April 2018 Current Events: World News
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The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the world news events you need to know so far for April 2018:
- Train Collision in Germany
- Egypt to Hold Local Elections
- Opposition Wins Sierra Leone Presidency
- Austria to Ban Headscarves for Young Girls
- Ex-President Lula to be Jailed
- Van Drives Into People in Muenster
- 15 Dead in Canadian Bus Crash
- Islamic State Commander Dead
- Six Killed in Afghanistan Blast
- Bus Crash in Malta
- 27 Killed in Indian Bus Crash
- Algerian Military Plane Crashes
- Tainted Liquor in Indonesia
- Suspected Syria Chemical Attack
- Cholera Outbreak in Malawi
- US and Other Countries Launch at Syria
- Zimbabwe Nurses Go on Strike, Then Fired
- Governor of Niigata Resigns
- UN Team Fired on in Syria
- Cuba Announces New President
- Hotline Set Up Between North and South Korea
- WWII Bomb Successfully Defused
- North Korea to Stop Nuclear Tests
- Suicide Blast in Afghanistan
- Van Plows into Pedestrians in Toronto
- Illegal Oil Well in Indonesia Catches on Fire
- Nigerian Church Attack Leaves 16 Dead
- Venezuelan Schools Emptying
- Six Die After Three Suicide Attacks in Quetta
- Dublin Patron Saint’s Heart Returned
- 26 Dead in Twin Blasts in Afghan Capital
- 350 Human Trafficking Victims Rescued
Train Collision in Germany
On April 3, two trains in Germany collided, injuring over two dozen people. The collision occurred in a tunnel, but the cause is still unknown. (Reuters)
Egypt to Hold Local Elections
On April 4, it was announced that after a decade, Egypt would hold local elections in the next few months. The country has lacked locally-elected government since June 2011, when local councils were dissolved after widespread anti-government protests. (Reuters)
Photo Source: iStock
Opposition Wins Sierra Leone Presidency
On April 4, Sierra Leone announced that the opposition candidate Julius Maada Bio had won the election for presidency. Bio will be sworn in shortly in the capital of Freetown, shown above. (Reuters)
Photo Source: iStock
Austria to Ban Headscarves for Young Girls
On April 4, Austria’s new coalition government proposed a bill that would make it illegal for girls under the age of ten to wear headscarves in school. The act is meant to be symbolic, as it will protect children from certain “Islamic influences.” (BBC)
Photo Source: iStock
Ex-President Lula to be Jailed
On April 5, a Brazilian judge ruled that former president Lula turn himself in to serve a 12-year sentence. Last year Lula was convicted of taking bribes while he was in power. (Reuters)
Photo Source: iStock
Van Drives Into People in Muenster
On April 6, a van ploughed into a group of people eating outside a restaurant in Muenster. Two people are said to have been killed and the driver killed himself. There are no other suspects in the case. (Reuters)
15 Dead in Canadian Bus Crash
On April 6, a bus carrying a junior hockey team collided with a tractor trailer. The collision caused 15 deaths and another 14 were injured. Canada continues to mourn this tragic loss. (BBC)
Islamic State Commander Killed in Airstrike
On April 7, an Afghan air strike killed a senior commander of the Islamic State, Qari Hekmat. (Reuters)
Photo Source: iStock
Six Killed in Afghanistan Blast
On April 9, a blast in Afghanistan’s Herat province killed six people and injured another 9. The blast came from a motorbike, but no group has claimed responsibility. (Reuters)
Bus Crash in Malta
On April 9, a double decker bus in Malta hit low hanging tree branches, killing 2 tourists and injuring another 6. (Reuters)
27 Killed in Indian Bus Crash
On April 9, a school bus in India swerved and fell into a gorge, killing 24 children and three adults. The bus driver was among the adults who died. (Reuters)
Algerian Military Plane Crashes
On April 11, more than 250 people died when a military plane crashed near Algeria’s capital. After takeoff, the wing caught fire causing the plane to crash. Most of the fatalities were military members. (Reuters)
Tainted Liquor in Indonesia
On April 11, the death toll rose to 82 after people drank tainted bootleg liquor. So far, 13 men have been arrested, and law enforcement continues to search for the masterminds behind the bootleg liquor. (Reuters)
Suspected Syria Chemical Attack
On April 11, it was announced that nearly 500 people have been affected by what is suspected to be a chemical attack. The attack happened a few days earlier in Syria and countries are discussing the proper steps for retaliation. (CNN)
