In History, Today on May 4

The United Nations reported that one million species were at risk of extinction due to human activity, as detailed in a landmark report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Sadiq Khan was elected as the Mayor of London, becoming the first Muslim to lead a major Western capital, which underscored London's diversity and multiculturalism.

Microsoft announced its decision to open a flagship store at 677 Fifth Avenue in New York City, marking a significant step in the tech giant's retail strategy.

The Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, sparking international outrage and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

Japan shut down its last operating nuclear reactor, leaving the country without nuclear power for the first time since 1970, following the Fukushima disaster.

The Times Square car bombing attempt occurred in New York City, USA, when a car bomb was discovered and defused before it could explode.

The Sri Lankan government announces the capture of Mullaitivu, the last stronghold of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Sudanese officials Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

The Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin, USA, opened its new addition, the Quadracci Pavilion, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Ken Livingstone becomes the first Mayor of London after winning the election.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat signed a historic accord in Cairo granting Palestinian self-rule in the Gaza Strip and Jericho.

Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, following the Conservative Party's victory in the general election.

The Kent State shootings occurred when the Ohio National Guard fired on students protesting the Cambodian Campaign, resulting in four deaths and nine injuries.

The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held. Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald were among the winners.

The Battle of the Coral Sea, a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, began between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia.

The May Fourth Movement began in China as a response to the Treaty of Versailles, sparking a national protest against foreign influence and promoting modernization.

The United States took over the construction of the Panama Canal from the French, marking a significant step in its completion.

The Daily Mail, a British newspaper, was first published in London. Founded by Lord Northcliffe, it was designed to appeal to the new literate middle and lower classes, providing news coverage that was accessible and engaging, and marked a new era of modern journalism in the UK.

The Haymarket affair occurred in Chicago, where a labor protest rally turned violent after a bomb was thrown at police, leading to deaths and a controversial trial.

The Cunard Line is founded. It would become one of the most famous transatlantic shipping companies.

The founding of the African Institution to combat the slave trade and promote African rights.

Emperor Napoleon I of France arrives at Portoferraio on the island of Elba to begin his exile.

Rhode Island became the first American colony to renounce allegiance to King George III, two months before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

A total solar eclipse occurred, known as the 'Eclipse of Thales.' Although not widely documented in that year, eclipses were points of significant interest providing impetus for scientific inquiry.

Dutch explorer Peter Minuit arrived in New Netherland (present-day New York) to become the director-general of the colony.

Pope Alexander VI issued the papal bull 'Inter caetera,' which granted Spain rights to colonize the New World, drawing a line of demarcation between Spanish and Portuguese territories.

The Battle of Tewkesbury took place during the Wars of the Roses, resulting in a decisive victory for the Yorkists led by King Edward IV over the Lancastrians.

Religious reformer and pre-Lutheran dissenter John Wycliffe was posthumously condemned at the Council of Constance.

The Great Famine of 1315–1317 began as Europe experienced prolonged cold and rainy weather leading to crop failures.

Pope Benedict IX resigned from the papacy for the third and final time, following a tumultuous tenure. His resignation contributed to the instability and corruption often associated with the papacy during this period, leading to eventual reforms in the Catholic Church.

The Second Council of Toledo begins. This was an important synod of bishops in the Visigothic Kingdom, marking a significant moment in the religious and political history of early medieval Spain.

Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian retire from office, marking the first voluntary abdication of Roman emperors and leading to the establishment of the Tetrarchy system.