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Worldwide current events · Sports events

Topics in the news

Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez (pictured), recipient of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature, dies at the age of 87.
NASA announces the discovery of Kepler-186f, the first Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting in its star's habitable zone.
Ukraine launches a military campaign against pro-Russian activists in East Ukraine.
A ferry carrying more than 450 people capsizes near Jindo Island off South Korea, leaving at least 28 dead and 268 missing.
A total lunar eclipse is visible across the Pacific Ocean and the Americas.

Recent deaths: Owen Woodhouse – Brian Harradine

April 18, 2014 (Friday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Dozens of civilians sheltering in a UN base in the South Sudan town of Bor are killed in an attack by armed men. (BBC)
2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine:
- Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk say they will not leave the government buildings, defying the Kiev authorities and threatening a new international deal on Ukraine. (BBC)

Business and economy

Arts and crafts retailer Michaels announces that 3 million customers were affected by the 8-month long security breach that resulted in the theft of their customers' personal information. (CNN)

Disasters and accidents

2014 South Korean ferry capsizing:
- The death toll of the accident rises to 28. (Yonhap)
- South Korean prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for the captain, Lee Joon-seok, and are seeking the arrest of two other crew members of the Sewol in the wake of the ferry capsizing. (CNN)
12 people are killed in an avalanche on Mount Everest. (The Guardian)
A 7.5-magnitude earthquake hits near Petatlán, Guerrero, Mexico. (USGS)

Law and crime

Seven killed in Vietnam border clash with Chinese migrants. (Wall Street Journal)

Health and environment

Pollution in China:
- An official study released by the Chinese government reveals that about one-fifth of China's soil is contaminated. (BBC)

April 17, 2014 (Thursday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

The Pakistani Taliban announces that it will not extend a ceasefire with the Pakistani government. (CNN)

Disasters and accidents

2014 South Korean ferry capsizing:
- Republic of Korea Coast Guard and Navy divers resume the search for 290 missing people from yesterday's ferry capsizing off the coast of the island of Jindo. (Reuters via Yahoo)

International relations

2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine:
- Russia and Ukraine together with the United States and the European Union sit down for emergency talks in Geneva. All four agree that "illegal military formations in Ukraine" must be dissolved, and that everyone occupying buildings must be disarmed and leave them. There would be an amnesty for all anti-government protesters under the agreement. (The Guardian) (Sky News Australia)
- A skirmish on the Ukrainian military base in Mariupol by pro-Russian militants results in the deaths of 3 of the militants, the wounding of another 13, and the capture of 63 others. (BBC)
- The Ukrainian Army unit whose tanks were seized by pro-Russian forces is disbanded and its members charged with crimes. (Ukrainian News Agency)
- Russian President Vladimir Putin admits having sent Russian forces to Crimea last month to protect its military equipment there. (Washington Post)
- Jews in Donetsk are ordered to register with the government of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic via leaflets dropped by an unknown party. The Jewish community in Donetsk dismissed it as a "provocation". (USA Today)(CNN)(New York Times)

Law and crime

Two former Anglo Irish Bank chiefs, Pat Whelan and William McAteer, are found guilty of making loans designed to illegally prop up the bank's share price. (BBC)

Politics and elections

Algerian presidential election, 2014:
- Voters in Algeria go to the polls for a presidential election with incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika standing for a fourth term. (AP via Fox News)
Indian general election, 2014:
- Voters in twelve states of India go to the polls for the biggest day of voting during the election process. (BBC)

Science and technology

Scientists announce the first successful creation of cloned human stem cells derived from adult cells. (TIME)

April 16, 2014 (Wednesday)

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Attacks and conflicts

Gunmen ambush a bus killing nine people and wounding six others in western Ethiopia near the Sudanese border. (Reuters)
Syrian Civil War
- More chemical attacks are reported, this time in the Damascus suburbs. (Reuters)
- Jordanian warplanes strike a convoy of vehicles as they were trying to enter Jordan from Syria. (BBC)
2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine:
- Six armored personel carriers belonging to the Ukrainian military are captured by pro-Russian protesters amid rising tensions between the protestors and the military. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

2014 South Korean ferry capsizing:
- Yonhap news agency reports that the Republic of Korea Coast Guard has been dispatched to rescue a ferry with 476 passengers sinking off the southeastern coast of South Korea with claims that at least four passengers have died and scores are injured. Approximately 280 people remain unaccounted for. (AP), (AFP via Nine MSN), (BBC)

Politics and elections

Barry O'Farrell resigns as Premier of the Australian state of New South Wales after giving misleading evidence to the Independent Commission against Corruption. (Sydney Morning Herald)

Science and technology

Scientists discover a new moon forming in the outer edge of Saturn's A ring, unofficially called "Peggy". (nasa.gov)
Scientists discover an egg membrane protein, Juno, that facilitates fertilisation in mammals. (The Independent)

Sports

In football, Real Madrid C.F. defeats arch-rivals FC Barcelona 2-1 to secure its 19th Copa del Rey trophy. (Sports Illustrated)

April 15, 2014 (Tuesday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

A bomb detonates at a traffic police post in Cairo, Egypt, injuring 3 people. (AP via Houston Chronicle)
2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
- Shots are fired at Kramatorsk air base as Ukrainian Ground Forces are dispatched to take on separatists. Unconfirmed reports state that 4 pro-Russian militants have been killed and 2 people have been injured. Some reports claim up to 10 deaths. (Sky News)
- Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov has announced the start of an "anti-terrorist operation" against pro-Russian separatists. (BBC)
A group of terrorists, suspected to be Boko Haram, attack a Nigerian school, resulting in the deaths of two security force members and the abduction of 100 schoolgirls. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

At least 48 people die and 15 are severely injured after a bus crashes into a truck 150 kilometres north of Lomé, capital of the West African nation of Togo. (CNN)

Health

2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak
- The death toll from the West Africa ebola outbreak reaches 121. (AP)

Law and crime

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India recognizes transgender as a "third gender". (Times of India)
Former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi is sentenced to 1 year of community service for his conviction of tax fraud. (Los Angeles Times)
2014 Calgary stabbing. Five people are stabbed to death and one person is in custody at a house party in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (CBC News)

Science

A total lunar eclipse occurs, peaking at around 8AM UTC. (space.com via Fox News)

April 14, 2014 (Monday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War:
- Syria's political opposition urges US action in response to the Syrian government's barrel bombing campaign in the city of Aleppo. (Reuters)
- Syrian government troops recapture the towns of Al-Sarkha and Ma'loula near the Syria-Lebanon border. (The Daily Star)
Two Abu Sayyaf militants are killed and several captured in a raid in the Philippines city of Zamboanga. (AP via ABC News)
Islamist insurgency in Nigeria
- Twin bomb blasts hit a crowded bus station at the outskirts of the Nigerian capital Abuja, killing at least 71 and injuring more than 120 others. (BBC) (Al Jazeera)
2014 pro-Russian protests in Ukraine
- Pro-Russian gunmen storm another police station, in the town of Horlivka, Donetsk Oblast. (BBC)

Arts and culture

The Washington Post and The Guardian newspapers win the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for their stories on the National Security Agency based on leaks from Edward Snowden. (AP via Salt Lake Tribune)

Business and economy

American financial services company TIAA–CREF agrees to buy Nuveen Investments for $6.25 billion. (Wall Street Journal)

Law and crime

Radical British Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri goes on trial in the American state of New York for 11 alleged terrorism offenses. (BBC)
Two sons of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Al-Saadi Gaddafi and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, are scheduled to appear in court along with 35 other former government officials on charges of murder, embezzlement, and kidnapping during the Libyan Civil War.
A United States court overturns the conviction of Andrew Auernheimer (known as weev), who was sentenced to 41-months in prison in 2010 for hacking the AT&T website, stealing millions of iPad user e-mails. (PC World)

