April 8

Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024: A total solar eclipse takes place at the Moon's ascending node, visible across North America.

Bernie Sanders ends his presidential campaign, leaving Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee.

Windows XP reaches its standard End Of Life and is no longer supported.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sign the New START Treaty.

A solar eclipse occurs, visible over areas of the Pacific Ocean and Latin American countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-110, carrying the S0 truss to the International Space Station. Astronaut Jerry L. Ross also becomes the first person to fly on seven spaceflights.

The Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on mission STS-56.

The conservative New Democracy party of Constantine Mitsotakis is elected in the Greek parliamentary election.

Voyageurs National Park is established by the U.S. Congress

Hank Aaron passes Babe Ruth as the all-time leader in career home runs by hitting his 715th home run off of Al Downing at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Bahr El-Baqar primary school bombing: Israeli bombers strike an Egyptian school. Forty-six children are killed.

BOAC Flight 712 catches fire shortly after takeoff. As a result of her actions in the accident, Barbara Jane Harrison is awarded a posthumous George Cross, the only GC awarded to a woman in peacetime.

The Netherlands and West Germany sign an agreement to negotiate the return of German land annexed by the Dutch in return for 280 million German marks as Wiedergutmachung.

A team of computer manufacturers, users, and university people led by Grace Hopper meets to discuss the creation of a new programming language that would be called COBOL.

The Organization of American States drafts an agreement to create the Inter-American Development Bank.

A Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair Harvard collides with a Trans-Canada Airlines Canadair North Star over Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, killing 37 people.

South African Airways Flight 201: A de Havilland DH.106 Comet 1 crashes into the sea during night killing 21 people.

The Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party elects Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal as General Secretary, marking the beginning of his 44-year-long tenure as de facto leader of Mongolia.

The French Third Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland sign the Entente cordiale.

In Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. the Supreme Court of the United States declares unapportioned income tax to be unconstitutional.

William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons.

Austro-Prussian War: Italy and Prussia sign a secret alliance against the Austrian Empire.

Black Hawk War: Around 300 United States 6th Infantry troops leave St. Louis, Missouri to fight the Sauk Native Americans.

The Venus de Milo is discovered on the Aegean island of Milos.

Czar Alexander I, the Russian Emperor and the Grand Duke of Finland, officially announces the transfer of the status of the Finnish capital from Turku to Helsinki.

Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in continental North America, is dedicated.

The city of Oulu, Finland, is founded by Charles IX of Sweden.

In Syria, sultan Baibars conquers the Krak des Chevaliers.

Seventh Crusade: Ayyubids of Egypt capture King Louis IX of France in the Battle of Fariskur.

Mongol–Jin War: The Mongols begin their siege on Kaifeng, the capital of the Jin dynasty.

Roger II of Sicily is excommunicated by Innocent II for supporting Anacletus II as pope for seven years, even though Roger had already publicly recognized Innocent's claim to the papacy.

The Battle of Dayr al-'Aqul saves Baghdad from the Saffarids.

Roman emperor Caracalla is assassinated and is succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus.