News Timeline: April 2014

 

April 1 – Europe: GREECE
The eurozone countries sign off another installment of the financial bailout for Greece after the Greek parliament has passed further austerity measures, which include layoffs of another 11,000 public sector employees and opening their retail sector to competition. In response, the people stage a national strike; since 2010 there were at least 3 dozens of such protests. Greece has been in recession for the last 6 consecutive years, with unemployment in 2013 exceeding 27 percent. Greece’s debt-to-GDP ratio amounted to 175 percent in 2013, compared to the average 92 percent of all Eurozone members.

April 1 – North America: UNITED STATES
The United States authorities report that more than seven million people, more than expected, have signed up for health care coverage under the new Obamacare law, officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The law is intended to extend health coverage to 48 million uninsured Americans and curb the growing costs of healthcare in the U.S.

April 6 – Europe: HUNGARY
Controversial Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wins a second term after his center-right Fidesz Party gathers 45 percent of the vote in the country’s parliamentary elections, which gives it again a two-third majority in the parliament. The Hungarian opposition and the European Union have criticized Orban for the constitutional changes, which, they say, undermine the independence of the judiciary and media, as well as limit civil liberties and free speech. Twenty percent of the vote goes to the radical nationalists of the Jobbik party.

April 8 – Europe: SPAIN
The Spanish parliament rejects a request by the region of Catalonia to hold a referendum on its independence from Spain by saying the country’s constitution allows voting for secession only if held nationally, not just by a region. Despite this, the Catalan President Artur Mas says the region will hold a referendum anyway, which is planned for November this year. Catalonia, with its capital in Barcelona and more than seven million citizens, is one of Spain’s most developed and industrialized regions and a popular tourist destination.

April 8 – International Organizations:
ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION  AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that development aid rose by 6.1 percent in 2013 reaching the highest level ever, amounting to $134.8 billion. The largest donors by the amount of money are the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, France, Denmark and Luxembourg. Among these nations, the U.S. is the largest donor, donating $31.5 billion a year. However, in terms of development aid as percent of gross national income (GNI), the U.S.’s contribution amounts to 0.19 percent, which is one of the lowest.  OECD is an organization dedicated to global development. It has 34 member countries from all world regions. They include many of the world’s most advanced countries, but also emerging countries such as Mexico, Chile and Turkey.

April 8 – East Asia: JAPAN / AUSTRALIA
After seven years of negotiations, Australia and Japan sign a bilateral trade agreement, in which Australia gets as preferential treatment in its agricultural exports to Japan, such as beef and dairy products. For its part, Australia agrees to cut tariffs on Japanese electronics, automobiles, and household appliances.

April 15 – South Asia: INDIA
India’s Supreme Court officially recognizes transgender people, known in India as hijra, as the third gender. The ruling qualifies them as a minority group, giving them access to employment and education quotas. As transgenders have faced major social and economic discrimination, the court argued that the ruling supports improving of human rights.

April 15 – Africa: NIGERIA
The militant Islamist group Boko Haram in Nigeria abducts 230 girls from a Christian boarding school in northeastern city of Chibok in Borno state. The leader of the group threatens to sell the girls as slaves, sparking outraged reaction not only in Nigeria, but across the globe. The Boko Haram group, which opposes the western-style education, fights to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.

April 23 – Africa: SOUTH SUDAN
The United Nations’ report says that rebels allied with South Sudanese former Vice President Riek Machar have massacred hundreds of civilians in the oil-rich town of Bentiu. The town has changed hands several times during the power struggle between the President Salva Kiir and the sacked Vice President Machar. As the leaders belong to two different ethnic groups, the Dinkas and Nuers, the struggle has evolved into an ethnic conflict.

April 24 – Europe / Former Soviet Republics/International Organizations:
UKRAINE / RUSSIA / NATO / INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Russia sends troops to its western border with Ukraine and orders military exercises, increasing tensions in already volatile situation. Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine overrun government buildings in several cities and place Russian flags on them. The United States sends a first contingent of about 500 troops to Poland for military exercises as part of the NATO security guarantees. (April 29): Pro-Russian separatists seize the regional government building and prosecutor’s office in the eastern city of Luhansk, opening fire at the local police station. There is fear of escalating tensions that might lead to a civil war. (April 30): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves a $17 billion bailout for Ukraine under strict conditions of economic reforms.

April 30 – Middle East: IRAQ
Iraq holds its first parliamentary elections since the U.S. withdrawal in 2011. Despite a heavy security presence, several bomb attacks targeting polling stations kill a dozen of people. Nine thousand candidates are running for 328 seats in the lower house of the parliament. The results will be known in May.