April 18, 2012 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- 2011–2012 Bahraini uprising:
- Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators march through Tubli calling for the downfall of the regime and chanting against the Formula 1 Grand Prix, due to be held in Bahrain on Sunday. (Al Jazeera)
- Police fire stun grenades at protesters in a separate rally outside a cultural exhibition in Manama amid calls for the release of imprisoned Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, being kept alive by intravenous drip. (BBC)
Arts and culture
- The Casoria Contemporary Art Museum in Naples begins burning its artworks due to government budget cuts affecting cultural institutions. (BBC)
- American television personality and producer Dick Clark dies of a heart attack at the age of 82. (ABC)
Business and economy
- In the U.S., the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission finalize joint rules that will limit which firms must register with either or both of those agencies as "swap dealers." (Reuters)
International relations
- Cuba claims U.S. President Barack Obama was forced to use his "imperial veto" to stop the summit calling for an end to the U.S. embargo against it. (BBC)
- North Korea rejects criticism from countries on the United Nations Security Council regarding its failed rocket launch, and breaks off an agreement that would see it halt testing of nuclear weapons in exchange for food aid. (AFP via Google)
- Israeli army officer Shalom Eisner, who struck a Danish activist in the face with the butt of his gun, is dismissed from his post but not from the Israeli Defense Forces. (BBC) (Xinhua) (The Globe and Mail)
- Senior U.S. officials condemn graphic photos depicting their troops posing with the mangled corpses of suspected Afghan suicide bombers on at least two separate occasions months apart. The Los Angeles Times defends its publication of the photos after being warned against the move by the U.S. military. (Al Jazeera)
Law and crime
- China pledges an investigation into the death of British businessman Neil Haywood, and the alleged role of former politician Bo Xilai and his wife. (BBC)
- In a rare move for courts in the United Kingdom, television cameras are allowed into the High Court in Edinburgh to film the sentencing of David Gilroy for the murder of Suzanne Pilley. (BBC)
Sport
- Pat Summitt resigns as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team. (New York Times)
- Chelsea stun title holders Barcelona with a 1-0 win UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg match in London, Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba scoring the only goal of the game. (Al Jazeera)