April 10th

Polish President Lech Kaczynski was killed in a plane crash in western Russia that also claimed the lives of his wife and top Polish political, military and church officials.

A woman wearing an explosives vest strapped underneath her black robe blew herself up in the midst of 200 police recruits in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, killing 16.

The Netherlands legalized mercy killings and assisted suicide for patients with unbearable, terminal illness.

Negotiators in Northern Ireland reached a landmark settlement that called for Protestants and Catholics to share power.

Financier Charles Keating Jr. was sentenced in Los Angeles to nine years in prison for swindling investors when his Lincoln Savings and Loan collapsed. (The convictions were later overturned).

Imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands won election to the British Parliament.

US, USSR & 70 other nations agree to ban biological weapons.

The Beatles break up as Paul McCartney leaves the band. In their ten years of existence, the British rock group became one of the most successful bands of all time, selling over a billion albums, according to EMI. McCartney's announcement came a week before the release of his debut solo album, the starting point of a successful solo career.

Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey announced he had purchased the contract of Jackie Robinson from the Montreal Royals, paving the way for Robinson to become the first black to play in the major leagues.

Allies liberate 1st Nazi concentration camp, Buchenwald (Czech).

Adolf Hitler came in second in voting for German president to the incumbent, Paul von Hindenburg.

RMS Titanic sets sail from Southampton for her maiden (and final) voyage.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was incorporated.

'Big Ben', a 13.76 tonne bell, is recast in the Tower of Westminster.

Mount Tambora explodes in one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. At least 71,000 people were killed by the eruption. The explosion was heard up to 2000 km (1200 mi) away.

1st Jewish ghetto established: Venice compels Jews to live in a specific area.

Lama Deshin Shekpa visits the Ming Dynasty capital at Nanjing and is awarded the title Great Treasure Prince of Dharma.