1. UN Observers in Syria as Ceasefire Falters. Reports of casualties began coming out of Syria despite the arrival of United Nations observers in the country. The UN mission was approved after Syria agreed, then appeared to violate, a ceasefire with anti-government forces. The Syrian government has claimed to be in conflict with terrorists determined to unseat the government. Opposition forces maintain that they have been peaceful, only using force in response to attacks. UN observers are unarmed and have no mandate to intervene in the event that civilians are being harmed. Their reports from Syria, however, are essential in verifying whether or not the Syrian government is continuing its crackdown against anti-government protesters. (Source: CNN)

2. Border Conflict between Sudan, South Sudan Escalating. The Sudanese military bombarded and recaptured the disputed town of Heglig after South Sudanese forces withdrew. South Sudan, which gained independence from the north in the summer of last year, attacked the town and captured it in an operation that allegedly resulted in the deaths of 240 Sudanese soldiers. The Sudanese Air Force has conducted bombing missions in undisputed South Sudanese territory, raising concerns that Sudan may escalate the conflict and invade South Sudan proper. A spokesman for the north stated that “this is not a time for diplomacy,” and that Sudan’s forces “want to teach them a lesson.” (Source: ABC News)

3. India Tests Long Range Missile. India tested the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on April 19. The missile has a 5,000 km (3107 mile) range, which encompasses all of China. The missile is also more accurate than previous generations of Agni missiles. The test comes about a week after North Korea failed to put a rocket into space, an event condemned as cover for a missile test. If India incorporates the Agni-V into its nuclear arsenal, it will join the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom in possession of ICBMs. (Source: The Times of India)

4. Guinea-Bissau Suspended from African Union. After its government was deposed in a coup d’état, Guinea-Bissau was suspended from the African Union. The move comes despite agreements from the country’s military rulers to cede power to a civilian government. Since 1974, the country has been rocked by a number of coups and coup attempts. The African Union is also dealing with a coup d’état in Mali, launched due to a lack of support for military units fighting separatist rebels in the country.  (Source: Al Jazeera)

5. Jim Yong Kim Elected as World Bank President. Jim Yong Kim, who was nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the World Bank, was elected to that post on April 16. The election was the first time that two non-American candidates were in the race for the Presidency of the World Bank at the same time. Since 1944, when the World Bank was created, an American has always been in charge of the organization. Other countries have criticized the election process as too restrictive for non-American candidates. The World Bank was founded to provide loans to underdeveloped nations. (Source: Al Jazeera)