Artemis program NASA awards SpaceX a contract to build its next-generation Human Landing System to return American astronauts to the lunar surface during this decade. (BBC News)
In a widely-expected move at the 8th Congress of the Communist Party, Raúl Castro officially resigns as First Secretary, the most powerful position in Cuba. Incumbent President Miguel Díaz-Canel is expected to succeed him. (NBC News)
NASA awards SpaceX a contract to build its next-generation Human Landing System to return American astronauts to the lunar surface during this decade. (BBC News)
American guitarist and Oath Keepers member Jon Schaffer pleads guilty for his role in the storming of the United States Capitol, thus making him the first participant in the riot to do so. (CNN)
COVID-19 vaccination in the United States The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. (Bloomberg.com)
Criminal charges brought in the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol American guitarist and Oath Keepers member Jon Schaffer pleads guilty for his role in the storming of the United States Capitol, thus making him the first participant in the riot to do so. (CNN)
Russia–United States relations The Russian Foreign Minister says that Moscow will ask ten U.S. diplomats to leave Russia in retaliation to expulsions of Russian diplomats ordered by the United States yesterday. (AP)
The Russian Foreign Minister says that Moscow will ask ten U.S. diplomats to leave Russia in retaliation to expulsions of Russian diplomats ordered by the United States yesterday. (AP)
United States involvement in regime change, Cuba–United States relations Declassified documents released by the National Security Archive show that the Central Intelligence Agency was involved in a plot to assassinate Raúl Castro in 1960. (CNA)
Foreign relations of the Czech Republic, 2014 Vrbětice ammunition warehouses explosions Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announces that the Czech Republic is expelling eighteen Russian embassy diplomats who have been identified as spies in a case related to an ammunition warehouse explosion in 2014. (Euronews)
Death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh The official funeral service takes place for Prince Philip, prince consort of the United Kingdom to Elizabeth II. The Duke's body is led in a limited procession to St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, for interment in the Royal Vault. (AP on MSN)
Rwandan genocide The United States deports Beatrice Munyenyezi to Rwanda after she served her jail term for lying on her U.S. citizenship naturalization process. Upon arrival in Rwanda, Munyenyezi was arrested on charges ranging from murder to complicity in rape during the course of the 1994 genocide. She did not comment during her arrest to local press but had previously denied the accusations while in the United States. (Reuters)
The official funeral service takes place for Prince Philip, prince consort of the United Kingdom to Elizabeth II. The Duke's body is led in a limited procession to St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, for interment in the Royal Vault. (AP on MSN)
The United States deports Beatrice Munyenyezi to Rwanda after she served her jail term for lying on her U.S. citizenship naturalization process. Upon arrival in Rwanda, Munyenyezi was arrested on charges ranging from murder to complicity in rape during the course of the 1994 genocide. She did not comment during her arrest to local press but had previously denied the accusations while in the United States. (Reuters)
Northern Chad offensive Rebel forces of the Front for Change and Concord in Chad advance to the capital, N'Djamena, as incumbent President Idriss Déby takes a lead in the April 11 election and is expected to extend his mandate. Yesterday, the U.S. and British governments ordered some diplomatic staff to leave Chad amidst the unrest. (Reuters)
Rebel forces of the Front for Change and Concord in Chad advance to the capital, N'Djamena, as incumbent President Idriss Déby takes a lead in the April 11 election and is expected to extend his mandate. Yesterday, the U.S. and British governments ordered some diplomatic staff to leave Chad amidst the unrest. (Reuters)
A research team based at the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument in Utah announces that the many Teratophoneus fossils unearthed at the site provide proof that, contrary to popular belief, Tyrannosaurus dinosaurs hunted in packs rather than individually. (The Washington Post)
Australia and New Zealand reopen their borders to tourists from either country for quarantine-free travel. (News.com.au)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand Australia and New Zealand reopen their borders to tourists from either country for quarantine-free travel. (News.com.au)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji Fiji's two cities of Lautoka and Nadi enter into a lockdown after the country records its first community transmission in 12 months. (FBC News) All schools will be closed for the next three weeks due to the lockdown. (FBC News) COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand Australia and New Zealand reopen their borders to tourists from either country for quarantine-free travel. (News.com.au)
Death of Brian Sicknick, aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol Washington, D.C.'s chief medical examiner announces that Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died of natural causes but notes that "all that transpired [during the riot] played a role in his condition." (CNBC)
The Biden administration scraps Trump-era restrictions on fetal tissue research at the National Institutes of Health. (Science)
Washington, D.C.'s chief medical examiner announces that Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died of natural causes but notes that "all that transpired [during the riot] played a role in his condition." (CNBC)
Canada–United States relations, Deployment of COVID-19 vaccines North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announces that the state will offer COVID-19 vaccines to Manitoba truck drivers across the border. (CBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in France The number of intensive care patients with COVID-19 in France reaches a high of 5,984 patients. (U.S. News & World Report)
COVID-19 vaccine The European Medicines Agency publishes a report suggesting a "possible link" between usage of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine candidate and rare blood clots. The agency maintains, however, that the overall benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks of side effects. (U.S. News & World Report via MSN)
Former Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin is found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. (CNN) (CNBC)
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announces that the state will offer COVID-19 vaccines to Manitoba truck drivers across the border. (CBC News)
The European Medicines Agency publishes a report suggesting a "possible link" between usage of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine candidate and rare blood clots. The agency maintains, however, that the overall benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks of side effects. (U.S. News & World Report via MSN)
The number of intensive care patients with COVID-19 in France reaches a high of 5,984 patients. (U.S. News & World Report)
Afghanistan–United States relations U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that the Biden administration is working with Congress to provide $300 million in aid to Afghanistan in 2021 amid fears of a collapse of the Afghan government following the withdrawal of US troops in September. (Forbes)
Belarus–United States relations U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Julie D. Fisher visits Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the eve of a meeting between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (U.S. News & World Report)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic The Bundestag votes 342–250 to approve the proposed Infection Protection Act that will give Angela Merkel's government to impose uniform restrictions in areas where infection rate is very high. 152 people are arrested in demonstrations against the controversial law. (Euronews) (U.S. News & World Report)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 vaccination in the United States U.S. President Joe Biden announces that the country has administered over 200 million doses. (Politico) COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan surpasses 800,000 confirmed cases and 17,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19. (WEYI-TV) COVID-19 pandemic in South Dakota, Lineage P.1 South Dakota confirms their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant in Pennington County. (Argus Leader)
COVID-19 vaccination in the United States U.S. President Joe Biden announces that the country has administered over 200 million doses. (Politico)
Czech foreign minister Jakub Kulhánek issues Russia with an ultimatum to return all of the Czech diplomats it had expelled from the Czech embassy in Moscow, following a series of reciprocal moves between the two countries since April 17 to expel each other's diplomats after the Czechs discovered Russian intelligence involvement in the 2014 Vrbětice ammunition warehouses explosions. Kulhánek threatens to expel more diplomats from the Russian embassy in Prague if the ultimatum is not met. (The Moscow Times)
Czech Republic–Russia relations Czech foreign minister Jakub Kulhánek issues Russia with an ultimatum to return all of the Czech diplomats it had expelled from the Czech embassy in Moscow, following a series of reciprocal moves between the two countries since April 17 to expel each other's diplomats after the Czechs discovered Russian intelligence involvement in the 2014 Vrbětice ammunition warehouses explosions. Kulhánek threatens to expel more diplomats from the Russian embassy in Prague if the ultimatum is not met. (The Moscow Times)
The Bundestag votes 342–250 to approve the proposed Infection Protection Act that will give Angela Merkel's government to impose uniform restrictions in areas where infection rate is very high. 152 people are arrested in demonstrations against the controversial law. (Euronews) (U.S. News & World Report)
2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial justice protests, George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces that the Department of Justice will investigate whether the Minneapolis Police Department engaged in a "pattern or practice of unconstitutional, unlawful policing". (ABC News)
2020–2021 United States racial unrest 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial justice protests, George Floyd protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces that the Department of Justice will investigate whether the Minneapolis Police Department engaged in a "pattern or practice of unconstitutional, unlawful policing". (ABC News)
