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Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge

Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge

The Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Thai Saphan Mittaphap Thai-Lao) is a bridge over the river Mekong, connecting the provinces of Nong Khai (city of Nong Khai) in Thailand and Vientiane in Laos. Opened on April 8 1994, it was the first bridge crossing the lower Mekong, and the second on the full course of the Mekong. The bridge spans a total length of 1170 m. The total cost of the bridge was about 30 million US dollars, funded by the Australian government as development aid for Laos. The bridge was built by Australian companies as a demonstration of the capabilities of their ability to complete major infrastructural projects in southeast Asia. This mixing of development aid with commercial interests was criticized by some NGOs. The bridge has two 3.5 m-wide lanes for car traffic, two 1.5 m-wide footpaths, and was also built to house a railway track in the middle. In 1994 a track was laid from Nong Khai station to the bridge, but no further. On March 20, 2004 an agreement between the Thai and Lao governments was signed to extend the railway to Tha Nalaeng in Laos, about 3.5 km from the bridge. This will be the only railway in Laos. Traffic on the bridge drives on the left, as it does in Thailand, while traffic in Laos drives on the right: the changeover is controlled by traffic lights at the Lao end. A shuttle bus service operates across the bridge, between the Lao and Thai border posts.

Bridge

:This article is about the edifice (it is mostly an index to articles concerning specific bridge types). For other meanings, see bridge (disambiguation). bridge (disambiguation) A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, railroad track, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle. Designs may be built higher than otherwise needed in order to allow other traffic (particularly ship traffic) beneath. The purpose of a bridge is to allow easier passage by providing a continuous more uniform more easily navigable route via what would otherwise be an uneven or impossible path for the particular kind of thing travelling or being transported, whether people, vehicles, trains, ships, liquids or whatever else.

History

The first bridges were spans made of wooden logs or planks and eventually stones, using a simple support and crossbeam arrangement. The arch was first used by the Roman Empire for bridges and aqueducts, some of which still stand today. The Romans also had cement, which reduced the variation of strength found in natural stone. Brick and mortar bridges were built after the Roman era, as the technology for cement was lost then later rediscovered. Rope bridges, a simple type of suspension bridge, were used by the Inca civilization in the Andes mountains of South America, just prior to European colonization in the 1500s. During the 18th century there were many innovations in the design of timber bridges by Hans Ulrich, Johannes Grubenmann, and others. The first engineering book on building bridges was written by Hubert Gautier in 1716. With the rise of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, truss systems of wrought iron were developed for larger bridges, but iron did not have the tensile strength to support large loads. With the advent of steel, which has a high tensile strength, much larger bridges were built, many using the ideas of Gustave Eiffel.

Etymology

The Oxford English Dictionary traces the origin of the word bridge to an Old Norse word bryggja, meaning "landing stage, gangway, or movable pier".

Types of bridges

Bridges may be classified by their use or by their structure.

By use

A bridge is usually designed for trains, pedestrian or road traffic, a pipeline or waterway for water transport or barge traffic. In some cases there may be restrictions in use. For example, it may be a bridge carrying a highway and forbidden for pedestrians and bicycles, or a pedestrian bridge, possibly also for bicycles. An aqueduct is a bridge that carries water, resembling a viaduct.

Decorative and ceremonial bridges

To create a beautiful image, some bridges are built much taller than necessary. This type, often found in east-asian style gardens, is called a Moon bridge, evoking a rising full moon. Other garden bridges may cross only a dry bed of stream washed pebbles, intended only to convey an impression of a stream. Often in palaces a bridge will be built over an artificial waterway as symbolic of a passage to an important place or state of mind. A set of five bridges cross a sinuous waterway in an important courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. The central bridge was reserved exclusively for the use of the Emperor, Empress, and their attendants.

Index to types of bridges and bridge related topics

Image:NagasakiMeganebashi.jpg|Arch bridge Image:Pont_du_gard.jpg|Aqueduct Image:Baileycoppename.jpg|Bailey bridge Image:UniversityBridge-1Clip.jpg|Bascule bridge Image:Small footbridge.jpg|Beam bridge Image:Concrete box girder bridge.JPG|Box girder bridge Image:ThreeTwrBrCenter.jpg|Cable-stayed bridge Image:CaissonSchematic.jpg|Caisson Image:ForthBridgeEdinburgh.jpg|Cantilever bridge Image:Puente del Alamillo.jpg|Cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge Image:Tarr steps clapper bridge.jpg|Clapper bridge Image:Australia sydney-404.jpg|Compression arch suspended-deck bridge Image:Guilford vermont covered bridge 20040820.jpg|Covered bridge Image:CurlingBridgeClip.jpg|Curling bridge Image:Fort ticonderoga drawbridge to demilune.jpg|Drawbridge Image:Hoernbruecke.jpg|Folding bridge Image:IRBSideViewClip.jpg|Inca rope bridge Image:JetwayAtVancouverBC.jpg|Jetway Image:Guilford vermont bridge covered bridge interior 20040820.jpg|Lattice bridge Image:BNSFBridgeClip.jpg|Lift bridge Image:Vallorcine footpath bridge 2003-12-13.jpg|Log bridge Image:SFTGMoonBridge.jpg|Moon bridge Image:PlateGirderUnderTracks.jpg|Plate girder bridge Image:ArmyPontoonBr.jpg|Pontoon bridge Image:Uppsala Ultunabron02 2005-06-16.jpg|Retractable bridge
(Thrust bridge) Image:ProposedSFOBBEasternSpan.jpg|Self-anchored suspension bridge Image:SegmentalBridgeFtLauderdale.jpg|Segmental bridge Image:WinnepegBridge.jpg|Side-spar cable-stayed bridge Image:CapilanoBridge.jpg|Simple suspension bridge Image:StepStoneBridge.jpg|Step-stone bridge Image:BridgeSubmerging4.jpg|Submersible bridge Image:suspension.bridge.bristol.arp.750pix.jpg|Suspension bridge Image:Railway swing bridge.jpg|Swing bridge Image:Millenium_bridge_close.jpg|Tilt bridge Image:Paying Toll on passing a Bridge From a Painted Window in the Cathedral of Tournay Fifteenth Century.png|Toll bridge Image:Newport.transporter.750pix.jpg|Transporter bridge Image:AlhambraTrestle.jpg|Trestle Image:Eastbound_over_SCB.jpg|Truss arch bridge Image:RRTrussBridgeSideView.jpg|Truss bridge Image:Conwy Castle 2.jpg|Tubular bridge Image:Toronto-bloorviaduct.jpg|Viaduct Image:NoImageYetRectFramed.png|Weigh bridge Image:BoxerwoodDotComZigZag.jpg|Zig-zag bridge

