April 2013 Current Events: World News. Here are the key events in world news for the month of April 2013. *. North Korea's Kim Jong-un Defies Warnings (Apr. 1):Despite stiffer sanctions from the UN, Kim Jong-unannounces plans to expand North Korea's nuclear weapons and strengthen the country's economy. His plans defy warnings from the United States that North Koreaneeds to abandon its nuclear weapons arsenal. Kim prohibits South Korean workers from entering the Kaesong industrial park, which is run jointly by the two countries and is located in North Korea.(Apr. 3):At a rare plenary meeting of the Central Committee, Kim says North Korea will continue to develop its nuclear weapons program despite sanctions and restart the mothballed nuclear facility in Yongbyon.(Apr. 4):The U.S. announces it is deploying a missile defense system to Guam as a precautionary move. The deployment is two years ahead of schedule.(Apr. 5): South Koreareports that North Korea now has a missile within range of its coast, but the missile cannot reach the United States. *. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad Resigns (Apr. 13):Prime Minister Salam Fayyadresigns in Palestineamid infighting among the top echelon of the Palestinian Authority and popular discontent. Fayyad is credited with cracking down on corruption in the West Bank, improving infrastructure, and boosting the economy, which resulted in an increase in international aid. It is unclear how Fayyad's resignation would affect the reconciliation of Fatah and Hamas. *. Special Election Held to Replace Chavez (Apr. 14):A special presidential election is held to pick Hugo Chavez's successor in Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro wins by a slim margin. Maduro receives 50.8 percent of the vote. Henrique Capriles Radonski, who recently lost to Chavez in the October 2012 election, is close behind with 49 percent.(Apr. 19):Maduro assumes office. Meanwhile, the opposition questions the constitutionality of his election. In naming his cabinet, Maduro keeps Elias Jaua on as foreign minister and Diego Molero as defense minister. Jaua and Molero served in the same roles under Chavez. *. Syria Faces Chemical Weapon Allegations (Apr. 18):Diplomats from both Britain and Francereport to the United Nations that there is credible information that the government in Syriahas used chemical weapons recently in its civil war. According to both diplomats, the Syrian government has used chemical weapons multiple times since December 2012. Officials from Israelalso say they have evidence that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons. President Obamahas said that the use of chemical weapons by Syria's government could lead to a military response by the United States. The U.S. is currently looking into the various claims. *. France Becomes 14th Nation to Approve Same-Sex Marriage (Apr. 23):The lower house in France's National Assembly votes 331 to 225 in favor of same-sex marriage. The legislation is expected to be approved by the Constitutional Council and signed into law by President François Hollande. The vote makes Francethe 14th nation in the world to pass legislation for same-sex marriage. Uruguayand New Zealandhave also both recently passed same-sex marriage legislation.

March 2013 Current Events: U.S. News. Here are the key events in United States news for the month of March 2013. *. Congress Fails to Stop Budget Cuts (Mar. 1):Congress and President Obamado not reach an agreement in time to stop the large budget cuts to federal spending. As the cuts go into effect, Congressional leaders pledge to end the disagreements over the federal budget that have threatened to shut down the government for the last two years. President Obama responds to the budget cuts in a news conference where he says, "I don't anticipate a huge financial crisis, but people are going to be hurt." *. The Supreme Court Debates Same-Sex Marriage (Mar. 26):The Supreme Court begins two days of historical debate over gay marriage. During the debate, the Supreme Court will consider overturning Proposition 8, the Californiainitiative banning same-sex marriage, and the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law passed during Bill Clinton's presidency, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The Supreme Court's decision will be announced in June 2013.

March 2013 Current Events: Business News. Here are the key events in business and science news for the month of March 2013. *. Economy Adds 236,000 Jobs in February and Unemployment Falls (Mar. 8):The jobs report is released for February 2013. U.S. employers add 236,000 new jobs in February, while unemployment falls to 7.7% from 7.9% in January. The solid report has a positive effect on stocks. The Dow Jones industrial average gains 67.58 points or 0.5% on the day the report is released.

March 2013 Current Events: Disasters & Science News. Here are the key events in Science and Disasters news for the month of March 2013. *. Scientists Confirm Higgs Boson (Mar. 14):Scientists confirm that the new particle discovered last year is the Higgs boson, the missing piece of physics' Standard Model that was first hypothesized in the 1960s. The announcement is made during the Rencontres de Moriond, a yearly conference, in Italy. In order to make the confirmation, physicists have collected tons of data and studied how the Higgs boson interacted with the other particles.