A nine-month-old girl is murdered by her father at the Whispering Wall in South Australia. The perpetrator, already known by police for incidents involving domestic violence, commits suicide at the scene. (News.com.au)
Domestic violence in Australia A nine-month-old girl is murdered by her father at the Whispering Wall in South Australia. The perpetrator, already known by police for incidents involving domestic violence, commits suicide at the scene. (News.com.au)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Lineage B.1.617 Alberta reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that fuelled surge in India in a returning inter-provincial traveler. (CBC) Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic The Canadian government announces that the country will ban all travel from India and Pakistan due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in those countries. (CBC) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The U.S. surpasses 32 million cases of COVID-19. (KNSD)
2020–2021 United States racial unrest, Killing of Ma'Khia Bryant Demonstrations spread throughout Columbus the day after 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant was shot and killed by a Columbus police officer, demanding police accountability. During a vigil for Ma'Khia, local activist Hana Abdur Rahim called for the abolition of the police system. (USA Today)
Demonstrations spread throughout Columbus the day after 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant was shot and killed by a Columbus police officer, demanding police accountability. During a vigil for Ma'Khia, local activist Hana Abdur Rahim called for the abolition of the police system. (USA Today)
Russia–Ukraine relations The Russian Defense Ministry announces that it will move its forces away from the Ukrainian border beginning tomorrow. Ukraine and its western allies accused Russia of trying to provoke conflict by moving troops to the border, while Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu claimed that it was only to conduct drills. (Al Jazeera)
Statehood movement in the District of Columbia, DC Admission Act The United States House of Representatives votes 216–208 to pass a bill that would make Washington, D.C. the 51st state, with general support from Democrats and opposition from Republicans. (AP)
The Russian Defense Ministry announces that it will move its forces away from the Ukrainian border beginning tomorrow. Ukraine and its western allies accused Russia of trying to provoke conflict by moving troops to the border, while Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu claimed that it was only to conduct drills. (Al Jazeera)
The United States hosts a two-day Leaders Summit on Climate and invites 40 world leaders to discuss the necessity of combating climate change and committing to reduce their nations' emissions. Due to quarantine protocols, the conference is virtual. (CNN)
The United States House of Representatives votes 216–208 to pass a bill that would make Washington, D.C. the 51st state, with general support from Democrats and opposition from Republicans. (AP)
The United States Senate votes 94–1 to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with bipartisan changes. The bill, which would expedite anti-Asian hate crime reviews to the U.S. Justice Department, will next head to the United States House of Representatives. (USA Today)
Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic The United States Senate votes 94–1 to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with bipartisan changes. The bill, which would expedite anti-Asian hate crime reviews to the U.S. Justice Department, will next head to the United States House of Representatives. (USA Today)
Marshallese Foreign Minister Casten Nemra says that, despite growing threats to the Marshall Islands due to rising sea levels, the Marshallese government "has no intention to relocate". The comment comes amidst President David Kabua's participation in a United States-sponsored summit on climate change. Nemra says that relocating as "climate refugees" is not an acceptable option for the Marshallese. (RNZ)
A female police administrative officer is killed in a stabbing attack at a police station in Rambouillet, France. The attacker is then shot dead at the scene. It is being investigated as a terrorist attack. (BBC News)
Rambouillet knife attack A female police administrative officer is killed in a stabbing attack at a police station in Rambouillet, France. The attacker is then shot dead at the scene. It is being investigated as a terrorist attack. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declares a third state of emergency for Hyogo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, including new measures that would reduce the operation of public transportation, close establishments that serve alcohol as well as commercial facilities such as theme parks and department stores, and ban spectators at large sporting events. These measures will be in effect from April 25 until May 11. (AP) (The New York Times)
International Space Station programme SpaceX successfully launches astronauts Shane Kimbrough, K. Megan McArthur, Akihiko Hoshide, and Thomas Pesquet onboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The capsule is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on April 24. (The New York Times)
