Kyrgyz citizens head to the polls on a referendum to reform the Constitution. If approved, it would increase the powers of incumbent populist President Sadyr Zhaparov and allow him to run for a second term. It would also reduce the size of the parliament by 25%. (DW)
2021 Ecuadorian general election Centre-right candidate Guillermo Lasso defeats socialist Andrés Arauz in the second round of voting in Ecuador for the presidency. (The Wall Street Journal)
Chadians head to the polls to elect their president. Incumbent Idriss Déby is expected to extend his three-decade mandate. (Reuters)
Peruvians head to the polls to elect their president after having four presidents in four years. (CNN)
Cameroon receives 200,000 doses of the Sinovac BBIBP-CorV vaccine from China, which will be used in the first phase of their vaccination campaign. (Barron's)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia COVID-19 vaccination in Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison abandons the country's plan to vaccinate all Australians by the end of the year amidst medical advice that makes the vaccination program uncertain. (ABC Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon Cameroon receives 200,000 doses of the Sinovac BBIBP-CorV vaccine from China, which will be used in the first phase of their vaccination campaign. (Barron's)
COVID-19 pandemic in France Health Minister Olivier Véran confirms that all people aged 55 and over would be eligible for a vaccine starting tomorrow, which is a week earlier than originally scheduled, with AstraZeneca, and a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines. (The Connexion)
Health Minister Olivier Véran confirms that all people aged 55 and over would be eligible for a vaccine starting tomorrow, which is a week earlier than originally scheduled, with AstraZeneca, and a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines. (The Connexion)
2021 Peruvian general election Far-left candidate Pedro Castillo is expected to win the first round of the presidential election. His opponent in the runoff election in June is still to be determined, amidst a political and economic crisis. (Reuters)
Far-left candidate Pedro Castillo is expected to win the first round of the presidential election. His opponent in the runoff election in June is still to be determined, amidst a political and economic crisis. (Reuters)
Bangladesh issues new lockdown rules that order the closure of all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private offices for one week beginning April 14, as well as suspension of all public transport. However, the government will allow factories to remain open. (Bdnews24.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh Bangladesh issues new lockdown rules that order the closure of all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private offices for one week beginning April 14, as well as suspension of all public transport. However, the government will allow factories to remain open. (Bdnews24.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong Hong Kong announces that restaurants will be permitted to remain open until midnight and seat more customers, provided that all staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and all patrons use a government tracking app. (The Hong Kong Standard)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 drug development The U.S. government terminates a deal with Eli Lilly and Company for 350,856 remaining doses of the single antibody bamlanivimab that were scheduled to be delivered by the end of March. The deal will instead be focused on a supply of combined antibodies with etesevimab. (Bloomberg)
Hong Kong announces that restaurants will be permitted to remain open until midnight and seat more customers, provided that all staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and all patrons use a government tracking app. (The Hong Kong Standard)
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom Talks between rail workers and ScotRail aimed at preventing a strike collapse, as the rail firm cites financial pressures caused by the ongoing pandemic to justify refusing a pay raise and revocation of some day-off entitlements. The Unite union rejects this explanation. The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland are appraised of the situation. (The Glasgow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Sudan South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit receives his first dose of the AstraZenaca vaccine. (AllAfrica)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain President of Cantabria Miguel Ángel Revilla receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (ABC.es)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announces a two-week partial lockdown across Turkey on Ramadan, which includes an expanded curfew from 7:00 p.m. and a ban on non-essential inter-city travel beginning tomorrow evening due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Anadolu Agency)
President of Cantabria Miguel Ángel Revilla receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (ABC.es)
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announces a two-week partial lockdown across Turkey on Ramadan, which includes an expanded curfew from 7:00 p.m. and a ban on non-essential inter-city travel beginning tomorrow evening due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Anadolu Agency)
South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit receives his first dose of the AstraZenaca vaccine. (AllAfrica)
Talks between rail workers and ScotRail aimed at preventing a strike collapse, as the rail firm cites financial pressures caused by the ongoing pandemic to justify refusing a pay raise and revocation of some day-off entitlements. The Unite union rejects this explanation. The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland are appraised of the situation. (The Glasgow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, variants of SARS-CoV-2 Prime Minister Jean Castex announces the suspension of flights from Brazil in order to prevent the spread of new variants of COVID-19 in the country. (Yahoo! News)
Prime Minister Jean Castex announces the suspension of flights from Brazil in order to prevent the spread of new variants of COVID-19 in the country. (Yahoo! News)
