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Major Events of April 1996: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from April 1996 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of April 1996: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Apr 1996 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: The 58th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship saw the Kentucky Wildcats defeat Syracuse with a score of 76-67, securing their 6th national championship in a thrilling match.
  • 02 Apr 1996 Unabomber Captured: Federal agents successfully apprehended Theodore 'Ted' Kaczynski in Montana, ending a nearly two-decade long domestic terrorism campaign. Kaczynski, known as the 'Unabomber', was responsible for a series of mail bombings that killed 3 people and injured 23 others.
  • 03 Apr 1996 Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski Captured: Theodore Kaczynski, the notorious domestic terrorist known as the 'Unabomber', was captured at his isolated cabin in Montana, United States. His arrest marked the end of a long manhunt and brought closure to a series of deadly mail bombings that had terrorized the country for years.
  • 04 Apr 1996 Comet Hyakutake Imaged by NASA Spacecraft: The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft successfully captures images of Comet Hyakutake, contributing to scientific understanding of cometary structures and space exploration.
  • 05 Apr 1996 Marlon Brando Controversial Interview: Renowned actor Marlon Brando made controversial anti-Semitic remarks about Hollywood during an appearance on Larry King's television show, sparking significant media and public backlash.
  • 06 Apr 1996 Major League Soccer Inaugural Match: Major League Soccer (MLS) officially launched in the United States with its first-ever professional match at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California. The San Jose Clash defeated D.C. United 1-0, with forward Eric Wynalda scoring the league's historic first goal in front of a packed crowd of 31,683 enthusiastic fans.
  • 07 Apr 1996 Jayasuriya Sets ODI Record with Fastest Fifty: Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya made history by hitting the fastest One Day International (ODI) fifty, scoring 50 runs off just 17 balls in a match against Pakistan in Singapore.
  • 08 Apr 1996 Bruce Seldon Wins WBA Heavyweight Title: On April 8, 1996, Bruce Seldon defeated Tony Tucker by technical knockout (TKO) in the 7th round, claiming the vacated World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight championship. This victory marked a significant moment in Seldon's boxing career, establishing him as a prominent heavyweight contender of the mid-1990s.
  • 09 Apr 1996 Devastating Earthquake in Iran: On April 9, 1996, a powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Iran, causing significant loss of life and widespread destruction. The seismic event resulted in 32 fatalities and left over 850 people injured, highlighting the region's vulnerability to geological instability.
  • 10 Apr 1996 Record-Breaking Wind Speed on Barrow Island: On April 10, 1996, the most extreme wind speed ever recorded outside of a tornado was documented during Tropical Cyclone Olivia on Barrow Island, Australia. The phenomenal wind speed reached an astonishing 408 kilometers per hour (253 miles per hour), which represents an unprecedented meteorological event. This measurement was officially verified and stands as a remarkable testament to the potential intensity of tropical cyclones in the region.
  • 11 Apr 1996 Qana Massacre: A tragic incident where Israeli forces shelled a United Nations compound in Qana, Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of over 100 Lebanese civilians, which became a significant international humanitarian crisis.
  • 12 Apr 1996 Yahoo! Goes Public on Wall Street: Yahoo!, one of the pioneering internet companies of the 1990s, launched its initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ stock exchange, selling 2.6 million shares at $13 per share. This event marked a significant milestone in the early days of the commercial internet, signaling the growing economic potential of digital technologies.
  • 13 Apr 1996 Israeli Helicopter Attack on Civilian Ambulance in Lebanon: During the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon, an Israeli military helicopter launched a rocket attack on an ambulance in the village of Mansouri, resulting in the tragic deaths of two women and four children. This incident highlighted the severe civilian casualties in the region's ongoing tensions.
  • 14 Apr 1996 Nick Faldo Wins Masters Tournament: English golfer Nick Faldo wins his third Masters and sixth and final major title, decisively defeating Greg Norman of Australia by 5 strokes at the 60th US Masters Tournament.
  • 15 Apr 1996 Troy Treasure Exhibition in Moscow: The legendary treasure of Primos, originally discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in Troy in 1873 and taken from Berlin by Russians in 1945, was publicly exhibited in Moscow for the first time. This event marked a significant moment in cultural repatriation, as the Soviet Union had previously denied knowledge of these hundreds of thousands of artifacts.