March 2013 Current Events: World News. Here are the key events in world news for the month of March 2013. *. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Dies (Mar. 5):After 14 years at the helm of Venezuela, Hugo Chavezsuccumbs to cancer. Elections must be held within 30 days. Maduro will serve as interim president and will run in the election, likely against Henrique Capriles Radonski, who lost to Chavez in October's election. *. UN Passes More Sanctions Against North Korea (Mar. 8):In response to the North Korea's nuclear test last month, the UN Security Council unanimously passes another round of strict sanctions against North Korea. In a first, Chinais involved in drafting the sanctions. The sanctions come shortly after the U.S.and South Korea begin annual military drills near the north-south border. Reacting to the sanctions and the exercises, President Kim Jong-unpromises to launch "a pre-emptive nuclear strike" against the U.S. and South Koreaand says he has voided the 1953 armistice that ended the war between North and South Korea. Kim's threats are mostly dismissed as bluster, but are nevertheless the most menacing in years by any leader. He continues his bellicose tone throughout March and shuts down not only Red Cross hotlines between North and South Korea, but also military hotlines. At a rare plenary meeting of the Central Committee, Kim says North Korea will continue to develop its nuclear weapons program despite sanctions, saying the weapons ""are neither a political bargaining chip nor a thing for economic dealings."(Mar. 29):The U.S. responds to the growing threat from North Korea by continuing the military drills with South Korea, deploying F-22 stealth fighter jets and B-2 and B-52 bombers to the region in a show of its military strength. The U.S. also increases the number of ground-based ballistic missile interceptors in California and Alaska. *. Cardinals Choose Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio to succeed Benedict as Pope (Mar. 13):Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglioof Argentinais elected as the new pope, succeeding Benedict XVI. Bergoglio, 76, becomes the Catholic Church's 266th pontiff. He is the first pope from Latin America, where 480 million Catholics live. Bergoglio receives the required two-thirds of the vote after just two days of the conclave. Accepting his election, Bergoglio chooses the name Francis. *. Xi Jingping Becomes President of China (Mar. 14):Xi Jingping assumes the presidency of China. Of the 2,956 delegates, only one votes against Xi. Three delegates abstain. Li Yuanchao is named vice president. Assuming the presidency completes the transition of power to Xi. This final step puts him in charge of all three centers of power in China. *. Obama Negotiates Reconciliation between Israel and Turkey (Mar. 22):President Obama visits Israeland helps negotiate a reconciliation with Turkey. During Obama's visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuexpresses sincere regret to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, for the commando raid in 2010 on a Turkish ship that killed nine people. Israel also offers compensation for the incident. Erdogan accepts Israel's apology. After the apology, both countries announce that they will reinstate ambassadors and completely restore diplomatic relations. President Obama supports the apology in this statement, "the United States deeply values our relationships with both Turkey and Israel, and we attach great importance to the restoration of positive relations between them, in order to advance regional peace and security." The press in Israel greets Obama's visit with enthusiasm. Multiple newspapers use the phrase he said in Hebrew during his visit, "You are not alone," as a headline. *. Cyprus Bailout Sparks Outrage and Protests (Mar. 24):The European Union(EU) and International Monetary Fund(IMF) offer a $13 billion bailout to Cyprus. The EU and IMF also requests that Cyprusraise $7.5 billion by taxing all bank deposits. Deposits over 100,000 euros will face a rate of 9.9%, while deposits less than that will be taxed 6.75%. The proposal sparks protests in Cyprus and outrage in Russia-many wealthy Russians put their money in Cyprus banks, which are not heavily regulated. Parliament rejects the bail-out, and the threat of Cyprus being ousted from the euro zone looms large. *. Italy Overturns Amanda Knox Acquittal (Mar. 26):A new trial is ordered by the Court of Cassation, Italy's highest court, for Amanda Knox, the exchange student from the U.S. who was accused of murdering Meredith Kercher, her 21-year-old roommate in 2007. The ruling means the case will be reheard, this time by a new appeals court in Florence. The new trial will be later this year or in 2014. Currently attending the University of Washington in Seattle, Knox releases a statement through a spokesman and calls the ruling "painful."