France's Valneva SE vaccine enters phase 3 of clinical trials. (PR Newswire)
Germany announces that it will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by early July. (The Economic Times)
Gujarat reports a record 12,553 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Devdiscourse)
In Nashik, 24 COVID-19 patients die after an oxygen tanker leaks outside a hospital in the city, causing the supply of medical oxygen to be disrupted for around 30 minutes. (NDTV)
India reports a record 295,041 new cases and 2,023 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 15.6 million and the nationwide death toll to 182,553. (Anadolu Agency)
Insurgency in the Maghreb At least four soldiers are killed in an ambush in the Sanmatenga Province of Burkina Faso. (News24)
Malta reports its first three cases of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil. (Times of Malta)
Michigan surpasses 800,000 confirmed cases and 17,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19. (WEYI-TV)
Osaka Prefecture reports a record 1,242 new cases in the past 24 hours. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Papua New Guinea surpasses 10,000 cases of COVID-19. (CNA)
Quebec reports its first eight cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India. (CFCF-DT)
Quetta Serena Hotel bombing A car bomb is detonated in a hotel parking lot in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, killing four people and injuring eleven others. (Al Jazeera)
South Dakota confirms their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant in Pennington County. (Argus Leader)
Syrian opposition-controlled Idlib receives 54,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine distributed through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Reuters)
The Super League Following the withdrawal of most of its founding member clubs, The Super League announces that it is suspending the project, three days after it was officially announced. (ESPN)
Turkey reports a record 362 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 36,975. (Al Arabiya English)
Wales reports its first eight cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India. (ITV News)
2021 Boulder shooting Ahmad Al Aliwi Al-Issa, the suspect in last month's mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, faces more than 40 additional charges in relation to the incident. The new charges include attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and using a high-capacity magazine, which is illegal in Colorado. (NPR) (AP)
Ahmad Al Aliwi Al-Issa, the suspect in last month's mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, faces more than 40 additional charges in relation to the incident. The new charges include attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and using a high-capacity magazine, which is illegal in Colorado. (NPR) (AP)
Alberta reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that fuelled surge in India in a returning inter-provincial traveler. (CBC)
Argentina reports a record 537 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 60,620. (Clarín)
Belgium reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant in a group of Indian nursing students who travelled from Paris. (Barron's)
China–United Kingdom relations, Uyghur genocide The UK House of Commons unanimously passes a non-binding resolution condemning the internment of Uyghurs as genocide. (CNN)
India reports 314,835 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is a world record for daily cases, thereby bringing the total of confirmed cases to 15.9 million. The country also reports a record 2,104 deaths, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 184,657. (CBS News)
Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Chairman Akio Toyoda announces that the 2021 Tokyo Motor Show will be cancelled due to COVID-19. It is the first cancellation in the event's history. (The Japan Times)
Japan reports its first five cases of the "double mutant" Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India. (Nippon.com)
Spain surpasses 10 million people who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Cadena Ser)
Thailand reports a record seven deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 117. (Reuters)
The UK House of Commons unanimously passes a non-binding resolution condemning the internment of Uyghurs as genocide. (CNN)
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)
Three of the seven Catholic clergy who were kidnapped in Croix-des-Bouquets, Ouest, Haiti, on April 11 are released. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Argentina reports a record for the second consecutive day of 556 deaths, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 61,176. (Perfil)
Cambodia reports a record 655 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 8,848. (Khmer Times)
Cyprus announces a two-week lockdown and extends a nighttime curfew to 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. from April 26 until May 9 in an attempt to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
Estonia–Russia relations, Latvia–Russia relations, Lithuania–Russia relations Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania announce that they will expel several Russian diplomats involved in espionage activities in solidarity with the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic had ordered most Russian diplomatic staff to leave Prague on Thursday and called on its European allies to do the same. (LRT)
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania announce that they will expel several Russian diplomats involved in espionage activities in solidarity with the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic had ordered most Russian diplomatic staff to leave Prague on Thursday and called on its European allies to do the same. (LRT)
India reports 332,730 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is a world record for the second consecutive day, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16.26 million. The country also reports a record 2,263 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 186,920. (Hindustan Times)
Malta reports four more cases of the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa. (Xinhua)
