TODAY HISTORY

• World Theatre Day • Intl Whisk( e) y Day

• 2020 - Europe

North Macedonia became the 30th member of NATO

• 2018 - Nigeria

Ex- president Olusegun Obasanjo berated Pres. Muhammadu Buhari for refusing to sign Nigeria into Africa free trade deal.

• 2016 - S/ Africa

Anti- apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada died at 87 Kathrada, aka Kathy, was a member of the African National Congress. In 1963, he was arrested with other ANC leaders. He went on to spend 26 years in prison — 18 of them on Robben Island. He later served as Pres. Mandela’s adviser.

• 2016 - Italy

Pope Francis tempered his Easter message of hope with a denunciation of “blind” terrorism, recalling victims of attacks in Europe and Africa. He expressed dismay that people fleeing war or poverty are denied welcome as European countries squabble over the refugee crisis.

• 2016 - Pakistan

A suicide blast in Lahore claimed 70 lives and 300 injured, targeting Christians celebrating Easter.

• 2015 - Somalia

Al- Shabab militants attack and temporarily occupied a Mogadishu hotel leaving at least 20 people dead.

• 2008 - USA

Adobe systems, the maker of the popular photo- editing software Photoshop, launched a basic version available for free online.

• 2007 - USA

Paul Lauterbur ( 77), father of Magnetic Resonance Imagery ( MRI), died. He shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2003.

• 2006 - Rwanda

“Shooting Dogs," a film on Rwanda's genocide left many in tears at its premiere in Kigali. The film's title refers to the way UN troops shot dogs eating bodies that littered the streets of Rwandan capital

• 2005 - Italy

Pope John Paul II delivered an Easter blessing to thousands in St. Peter's Square, but the ailing pontiff unable to speak only managed to greet the crowd with a sign of the cross.

• 1998 - Austria

Ferdinand Porsche Jr., creator of Porsche sports car, died in Austria. He moved to Germany after WWI where his father became chief engineer of DaimlerBenz, manufacturer of Mercedes Benz cars.

• 1998 - USA

Food and Drug administration approved Viagra for use as treatment for male impotence, the first pill to be approved in the U. S.