Portal:Current events
Topics in the news
- The historic Børsen (pictured) in Copenhagen, Denmark, catches fire.
- In retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Iran conducts missile and drone strikes against Israel.
- In the South Korean legislative election, the Democratic Party–led opposition alliance increases its majority in parliament.
- American football Hall of Fame running back, murder suspect and convicted criminal O. J. Simpson dies at the age of 76.
- Simon Harris becomes Taoiseach of Ireland after Leo Varadkar's resignation.
April 16, 2024
(Tuesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- Israel–Hamas war
- Israel–Hezbollah conflict
- The Israeli military conducts an attack and kills Ismail Yusuf Baz, the commander of Hezbollah's coastal sector in Lebanon. (Israel Defense Forces)
- Israel–Hezbollah conflict
- Killing of Benjamin Achimeir
- A mob of Israeli settlers in Aqraba kills two Palestinians in revenge for the killing of Israeli teenager Benjamin Achimeir amid escalating ethnoreligious violence in the West Bank. (The Guardian)
- Israel–Hamas war
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signs a new army draft law. (Reuters)
- 2024 Wakeley church stabbing
- Australia says the stabbing attack at the Assyrian church in Sydney was an Islamic terrorist act. (Reuters)
Business and economy
- Argentina and Denmark sign a 2.1 billion kroner (US$300 million) deal for the sale of 24 Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons to Argentina. No date for the F-16s to be handed over to Argentina has been announced. (AP)
Disasters and accidents
- 2024 Børsen fire
- A fire breaks out in Copenhagen's 17th-century Stock Exchange Building, leading to the collapse of its iconic Dragespir spire. Important Danish artworks including From Copenhagen Stock Exchange are carried to safety. (Reuters) (The Guardian)
- Heavy rains and flash floods have swept parts of the Persian Gulf, killing at least 18 people in Oman and causing travel disruption in the United Arab Emirates. (Al Jazeera)
Politics and elections
- Brussels police shut down the right-wing National Conservatism Conference attended by Nigel Farage and expected to host Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. (Politico)
- The U.S. House of Representatives send impeachment articles of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate. (Reuters)
Science and technology
- European Space Agency scientists announce the discovery of Gaia BH3, the second-largest known black hole in the Milky Way. (NOS) (ESA)
Sports
- It is suspected Chinese marathon record holder He Jie won the Beijing half marathon due to match fixing. World Athletics expresses integrity concerns and the organization starts an investigation. (NOS) (Reuters)
April 15, 2024
(Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- 2024 Iran–Israel conflict
- 2024 Iranian strikes in Israel, Iran–Japan relations
- Japan increases its four-stage danger ranking level for most of Iran, including Tehran, to Level 3, which urges Japanese citizens to avoid all travel to Iran. (The Japan News)
- 2024 Iranian strikes in Israel, Iran–Japan relations
- 2024 Iran–Israel conflict
- War in Sudan
- Battle of El Fasher
- At least nine civilians are killed and sixty others are injured in a renewed offensive by the Rapid Support Forces on the city of El Fasher. (Sudan War Monitor)
- Siege of El Obeid
- Five civilians are killed and ten others are injured in crossfire between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces in the city of El Obeid. (Sudan War Monitor)
- Humanitarian impact of the war in Sudan
- The Rapid Support Forces capture Mellit, North Darfur. (Sudan War Monitor)
- The Joint Darfur Force declares war on the Rapid Support Forces and allies with the Sudanese Armed Forces. (Sudan War Monitor)
- Clashes occur in Al-Madina Arab, Gezira State, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. (Radio Tamazuj)
- Battle of El Fasher
Business and economy
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk announces that more than 10% of the company's global workforce will be laid off. (CNBC) (Reuters)
- Lockheed Martin wins a $17 billion defense contract from the U.S. government to develop missile interceptors against intercontinental ballistic missiles. (Reuters)
Disasters and accidents
- Floods in Africa
- Fifty-eight people have been killed in Tanzania and 13 people have been killed in Kenya in the past two weeks by flooding caused by torrential rains, with more than 125,000 people in coastal areas of East Africa affected by the flooding. Tanzania announces plans to construct fourteen dams in an attempt to reduce the damage from future floods. (AP)
- Lightning and heavy rains have killed at least 49 people across Pakistan in the past three days, mainly farmers in the eastern Punjab province. (AP)
- The death toll from landslides caused by torrential rain in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, increases to 20, after the last missing people are found dead. (AP)
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. No damage or casualties are reported. (ABC News)
International relations
- Sudan–United Kingdom relations, War in Sudan
- The United Kingdom sanctions Alkhaleej Bank and Al-Fakher Advanced Works, two companies financing the Rapid Support Forces, and Red Rock Mining, which finances the Sudanese Armed Forces. (Radio Tamazuj)
Law and crime
- 2021 Australian Parliament House sexual misconduct allegations
- Former Australian political staffer Bruce Lehrmann loses his defamation case against Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for broadcasting an interview with Lehrmann's former coworker Brittany Higgins in which she claimed that Lehrmann raped her. (The Guardian)
- 2024 Wakeley church stabbing
