Syria's "spark" flares up violently; US "keeps eye" on TPP again

1. US-UK-French coalition attacks Syria

The sky over Damascus as surface-to-air missiles are fired during a US-led attack on different areas of the Syrian capital early on April 14. Photo: AP

In the latest escalation of tensions in Syria, US, UK and French forces launched airstrikes on the country in response to a suspected chemical attack that killed dozens of people earlier.

On the night of April 13 local time, US President Donald Trump announced military action from the White House, saying that the three allies “combined righteous strength against barbarism and brutality”. As Mr. Trump spoke, many explosions shook the Syrian capital Damascus. With more than 100 missiles launched from ships and manned aircraft, the allies hit three major chemical weapons facilities in Syria.

The attack risks raising tensions in an already volatile region, but appears designed not to provoke a military response from Russia or Iran. Still, the Assad regime and Russia have reacted angrily. Russia has called for a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the strike.

However, according to many assessments, the airstrike has had little impact on the balance of power in Syria's seven-year civil war, in which the Assad regime has gradually gained the upper hand over armed opponents since Russia intervened in 2015.

2. Trump wants to rejoin TPP

After Trump announced his withdrawal from the TPP, 11 countries reached an agreement and signed the CPTPP Chile in March. Photo: Nationalreview

Having withdrawn the United States from the TPP multinational trade agreement shortly after taking office in early 2017, Trump has now instructed senior government officials to consider rejoining the agreement.

After the US withdrew, the remaining 11 members approved and officially signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in early March 2018 in Chile.

Trump’s decision to consider rejoining the TPP comes as the White House seeks to protect the US agricultural sector after the US and China repeatedly announced tariffs on each other’s goods. The trade conflict with China will affect many US farmers, especially those raising pigs, soybeans and corn.

3. Facebook founder testifies before US Congress

Mark Zuckerberg answers questions from US House of Representatives members regarding Facebook's operations. Photo: The Wrap

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg had his second hearing on April 11 with a series of difficult questions. However, the Facebook boss's performance continued to receive positive feedback from experts and investors.

MPs in the House of Commons have been bombarded with questions about Facebook's handling of user data, focusing in particular on the social network's privacy settings tool - which allows users to set up settings to protect their privacy.

Zuckerberg's strategy has been to express regret for the recent scandal, while defending and emphasizing the changes Facebook has made, pledging to do more to protect user privacy and prevent foreign interference in elections.

Investors were pleased with the Facebook CEO's performance in defending the company's operations, after Zuckerberg's 10-hour testimony helped Facebook shares rise 5%.

4. New developments in the Skripal and his son poisoning case

Former double agent Skripal and his son during a meal at a restaurant in Salisbury, England. Photo: The Australian

Thanks to intensive treatment after being poisoned in early March, Yulia Skripal, daughter of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, was discharged from the hospital on April 10 and moved to a safe haven.

Several newspapers, citing unnamed sources, revealed that British and American intelligence agencies may arrange for new identity papers and a new place to live for the former Russian spy and his daughter. Viktoria Skripal, Yulia's cousin, revealed on Russian television that Yulia was seeking political asylum in the UK.

Meanwhile, her father, Sergei, has been recovering more slowly. The British government hopes that the former Russian spy and his daughter will soon make a full recovery and help clarify what happened.

5. Tragic plane crash in Algeria

Scene of the tragic Algerian military plane crash. Photo: NY Daily

An Ilyushin Il-76 military aircraft crashed near the Algerian capital on April 11, shortly after taking off from the Boufarik military base in northern Algeria, bound for Tindouf, a region bordering Western Sahara, a disputed region between Algeria and Morocco. According to the Algerian Ministry of Defense, the crash killed 257 people.

Algerian President Bouteflika has declared three days of national mourning for the victims. Officials on April 11 launched an investigation to determine the cause of the plane crash, search for the black boxes, collect bodies and identify victims to return to their families.

This is the world's deadliest accident since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people on board. This is also the second deadliest accident in Algeria. Four years ago, a military plane crash also occurred in this country, killing 77 people./.