Bridge structural and evolutionary taxonomy

Zig-zag bridge Bridges may be classified by how the four forces of tension, compression, bending and shear are distributed through their structure. Most bridges will employ all of the principle forces to some degree, but only a few will predominate. The separation of forces may be quite clear, as in a suspension or cable-stayed span; the elements in tension are distinct in shape and placement. In other cases the forces may be distributed among a large number of members, as in a truss, or not clearly discernible to a casual observer as in a box beam. Bridges can also be classified by their lineage, which is shown as the vertical axis on the diagram to the right.

Efficiency

A bridge's structural efficiency may be considered to be the ratio of load carried to bridge weight, given a specific set of material types. In one common challenge young students are to be divided into groups of two or three and then to be given a fixed quantity of wood sticks, a specific distance to span, and a given glue, and then to construct a bridge that will be tested to destruction by the progressive addition of load at the center of the span. The bridge taking the greatest load is by this test the most structurally efficient. A bridge's economic efficiency will be site and traffic dependent, the ratio of savings by having a bridge (instead of, for example, a ferry, or a longer road route) compared to its cost. For a given site, kind of bridge employed and the materials used determine the total cost, a lifetime cost composed of materials, labor, machinery, engineering, cost of money, maintenance, refurbishment, risk potential, and ultimately, demolition and associated disposal, recycling, and reuse. Bridges employing only compression are relatively inefficient structurally, but may be highly cost efficient where suitable materials are available near the site. For medium spans, trusses or box beams are usually most economical, while in some cases, the appearance of the bridge may be more important than its cost efficiency. The longest spans usually require suspension bridges.

Notable bridges

- Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge - Japan, with the longest section span of 1.9 km.
- Forth Railway Bridge - Scotland, one of the most famous cantilever bridges in the world.
- Golden Gate Bridge - USA, arguably the most beautiful of its type.
- The Iron Bridge - England, the world's first iron bridge.
- Confederation Bridge - Canada, world's longest bridge over waters that freeze.
- Jamuna Bridge- Bangladesh, longest rail-road bridge in south asia , 2nd longest in world.
- Lake Pontchartrain Causeway - USA, spanning Lake Pontchartrain in south Louisiana, it is the longest bridge in the world at 23.87 miles (38.41 km).
- Lupu Bridge- China, longest single steel arch.
- Mackinac Bridge - USA, Opened to traffic in 1957, connecting the two peninsulas of Michigan; held the title of the world's longest two tower suspension bridge between anchorages until the 1990s.
- Mahatma Gandhi Setu - India, the longest river bridge in the world.
- Menai Suspension Bridge - Wales, first road suspension bridge in the world.
- Millau Viaduct - France, tallest bridge in the world.
- Overtoun Bridge, - Scotland, dogs have leaped to their deaths from this bridge, leading to urban legends.
- Penang Bridge - Malaysia, longest bridge in Southeast Asia.
- Québec Bridge - Canada, largest cantilever bridge in the world.
- San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge - USA, especially for seismic retrofit and eastern span replacement.
- Sundial Bridge - USA, a dramatic single cantilever spar cable stayed span for pedestrians.
- Sydney Harbour Bridge - Australia, arguably the best-known suspended-deck compression arch bridge.
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge - USA, famous for its collapse due to aerodynamic effects.
- Tatara Bridge - Japan, largest span cable-stayed bridge.
- Tower Bridge - London, England, and a symbol of this city.
- Tyne Bridge - England, one of Northern England's most iconic structures.
- Trajan's bridge - Romania, ancient Roman bridge over the river Danube, only fragments visible.
- Vasco da Gama Bridge - Portugal, the longest bridge in Europe at 17.2 km.
- Victoria Falls Bridge - linking Zimbabwe to Zambia, built in 1905 as part of the projected Cape-Cairo railway.
- Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge - USA, built during Boston's Big Dig, the widest cable-stayed bridge.

External links

- [http://www.structurae.de/en/ Structurae] - International Database and Gallery of Structures.
- [http://www.asce.org/history/hp_bridges.html American Society of Civil Engineers] History and Heritage of Civil Engineering - Bridges
- [http://www.historicbridges.org/index.htm Historic Bridges of Michigan and Elsewhere] Photos, information, and maps of historic bridges in and around Michigan. Also has a links page with links to bridge databases in other regions of the U.S.A.
- [http://www.brantacan.co.uk/bridges.htm Bridge Building — Art and Science] Comprehensive explanations about bridges.
- [http://www.garrettsbridges.com/index.html Model Bridge Building]
- [http://pghbridges.com/basics.htm Bridge Basics] A guide to bridge terminology and styles
- [http://www.chinapage.com/bridge/shanghai/lupu/lupu.html Shanghai lupu] Chinese bridge site showing suspended deck arch construction and completion.
- [http://www.bridgebuilder-game.com BridgeBuilder] - Great game where you design a bridge and see if a train will drive over it safely.
- [http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/RRbridge/ RRbridge]- Discussion group focused on railroad bridges, trestles, and viaducts. Hosted by Yahoo! Groups
- [http://filebox.vt.edu/users/aschaeff/titlepage.html Bridge disasters]
- [http://www.nireland.com/bridgeman/Dictionary.htm A dictionary of bridge terms]
- [http://bridges.lib.lehigh.edu/BookListpage.html/ Digital Bridge Library at Lehigh University]
- [http://bobjagendorf.smugmug.com/gallery/119358 Bridge Photos]
- [http://flickr.com/photos/tags/bridge Flickr: Photos tagged with bridge] Category:Buildings and structures
- Category:Coastal construction ko:다리 ms:Jambatan ja:橋 simple:Bridge th:สะพาน

