COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia Mongolia surpasses 7,000 cases of COVID-19. (Marketwatch)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia North Macedonia receives their first shipment of 24,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (UNICEF)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan The National Command and Operation Centre announces an immediate ban on all indoor and outdoor gatherings across Pakistan as well as weddings beginning April 5 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Jansa announces a circuit-breaker lockdown from April 1 to 12, which will close all non-essential businesses and in-person cultural and religious venues, ban gatherings of more than 10 people, and shift schools to remote learning. (STA)
Dianne Feinstein becomes the longest serving U.S. Senator from California, surpassing Hiram Johnson. (Los Angeles Times)
Maharashtra reports a record 40,414 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours despite a nightly curfew, thereby bringing the total of confirmed cases to 2.71 million. (Hindustan Times)
Mexico publishes revised figures, indicating that the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 is 60% higher than previously reported. The revised total is 321,000, thereby making it the country with the world's second-highest number of deaths. (BBC News) (Al Jazeera)
North Macedonia receives their first shipment of 24,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (UNICEF)
Over 20 civilians are killed in an operation launched by Afghan security forces against the Taliban. (Anadolu Agency)
Prime Minister Janez Jansa announces a circuit-breaker lockdown from April 1 to 12, which will close all non-essential businesses and in-person cultural and religious venues, ban gatherings of more than 10 people, and shift schools to remote learning. (STA)
Terrorism in Indonesia 2021 Makassar cathedral bombing Twenty people are wounded in a double suicide bombing outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. (CNA)
The National Command and Operation Centre announces an immediate ban on all indoor and outdoor gatherings across Pakistan as well as weddings beginning April 5 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Tribune)
The number of people who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United Kingdom surpasses 30 million. (Sky News)
Twenty people are wounded in a double suicide bombing outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. (CNA)
Two guards are killed at a water dam near the Pashtun Kot, Faryab, by the Taliban. (Hindustan Times)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announces a Cabinet reshuffle, naming new Defence, Justice, and Foreign Ministers, as well as a new Attorney General, Secretary of Government and Chief of Staff amidst a rise of the COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as the mismanagement of the government handling of the pandemic. Former Defence Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva allegedly resigned over pressure from Bolsonaro to make the Armed Forces publicly support him. (O Estado de S. Paulo) (O Estado de S. Paulo2) (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Chile, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics Due to the increase of cases in the country, President Sebastián Piñera introduces a constitutional reform to postpone the regional, local, and Constitutional Convention elections, scheduled for April 10 and 11. (La Tercera)
Due to the increase of cases in the country, President Sebastián Piñera introduces a constitutional reform to postpone the regional, local, and Constitutional Convention elections, scheduled for April 10 and 11. (La Tercera)
Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announces a Cabinet reshuffle, naming new Defence, Justice, and Foreign Ministers, as well as a new Attorney General, Secretary of Government and Chief of Staff amidst a rise of the COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as the mismanagement of the government handling of the pandemic. Former Defence Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva allegedly resigned over pressure from Bolsonaro to make the Armed Forces publicly support him. (O Estado de S. Paulo) (O Estado de S. Paulo2) (Al Jazeera)
2021–2022 Myanmar protests The United States suspends its diplomatic trade engagement with Myanmar, which sought to help integrate the country into the global economy, following an escalation in violence perpetrated by the Burmese military against anti-coup protesters, until what Katherine Tai says would be "the return of a democratically elected government." (CNN)
Bangladesh reports a record 5,181 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 600,895. This forces the government to impose further restrictions across the country. (Dhaka Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in Albania Former Prime Minister and member of the Parliament Bashkim Fino dies from COVID-19 at the age of 58. (Balkans News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh Bangladesh reports a record 5,181 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 600,895. This forces the government to impose further restrictions across the country. (Dhaka Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in England Lockdown restrictions in England are relaxed as new COVID-19 laws enter force, formally ending the government's "stay at home" order, allowing the resumption of outdoor sports, and allowing people to meet in groups of up to six outdoors. (Sky News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan President Arif Alvi and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak both test positive for COVID-19. (The News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in England Lockdown restrictions in England are relaxed as new COVID-19 laws enter force, formally ending the government's "stay at home" order, allowing the resumption of outdoor sports, and allowing people to meet in groups of up to six outdoors. (Sky News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announces that a full weekend lockdown will be put in place during Ramadan and that restaurants will only be able to offer delivery and takeout due to an increasing number of high-risk cities across the country. (Hurriyet Daily News)