Cholera Outbreak in Malawi
On April 12, it was announced that at least 30 people in Malawi have died from a cholera outbreak. Another 893 people have fallen ill according to the health ministry. The outbreak is due to drinking contaminated water and poor food hygiene. (CNN)
Photo Source: 123RF/Yuriy Klochan
US and Other Countries Launch at Syria
On April 13, the US and its allies fired 100 missiles at Syria in response to the chemical attack that took place a week earlier. Three of Syria’s chemical weapon facilities were targeted, and while the Pentagon did not say how many missiles hit the targets, it did announce that no more attacks are planned for now. (Reuters)
Photo Source: 123RF/Visions Of America LLC
Zimbabwe Nurses Go on Strike, Then Fired
On April 16, nurses in Zimbabwe went on strike for higher wages, leaving hospitals understaffed. On April 18, more than 10,000 of the nurses who went on strike were fired. (Reuters/BBC)
Governor of Niigata Resigns
On April 18, Governor of Japan’s Niigata resigned to avoid ‘turmoil’ after he did a magazine article regarding his relations with women. Ryuichi Yoneyama’s resignation came after #MeToo affected other Japanese politicians. (Reuters)
UN Team Fired on in Syria
On April 18, while inspecting the sites of Syria’s chemical attacks, a UN security team came under fire. It is unclear whether the team will be able to complete inspections. (Reuters)
Cuba Announces New President
On April 19, Cuba announced Miguel Diaz-Canel as its new president. Diaz-Canel is currently the vice president to Castro. (CNN)
Hotline Set Up Between North and South Korea
On April 20, it was announced that a hotline had been set up between North and South Korea in preparation for the summit. This is the first time direct communication has been set up between the two countries. (BBC)
WWII Bomb Successfully Defused
On April 20, a WWII bomb in Berlin was successfully defused. People have since been able to return to their homes. (CNN)
North Korea to Stop Nuclear Tests
On April 20, North Korea said it would immediately suspend nuclear tests ahead of the summits with South Korea and the United States. Kim Jong Un stated the tests were no longer needed because the country already met its goal for developing the weapons. (Reuters)
Suicide Blast in Afghanistan
On April 22, a suicide blast at an Afghanistan voter registration center killed 57 people and injured another 100. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack. (CNN)
Van Plows into Pedestrians in Toronto
On April 23, a driver plowed his rental van into Toronto pedestrians, killing 10 people and injuring another 15. The suspected driver, Alek Minassian, praised a women-hating shooter on Facebook minutes before the attack. (BBC)
Illegal Oil Well in Indonesia Catches on Fire
On April 24, 18 people died and another 41 were injured after an illegal oil well caught on fire in Indonesia. The fire broke out after the well overflowed, causing panic in the nearby residential area. (Reuters)
Nigerian Church Attack Leaves 16 Dead
On April 24, gunmen opened fire on a church congregation in Nigeria, killing 16 people. The attack is one of many that has been going on between herders and farmers. (Reuters)
Venezuelan Schools Emptying
On April 25, it was reported that nearly 3 million children have been missing class in Venezuela due to the closing of schools. Funding for public education has continued to suffer after President Hugo Chavez’s rule ended in 2013. (Reuters)
Six Die After Three Suicide Attacks in Quetta
On April 25, a suicide bomber attacked officers in Pakistan’s Quetta, killing six and injuring another eight. ISIS later claimed responsibility. (CNN)
Dublin Patron Saint’s Heart Returned
On April 26, Laurence O’Toole’s 800-year-old heart was returned intact, after being stolen nearly six years earlier. O’Toole was the first Irish archbishop of Dublin. (Reuters)
26 Dead in Twin Blasts in Afghan Capital
On April 29, explosions in Kabul killed 26 people, including 11 children and 10 journalists. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. (Reuters)
350 Human Trafficking Victims Rescued
On April 30, it was announced that police rescued approximately 350 human trafficking victims across 13 Caribbean and Latin American countries. Officers also arrested 22 people, and seized phones and computers. (BBC)
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