Politics and elections

Voters in the Republic of Macedonia head to the polls for a runoff presidential election. (Voice of America)
The Parliament of Malta passed a law to recognise same sex civil unions and adoption by same sex couples. By this law Malta is going to become the 22nd European nation to accept civil union between same sex couples and 10th European nation to accept adoption by same sex couples.
Vietnam frees Nguyen Tien Trung and Vi Duc Hoi. (BBC)

April 13, 2014 (Sunday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

War in North-West Pakistan:
- 73 people are released from captivity by the Taliban, a day after they were kidnapped. (The News International)
2014 pro-Russian protests in Ukraine:
- Ukraine launches a "full-scale anti-terrorist operation" against pro-Russian protesters who have captured police and security forces buildings in the town of Slaviansk. (Reuters)
- Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov says that Ukrainian Ground Forces will conduct a similar operation in the eastern part of the country against armed protesters. (BBC)
Iraqi insurgency (post-U.S. withdrawal):
- A suicide truck bomber detonates at a police station in Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq killing 8 policemen. (Xinhua)

Disasters and accidents

A bus en route from Villahermosa to Mexico City crashes into a tractor-trailer and catches fire, killing at least 36 people. (AP via Washington Post)

Law and crime

Overland Park Jewish Community Center shooting. Two shootings occur at Jewish facilities on the Kansas side of the Kansas City area. The first occurs at a Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, and the second takes place at a retirement center in Leawood. Three people are killed. A gunman is arrested. (CNN)

Natural disasters

A massive forest fire in Valparaíso, Chile destroys thousands of homes and leaves 11 people dead. (BBC)
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes 204 miles southeast of Honiara, Solomon Islands with no reported casualties or damage. (AP via Fox News)

Politics and elections

Prime Minister of Libya Abdullah al-Thani resigns, citing that he and his family were attacked. (TIME)
Macedonian general election, 2014
- Voters in Macedonia go to the polls for the first round of voting in a presidential election. (Deutsche Welle)

Sports

In running, Wilson Kipsang of Kenya wins the 2014 London Marathon setting a new race record. (AP vis WPXI)
2014 Masters Tournament
- American golfer Bubba Watson wins the US Masters for the second time in three years. (AAP via SBS)
In boxing, Manny Pacquiao regains his WBO welterweight title after defeating Timothy Bradley. (CNN)

April 12, 2014 (Saturday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

Palestinian-Israeli conflict
- The Palestinian Authority signs 15 UN/Geneva human rights treaties including the Fourth Geneva Convention. Israel responds with sanctions. Peace talks continue. (BBC) (Reuters)
Syrian Civil War:
- Chemical weapons are used again in Syria, this time on the town of Kafr Zita, Hama. (US News)
2014 pro-Russian protests in Ukraine
- Gunmen gain control of a police department in the town of Slaviansk in the eastern Ukraine. (Reuters)
Naxalite–Maoist insurgency/Indian general election, 2014:
- Suspected Maoist rebels kill 13 people in a bombing in the eastern Indian state of Chhattisgarh, during the Indian general election, 2014. (Reuters)
War in North-West Pakistan
- Gunmen kidnap 100 men from a tribal gathering in North-West Pakistan. (Reuters)
Islamist insurgency in Nigeria
- Borno State Senator Ahmed Zannah reports that 135 civilians have been killed in attacks in north west Nigeria since Wednesday. (BBC)
Bundy standoff
- Amidst controversy, the Bureau of Land Management accedes to the release of the Bundy family's cattle. (Fox)(Yahoo News)

Health and environment

Researchers announce a new drug, ABT-450, with a 90-95% success rate at treating Hepatitis C. (BBC)

Arts and culture

It is announced that, on May 3, Gulzar will be awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema. (Hindustan Times, The Times of India)

More April 2014 events...