Nong Khai Province

Nong Khai (Thai หนองคาย) is the one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south-east clockwise) Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani and Loei. To the north it borders Laos.

Geography

The province is located in the valley of the Mekong river, which also forms the boundary with Laos. To the south it has some highlands. The Laotian capital Vientiane is only 25 kilometers away from the provincial capital Nong Khai. The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge which connects them was built jointly by the governments of Thailand, Laos and Australia and was opened in 1994.

History

The area of the province changed ownership often, and it was part of the Laotian kingdom Lan Xang as well as part of the Thai kingdom Ayutthaya.

Symbols

Administrative divisions

Ayutthaya The province is subdivided into 13 districts (Amphoe) and 4 minor districts (King Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 115 communes (tambon) and 1099 villages.

External links

- [http://www.tourismthailand.org/province/province.php?id=43 Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand]
- [http://kanchanapisek.or.th/cgi-bin/kp8/oncc/province.cgi?prov=e15 Golden Jubilee Network province guide]
- Category:Isan ja:ノーンカーイ県 th:จังหวัดหนองคาย

Nong Khai

Nong Khai (หนองคาย) is a city in North-East Thailand, capital of the Nong Khai Province. It is situated directly at the Mekong River and is the site of the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across to Laos. It is the Thai gateway to the Laotian capital of Vientiane. Vientiane Nong Khai's main sight is Sala Kaew Ku (also Wat Khaek), a park of massive sculptures (some over 20m tall). The park is the handiwork of the mystic Luang Pa Bunleua Sulilat, who bought the land in 1978 when he was exiled from his native Laos. Synthesizing Buddhism, Hindu and Confucian ideologies, Buddhas, many-armed goddesses, naga snakes and all sorts of human-animal hybrids dominate the scenery. In more recent years, Nong Khai has become a popular destination during the Buddhist lent festival when mysterious balls of light, or Naga fireballs, rise from the Mekong river.

External link

- Category:Cities in Thailand ja:ノーンカーイ

Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia, bordering Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to the south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to the west. Thailand is also known as Siam, which was the country's official name until May 11, 1949. The word Thai (ไทย) means "freedom" in the Thai language. It is also the name of the Thai people - leading some inhabitants, particularly the sizeable Chinese minority, to continue to use the name Siam.

History

Thailand's origin is traditionally tied to the short-lived kingdom of Sukhothai founded in 1238, after which the larger kingdom of Ayutthaya was established in the mid-14th century. Thai culture was greatly influenced by both China and India. Contact with various European powers began in the 16th century but, despite continued pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power, though Western influence, including the threat of force, led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions to British mercantile interests (as such many historians include Thailand in the "informal British Empire"). The Thais are very proud that they were never colonized by a European power. There are two main reasons for this: it was left as a buffer state between parts of Asia that were colonised by the French and the British and Thailand had a series of very able rulers in the 1800s. A mostly bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. Known previously as Siam, the country first changed its name to Thailand in 1939, and definitively in 1949 after reverting to the old name post-World War II. During that conflict Thailand was in a loose alliance with Japan; following its conclusion Thailand became an ally of the United States. Thailand then saw a series of military coups d'état, but progressed towards democracy from the 1980s onward. The official calendar in Thailand is based on the Buddhist Era, which is 543 years ahead of the western calendar. For example, the year AD 1982 is equal to the year 2525 BE. On 26 December 2004 the southwest coast of Thailand was devastated by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake; in places it was as high as 10 meters. It killed more than 5,000 people in Thailand, half of them tourists.

Politics

The king has little direct power under the constitution but is the anointed protector of Thai Buddhism and a symbol of national identity and unity. The present monarch enjoys a great deal of popular respect and moral authority, which has on occasion been used to resolve political crises. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the king from among the members of the lower house of parliament, usually the leader of the party that can organise a majority coalition government. The bicameral Thai parliament is the National Assembly (รัฐสภา, rathasapha) which consists of a House of Representatives (สภาผู้แทนราษฎร, sapha phuthaen ratsadon) of 500 seats and a Senate (วุฒิสภา, wuthisapha) of 200 seats. Members of both houses are elected by popular vote. The House of Representatives is elected by electoral district (one each), the Senate is elected by province. Members of House of Representatives serve four-year terms, while Senators serve six-year terms. The law court system (ศาล, san) has three layers, the highest judicial body being the Supreme Court (ศาลฎีกา, sandika) whose judges are directly appointed by the monarch. Thailand is an active member of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Provinces

Association of Southeast Asian Nations Thailand is divided into 75 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat), which are grouped into 5 groups of provinces by location. There are also 2 special governed districts: the capital Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon in Thai) and Pattaya. However Pattaya is still part of Chonburi Province, while Bangkok is at provincial level itself. Each province is divided into smaller districts - as of 2000 there are 795 districts (อำเภอ, amphoe), 81 sub-districts (กิ่งอำเภอ, king amphoe) and 50 districts of Bangkok (เขต, khet). However, some parts of the provinces bordering Bangkok are referred to as Greater Bangkok (ปริมณฑล, pari monthon). These Provinces include Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon. The name of each capital city (เมือง, mueang) is the same as that of the province: for example, the capital of Chiang Mai province (changwat Chiang Mai) is amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai. The 75 provinces are as follows:

Special Governed Districts

:Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), Mueang Pattaya (Pattaya) See also: List of cities in Thailand

Geography

Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the provincial groups. The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest point being Doi Inthanon at 2,576 m. The northeast consists of the Khorat Plateau, bordered to the east by the Mekong river. The centre of the country is dominated by the predominantly flat Chao Phraya river valley, which runs into the Gulf of Thailand. The south consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula. The local climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid. Major cities beside the capital Bangkok include Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Phuket and Hat Yai(Songkhla). See also: List of islands of Thailand

Economy

After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency, the baht, in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the currency. Long pegged at 25 to the US dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. The collapse prompted a wider Asian financial crisis. Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999, expanding 4.2% and grew 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports - which increased about 20% in 2000. Growth was dampened by softening of global economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent years due to strong growth in China and the various domestic stimulation programs of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, popularly known as Thaksinomics. Growth in 2003 and 2004 was over 6% annually.[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/th.html] Substantial industries include electric appliances, components, computer parts and automobiles, while tourism contributes about 5 % of the Thai economy's GDP.

Demographics

Thailand's population is dominated by ethnic Thai and Lao, the latter concentrated in the northeastern Isan region and making up around one third of the population. There is also a large community of Thai Chinese, who have historically played a disproportionately significant role in the economy. Bangkok's Chinatown is located on Yaowarat Road. Other ethnic groups include Malays in the south, Mon, Khmer and various indigenous hill tribes. According to the last census (2000) 94.6% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims are the second religious group in Thailand at 4.6%. Most of them are ethnic Malays and they are mostly concentrated in the south, where they form a strong majority in four provinces. Christians, mainly Catholics, represent 0.75% of the population. A tiny but influential community of Sikhs and some Hindus also live in the country's cities. The Thai language is Thailand's national language, written in its own alphabet, but many ethnic and regional dialects exist as well as areas where people speak predominantly Isan or Khmer. Although English is widely taught in schools, proficiency is low.

Culture

Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is the national sport in Thailand and its native martial art. It reached popularity all over the world in the 1990s. Similar martial art styles exist in other southeast Asian countries. The standard greeting in Thailand is a prayer-like gesture called the wai. Taboos include touching someone's head or pointing with the feet, as the head is considered the highest and the foot the lowest part of the body. Stepping over someone, or over food, is considered insulting. Books and other documents are considered the most revered of secular objects - therefore one should not slide a book across a table or place it on the floor. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and the King is extremely respected and revered. It is illegal to insult the Royal Family. Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty.

Miscellaneous topics

- Famous Places in Thailand: Patong, and Karon beach in Phuket, Pattaya, Khao Lak, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai Historical Park
- Communications in Thailand
- Education in Thailand
- Historical parks of Thailand
- Foreign relations of Thailand
- List of Thailand-related topics
- Military of Thailand
- Music of Thailand
- National parks (Thailand)
- Prostitution in Thailand
- Public holidays in Thailand
- Transportation in Thailand
- Buddhist temples in Thailand
- South Thailand insurgency

External links

Official

- [http://www.thaigov.go.th Thaigov.go.th] Royal Government of Thailand
- [http://www.tourismthailand.org Tourism Authority of Thailand] Official tourism website

Other

- [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/th.html CIA - The World Factbook - Thailand]
- [http://thailand.united.co.uk/ List of organizations providing assistance and help to the victims of Thailand Tsunamis]
-
- [http://www.thailand.alloexpat.com/information_center_thailand.php AlloExpat - Thailand Information Center]
- [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/thailand Flickr: Photos tagged with Thailand]
- [http://libcom.org/history/articles/thailand Thailand: a working class history] from 1850-2000 Category:ASEAN member states Category:Monarchies Category:Southeast Asian countries zh-min-nan:Thài-kok ko:타이 ms:Thailand ja:タイ王国 th:ประเทศไทย

Laos

The Lao People's Democratic Republic is a landlocked country in southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (commonly known as Burma) and the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. From the 14th to the 18th century, the country was called Lan Xang or Land of A Million Elephants.

History

The early history of Laos was dominated by the wider Nanzhao kingdom, which was succeeded in the 14th century by the local kingdom of Lan Xang that lasted until its decline in the 18th century, after which Thailand assumed control of the separate principalities that remained. These came under French influence during the 19th century and were incorporated into French Indochina in 1893. Following the Japanese occupation during World War II, the country became independent in 1949 as the Kingdom of Laos, under the leadership of King Sisavang Vong. Political unrest in neighbouring Vietnam dragged Laos into the Second Indochina War (see also Secret War), a destabilising factor that contributed to civil war and several coups d'état. In 1975 the communist Pathet Lao backed by the Soviet Union and communist Vietnamese overthrew the royalist government backed by the US and France, forcing King Savang Vatthana to abdicate on December 2 1975. After taking control of the country, they promptly renamed it the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The deposed King, and members of his family, were killed or died in concentration camps set up by the new regime. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialisation were replaced by a relaxation of economic restrictions in the late 1980s and admission into ASEAN in 1997.