War in Afghanistan Afghan peace process U.S. President Joe Biden formally announces that American troops will leave Afghanistan by September 11. (Politico)
2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings The government bans eleven Islamic organizations, including ISIL and al-Qaeda, a week before the second anniversary of the bombings after the country's Roman Catholics threatened massive protests over the government's perceived failure to act against the perpetrators. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil The Federal Senate launches an inquiry into President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic, as total deaths are expected to surpass 360,000. Main areas of focus are on allegations that he sabotaged social distancing measures, his poor acquisition of vaccines and touting of ineffective treatments such as chloroquine, and the cause of oxygen shortages in Manaus's hospitals, among others. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia The government imposes a 14-day lockdown in the capital Phnom Penh and its neighboring Takmao from midnight until April 28 amidst a community outbreak of COVID-19. (The Phnom Penh Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in India COVID-19 pandemic in Rajasthan The government announces a 12-hour curfew in all cities from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. from April 16 to 30 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Hindustan Times) India reports a record 184,372 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 13.9 million. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Rajasthan The government announces a 12-hour curfew in all cities from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. from April 16 to 30 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Hindustan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia President Vladimir Putin receives his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It remains unknown which of Russia's three current vaccines was administered to the president. (AP)
India–Pakistan relations Intelligence officers from both India and Pakistan confirm to Reuters that secret talks were held between the two nations, with the United Arab Emirates acting as the mediator, in January to help warm relations. Relations between the two had been strained after India conducting airstrikes in Balakot and India-administered Kashmir was stripped of its autonomy in 2019. (Reuters)
Intelligence officers from both India and Pakistan confirm to Reuters that secret talks were held between the two nations, with the United Arab Emirates acting as the mediator, in January to help warm relations. Relations between the two had been strained after India conducting airstrikes in Balakot and India-administered Kashmir was stripped of its autonomy in 2019. (Reuters)
President Vladimir Putin receives his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It remains unknown which of Russia's three current vaccines was administered to the president. (AP)
The Federal Senate launches an inquiry into President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic, as total deaths are expected to surpass 360,000. Main areas of focus are on allegations that he sabotaged social distancing measures, his poor acquisition of vaccines and touting of ineffective treatments such as chloroquine, and the cause of oxygen shortages in Manaus's hospitals, among others. (Al Jazeera)
The government announces a 12-hour curfew in all cities from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. from April 16 to 30 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Hindustan Times)
The government bans eleven Islamic organizations, including ISIL and al-Qaeda, a week before the second anniversary of the bombings after the country's Roman Catholics threatened massive protests over the government's perceived failure to act against the perpetrators. (Al Jazeera)
The government imposes a 14-day lockdown in the capital Phnom Penh and its neighboring Takmao from midnight until April 28 amidst a community outbreak of COVID-19. (The Phnom Penh Post)
Argentina's president Alberto Fernández announces that his government is closing schools and imposing a curfew in Buenos Aires amidst a spike of the COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina Argentina's president Alberto Fernández announces that his government is closing schools and imposing a curfew in Buenos Aires amidst a spike of the COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen receives her first dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (Politico)
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen receives her first dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. (Politico)
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces a weekend curfew in the national capital territory of Delhi from 10:00 p.m. on Saturday to 5:00 a.m. on Monday due to a substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (The Economic Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Ubach tests positive for COVID-19 after an outbreak in the Ministry's headquarters. (Diari d’Andorra)
COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces a weekend curfew in the national capital territory of Delhi from 10:00 p.m. on Saturday to 5:00 a.m. on Monday due to a substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (The Economic Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in India COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces a weekend curfew in the national capital territory of Delhi from 10:00 p.m. on Saturday to 5:00 a.m. on Monday due to a substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (The Economic Times) India reports a record 200,739 new cases and 1,038 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to over 14 million and confirmed deaths to 173,123. India is also the second country to surpass 14 million cases, after the United States. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon receives her first dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Herald)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon receives her first dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Herald)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Ubach tests positive for COVID-19 after an outbreak in the Ministry's headquarters. (Diari d’Andorra)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The government designates Aichi, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures for tougher measures that would require restaurants and bars to close at 8:00 p.m. between April 20 and May 15. (The Mainichi)