Ongoing events
Economic Eurozone crisis Greek government-debt crisis Environmental 2014 North Indian Ocean cyclone season 2014 Pacific typhoon season Health 2014 Guinea ebola outbreak Political Crimea crisis Russian military intervention in Ukraine Annexation of Crimea by Russia Pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine Garda Síochána phone-tapping scandal Global surveillance disclosures South Sudan conflict Thailand political crisis Venezuela protests More details on ongoing conflicts below edit sidebar

Recent deaths
April 18: Dylan Tombides 17: Cheo Feliciano 17: Gabriel García Márquez 17: Karpal Singh 16: Gyude Bryant 15: Owen Woodhouse 14: Brian Harradine 13: Ernesto Laclau 13: Michael Ruppert 11: Edna Doré 11: Lou Hudson 11: Ron Pundak 11: Jesse Winchester 10: Jim Flaherty 10: Richard Hoggart 10: Sue Townsend 9: A. N. R. Robinson 8: Karlheinz Deschner 8: The Ultimate Warrior 7: Peaches Geldof 7: Zeituni Onyango 7: Royce Waltman 6: Mary Anderson 6: Mickey Rooney 6: Chuck Stone 5: Wayne Henderson 5: Peter Matthiessen 5: John Pinette 4: Kumba Ialá 4: Margo MacDonald 4: Anja Niedringhaus 4: Richard Small 3: Paul Salamunovich 3: Tommy Lynn Sells 3: Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith 2: Urs Widmer 1: Jacques Le Goff edit sidebar

Ongoing conflicts
Global War on Drugs War on Terror Operation Active Endeavour Operation Enduring Freedom Terrorist incidents in 2014 Africa Lord's Resistance Army insurgency Maghreb insurgency OEF – Horn of Africa OEF – Trans Sahara Central African Republic Civil conflict Egypt Islamist unrest Sinai insurgency Libya Post-civil war interfactional fighting Nigeria Niger Delta conflict Islamist insurgency in Nigeria Somalia Civil war Sudan and South Sudan Sudan internal conflict South Sudan internal conflict Americas Colombian conflict Mexican Drug War Asia Afghanistan War Military operations Taliban insurgency India Naxalite–Maoist insurgency Korea Korean maritime border conflict Pakistan Balochistan conflict North-West War Sectarian violence Philippines Communist insurgency Moro insurgency Russia North Caucasus insurgency Southeast Asia Cambodian–Thai border dispute Kachin conflict Papua conflict South Thailand insurgency Territorial disputes in the South China Sea Europe Dissident Irish Republican campaign Middle East Arab–Israeli conflict Gaza–Israel conflict Israeli–Lebanese conflict Israeli–Palestinian conflict Israel–Iran proxy conflict Iraqi insurgency Kurdistan Kurdish–Iranian conflict Syrian Civil War Yemen al-Qaeda crackdown Shia insurgency South Yemen insurgency edit sidebar

Elections
Recent: April 1: Malta, President (indirect) 5: Afghanistan, President (1st round) 6: Costa Rica, President (2nd round) 6: Hungary, Parliament 7: India, Parliament (1st phase) 9: India, Parliament (2nd phase) 9: Indonesia, Legislative 10: India, Parliament (3rd phase) 12: India, Parliament (4th phase) 13: Guinea-Bissau, President (1st round) and parliament 13: Macedonia, President (1st round) 17: Algeria, President 17: India, Parliament (5th phase) Upcoming: April 24: India, Parliament (6th phase) 27: Macedonia, President (2nd round) and parliament 30: India, Parliament (7th phase) 30: Iraq, Parliament Upcoming: May 4: Panama, General 7: India, Parliament (8th phase) 7: South Africa, General 11: Lithuania, President (1st round) 12: India, Parliament (9th phase) 18: Guinea-Bissau, President (2nd round) 20: Malawi, General 22–25: European Union, Parliament 25: Belgium, Federal 25: Colombia, President 25: Denmark, Unified Patent Court referendum 25: Lithuania, President (2nd round) 25: Ukraine, President (1st round) 26–27: Egypt, President 28: Afghanistan, President (2nd round) edit sidebar

