari 166 games, Juventus), dies at 77
- Apr 5 Sudhir Naik, Indian cricket batsman (3 Tests, 1 x 50; Bombay), dies at 78
- Apr 7 (Edward) "Kidd" Jordan, American jazz saxophonist and music educator, dies at 87
- Apr 7 Ian Bairnson, Scottish session and touring guitarist (Alan Parsons Project; Kate Bush), dies at 69 [1]
- Apr 7 John Regan, American session and touring rock bassist (Frehley's Comet; Peter Frampton), dies at 71
- Apr 7 Lasse Wellander, Swedish session and touring guitarist (Abba), dies of cancer at 70
- Apr 8 Michael Lerner, American stage and screen actor (Eight Men Out; Harlem Nights: Barton Fink), dies at 81
- Apr 9 Fred Pancoast, American college football coach (University of Tampa, Memphis State University, Vanderbilt University), dies at 90
- Apr 9 Karl Berger, German-American jazz pianist, vibraphone player, and musicologist, dies of post-surgical complications at 88
- Apr 10 Al Jaffee, American comic strip cartoonist and illustrator (MAD Magazine), dies at 102 [1]
- Apr 10 Anne Perry [Juliet Marion Hulme], English-born crime writer (convicted of murder as a child as filmed in "Heavenly Creatures"), dies at 84 [1]
- Apr 10 Pierre Lacotte, French choreographer and ballet historian, dies of sepsis at 91 [1]
- Apr 11 Miguel Escobar, Colombian soccer defender (15 caps; Deportivo Pereira, Deportivo Cali), dies at 77
Mary Quant (1934-2023)
Apr 13 English fashion designer (1960s fashion icon who popularised the mini skirt and the Mod Look), dies at 93 [1]
- Apr 14 Ken Archer, Australian cricket batsman (5 Tests; Queensland CA), dies at 95
- Apr 14 Mark Sheehan, Irish rock guitarist and songwriter (The Script - "For The First Time"), dies at 46
- Apr 15 Faith Thomas, Australian cricket fast bowler (1 WTest; first Indigenous woman to represent Australia in any sport; South Australia), dies at 90
- Apr 16 Ahmad Jamal [Frederick Jones], American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and educator, dies of prostate cancer at 92 [1]
- Apr 16 Eddie Colquhoun, Scottish soccer centre back (11 caps; Sheffield United 363 games), dies at 78
- Apr 17 April Stevens [Caroline LoTempio], American vocalist ("Deep Purple" - the song, not the band), dies at 93
- Apr 17 Pavlo Shkapenko, Ukrainian midfielder/striker (10 caps; FC Dynamo Kyiv, FC Torpedo Moscow), dies at 50
- Apr 19 (Elmer) "Bud" Shuster, American politician (US Representative-R-PA, 1973-2001), dies at 91
- Apr 19 Dave Wilcox, American Pro Football HOF linebacker (First-team All-Pro 1971, 72; 7 x Pro Bowl; San Francisco 49ers), dies at 80
- Apr 19 Moonbin [Moon Bin], South Korean K-pop singer and actor, dies in a suspected suicide at 25 [1]
- Apr 19 Richard Riordan, American politician (Mayor of Los Angeles (R) 1993-2001), dies at 92 [1]
- Apr 20 Josep Maria Fusté, Spanish soccer midfielder (8 caps; FC Barcelona), dies at 82
- Apr 22 Barry Humphries, Australian Tony Award-winning comedian, actor and author known for his stage alter egos (Dame Edna Everage, Sir Les Patterson), dies of complications after hip surgery at 89 [1]
- Apr 22 Len Goodman, British ballroom dancing champion and television personality (Strictly Come Dancing, 2004-16; Dancing with the Stars, 2005-22), dies of bone cancer at 78
- Apr 22 Mick Loftus, Irish Gaelic footballer (Mayo) and executive (President Gaelic Athletic Association 1985–88), dies at 93
- Apr 22 Mike Coulman, English rugby union prop (9 Tests England, 1 British & Irish Lions; Moseley RUFC) and rugby league front rower (3 Tests GB, 5 England; Salford RLFC), dies at 78
- Apr 23 Dick Towers, American college football coach (Southern Illinois University 1967-73) and executive (AD Kansas State University 1981-85), dies from multiple myeloma at 92
Harry Belafonte (1927-2023)
Apr 25 Jamaican-American Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning calypso singer ("Banana Boat Song"), actor (Buck & the Preacher), and human rights activist, dies of congestive heart failure at 96 [1]
- Apr 25 Paul van Vliet, Dutch comedian and singer, dies at 87
- Apr 25 Vera Krepkina, Russian athlete (Olympic gold USSR long jump 1960; WR 4×100m relay 1956, tied WR 100m 11.3s 1958), dies at 90
- Apr 27 (Charles William) "Wee Willie" Harris, English singer known as "Britain's wild man of rock 'n' roll", dies at 90 [1]
- Apr 27 Dick Groat, American baseball shortstop (NL MVP & NL batting champion 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates; 8 x MLB All-Star; St. Louis Cardinals) and College Basketball HOF guard (Duke Uni; Fort Wayne Pistons), dies at 92
Jerry Springer (1944-2023)
Apr 27 German-American politician (Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1977), and television tabloid talk show host (Jerry Springer, 1991-2018), dies of pancreatic cancer at 79
- Apr 27 Rosemary Cramp, British archaeologist who specialized in the Anglo-Saxons (Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey), dies at 93
- Apr 28 Jim Fox, British pentathlete (Olympics gold team 1976), dies at 81
- Apr 28 Taini Jamison (née Royal), New Zealand netball coach (New Zealand 1967-71; World C'ship 1967), dies at 95
- Apr 29 Don Sebesky, American Grammy and Tony Award-winning arranger, composer, orchestra leader, jazz trombonist, and accordion player (Maynard Ferguson; Wes Montgomery; CTI Records), dies of complications of Parkinson's disease at 85 [1]
- Apr 29 Mike Shannon, American baseball utility (World Series 1964, 67 St. Louis Cardinals) and broadcaster (St. Louis Cardinals radio 1972-2021), dies of long COVID at 83
- Apr 29 Tim Bachman, Canadian rock guitarist and vocalist (Brave Belt; Bachman–Turner Overdrive), dies of brain cancer at 71
- Apr 29 Yuri Korolyov, Russian artistic gymnast (World All-Around Champion 1981, 85; World Cup All-Around Co-Champion 1986), dies at 60
- Apr 30 Jock Zonfrillo, Scottish chef (Masterchef Australia judge), dies at 46 [1]
Ralph Boston (1939-2023)
Apr 30 American athlete (Olympic gold long jump 1960, silver 1964, bronze 1968; first to break 27 feet [8.2m] barrier), dies after a stroke at 83
Assassination
Drug Overdose
Gunshot Wound
Murder
Plane Crash
Suicide