The government designates Aichi, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures for tougher measures that would require restaurants and bars to close at 8:00 p.m. between April 20 and May 15. (The Mainichi)
COVID-19 vaccination in Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Pfizer will double the amounts of vaccine that are being shipped to Canada. He also announces that the Canadian Red Cross will be deployed to Ontario to help with COVID-19 vaccinations. (AP)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Pfizer will double the amounts of vaccine that are being shipped to Canada. He also announces that the Canadian Red Cross will be deployed to Ontario to help with COVID-19 vaccinations. (AP)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. (Bloomberg.com)
Yemeni Civil War, Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen The Houthis say they have hit King Khalid Air Base, near the city of Khamis Mushait, in Saudi Arabia, with explosive drones. There is no immediate comment from the Saudi government. (Reuters)
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)
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)
The Houthis say they have hit King Khalid Air Base, near the city of Khamis Mushait, in Saudi Arabia, with explosive drones. There is no immediate comment from the Saudi government. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in India India reports a record 234,692 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 14.52 million. (Hindustan Times) Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a televised appeal to pilgrims to keep to "symbolic" celebrations and continue to follow safety guidelines as the festival of Kumbh Mela, a pilgrimage traditionally drawing tens of millions of Hindus to the banks of the Ganges every year, begins. (al-Arabiya English)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a televised appeal to pilgrims to keep to "symbolic" celebrations and continue to follow safety guidelines as the festival of Kumbh Mela, a pilgrimage traditionally drawing tens of millions of Hindus to the banks of the Ganges every year, begins. (al-Arabiya English)
2021 Cape Verdean parliamentary election Voters in Cape Verde go to the polls to elect new members of the National Assembly. (Africanews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vanuatu Vanuatu halts outbound travel out of its main island of Efate following the confirmation of a COVID-19 case. Prime Minister Bob Loughman confirms that a Filipino fisherman whose body washed ashore last week near the capital of Port Vila had died of the disease. (RNZ)
Vanuatu halts outbound travel out of its main island of Efate following the confirmation of a COVID-19 case. Prime Minister Bob Loughman confirms that a Filipino fisherman whose body washed ashore last week near the capital of Port Vila had died of the disease. (RNZ)
Voters in Cape Verde go to the polls to elect new members of the National Assembly. (Africanews)
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel is officially named First Secretary of the Communist Party following the resignation of Raúl Castro. He is the first person not of the Castro family to hold the position since the 1959 Cuban Revolution. (BBC News)
Discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Japan–South Korea relations South Korean fishermen stage a maritime demonstration to protest against the Japanese government's decision to release contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. Around 150 fishing vessels take part in the protest. (Yonhap News Agency)
Russian opposition leader and activist Alexei Navalny, who has been on a hunger strike for three weeks, is moved from prison to a hospital, according to the Russian prison service. Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers hold a meeting to discuss Navalny's health and warn that Russia will be "held responsible" if anything happens to Navalny. (DW)
South Korean fishermen stage a maritime demonstration to protest against the Japanese government's decision to release contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. Around 150 fishing vessels take part in the protest. (Yonhap News Agency)
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin states at a press conference that the UEFA would begin making "legal assessments" on the following day, and that the organization would look to ban the twelve Super League clubs "as soon as possible", while Jesper Møller, chairman of the Danish Football Association and UEFA Executive Committee member, says that he expected the three Super League clubs in the semi-finals of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League: Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid CF, to be expelled from the competition this week. (CBS Sports)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancels a planned trip to India due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. (Reuters)
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces a six-day lockdown in the National Capital Region of Delhi beginning tonight due to a record 25,462 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi, COVID-19 lockdown in India Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces a six-day lockdown in the National Capital Region of Delhi beginning tonight due to a record 25,462 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in India COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi, COVID-19 lockdown in India Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announces a six-day lockdown in the National Capital Region of Delhi beginning tonight due to a record 25,462 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the past 24 hours. (AP) Nationwide, a record 273,810 new cases are reported in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total number of cases to 15 million. (Hindustan Times)