Trials
Recently concluded Australia: Brett Peter Cowan, Craig Thomson, Robert Hughes Canada: Michael Thomas Rafferty China: Bo Xilai Croatia: Ivo Sanader Germany: Breno Borges Italy: Silvio Berlusconi Netherlands: Ante Gotovina (ICTY), Mladen Markač (ICTY), Momčilo Perišić (ICTY), Germain Katanga (ICC) Russia: Leonid Khabarov, Vladimir Kvachkov, Pussy Riot Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor (SCFSL) South Africa: Chris Mahlangu Ukraine: Yulia Tymoshenko United Kingdom: Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, Levi Bellfield, Robert Black, Vincent Tabak, Ali Dizaei, Antoni Imiela, Brian Regan, Donna Air, Ched Evans, Clayton McDonald, Titus Bramble, Dan Penteado, John Terry, Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed, Asil Nadir, Justin Lee Collins, Kweku Adoboli, Tony McCluskie, Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, Chris Huhne, Nicola Edgington, Vicky Pryce, Derek Rose, Mick Philpott, Mairead Philpott, Paul Mosley, Kevin Liverpool, Junior Bradshaw, Aggro Santos, Stuart Hazell, Mark Bridger, Andrew Lancel, Dale Cregan, Ray Wilkins, Michael Le Vell, Liam Adams, R v Grillo and Grillo, Ian Watkins, William Roache, Dave Lee Travis, Nicholas Jacobs, Nigel Evans United States: Noshir Gowadia, Barry Bonds, Raj Rajaratnam, Casey Anthony, Conrad Murray, George Huguely, Allen Stanford, Roger Clemens, Jerry Sandusky, Jared Lee Loughner, Lauryn Hill, Kermit Gosnell, George Zimmerman, Chelsea Manning, Ariel Castro, Whitey Bulger, Robert Bales, Nidal Malik Hasan, Crystal Mangum Ongoing Brazil: Mensalão scandal Cambodia: Khmer Rouge Tribunal Canada: Luka Magnotta China: Organized crime in Chongqing Egypt: Mohamed Morsi, Hosni Mubarak France: Church of Scientology Germany: Christian Wulff, Beate Zschäpe, Uli Hoeness Hong Kong: Alfredo Lim Iraq: Supreme Criminal Tribunal Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim Netherlands: Thomas Lubanga (ICC), Radovan Karadžić (ICTY), Ratko Mladic (ICTY) Palau: Tommy Remengesau Philippines: Andal Ampatuan, Jr., Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Janet Lim-Napoles, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Imelda Marcos, Jovito Palparan Russia: Platon Lebedev South Africa: Oscar Pistorius Sudan: Lubna al-Hussein Thailand: Thaksin Shinawatra Turkey: Kenan Evren United Kingdom: Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, Eddy Shah, Koo Stark, Max Clifford United States: Jodi Arias Upcoming France: Éric Raoult Germany: Bernie Ecclestone Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo Jordan: Abu Qatada Libya: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi United Kingdom: Dane Bowers, Rolf Harris, Dave Lee Travis, Stuart Hall United States: Paul Anthony Ciancia, Javaris Crittenton, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Peter Madoff, Christian Gerhartsreiter, Dylan Quick, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, James Eagan Holmes, Aaron Hernandez, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley, Gary Schultz, Anas al-Libi, Bob McDonnell edit sidebar

Events by month

2014: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November; December

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2012: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November; December

2011: January; February; March; April; May; June; July; August; September; October; November; December

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