April 4 – International Organizations / North America:
UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA) / UNITED STATES
The Trump Administration withdraws its support and ends funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) claiming the organization is breaking the U.S. laws by supporting coercive abortion and sterilizations.[1] UNFPA rejects the claim as erroneous and says it provides maternal and child health in more than 150 countries and helps with family planning. In just 2016, the organization saved the lives of 2,340 women from dying during pregnancy and childbirth; prevented 947,000 unintended pregnancies; ensured 1,251 fistula surgeries; and prevented 295,000 unsafe abortions.[2] The UNFPA is funded with voluntary donations by governments from all regions. In 2015, the United States was its fourth-largest donor, contributing $75 million.[3]
April 4 – Middle East / North America / International Organizations:
SYRIA / UNITED STATES / UNITED NATIONS
Syrian government forces attack the town of Khan Shaykhun in the Idlib province with toxic gas including sarin, killing at least 70 people. Hundreds of others suffer from the effects of the toxic chemicals.[4] Sarin is a nerve agent, 20 times as deadly as cyanide. During this chemical attack, the town was under the control of one of the anti-government rebel groups, Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front. Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government denies its involvement, but the international community says it has a proof of Assad’s involvement.[5] (April 7): U.S. President Donald Trump orders a military strike on Al Shayrat Air Base from which Syrian government planes allegedly staged the attack. US warships launch 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles, targeting aircraft, shelters and storage facilities.[6] The U.S. strike is conducted without authorization from either the United States Congress or United Nations Security Council and it raises questions about its legality under the U.S. law as well as international law.[7] Russia vetoes a proposed resolution that would condemn Syria for the chemical attack on its own people. Russia is President Bashar Assad’s ally.
For more on Syria’s gas attack.
April 6 – East Asia: THAILAND
The King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand signs a new constitution, which paves the way for elections in 2018. This constitution, which was approved in a national referendum in August 2016, is Thailand’s 20th since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.[8] The new constitution gives more power to the military by creating an army-appointed senate, with six seats reserved for the military. It allows an unelected person to be appointed as Prime Minister, possibly opening the position for a military official. A proportional voting system reduces the influence of major parties. The new constitution also gives additional powers to the constitutional court, making it easier to impeach a civilian leader.[9]
April 15 – East Asia / North America:
NORTH KOREA / UNITED STATES
North Korea stages a massive military parade to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the country’s founder and grandfather of current leader, Kim Jong-un. The parade shows off a wealth of new missiles and launchers. For the first time, the regime shows off two new intercontinental ballistic missile-sized canisters, a submarine-launched ballistic missile and a land-based version of the same.[10] (April 16): North Korea attempts to launch a ballistic missile from the eastern port of Sinpo despite international condemnation and UN sanctions after several such tests in recent years. The test fails, as the missile explodes soon after launch. It contributes, however, to rising tensions between North Korea and the United States. (April 25): Amid the tense situation with North Korea, the United States sends a submarine to South Korea’s port of Busan. This nuclear-powered submarine is equipped with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 60 special operations troops and mini subs.[11]
April 16 – Europe / Middle East: TURKEY
Voters in Turkey’s national referendum narrowly approve changes to the constitution that give president unprecedented powers and change Turkey’s political system from a parliamentary one to a presidential one. The supporters of the changes, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AK Party), say the new system will make Turkey more efficient and stable. The critics, such as the Council of Europe see Turkey’s proposed constitutional amendments as a “dangerous step backwards” for democracy.[12] They express concerns about the separation of powers and checks and balances within the new system. The new powers of the president include the right to dissolve the Parliament, declare a state of emergency, and appoint vice presidents and ministers. The president will also have more powers in the selection of judges and prosecutors and will be allowed to be a member and even a chairperson of a political party. In this way, the president may control both the executive and legislative bodies.[13]
April 23 – Europe: FRANCE
Out of the 11 candidates in the election for the French Presidency, centrist Emmanuel Macron and nationalist Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front, receive the most votes, 24 percent and 22 percent of the vote respectively.[14] Emmanuel Macron is a banker who was economic minister in President Hollande’s administration, but in 2016, he stepped down and founded En Marche Party (On the Move). Since no candidate secured an outright majority, the two frontrunners will meet for a run-off election on May 7. For the first time in decades, the winners do not come from France’s two major parties: the Socialists and the conservative Republicans. Incumbent Socialist President Francois Hollande did not run for reelection due to his low approval ratings. Macron and Le Pen disagree on many issues. Marine Le Pen wants France to leave the European Union and the eurozone, introduce economic protectionist policies, and suspend all legal immigration. Macron wants France to stay in the European Union but calls for reforms, promotes free trade deals, and calls for strengthening the EU borders.
April 24 – International Organizations / Africa:
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) / KENYA / GHANA / MALAWI
The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading and coordinating a pilot program to implement the malaria vaccine in small children in three African countries of Kenya, Ghana and Malawi. WHO will collaborate with Ministries of Health in these countries and it will also assess the safety and effectiveness of the vaccination. The RTS,S vaccine will provide partial protection in young children against the most deadly malaria parasite.[15] Vaccinations are due to begin in mid-2018. Despite progress in the fight with malaria, there were still 212 million new cases in 2015 worldwide and 429 000 deaths.[16] Africa is the hardest hit and most of those who die are in children.
April 25 – International Organizations / Middle East:
UNITED NATIONS (UN) / YEMEN
During a pledging meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva, 48 countries, as well as a number of UN agencies, regional organizations, and non-governmental humanitarian organizations pledge $1.1 billion (out of $2.1 requested by the UN) for Yemen, which suffers from “the largest humanitarian crisis in the world”.[17] Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland warns that Yemen is facing a “famine of Biblical proportions” towards the end of this year.[18] One of the poorest country in the Middle East,[19] Yemen has been additionally devastated by a two-year conflict between Houthi rebels and the government supported by the Saudi-led coalition. According to the UN, of Yemen’s 25.6 million people, close to 19 million are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. More than six million people are at risk of famine.[20]
Listen to more on the crisis in Yemen from NPR.
April 26 – Middle East: IRAQ
The Iraqi forces liberate the ancient city of Hatra from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) who captured the city in 2014. The militants looted the ancient city and destroyed many sculptures and engraved images. However, it is reported that the site had suffered less damage than feared earlier, with most of the buildings, city walls, and towers still intact.[21] During the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, Hatra was a large fortified city and religious and trading center in the Parthian Empire. Later, it became the capital of the first Arab Kingdom. Hatra withstood invasions by the Romans in A.D. 116 and 198 thanks to its high, thick walls reinforced by towers.[22] It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
April 30 – South Asia / North America:
AFGHANISTAN / UNITED STATES
In its April 2017 Report to the United States Congress, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) states that preventing insurgents from increasing their control of the country continues to be a challenge for the Afghan forces. Afghan forces now control 60 percent of the country and the Taliban 11 percent. General John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, says that he is particularly concerned about the high level of Afghan forces casualties. The Report also states that there are 8,300 U.S. forces serving in Afghanistan who mostly train, advise, and assist Afghan security forces. Between January 1, 2015 and March 30, 2017, a total of 33 U.S. military personnel were killed and 161 wounded in action. General Nicholson stresses the importance of the U.S. continued involvement in Afghanistan by arguing that the Afghanistan-Pakistan region has the highest concentration of terrorist groups anywhere in the world and the U.S. counterterrorism mission there plays a key role in the U.S. national security.[23]
Full SIGAR report.