Politics

The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is the president, elected by parliament for a five-year term. The head of government is the prime minister, appointed by the president with parliamentary approval. Government policies are determined by the party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo and the 49-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers. Laos adopted a new constitution in 1991. The following year, elections were held for a new 85-seat National Assembly with members elected by secret ballot to 5-year terms. This unicameral parliament, expanded in the 1997 elections to 99 members, approves all new laws, although the executive branch retains authority to issue binding decrees. The most recent elections took place in February 2002 when the assembly was expanded to 109 members. Remnants of the group of ethnic Hmongs that were allied with the United States during the Vietnam War have been in armed conflict with the communist regime since 1975. With recent surrenders reported in the international media, this conflict appears to be on the wane. Most Hmong are integrated into or at least at peace with society, with some occupying high-ranking positions in the state system. Attacks continue to take place sporadically throughout the country, but are difficult to attribute to a specific political movement. All dissent in Laos is suppressed, so information is difficult to obtain.

Provinces

Laos is divided into 16 provinces (khoueng), 1 municipality
- (kampheng nakhon), and 1 special zone
- (khetphiset):
- Attapeu
- Bokeo
- Borikhamxay
- Champassack
- Houaphan
- Khammouane
- Louang Namtha
- Louangphabang
- Oudomxay
- Phongsaly
- Saravane
- Savannakhet
- Vientiane
-
- Vientiane Province
- Sayaboury
- Saysomboun
-
- Xekong
- Xieng Khouang

Geography

Xieng Khouang Laos is a landlocked country in southeast Asia and the thickly forested landscape consists mostly of rugged mountains, the highest of which is Phou Bia at 2817 m, with some plains and plateaus. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand, whereas the mountains of the Annamite Chain form most of the eastern border with Vietnam. The climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons. There is a distinct rainy season from May to November, followed by a dry season from December to April. The capital and largest city of Laos is Vientiane, and other major cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Pakse. In 1993, the government set aside 21% of the nation's land area as National Biodiversity Conservation Areas (NBCA), which may be developed into a national park system. If completed, it is expected to be the most comprehensive and one of the finest national park systems in southeast Asia. A number of animal species have been discovered or re-discovered in Laos in recent years. These include the striped or Annamite rabbit, the saola, and most recently the Laotian rock rat or kha-nyou.

Economy

The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official communist states - began decentralising control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% in 1988-2004 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. As in many developing countries, the major urban centers have experienced the most growth. The economies of Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet in particular have experienced significant booms in recent years. Pakxe has also experienced some growth as well. Much of the country, however, lacks adequate infrastructure. Laos has no railways, although a short link is planned to connect Vientiane with Thailand over the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. The major roads connecting the major urban centers, mainly forming Route 13, have been significantly upgraded in recent years, but villages that are far from major roads are accessible only through unpaved roads that may not be accessible year-round. There is limited external and internal telecommunication, particularly of the wireline sort, but cell phone usage has become widespread in urban centers. In many rural areas electricity is either not available or only during scheduled periods. Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy receives aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food-processing and mining, most notably of copper and gold. Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the country. Economic development in general is hampered by a serious case of brain drain. A 2005 World Bank study reported that 37% of its educated citizens lived abroad, putting it in 5th place for worst brain drain. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to face lower tariffs on their exports; this may help spur growth.
- Tourism in Laos

Demographics

68% of the country's people are ethnic Lao, the principal lowland inhabitants and the politically and culturally dominant group. The Lao are descended from the Tai people who began migrating southward from China in the first millennium AD. Hill people such as the Hmong (Miao), Yao (Mien), Black Thai, Dao, Shan, and several Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples have lived in isolated regions of Laos for many years. Mountain tribes of mixed ethnolinguistic heritage are found in northern Laos. Collectively, they are known as Lao Sung or highland Laotians. In the central and southern mountains, Mon-Khmer tribes, known as Lao Theung or midslope Laotians, predominate. Some Vietnamese and Chinese minorities remain, particularly in the towns, but many left in two waves; after independence in the late 1940s and again after 1975. The term Laotian does not necessarily refer to the ethnic Lao language, ethnic Lao people, language or customs, but is a political term that also includes the non-ethnic Lao groups within Laos and identifies them as "Laotian" because of their political citizenship. In a similar vein the word "Lao" can also describe the people, cuisine, language and culture of the people of Northeast Thailand (Isan) who are ethnic Lao. The predominant religion is Theravada Buddhism which, along with the common Animism practiced among the mountain tribes, coexists peacefully with spirit worship. There also is a small number of Christians and Muslims. However, religion is strictly controlled, and the government will generally side with Buddhism over a minority religion. In 2004, Open Doors ranked Laos as the fourth-worst persecutor of Christians, behind North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. The largest Christian denominations are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eglise évangélique du Laos and the Mission évangélique au Laos. The official and dominant language is Lao, a tonal language of the Tai linguistic group. Midslope and highland Lao speak an assortment of tribal languages. French, once common in government and commerce, has declined in usage, while knowledge of English - the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - has increased in recent years.

Culture

Theravadan Buddhism has contributed greatly to the Lao culture. It is reflected throughout the country both in its language to the temple and in art, literature, performing arts, etc. Laotian music is dominated by its national instrument, the khaen, a type of bamboo pipe. Bands typically include a singer/rapper (mor lam) and a khaen player (mor khaen) alongside fiddlers and other musicians. Lam saravane is the most popular genre of Laotian music, but ethnic Lao in Thailand have developed an internationally best-selling form called mor lam sing. The country has two World Heritage sites — Luang Prabang and Wat Phou — while the government is seeking the same status for the Plain of Jars. See also:
- Art of Laos
- Cuisine of Laos
- Dance and theater of Laos
- Festivals of Laos
- Music of Laos

Media

All newspapers are published by the government, including two foreign language papers: the English language Vientiane Times and the French language Le Rénovateur. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the official news agency of the Lao P.D.R., publishes English and French versions of its eponymous paper. Internet cafes, serving the tourist market, are now common in the major urban centers. However, the government strictly censors content and controls access. Satellite television dishes, beaming content from Thailand, are common throughout Laos. Many Laotians access the outside world through Thai television programs.

