Here’s What Happened Around The World In April 2023
Take a look back at some of the biggest stories that happened around the world in April 2023.
Take a look back at some of the biggest stories that you may have missed in April.
1. An anti-abortion supporter tried to confront Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau but he completely shut him down
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeauwas praised for the way he shut down an anti-abortion supporter who tried to confront him.
The moment took place during Trudeau’s visit to the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and went viral on Reddit after it was shared by user @NoahFromCanada.
In the video, the man, who is seen recording Trudeau, tells Trudeau he is a supporter of the People’s Party of Canada and that he believes “liberal abortion is against Christianity.”
“Do you think women should have the right to choose what happens to their own bodies?” Trudeau asks.
After a few more exchanges, Trudeau says, “Well, it sounds like you need to do a little more thinking, and a little bit more praying.”
Trudeau is then seen patting the man on the shoulder and turning away.
2. K-pop star Moonbin from Astro was found dead at the age of 25
Moonbin, a member of the K-pop boy group ASTRO, was found dead in his apartment in Seoul.
He was discovered unresponsive in his home at around 8:10 pm on Wednesday April 19 , local media reported, citing police.
Five hours later on April 20 , his management agency Fantagio confirmed his death, saying that “[Moonbin] has suddenly left us and became a star in the sky.”
The police told CNN that authorities believe Moonbin had taken his own life, but the official cause of death has not yet been determined.
3. Sudan’s military forces started fighting for power and more than 500 people have been killed
Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces are fighting over control of the country, leaving more than 500 people dead and millions trapped in the capital.
Fighting broke out on Saturday April 15, as the two groups vied for control over important infrastructure such as the presidential palace, state television, army headquarters, airports, and sea ports, according to the BBC.
Much of the fighting has happened in urban areas where many civilians are, including the capital Khartoum.
At least 500 people have been killed, more than 4,000 have been injured, and the death toll is still expected to rise.
Civilians are reporting food and water shortages, and humanitarian groups say it is nearly impossible to get aid into Khartoum.
3. New Zealand achieved a gender equal cabinet for the first time ever
New Zealand’s government cabinet now has an equal number of men and women ministers for the first time in its history.
A cabinet reshuffle from the newly appointed prime minister Chris Hipkins on Wednesday April 12 has led to the historic milestone.
After Willow-Jean Prime, a Māori woman politician, was named as the minister of conservation, the cabinet now consists of 10 men and 10 women.
It also a record number of six ministers who are of Māori descent.
4. The Dalai Lama apologized for asking a boy to “suck his tongue”
The Dalai Lama has apologized for kissing a boy and then asking the child to “suck his tongue” at a public event.
The interaction took place at an event attended by students at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala in late February but recently went viral.
The viral video has sparked outrage, with some deeming it “inappropriate”.
In response, the Dalai Lama’s office has issued an apology.
“His holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused,” the statement read.
His office added that the Dalai Lama “often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way” and that he regrets the incident.
5. Scientists discovered a rare and ancient coral reef near Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands
An ancient and rare coral reef has been discovered at an unprecedented depth near Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
Ecuador’s environmental ministry shared the discovery on Monday April 17.
Scientists had believed that the Galapagos only had one coral reef, which survived warm weather events like El Niño.
The recent expedition proved otherwise, showing a reef with almost half of it still alive and thriving.
6. This Chinese actress spoke up about being upskirted and blackmailed and people praised for her bravery
Chinese actress Jiang Mengjie is being praised for speaking out about her experience of being upskirted and blackmailed.
33-year-old Jiang said in a Weibo post to her eight million followers on Wednesday April 19 that the incident, when someone took an upskirt video of her, happened years ago.
She said she first learned about it when her staff noticed comments about “secret footage of her” under her Weibo posts.
She then started receiving messages threatening to send the explicit video to paparazzi, adult sites, TV and film companies, as well as brands she was working with, according to screenshots she shared.
She said she eventually brought the case to the authorities and that suspects have been detained.
Jiang said she decided to come forward because she hopes she can help more people become aware and pay attention to the issue.
“I hope others who have also become victims of similar types of incidents won’t be afraid, nor ashamed to fight,” she wrote. “It is not our fault that we have been secretly photographed.”
7. In Algeria, a cat climbed onto this sheikh while he was performing nightly Ramadan prayers but he just kept going
A video of a cat “participating” in a Ramadan prayer has gone viral on social media, and it is winning people’s hearts.
In the video, the cat was seen jumping onto Sheikh Walid Mehsas while he was leading the evening Ramadan prayer, Taraweeh, at a mosque in Bordj Bou Arreridj in Algeria.
Appearing undisturbed, Mehsas gently patted the cat with his right hand as the cat proceeded to climb on his shoulder and tried to kiss him.
Mehsas kept his eyes closed throughout the whole process and continued his recital.
8. Someone dropped their iPhone at an aquarium in Portugal and was left otterly devastated
An unlucky visitor to an aquarium in Portugal was left otterly devastated after an otter picked up their dropped iPhone and proceeded to smash it like a clam.
Videos showing different angles of the incident at the aquarium in Lisbon have since gone viral on various social media networks.
In the videos, the otter can be seen holding the iPhone with both hands and smashing it repeatedly against a rock in the hopes of opening it. It then clutched the iPhone and swam away off screen.
9. Pope Francis changed the rules so that women can vote at a major meeting of bishops for the first time
Pope Francis has changed the Catholic Church’s rules so that women can vote at a major meeting of the bishops.
Until now, only men could vote at the meeting of Bishops, called a synod, while women could only attend as observers.
The synod in October will focus on the future of the church, including women’s and LGBTQ rights and how it can be more inclusive.
Under the new changes, five religious sisters will become voting representatives alongside five priests at the meeting in October.
10. Japan held a crying baby sumo festival where babies competed to cry first for good health
Japan held a “Crying Baby Sumo Festival” where babies competed to cry first for good health.
At the Nakizumo festival, sumo wrestlers hold babies inside a sumo ring and try to make them cry first
The wrestlers try different techniques to make the babies cry, including bouncing them in their arms, making loud noises and funny or scary facial expressions
At some events, when neither baby cries, the referee will put on a scary traditional Japanese mask and try to scare them
In Japanese tradition, there is a belief that crying babies can ward off evil spirits and babies that cry loudly will grow up strong and healthy
The 400-year festival is held annually at different Shinto shrines around the country around May 5, to coincide with Children’s Day.