- Four people are injured, including bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, in a mass stabbing at a church in Sydney, Australia. The perpetrator is arrested. A mob clashes with police outside the church while trying to attack the detained suspect. (Sky News Australia)
Politics and elections
- Lee Hsien Loong announces that he will resign as Prime Minister of Singapore on May 15 and will be succeeded by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong. (CNA)
- Thousands of people protest against a controversial foreign agent law in Tbilisi, Georgia. Georgia's Interior Ministry reports at least 14 people have been detained. Georgian Dream parliamentary leader Mamuka Mdinaradze is punched during a debate in parliament by a member of the opposition. (DW)
- Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- Pro-Palestinian protests in the United States stopped traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge and disrupted traffic to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. (Washington Post)
April 14, 2024
(Sunday)
Disasters and accidents
- 2024 Dibaya Lubwe landslide
- At least 15 people are killed and 60 more are missing during a landslide in Idiofa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AP)
- Heavy floods in Afghanistan have killed at least 33 people and injured 27 others in three days. About 600 houses were either damaged or destroyed, and around 200 livestock died. The floods also damaged around 800 hectares of agricultural land, and more than 85 kilometers (53 miles) of roads. (AP)
International relations
Law and crime
- Three people are injured, one critically, in a shooting at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. The perpetrator targeted his wife, who was not injured. (CNA)
Sports
- 2023–24 Bundesliga
- In association football, Bayer 04 Leverkusen win their first Bundesliga title. (ABC News)
- 2024 Masters Tournament
- American professional golfer Scottie Scheffler wins the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. This win is Scheffler's second win at the tournament. (CNN)
April 13, 2024
(Saturday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- 2024 Iran–Israel conflict
- 2024 Iranian strikes in Israel
- Iran launches retaliatory airstikes at Israeli military bases from Iran, Iraq, Syria, southern Lebanon, and Yemen. (ABC News)
- U.S. naval ships mobilize to the Middle East to support Israel against incoming airstrikes. (The Wall Street Journal) (News.com.au)
- Iranian seizure of the MSC Aries
- Iran seizes the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-registered, Madeira-flagged container ship owned by Zodiac Maritime which is chaired by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. (Reuters) (Firstpost)
- Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus
- The Netherlands announces that their embassy in Tehran will close on Sunday. (Al Arabiya)
- 2024 Iranian strikes in Israel
- 2024 Iran–Israel conflict
- Death of Benjamin Achimeir
- Israeli settlers attack Palestinians in the West Bank after missing Jewish teenager Benjamin Achimeir is found dead. (BBC News)
- Insurgency in Balochistan
- Gunmen abduct and kill nine people from a bus in Nushki District, Balochistan, Pakistan. All victims, whose bodies were found under a bridge, appear to have been shot at close range. (Reuters)
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- The Russian Ministry of Defence claims that the village of Pervomaiske near Donetsk has been captured by Russian troops. (Barron's)
- War in Sudan
- An offensive by the Rapid Support Forces begins in El Fasher. (Sudan Tribune)
Disasters and accidents
- Eighteen people are killed, two are injured and some are missing after landslides hit South Sulawesi, Indonesia. (The Star)
Law and crime
- 2024 Bondi Junction stabbings
- Six people are killed and seven others are injured in a mass stabbing at a shopping center in Sydney, Australia. The perpetrator is shot and killed by police. (The Guardian) (The Sydney Morning Herald)
Politics and elections
- 2024 Cook by-election
- Simon Kennedy of the Liberal Party of Australia wins the by-election in the seat of Cook, succeeding former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. (ABC News Australia)
April 12, 2024
(Friday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
- Russia launches drone strikes across Ukraine. Critical infrastructure is damaged in Kherson Oblast and a fire occurs at the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station in Zaporizhzhia causing around half a tonne of oil products to leak into the Dnieper river. (Reuters) (Ukrainska Pravda)
- Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
- War in Sudan
- Humanitarian impact of the war in Sudan
- Canada pledges $132.2 million dollars to Sudan to help people affected by the country's ongoing humanitarian crisis. (Global News)
- Humanitarian impact of the war in Sudan
- Israel–Hezbollah conflict
- Hezbollah forces launch dozens of airstrikes into northern Israel. The militant group says that the airstrike barrage targeted IDF artillery positions. No casualties are reported. (Al Arabiya)
- Alliance of Sahel States
- Nigerien crisis
- Dozens of Russian military instructors arrive in Niger as part of an agreement with the ruling military junta to a install state-of-the-art air defence system. (BBC News)
- Nigerien crisis
- War in Amhara
- Two Fano militants are killed and a third is arrested during a shootout with police near the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A civilian is also killed and two officers are wounded. (The Washington Post)
Business and economy
- Economic impact of the Israel–Hamas war, Egypt–European Union relations
- The European Union pledges €1 billion in short-term financial aid to Egypt to help stabilise the country's economy. (Reuters)
