In History, Today on April 2

The Australian government announced an end to its COVID-19 quarantine-free travel bubble with New Zealand following a spike in Omicron variant cases.

Iran and world powers resumed talks in Vienna to reinstate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which aimed to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for economic relief.

The global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed one million, highlighting the rapid spread of the virus and prompting widespread public health measures.

Brunei implemented a new penal code that included death by stoning for homosexual acts and adultery, drawing international condemnation and calls for boycotts.

The Venezuelan Supreme Court reversed its decision to strip the National Assembly of its powers, a move that had sparked widespread protests and international condemnation. This was part of the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.

Al-Shabaab militants attacked Garissa University College in Kenya, killing 148 people, mostly students. It was one of the deadliest attacks in Kenya since the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings.

A mass shooting took place at Fort Hood, Texas, when a gunman, who was also an Army Specialist, opened fire on the base, killing three people and injuring sixteen others before taking his own life.

A mass shooting occurred at a bakery in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands, by a gunman who then took his own life. This incident led to significant discussions about gun control and mental health policies in the country.

Pope John Paul II passed away at the age of 84, ending a papacy that began in 1978. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and played a significant role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.

In New York, Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of murder and racketeering and is later sentenced to life in prison.

Argentina invades the Falkland Islands, beginning the Falklands War with the United Kingdom.

Charlie Chaplin returned to the United States for the first time in 20 years to receive an honorary Academy Award. Chaplin had been in self-imposed exile in Switzerland since 1952, following accusations of communist sympathies during the McCarthy era.

As the 1956 World Chess Championship match concluded in Moscow, Soviet chess master Mikhail Botvinnik retained his title against challenger Vasily Smyslov.

The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 22, concerning the Greek civil war and peacebuilding efforts in the region.

During World War II, Japanese forces began their assault on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines, leading to the eventual Bataan Death March.

Haile Selassie was proclaimed emperor of Ethiopia. He would become a defining figure in both Ethiopian history and the Rastafari movement, which saw him as a messianic figure.

President Woodrow Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war against Germany, leading the United States into World War I.

The first Human Cannonball, Zazel (Rossa Matilda Richter), is launched at the Royal Aquarium in London, marking a significant event in the history of circus performances.

The Richmond Bread Riot takes place as hundreds of women in Richmond, Virginia, break into stores, protesting against the exorbitant prices and shortages during the American Civil War.

H. W. Longfellow published 'The Song of Hiawatha,' a romantic poem by American author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Drawing on Native American themes and stories, the poem became one of the most popular works by Longfellow.

The Treaty of Amiens was ratified by the United Kingdom and France, effectively putting a temporary end to the hostilities between the two nations during the French Revolutionary Wars. This treaty brought a brief period of peace in Europe.

The Battle of Copenhagen takes place during the War of the Second Coalition, where a British fleet under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker defeats a Danish-Norwegian fleet.

Commodore William James captured Suvarnadurg, a fortress along the western coast of India, as part of a campaign against the Marathas. The capture was a significant achievement for the British East India Company, aiding in their naval supremacy in the region.

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León first sights land in what is now the United States, specifically Florida, which he names La Florida.

Mehmed II, the Ottoman Sultan, began the siege of Constantinople, which would eventually lead to the fall of the Byzantine Empire.

Philip III, King of France, known as Philip the Bold, died in Perpignan and was succeeded by his son Philip IV, known as Philip the Fair. This transition marked a continuation of the consolidation of royal power in France.

Sylvester II became Pope, the head of the Catholic Church.

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was born. He would later become King of the Franks and Lombards and Emperor of the Carolingian Empire, playing a crucial role in the Carolingian Renaissance and the unification of much of Western Europe.