April 12, 2012 (Thursday)
Armed conflict and attacks
- A ceasefire to military operations in the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising comes into effect. (AFP via Melbourne Herald-Sun)
- Agence France-Presse reports that the military of Guinea-Bissau have staged a coup against the civilian government. (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Arts and culture
- The Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford and the Vatican Library announce they will make 1.5 million pages of ancient texts available on the Internet. (Vatican Radio)
- Transport chiefs in London ban a bus advert which suggested gay people could be cured. (Evening Standard)
Business and economy
- Sony Corp announces plans to cut 10,000 jobs around the world to reduce costs and return the company to profitability. (Reuters)
- Google says that first quarter earnings rose over 24%, with net profit increasing to $8.14 billion. (Business Insider) (Google)
International relations
- Japan and the Philippines are on alert for the North Korean rocket launch over the next few days. (AFP via Google News)
- The Philippines sends another ship to join the current ship it has involved in a confrontation with two Chinese surveillance ships on the South China Sea, although both sides claim to be committed to a peaceful solution. (BBC) (Wall Street Journal)
- Indian Maoists release Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco after holding him for nearly a month. (NDTV)
Law and crime
- Eighteen people are sentenced to life imprisonment in India for burning people alive as part of the 2002 Gujarat violence. (IBN Live)
- Protesters clash with riot police in the city of Chongqing in southwestern China during a protest over economic grievances from the redistricting of Wansheng District. (AP via Yahoo!)
Politics and elections
- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is given two posts in the Workers' Party of Korea previously held by his father Kim Jong-Il, including chairman of the party's Central Military Commission and a standing member of the Politburo. (BBC)
- Dioncounda Traore is sworn in as the interim President of Mali, marking a transition back to civilian rule following last month's coup. (BBC)