Miscellaneous topics

- Communications in Laos
- Foreign relations of Laos
- List of Laos-related topics
- List of Laotian companies
- Military of Laos
- Transportation in Laos

External links

- [http://www.laoconnection.com/ Laoconnection.com] - country, culture, language info., gallery, advice column, and more.
- [http://www.laopdr.com Laos' Portal] - Directory of Laotian sites
- [http://www.mekongcenter.com/home.htm Mekong Center] - Official tourism site
- [http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Laos Wikitravel: Laos]
- [http://sticky-rice.com/essays.html Sticky-Rice.com] - Ever growing collection of articles on, and photos of, Laos. Category:ASEAN member states Category:Communist states Category:Southeast Asian countries Category:Landlocked countries ko:라오스 ms:Laos ja:ラオス simple:Laos th:ประเทศลาว

April 8

April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). There are 267 days remaining in the year.

Events

- 217 - Roman emperor Caracalla is assassinated (and succeeded) by his Praetorian Guard prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus
- 1203 - Congress in Bilino Polje, where Ban Kulin officially declared his allegiance to the Catholic Church and denounced the heresy.
- 1730 - Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in New York City, is dedicated.
- 1742 - The first performance of George Frideric Handel's oratorio The Messiah, in Dublin.
- 1767 - Ayutthaya kingdom fell to Burmese invaders.
- 1820 - The Venus de Milo is discovered on the Aegean island of Melos.
- 1832 - Black Hawk War: Around 300 United States 6th Infantry troops leave Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis to fight the Sauk Native Americans.
- 1893 - First recorded college basketball game occurs in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania when the Geneva College Covenanters defeated the New Brighton YMCA.
- 1895 - The United States Supreme Court declared income tax to be unconstitutional in Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co.
- 1899 - Martha Place becomes the first woman to be executed in an electric chair.
- 1904 - France and the United Kingdom sign the Entente cordiale.
- 1904 - Longacre Square in Midtown Manhattan is renamed Times Square after The New York Times.
- 1910 - The Los Angeles Motordome opened near Playa del Rey, California.
- 1913 - The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified requiring direct election of Senators.
- 1916 - In Corona, California, auto racer Bob Burman crashed through a crowd barrier at the last Boulevard Race, killing himself, his mechanic and a track policeman, and badly injuring five spectators.
- 1918 - World War I: Actors Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin sell war bonds on the streets of New York, New York's financial district.
- 1929 - Indian Independence Movement At Delhi Central Assembly, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw handouts, and bombs in a corridor not to cause injury and courted arrest.
- 1935 - The Works Progress Administration is formed when the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 becomes law.
- 1942 - World War II: Siege of Leningrad - Soviet Union forces open a much-needed railway link to Leningrad.
- 1945 - At the POW camp at Flossenbürg, pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is hanged.
- 1952 - In a radio address to the nation from the White House, President Harry S. Truman calls for the seizure of all steel mills in the United States in order to prevent a nationwide strike.
- 1953 - Mau Mau leader Jomo Kenyatta is convicted by Kenya's British rulers.
- 1967 - In Vienna, Austria, Sandie Shaw wins the twelfth Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom singing "Puppet on a String".
- 1971 - a 6 pound meteorite struck the home of Robert and Wanda Donahue in Wethersfield, Connecticut
- 1974 - At the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Hank Aaron breaks baseball great's Babe Ruth's record by hitting his 715th home run.
- 1975 - Frank Robinson of the Cleveland Indians manages his first game as major league baseball's first African American manager.
- 1975 - Vietnam War: After spending a week in South Vietnam, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Frederick Weyand gives a report to the U.S. Congress that South Vietnam will fall without additional military aid.
- 1985 - Bhopal disaster: India files suit against Union Carbide for the disaster which killed an estimated 2,000 and injured another 200,000.
- 1986 - Clint Eastwood is elected mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California receiving 72% of the vote (voter turnout was also doubled over the previous mayoral election).
- 1987 - Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis resigns amid great controversy over racially-charged remarks he had made while on Nightline.
- 1989 - South Africa In Johannesburg, the Progressive Federal Party, Independent party, National Democratic Movement and the force of "Ontevrede Afrikaners" or dissatisfied Afrikaners merged to form the Democratic Party.
- 1990 - Twin Peaks premieres.
- 1992 - Retired tennis great Arthur Ashe announces to the world that he has AIDS, acquired from blood transfusions during one of his two heart surgeries.
- 1994 - Body of Kurt Cobain discovered in his Washington home.
- 1999 - Haryana Gana Parishad, a political party in the Indian state of Haryana, merges with the Indian National Congress.
- 2000 - A U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey crashes during landing at Marana, Arizona killing 19.
- 2002 - Ed McMahon files a US$20 million lawsuit against his insurance company and others regarding a toxic mold infecting McMahon's Beverly Hills, California home.
- 2004 - Darfur conflict: The Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement is signed by the Sudanese government and two rebel groups.
- 2004 - The famous Japanese economist and former professor at Waseda University graduate school Kazuhide Uekusa was arrested on the escalator of JR Shinagawa Station because of trying to peep under a high school girl's skirt with his hand mirror.
- 2005 - Funeral of Pope John Paul II