Former Prime Minister and member of the Parliament Bashkim Fino dies from COVID-19 at the age of 58. (Balkans News)
Insurgency in the Maghreb Three soldiers are killed and seven others are wounded when two military posts are attacked in Kafolo and Téhini, Ivory Coast. Two attackers are also killed and four more are arrested. (Reuters)
Lockdown restrictions in England are relaxed as new COVID-19 laws enter force, formally ending the government's "stay at home" order, allowing the resumption of outdoor sports, and allowing people to meet in groups of up to six outdoors. (Sky News)
President Arif Alvi and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak both test positive for COVID-19. (The News)
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announces that a full weekend lockdown will be put in place during Ramadan and that restaurants will only be able to offer delivery and takeout due to an increasing number of high-risk cities across the country. (Hurriyet Daily News)
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces a reshuffle of his Cabinet in light of recent controversies. Michaelia Cash becomes Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister, replacing alleged rapist Christian Porter, who is instead made Industry, Science and Technology Minister. Peter Dutton becomes Leader of the House, replacing Porter and Defence Minister, replacing Linda Reynolds, who was criticised for her handling of a rape allegation among her ministerial staff. Reynolds is instead made Government Services Minister. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Russian anti-corruption activist and politician Ivan Zhdanov, head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and an ally of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, accuses authorities of detaining his father in order to pressure him on his anti-government activities, including mass protests to call for the release of Navalny. (Reuters)
The Houthi government in Sanaa, Yemen, deports several Yemenite Jewish families to the United Arab Emirates after reaching an agreement with the families to leave Yemen. Four elderly Yemenite Jews remain in the country. (Al Monitor)
The New Zealand Defence Force withdraws their troops from Afghanistan, ending New Zealand's involvement in the war. (Newshub)
The United States suspends its diplomatic trade engagement with Myanmar, which sought to help integrate the country into the global economy, following an escalation in violence perpetrated by the Burmese military against anti-coup protesters, until what Katherine Tai says would be "the return of a democratically elected government." (CNN)
Three soldiers are killed and seven others are wounded when two military posts are attacked in Kafolo and Téhini, Ivory Coast. Two attackers are also killed and four more are arrested. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) The New Zealand Defence Force withdraws their troops from Afghanistan, ending New Zealand's involvement in the war. (Newshub)
2020–2021 Belarusian protests Belarusian authorities charge opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya with terrorism for allegedly attempting to stage false flag bombings in the capital Minsk and Barysaw. (Euronews)
2021 Balongan refinery explosion One person is dead, twenty others are injured, and three are missing after an explosion at the Pertamina oil refinery in Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia. (The Guardian)
2021 Suez Canal obstruction The grounded container ship Ever Given is refloated and towed north, allowing the Suez Canal to reopen. At least 369 ships are now waiting to pass through the canal. (Reuters)
A court in Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany, sentences a 52-year-old man to nine years and 10 months in prison for removing several screws from high-speed rail tracks in a failed attempt to cause trains to derail. His motive was not established. (DW)
A judge orders three men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to stand trial, after a three-day preliminary hearing. Threat of terrorism charges are dismissed against two of the defendants. (ABC News)
Belarusian authorities charge opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya with terrorism for allegedly attempting to stage false flag bombings in the capital Minsk and Barysaw. (Euronews)
Brisbane enters a three-day lockdown after a reported outbreak of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant, with some minor lockdown measures extending to the rest of Queensland. (News.com.au)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Lineage B.1.1.7 Brisbane enters a three-day lockdown after a reported outbreak of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant, with some minor lockdown measures extending to the rest of Queensland. (News.com.au)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan begins its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using China's Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (Barron's)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia Mongolia reports a record 575 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 7,589. (AKI Press)
COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco Morocco suspends all flights to Spain and France due to the worsening of the epidemiologic situation in Europe. (La Razón)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that the state will expand their vaccine eligibility to adults 30 and older beginning tomorrow, and to anyone aged 16 and older beginning on April 6. (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Texas Texas expands their vaccine eligibility to all adults. (KTBC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippines reports a record 10,016 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 731,894. (ABS-CBN News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 vaccination in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that the state will expand their vaccine eligibility to adults 30 and older beginning tomorrow, and to anyone aged 16 and older beginning on April 6. (The New York Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Texas Texas expands their vaccine eligibility to all adults. (KTBC-TV)