Ontario reports 36 cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India. (Global News)
Ten people are confirmed dead and 130 others are feared dead after their boats capsize in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the humanitarian NGO SOS Méditerranée. (Reuters)
Thailand reports a record 2,070 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 50,183. (The Straits Times)
A fire at a hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, kills 82 people and injures more than 100 others. (BBC)
Baghdad hospital fire A fire at a hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, kills 82 people and injures more than 100 others. (BBC)
Costa Rica reports a record 1,830 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 238,760. (CNA)
Fourteen people are killed and many others are wounded in a series of explosions and shootings in three provinces. (Al Jazeera)
India reports 346,786 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is a world record for the third consecutive day, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16.6 million. The country also reports a record 2,624 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 189,544. (Nikkei Asia)
Indonesian authorities discover debris from the submarine that went missing on Wednesday, as well as an oil spill off the island of Bali. In response, the navy declares the submarine's status changed from missing to sunk, and it also declares its 53 crew members to be dead. (Jakarta Globe) (CBS News) (Al Jazeera)
Iran bans all travel from India and Pakistan due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in those countries as Iran's death toll surpasses 69,000. (ABC News)
KRI Nanggala (402) Indonesian authorities discover debris from the submarine that went missing on Wednesday, as well as an oil spill off the island of Bali. In response, the navy declares the submarine's status changed from missing to sunk, and it also declares its 53 crew members to be dead. (Jakarta Globe) (CBS News) (Al Jazeera)
Malaysia receives its first shipment of 268,800 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine distributed through the COVAX initiative. (Malay Mail)
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)
Switzerland reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India. (Swissinfo)
Thailand reports a record 2,839 new cases and eight deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 53,022 and the nationwide death toll to 129. (CNA)
The official death toll from COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea surpasses 100. (U.S. News & World Report)
Venezuela receives another shipment of 880,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine as the number of cases continues to rise. (Reuters)
Anthony Hopkins becomes the oldest person to win Best Actor for his role in The Father at 83. (The Guardian)
Delhi extends its lockdown until May 3 amid a record breaking increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (NDTV)
Greece reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India. (Greek Reporter)
Incidents at European amusement parks Riders are forced to climb down the top of the lift hill on the Big One roller coaster at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach after it broke down. (Blackpool Gazette)
India reports 349,691 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is a world record for the fourth consecutive day, thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16.9 million. The country also reports a record 2,767 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 192,311. (CNN)
Indonesian authorities say that the navy submarine that sunk off the coast of Bali was found split into three parts in the ocean. It comes after officials received signals from a location of 838 m (2,749 ft). The authorities also say that the 53 crew members are confirmed dead. (The Wall Street Journal)
Italy bans anyone who had travelled to India within the past 14 days from entering the country in order to reduce the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 variant. (The Hill)
KRI Nanggala (402) Indonesian authorities say that the navy submarine that sunk off the coast of Bali was found split into three parts in the ocean. It comes after officials received signals from a location of 838 m (2,749 ft). The authorities also say that the 53 crew members are confirmed dead. (The Wall Street Journal)
Nepal surpasses 300,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Himalayan Times)
Riders are forced to climb down the top of the lift hill on the Big One roller coaster at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach after it broke down. (Blackpool Gazette)
South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung wins Best Supporting Actress for Minari, becoming the first Korean to win in any of the acting categories. (The Korean Herald)
Thailand reports a record 11 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 140. (Bangkok Post)
Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, states that the Armenian genocide is a ‘stain’ of evil on all humanity. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed in the genocide. (Catholic News Agency)
India reports 352,991 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, a world record for the fifth consecutive day, and thereby bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 17.3 million. The country also reports a record 2,812 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 195,123. (CBS News)
Iran reports a record 496 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 70,070. (Tasnim News Agency)
Italy reopens bars, restaurants, cinemas, and concert halls as three-quarters of the regions are placed in the low-risk "yellow zone" categories. (Euractiv)
New Brunswick reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which was originally detected in India. (Global News)
Pakistan surpasses 800,000 cases of COVID-19. (The News International)
The Netherlands bans all passenger flights from India until May 1 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in India. (DutchNews)
The Philippines surpasses one million cases of COVID-19. (ABS-CBN News)