Births

- 563 BC - Gautama Buddha, Indian religious leader (d. 483 BC)
- 1320 - King Peter I of Portugal (d. 1367)
- 1533 - Claudio Merulo, Italian composer (d. 1604)
- 1541 - Michele Mercati, Italian physician and gardener (d. 1593)
- 1605 - King Philip IV of Spain, (d. 1665)
- 1641 - Henry Sydney, 1st Earl of Romney, English statesman (d. 1704)
- 1692 - Giuseppe Tartini, Italian composer (d. 1770)
- 1859 - Edmund Husserl, Austrian philosopher (d. 1938)
- 1865 - Charles W. Woodworth, American entomologist (d. 1940)
- 1868 - King Christian IX of Denmark (d. 1906)
- 1874 - Stanisław Taczak, Polish general, commander-in-chief of the Greater Poland Uprising (d.1960)
- 1875 - King Albert I of Belgium (d. 1934)
- 1889 - Sir Adrian Boult, English conductor (d. 1983)
- 1892 - Mary Pickford, Canadian actress and studio founder (d. 1979)
- 1904 - John Hicks, English economist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1989)
- 1905 - Helen Joseph, South African anti-apartheid activist (d. 1992)
- 1905 - Erwin Keller, German field hockey player
- 1911 - Melvin Calvin, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1997)
- 1911 - Emil Cioran, Romanian philosopher and essayist (d. 1995)
- 1912 - Alois Brunner, Austrian Nazi
- 1912 - Sonja Henie, Norwegian figure skater (d. 1969)
- 1914 - María Félix, Mexican actress (d. 2002)
- 1918 - Betty Ford, First Lady of the United States
- 1919 - Ian Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia
- 1921 - Franco Corelli, Italian tenor (d. 2003)
- 1923 - George Fisher, American cartoonist (d. 2003)
- 1923 - Edward Mulhare, Irish actor (d. 1997)
- 1926 - Jürgen Moltmann, German theologian
- 1928 - John Gavin, American actor and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
- 1929 - Walter Berry, Austrian bass-baritone (d. 2000)
- 1929 - Jacques Brel, Belgian singer and composer (d. 1978)
- 1930 - Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma, Duke of Parma, French-born fascist
- 1933 - Fred Ebb, American composer (d. 2004)
- 1934 - Kurokawa Kisho, Japanese architect
- 1938 - Kofi Annan, Ghanian United Nations Secretary General, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize
- 1940 - John Havlicek, American basketball player
- 1941 - Vivienne Westwood, English fashion designer
- 1943 - Michael Bennett, American dancer, choreographer, and theater director (d. 1987)
- 1943 - Miller Farr, American football player
- 1946 - Catfish Hunter, baseball player
- 1946 - Tim Thomerson, American actor
- 1947 - Tom DeLay, American politician
- 1947 - Robert Kiyosaki, American investor, businessman, and writer
- 1947 - Larry Norman, American singer and songwriter
- 1949 - John Madden, English director
- 1949 - Brenda Russell, American singer and songwriter
- 1954 - Gary Carter, baseball player
- 1955 - Barbara Kingsolver, American novelist
- 1960 - John Schneider, American actor
- 1963 - Julian Lennon, English musician and singer
- 1963 - Alec Stewart, English cricketer
- 1964 - Biz Markie, American rapper and disc jockey
- 1966 - Robin Wright Penn, American actress
- 1966 - Mazinho, Brazilian football player
- 1968 - Patricia Arquette, American actress
- 1971 - Chino XL, American rapper
- 1972 - Paul Grey, American bassist (Slipknot)
- 1973 - Bobby Ologun, Nigerian television performer and martial artist
- 1977 - Mark Spencer, computer programmer
- 1979 - Alexi Laiho, Finnish guitarist and singer (Children of Bodom)
- 1980 - Manuel Ortega, Austrian singer
- 1980 - Katee Sackhoff, American actress
- 1982 - Judy Star, Canadian actress

Deaths

- 217 - Caracalla, Roman Emperor (b. 186)
- 956 - Gilbert of Chalon, Duke of Burgundy
- 1143 - John II Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor (b. 1087)
- 1364 - King John II of France (b. 1319)
- 1461 - Georg Purbach, German mathematician and astronomer (b. 1423)
- 1492 - Lorenzo de Medici, ruler of Florence (b. 1449)
- 1586 - Martin Chemnitz, Lutheran reformer and theologian (b. 1522)
- 1587 - John Foxe, English writer (b. 1516)
- 1691 - Carlo Rainaldi, Italian architect (b. 1611)
- 1697 - Niels Juel, Danish admiral (b. 1629)
- 1704 - Hiob Ludolf, German orientalist (b. 1624)
- 1704 - Henry Sydney, 1st Earl of Romney, English statesman (b. 1641)
- 1725 - John Wise, English clergyman (b. 1652)
- 1848 - Gaetano Donizetti, Italian composer (b. 1797)
- 1920 - Charles Tomlinson Griffes, American composer (b. 1884)
- 1931 - Erik Axel Karlfeldt, Swedish writer, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1864)
- 1936 - Robert Bárány, Austrian physician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1876)
- 1938 - Joe "King" Oliver, American musician (b. 1885)
- 1950 - Vaslav Nijinsky, Polish-born ballet dancer (b. 1890)
- 1965 - Lars Hanson, Swedish actor (b. 1965)
- 1973 - Pablo Picasso, Spanish artist (b. 1881)
- 1978 - Ford Frick, baseball commissioner
- 1981 - Omar Bradley, U.S. general (b. 1893)
- 1984 - Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa, Russian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1894)
- 1990 - Ryan White, American activist (b. 1971)
- 1991 - Per Yngve "Dead" Ohlin, Norwegian musician (black metal)
- 1992 - Daniel Bovet, Swiss-born pharmacologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1907)
- 1993 - Marian Anderson, American contralto (b. 1897)
- 1996 - Ben Johnson, American actor (b. 1918)
- 1994 - Kurt Cobain, lead singer of niverna
- 1997 - Laura Nyro, American singer and composer (b. 1947)
- 2000 - Claire Trevor, American actress (b. 1910)
- 2002 - Maria Felix, Mexican actress (b. 1914)
- 2003 - Anita Borg, American computer scientist (b. 1949)
- 2004 - Bruce Edwards, golf caddy (b. 1954)

Holidays and observances

- Worldwide Roma Nation Day

External links

- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/8 BBC: On This Day]
- [http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/20050514.html The New York Times: On This Day] ----- April 7 - April 9 - March 8 - May 8 -- listing of all days ko:4월 8일 ms:8 April ja:4月8日 simple:April 8 th:8 เมษายน

1994

1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family.