COVID-19 vaccination in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces that the state will expand their vaccine eligibility to adults 30 and older beginning tomorrow, and to anyone aged 16 and older beginning on April 6. (The New York Times) COVID-19 pandemic in Texas Texas expands their vaccine eligibility to all adults. (KTBC-TV)
Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot A judge orders three men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to stand trial, after a three-day preliminary hearing. Threat of terrorism charges are dismissed against two of the defendants. (ABC News)
Kyrgyzstan begins its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using China's Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (Barron's)
Mongolia reports a record 575 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 7,589. (AKI Press)
Morocco suspends all flights to Spain and France due to the worsening of the epidemiologic situation in Europe. (La Razón)
One person is dead, twenty others are injured, and three are missing after an explosion at the Pertamina oil refinery in Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia. (The Guardian)
State v. Chauvin, Killing of George Floyd, George Floyd protests The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for his involvement in the killing of George Floyd begins in Hennepin County, Minnesota. A series of protests in the United States and around the world occurred in 2020 in response to the killing. (The Washington Post)
The grounded container ship Ever Given is refloated and towed north, allowing the Suez Canal to reopen. At least 369 ships are now waiting to pass through the canal. (Reuters)
The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for his involvement in the killing of George Floyd begins in Hennepin County, Minnesota. A series of protests in the United States and around the world occurred in 2020 in response to the killing. (The Washington Post)
The Philippines reports a record 10,016 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 731,894. (ABS-CBN News)
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) 2021 Afghanistan attacks Gunmen kill three female polio vaccination health workers in Jalalabad, Nangarhar. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Afghanistan attacks Gunmen kill three female polio vaccination health workers in Jalalabad, Nangarhar. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Brazil reports a record 3,780 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thus bringing the nationwide death toll to 317,646. (Anadolu Agency) Brazil's health regulator Anvisa said Bharat Biotech's Covaxin did not meet its manufacturing standards. The Brazilian government previously signed a contract to buy 20 million doses. Bharat said in a statement that they would appeal the decision. (The Rio Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy COVID-19 vaccination in Italy Prime Minister Mario Draghi and his wife Maria Serenella Cappello receive their first doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (ANSA) The Government of Italy will impose a mandatory five-day quarantine for all travelers from other European Union member states until April 6. These travelers must also take a COVID-19 test at the end of the quarantine period. The only exceptions are for reasons of "proven necessity and urgency". (France 24)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States President Joe Biden signs the PPP Extension Act of 2021, a bill that would extend the Paycheck Protection Program deadline from March 31 to May 31. (CBS News)
Mali War Mali wedding airstrike A report by the United Nations mission in Mali concludes that an airstrike conducted by France in Mopti on January 3 killed 19 civilians at a wedding. The French military maintains that it had killed rebel fighters identified by aerial surveillance, and denies that a wedding had taken place in Bounti. (Al Jazeera)
The Government of Italy will impose a mandatory five-day quarantine for all travelers from other European Union member states until April 6. These travelers must also take a COVID-19 test at the end of the quarantine period. The only exceptions are for reasons of "proven necessity and urgency". (France 24)
2021 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament In college basketball, the UCLA Bruins advance to the Final Four as an 11th seed after defeating the Michigan Wolverines, becoming the fifth team to do so after LSU in 1986, George Mason in 2006, VCU in 2011, and Loyola–Chicago in 2018. They will also become the second team to reach the Final Four after starting in the First Four since the 2011 VCU Rams. They will play the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who defeated the USC Trojans. (Sports Illustrated)
2021–2022 Myanmar protests The death toll since the protests began officially surpasses 500. Pro-democracy activists launch a "garbage strike" in Yangon as rebel groups demand that the military stop the bloodshed or face retaliation. (DW)
A report by the United Nations mission in Mali concludes that an airstrike conducted by France in Mopti on January 3 killed 19 civilians at a wedding. The French military maintains that it had killed rebel fighters identified by aerial surveillance, and denies that a wedding had taken place in Bounti. (Al Jazeera)
Brazil reports a record 3,780 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thus bringing the nationwide death toll to 317,646. (Anadolu Agency)
