EDIT/PUBLISH ON DEC 27 -Major events in April 2019 (4)

APRIL

April 1

- India launches intelligence-gathering satellite and 28 others from different nations.

April 2

- President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigns following after protests target his rule in Algeria.

- The U.S. announces it suspends deliveries and activities related to Turkey's procurement of the fifth generation F-35 stealth fighter jet over Ankara's plans to buy Russia's S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

April 3

-U.S. approves sale of 24 helicopters to India to boost the navy’s anti-surface and submarine warfare.

April 4

- The House of Representatives pass a resolution to end American support for the war in Yemen.

- Military commander Khalifa Haftar launches a campaign aiming to capture Tripoli, where Libya’s UN-backed unity government is headquartered

April 5

- British Prime Minister Theresa May, after the delayed April 12 departure, requests that the EU gives it a further extension of the Brexit date until June 30.

April 6

- Thousands of demonstrators in Sudan gather in Khartoum to call for President Omar al-Bashir to resign. Five people die during protests.

- Forces loyal to East Libyan-based commander Khalifa Haftar claim full control of Tripoli International Airport.

- Two rival rallies take place in Venezuela’s capital after blackouts left residents without electricity and water.

April 8

- U.S. President Donald Trump announces that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is added to the list of foreign terrorist organizations.

- Iran’s Supreme National Security Council formally designates U.S. Central Command as a terrorist organization.

- The U.S. designates 16 Saudi officials for their roles in the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

April 9

- Algeria’s Parliament names Abdelkader Bensaleh, head of the country’s Council of the Nation, or the upper house of parliament, as interim president, replacing Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

April 10

- Japanese Air Force F-35A stealth fighter jet crashes into the Pacific Ocean making it the second time one of the world’s most advanced stealth aircraft is lost in an accident.

- Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont announces he will run in European Parliament elections in May.

- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence urges the UN to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate leader.

- The first ever image of a black hole captured by the Event Horizon Telescope is unveiled on the Internet.

April 11

- President Omar al-Bashir is taken to custody after the army seized power. Defense Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf takes over the administration for a two-year transition period.

- Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, is removed from Ecuador’s Embassy in London where he has been staying since 2012.

- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party wins 36 seats in parliament in early general elections in Israel.

April 12

- Sudan’s Defense Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf announces he is leaving his post voluntarily and Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan becomes the new chairman of the Sudanese Transition Military Council.

April 14

- Turkish athlete Atakan Yuksel wins gold at the 2019 European Wrestling Championships in Romania.

April 15

- Israeli researchers present a miniature 3D heart using a patient’s own cells, a move that
is considered a breakthrough in treating cardiovascular diseases.

- The roof of world famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris collapsees after a fire started in the 856-year-old building.

April 16

- Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak is hosted at the White House by the U.S. President Donald Trump.

April 20

- At least 254 people are reportedly killed and hundreds injured in recent clashes on the outskirts of the Libyan capital since early April.

- Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensky wins presidential elections with 73.22% of the vote during the second round.

- Queen Elizabeth II turns 93, completing her 67th anniversary on the throne.

April 22

- U.S. announces it is going to end waivers for sanctions on countries importing oil from Iran. The administration also says it will give 180-day waivers, called Significant Reduction Exceptions (SREs), to eight countries to help them wean off their supply of Iranian oil, including China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey.

- Iran renews threats to close the Strait of Hormuz if it is prevented from using the strategic Persian Gulf waterway to export oil.

April 23

- Daesh/ISIS terror organization claims responsibility for bombings in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

April 25

- Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden officially enters the 2020 White House race, ending more than a year of speculation.

April 26

- U.S. President Donald Trump withdraws from UN arms trade treaty which aimed to curtail global proliferation of weapons.

April 29

- Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo decides to relocate the capital from the island of Java to promote more equitable development.

April 30

- Japanese Emperor Akihito officially announces his abdication during a ceremony to end his 30-year reign.

- A group of soldiers led by the Popular Will party leader Juan Guaido tried to initiate a coup. Guaido and soldiers urged the public to go out in the street to overthrow the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolas Maduro. The attempt was unsuccessful.