Events

January

- January 1 - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect
- January 1 - Zapatista Army of National Liberation begins war in Chiapas, Mexico
- January 1 - Bantustans join South Africa
- January 6 - Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an assailant under orders from figure skating rival Tonya Harding.
- January 8 - Valeri Polyakov began his 437.7 day orbit, eventually setting the world record for days spent in orbit.
- January 11 - Irish government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Fein
- January 14 - U.S. President Bill Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin sign the Kremlin accords which stop the preprogrammed aiming of nuclear missiles to targets and also provide for the dismantling of the nuclear arsenal in Ukraine.
- January 17 - 1994 Northridge Earthquake, magnitude 6.7, hits the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles at 4:31 am.
- January 20 - In South Carolina, Shannon Faulkner becomes the first female cadet to attend The Citadel but soon drops out.
- January 26 - A man fires two blank shots at Charles, Prince of Wales in Sydney, Australia.
- January 28 - The first trial of accused murderer Lyle Menendez ends in a mistrial. He and his brother Erik are later found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
- January 31 - German luxury car manufacturer BMW announces the purchase of Rover from British Aerospace

February

- February 1 - In Portland, Oregon, Tonya Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly pleads guilty for his role in attacking figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. He accepts a plea bargain admitting to racketeering charges in exchange for testimony against Harding.
- February 3 - William J. Perry was sworn in as the 19th Secretary of Defense of United States
- February 5 - Byron De La Beckwith is convicted of the 1963 murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers
- February 6 - Serb mortar shell kills 68 civilians and wounds about 200 in a Sarajevo marketplace
- February 9 - Peace plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina announced (so called Vance-Owen peace plan)
- February 12 - Edvard Munch's painting, "The Scream," is stolen in Oslo. It is recovered on May 7
- February 22 - Aldrich Ames and his wife are charged with spying for the Soviet Union by the United States Department of Justice. Ames would later be convicted to life imprisonment and his wife would receive 5 years in prison
- February 24 - In Gloucester, local police begins excavations at 25 Cromwell Street the home of Frederick West suspected of multiple murders. On February 28, he and his wife are arrested
- February 25 - Kahanist Baruch Goldstein opens fire inside the Cave of the Patriarchs in the West Bank. He kills 29 Muslims before worshippers beat him to death
- February 27 - Australian Federal Sports & Environment Minister Ros Kelly resigns over "The Sports Rorts Affair", where it was alleged that she apportioned money for community sporting projects in a pork barreling fashion.
- February 28 - US F-16 pilots shoot down four Serbian fighter aircraft over Bosnia for violation of the Operation Deny Flight and its no-fly zone

March

- March 1 - A lone terrorist kills Ari Halberstam on an attack on 14 Jewish students on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. [http://www.arihalberstam.com]
- March 1 - South Africa cedes Walvis Bay to Namibia.
- March 1 - Mary Ellen Withrow begins term of office as Treasurer of the United States, serving under President Bill Clinton.
- March 4 - Four terrorists are convicted for their roles in the World Trade Center bombing which killed six and injured more than a thousand.
- March 6 - Referendum in Moldova results in the electorate voting against possible reunification with Romania.
- March 7 - The Supreme Court of the United States rules in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music that parodies of an original work are generally covered by the doctrine of fair use.
- March 12 - A photo by Marmaduke Wetherell, previously touted as 'proof' of the Loch Ness monster, is confirmed to be a hoax.
- March 12 - The Church of England ordains its first female priests.
- March 16 - In Portland, Oregon Tonya Harding pleads guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution for trying to cover-up an attack on figure skating rival Nancy Kerrigan. She is fined $100,000 and banned from the sport.
- March 23 - At an election rally in Tijuana, Mexican presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio is assassinated. Mario Aburto Martinez is arrested for the crime and confesses on the same day.
- March 27 - A tornado outbreak occurs in Southeastern United States. One tornado hits the United Methodist Church in Piedmont, Alabama killing 22. This outbreak is the biggest tornado event of 1994.
- March 28 - In South Africa, Zulus and African National Congress supporters battle in central Johannesburg killing 18.
- March 31 - The journal Nature reports the finding in Ethiopia of the first complete Australopithecus afarensis skull (see Human evolution).

April

- April 6 - Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and president of Burundi Cyprien Ntaryamira died when a missile shoots down their jet near Kigali, Rwanda. This is taken as a pretext to begin the Rwandan Genocide
- April 7 - The Rwandan Genocide begins in Kigali, Rwanda.
- April 8 - Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, is found dead in Seattle, Washington. He had committed suicide three days earlier.
- April 16 - Voters in Finland decide to join the European Union in a referendum.
- April 20 - Paul Touvier is found guilty of ordering the execution of 7 Jews when he was serving in the Vichy France Milice
- April 21 - Red Cross estimates that hundreds of thousands of Tutsi have been killed in Rwanda
- April 22 - Former American President Richard Nixon dies.
- April 25 - End of term for Sultan Azlan Muhibbudin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzudin Shah Ghafarullahu-lahu as 9th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.
- April 26 - Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan becomes the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.
- April 26 - South Africa holds its first fully multiracial elections.
- April 30 - Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger of Austria, age 32, dies in a high-speed, single-car crash in the practise session for the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy

May

- May 1 - Formula One driver Ayrton Senna of Brazil, age 34, is killed in a high-speed, single-car accident during the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy
- May 6 - The