Israeli-Palestinian conflict More than 120 people are injured in clashes in Jerusalem between ultra-nationalist Jewish demonstrators (including Lehava extremists), Palestinian protestors, and Israel Police in response to a TikTok video showing Palestinians assaulting members of the Jerusalem ultra-Orthodox community. (BBC News)
More than 120 people are injured in clashes in Jerusalem between ultra-nationalist Jewish demonstrators (including Lehava extremists), Palestinian protestors, and Israel Police in response to a TikTok video showing Palestinians assaulting members of the Jerusalem ultra-Orthodox community. (BBC News)
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declares a third state of emergency for Hyogo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, including new measures that would reduce the operation of public transportation, close establishments that serve alcohol as well as commercial facilities such as theme parks and department stores, and ban spectators at large sporting events. These measures will be in effect from April 25 until May 11. (AP) (The New York Times)
SpaceX successfully launches astronauts Shane Kimbrough, K. Megan McArthur, Akihiko Hoshide, and Thomas Pesquet onboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The capsule is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on April 24. (The New York Times)
2021 Louisiana's 2nd congressional district special election Democratic state senator Troy Carter wins the runoff election for a special election for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district to replace Representative Cedric Richmond, who had left his position to work for President Joe Biden. (AP)
Democratic state senator Troy Carter wins the runoff election for a special election for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district to replace Representative Cedric Richmond, who had left his position to work for President Joe Biden. (AP)
In a statement commemorating Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, U.S. President Joe Biden formally acknowledges the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as a genocide. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu denounces Biden's statement as "political opportunism" and "based on populism". (CNN)
Turkey–United States relations, Armenian Genocide recognition In a statement commemorating Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, U.S. President Joe Biden formally acknowledges the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as a genocide. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu denounces Biden's statement as "political opportunism" and "based on populism". (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Metropolitan Perth and Peel regions enter a three-day lockdown after a person from Victoria tested positive in Melbourne after leaving quarantine at a Perth hotel and spending five days in the community. (ABC Australia) COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea The official death toll from COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea surpasses 100. (U.S. News & World Report)
COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea The official death toll from COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea surpasses 100. (U.S. News & World Report)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on crime, COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Police arrest a man suspected of infecting 22 people, eight directly and 14 indirectly, with COVID-19, as part of an investigation into an outbreak in Manacor, Spain. According to authorities, the suspect made no efforts to quarantine himself or wear a face mask despite showing symptoms and having taken a test. (CNN)
Police arrest a man suspected of infecting 22 people, eight directly and 14 indirectly, with COVID-19, as part of an investigation into an outbreak in Manacor, Spain. According to authorities, the suspect made no efforts to quarantine himself or wear a face mask despite showing symptoms and having taken a test. (CNN)
The official death toll from COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea surpasses 100. (U.S. News & World Report)
Afghan peace process United States Army General Austin S. Miller announces that U.S. troops have started their withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, he also warned that Afghan security forces "must be ready" to take over. (Stars and Stripes)
United States Army General Austin S. Miller announces that U.S. troops have started their withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, he also warned that Afghan security forces "must be ready" to take over. (Stars and Stripes)
War in Afghanistan Afghan peace process United States Army General Austin S. Miller announces that U.S. troops have started their withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, he also warned that Afghan security forces "must be ready" to take over. (Stars and Stripes)
India–United States relations, Deployment of COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 pandemic in India NIAID director Anthony Fauci says that the United States will consider sending unused vaccines and medical aid to India to help them combat their COVID-19 outbreak. (The New Indian Express) (Bloomberg News) U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announces that the country will send medical aid to India as it deals with a surge in cases. (Politico)
NIAID director Anthony Fauci says that the United States will consider sending unused vaccines and medical aid to India to help them combat their COVID-19 outbreak. (The New Indian Express) (Bloomberg News)