International relations
- Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus
- It is reported that Israel is preparing for a direct retaliatory strike from Iran on southern or northern Israel as soon as the next 24 to 48 hours. A person briefed by the Iranian leadership says that while plans to strike are being discussed, no final decision has been made. (The Wall Street Journal)
- The United States restricts travel for its embassy personnel in Israel amid fears of a retaliation by Iran. (BBC News)
- The British government advises against all travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories due to the imminent possibility of an Iranian strike. (Middle East Monitor)
- France advises its citizens against traveling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel Palestine due to the risk of military escalation. (CNN)
- Germany tells its citizens to leave Iran immediately, saying that "air, land and sea transport routes" will likely be affected by military action in the region. (Reuters)
- Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus
Law and crime
- Censorship in Mali
- The military junta in Mali prohibits all forms of media from reporting on activities of political parties and associations. (NOS)
- Pakistan designates the Iranian Quds Force Liwa Zainebiyoun as a terrorist organization. (VOA)
Science and technology
- Russia successfully test-launches an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Kapustin Yar launch complex in Astrakhan Oblast. (Reuters)
April 11, 2024
(Thursday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Mykolaiv strikes
- Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure
- Russia launches missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, damaging power facilities and causing widespread power outages for about 200,000 people. Ukraine says that the Trypilska thermal power plant in Kyiv Oblast was destroyed in an overnight attack. (Reuters) (Bloomberg)
- Iran–Israel proxy conflict
- Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus
- Russia warns its citizens against travelling to the Middle East amid increasing tensions between Iran and Israel. (CNBC)
- U.S. President Joe Biden warns that Iran is threatening to launch a significant attack against Israel and promises "ironclad U.S. support" for Israel in the event of an attack. (BBC News)
- Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus
- Myanmar civil war
- The Karen National Union, local PDF groups, and other Karenni organizations seize the town of Myawaddy, Kayin State, from the Tatmadaw after three days of fighting. Junta planes subsequently bomb the town, causing more than 1,000 locals to flee into neighbouring Thailand. (CNN) (Radio Free Asia)
Arts and culture
- Archaeologists announce the discovery of new frescos at the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, depicting mythological ancient Greek figures. (BBC News)
Disasters and accidents
- 2024 Lake Suviana explosion
- A search operation at a power plant on Lake Suviana, near Bologna, Italy, has recovered the bodies of three workers who were missing after an explosion two days ago. This brings the confirmed death toll to six. A seventh worker is still missing, while the five injured are still in critical conditions. (Il Resto del Carlino)
- A Robinson R22 helicopter owned by the Philippine Air Force crashes near a public market in Cavite City, Philippines, killing both pilots. (AFP via Barron's)
Law and crime
- Capital punishment in Vietnam
- A court in Vietnam sentences tycoon Trương Mỹ Lan to death for embezzling $12.46 billion from the Sai Gon Joint Stock Commercial Bank. (DW)
- Thirty-eight prisoners escape from a prison in Moroni, Comoros. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- 2024 South Korean legislative election
- South Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo and all senior advisers to President Yoon Suk Yeol resign en masse in response to the results of yesterday's parliamentary elections. (ABC News)
- The Netherlands increases its military budget to 2 percent of its GDP for the first time since 1994. (Algemeen Dagblad)
April 10, 2024
(Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Kharkiv strikes
- Russian airstrikes in Kharkiv Oblast kill at least three people and injure four others. (Reuters)
- Odesa strikes
- Kharkiv strikes
- Israel–Hamas war
- An Israeli attack in Gaza kills three civilians related to Ismail Haniyeh. (Haaretz)
Business and economy
- 2023–2024 video game industry layoffs
- American video game company Epic Games announces that it will lay-off around 870 employees, roughly one-sixth of its workforce, due to slower growth than expected. (CBC via Yahoo! News)
Disasters and accidents
- A bus carrying Eid Al-Fitr pilgrims collides and plunges into a ditch in Balochistan, Pakistan, killing seventeen people and injuring 16 others. (AP)
- Five people are killed and 35 others are injured in a fire at the New Lucky House in Kowloon, Hong Kong. (Reuters)
- A person is killed by flooding in Mississippi, United States, as severe weather hits the Southern United States. (CBS News)
Politics and elections
- 2024 South Korean legislative election
- South Koreans vote for members of the National Assembly. The opposition, primarily consisting of the Democratic Party, its alliance and the Rebuilding Korea Party, wins the election in a landslide, increasing their legislative majority but falling short of the two-thirds supermajority needed to pass constitutional amendments or override the veto of President Yoon Suk Yeol. (Reuters)
- 2024 United States presidential election
- Cornel West names Melina Abdullah as his VP pick as part of his presidential campaign. (Politico)
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