  • 16 Apr 1996 Launch of Wanadoo Internet Service by France Telecom: France Telecom introduced its Wanadoo Internet service, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of internet accessibility in France during the mid-1990s. This service played a crucial role in bringing internet connectivity to French households and businesses, contributing to the country's digital transformation.
  • 17 Apr 1996 Murder of Police Constable Yvonne Fletcher in London: A tragic incident occurred when Police Constable Yvonne Fletcher was fatally shot by gunfire from the Libyan Embassy in London during a small demonstration. The attack resulted in Fletcher's death and left ten additional individuals wounded, creating an international diplomatic incident and highlighting tensions between the UK and Libya.
  • 18 Apr 1996 Qana Massacre: On April 18, 1996, a tragic incident occurred when Israel Defense Forces shelled a United Nations compound in Qana, Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of over 100 Lebanese civilians who had sought refuge at the site. This event became known as the Qana Massacre and sparked international condemnation of the military action.
  • 19 Apr 1996 Historic Tornado Outbreak in Illinois: On April 19, 1996, Illinois experienced its largest recorded tornado outbreak. A total of 39 tornadoes were observed statewide, with four tornadoes in the Chicago forecast area. A particularly significant F2 tornado in Zion caused substantial damage and resulted in two injuries, highlighting the severe weather event's intensity.
  • 20 Apr 1996 Chicago Bulls Set NBA Season Win Record: The Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, achieved a historic milestone by winning 72 games in a single NBA season, setting a new record for most wins in a regular season. This extraordinary achievement highlighted the team's dominance during the 1995-1996 season.
  • 21 Apr 1996 Chicago Bulls Set NBA Record: The Chicago Bulls achieved a historic milestone by winning their 72nd game of the season, setting a new NBA record for most wins in a single season. This remarkable achievement highlighted the team's dominance during the Michael Jordan era.
  • 22 Apr 1996 Fatal Climbing Accident at Yosemite National Park: A tragic solo climbing incident occurred on El Capitan involving M.B., a 26-year-old Yosemite Institute employee. During a solo climb, the victim experienced a fatal fall of 300 feet after his climbing rope became unexpectedly jammed behind a rock flake.
  • 23 Apr 1996 Vermont Supreme Court Advances LGBTQ+ Rights: The Supreme Court of Vermont makes a groundbreaking ruling in favor of equal rights for same-sex couples, becoming the first state in the United States to provide legal protections and recognition for same-sex partnerships.
  • 24 Apr 1996 PLO and Israel Mutually Drop Controversial Clauses: In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Yasser Arafat leads the Palestine Liberation Organization to drop its clause calling for Israel's removal. In response, the Israeli government reciprocates by removing a similar clause regarding Palestine's existence, signaling potential progress towards peace.
  • 25 Apr 1996 Death of Saul Bass, Legendary Graphic Designer: Saul Bass, a pioneering American graphic designer renowned for his iconic movie title sequences and corporate logos, passed away at age 74. His innovative visual design work significantly influenced modern graphic design and film aesthetics.
  • 26 Apr 1996 Port Arthur Massacre: Martin Bryant commits a devastating mass shooting at the Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania, Australia, killing 35 people in one of the country's worst mass murder events. This tragedy led to significant gun control reforms in Australia.
  • 27 Apr 1996 Operation Grapes of Wrath Concludes in Lebanon: The Israeli military operation in Lebanon, known as Operation Grapes of Wrath, concluded after 16 days of intense military engagement, marking a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanese forces.
  • 28 Apr 1996 Port Arthur Massacre: On April 28, 1996, Martin Bryant conducted one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern Australian history at the Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania. Bryant killed 35 people and wounded 23 others in a horrific rampage that shocked the nation and led to significant gun control reforms in Australia.
  • 29 Apr 1996 Rent Musical Broadway Premiere: The groundbreaking musical 'Rent' opens at the Nederlander Theater in New York City, marking the beginning of a revolutionary theatrical production that would redefine modern musical theater.
  • 30 Apr 1996 Clinton Approves Strategic Petroleum Reserve Sale: President Bill Clinton authorizes the sale of $227 million worth of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a strategic economic and energy policy decision aimed at managing national petroleum resources.