April 2 — International Organizations: G20
The Group of Twenty (G20), consisting of leaders of the world’s major economies, concludes its summit in London with an agreement providing $1.1 trillion to various programs designed to improve international trade, finance, credit, and overall economic stability. It also provides for tougher global financial regulations and help for countries with struggling economies. New funding includes: $500 billion for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to lend to struggling economies, $250 billion to boost trade, and $100 billion for the multilateral development banks to lend to poor countries
April 3 — North America: UNITED STATES
The unemployment in the United States rises to 8.5 percent with more than three million jobs lost in just the last few months. At the same time, the number of part-timers who cannot find full-time employment rises to nine million.
April 3 — East Asia: CAMBODIA/THAILAND
Cambodian and Thai troops exchange gunfire in the disputed border zone near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear. Although this World Heritage temple was awarded to Cambodia in 1962, it has remained a flash point between the two countries.
April 5 — Europe/Former Soviet Republics: MOLDOVA
Moldova announces that the ruling Communist Party wins parliamentary elections with 50 percent of the votes. The opposition center-right Liberal Party wins 13 percent, while the Liberal Democratic Party 12 percent. Most people in the breakaway Transdniester region boycotted the elections. The new parliament will appoint a new president. The incumbent president and the leader of the communists, Vladimir Voronin, is expected to step down after serving the maximum two terms. (April 7): Opposition-backed protesters attack the parliament building and the presidential office in the capital of Chisinau, protesting the election results and accusing the government of electoral fraud. (April 12): Moldova’s Constitutional Court orders a recount of the election results. (April 17): The recount confirms the previous results. The opposition does not accept the recount, saying that it was not allowed to see the electoral lists. President Voronin blames the unrest on Romania’s meddling and expels the Romanian ambassador.
April 5 — East Asia: NORTH KOREA
North Korea makes a failed attempt to launch a satellite into space. The United States, the European Union, South Korea, and Japan condemn the move. It is believed that the launch was a cover-up for the long-range missile test.
April 6 — Africa: SOUTH AFRICA
South African court drops corruption charges against Jacob Zuma, the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), concluding that the evidence has been manipulated. The ruling will allow Zuma to run in the upcoming elections. (April 22): In the country’s parliamentary elections, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) wins 65.9 percent of the vote followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 16.7 percent and a newly formed Congress of the People (COPE) with 7.4 percent. The outcome of the election clears the path for Jacob Zuma to become South Africa’s next president. As president, he faces a struggling economy and rising crime.
April 9 — Africa: ALGERIA
Algeria’s president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, wins his third term in office with over 90 percent of the vote. The opposition describes the election as a charade.
April 11 — East Asia/International Organizations: THAILAND/ASEAN
Thailand cancels a summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was about to start in Thailand, after thousands of anti-government protesters break into the complex in Pattaya where the visitors were gathering. The Thai government declares a state of emergency and evacuates several leaders from the complex. The Thai opposition has been pressuring the government to organize new elections.
April 14 — Latin America: BOLIVIA
Bolivian President Evo Morales ends his hunger strike after the country’s parliament approves a new bill containing constitutional and electoral changes. The bill, which allows the president to run for a second term and sets aside seven seats in the parliament for candidates from minority indigenous groups, was being blocked by the Senate.
April 17 — North America: UNITED STATES
After reviewing the scientific evidence, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concludes that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases are pollutants and need to be regulated. The decision is a major policy change from the George W. Bush administration.
April 17 — North America: UNITED STATES
United States President Barack Obama says that CIA agents who were involved in harsh interrogations of terrorism detainees during the George W. Bush presidency will not be prosecuted. In January this year, President Obama signed executive orders to shut down the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention center within a year and to ban the use of controversial interrogation methods, such as waterboarding and sleep deprivation.
April 19 — Latin America
A three-day Summit of the Americas in Trinidad concludes without a final declaration, but it ends on an upbeat note for the future cooperation between the countries of Americas. The top issues at the summit were the current economic crisis and the issue of Cuba, which was excluded from the summit. The United States President Barack Obama admitted that years of the U.S. policy toward Cuba has not worked; these policies have been adjusted but the full lifting of sanctions could happen only after such changes as democratic elections are implemented.
April 19 — Europe: CYPRUS
Turkish Cypriot ruling Republican Turkish Party (CTP) loses to the right-wing National Unity Party (UBP) in parliamentary elections in Northern Cyprus. Pro-unity Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will stay in power, but his position will be weakened by the nationalists who favor closer links with Turkey rather than the European Union. They intend to press for the two-state solution.
April 21 — Former Soviet Republics/North America: TAJIKISTAN/KYRGYZSTAN/AFGHANISTAN/UNITED STATES
Tajikistan agrees to allow the United States to use the country’s roads and rails to transport non-military supplies coming from Uzbekistan for U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. The new option comes after Kyrgyzstan closed the Manas airbase, the only U.S. military base in Central Asia.
April 28 — Europe: CYPRUS/EUROPEAN UNION
The European Court of Justice upholds the ruling of a Cypriot court supporting the right of a Greek Cypriot who fled his home during Turkish invasion in 1974 to reclaim his land, or obtain compensation. The ruling establishes a precedent, opening the door to thousands of similar claims by Greek Cypriots.
April 30 — International Organizations: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
The World Health Organization (WHO) raises its alert over swine flu to level five – the second highest – which indicates that the disease can spread between humans, and warns that a pandemic is imminent. The highest number of swine flu cases has taken place in Mexico, where people have been encouraged to stay home for the next five days, followed by the United States. Several countries have put restrictions on travel to Mexico.