Nouvelle-Aquitaine reports France's first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant in a person who travelled from India. (MedicalXpress)
Romania reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India in a person from Brașov County. (Romania Insider)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo announces that it will redeploy several of their AstraZeneca vaccines to other Africa countries. (Reuters)
The foreign ministers of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan say they have agreed to a ceasefire at the border. (TASS)
The Taiwanese Ministry of Labor bans both domestic and foreign companies from advertising jobs located in China, especially ones related to the integrated circuit and semiconductor industries. The move comes in light of both increased tensions between the two countries, and China aggressively recruiting Taiwanese workers to build up its own semiconductor industry. (Nikkei Asia)
Uganda reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant in people who travelled from India to Kampala. (The Independent Uganda)
Vietnam reports its first locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in 35 days, in four members of a family from Hà Nam Province and one person from Ho Chi Minh City. (The Straits Times)
2021 Palestinian legislative election, Israeli–Palestinian conflict President Mahmoud Abbas postpones the election scheduled for May 22 until further notice, after the government of Israel allegedly rejected the holding of the election in East Jerusalem. Abbas says that the election cannot be held without the participation of the disputed area. (Xinhuanet)
President Mahmoud Abbas postpones the election scheduled for May 22 until further notice, after the government of Israel allegedly rejected the holding of the election in East Jerusalem. Abbas says that the election cannot be held without the participation of the disputed area. (Xinhuanet)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil Family and friends of Brazilian Workers' Party activist Rodrigo Pilha, who has been imprisoned for over a month after displaying a banner calling President Jair Bolsonaro "genocidal" over poor management of the COVID-19 pandemic, say that he was beaten and tortured in prison by wardens. (Forum)
Family and friends of Brazilian Workers' Party activist Rodrigo Pilha, who has been imprisoned for over a month after displaying a banner calling President Jair Bolsonaro "genocidal" over poor management of the COVID-19 pandemic, say that he was beaten and tortured in prison by wardens. (Forum)
War in Afghanistan 2021 Afghanistan attacks 2021 Puli Alam bombing A suicide car bombing kills 30 people and wounds 91 others in Puli Alam, Logar. (BBC)
2020–2021 Thai protests Pro-democracy protest leader Parit Chiwarak is hospitalized over concerns for his health due to his continued hunger strike since March 15. The corrections department states that he was transferred to a hospital over concerns about his condition worsening to the point where he required specialized care. (Reuters)
2021 Afghanistan attacks 2021 Puli Alam bombing A suicide car bombing kills 30 people and wounds 91 others in Puli Alam, Logar. (BBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea President Moon Jae-in receives his second dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Yonhap News Agency)
Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi declares a "state of siege" in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu due to a spate of violence from armed groups in those areas. (News24)
Ituri conflict Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi declares a "state of siege" in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu due to a spate of violence from armed groups in those areas. (News24)
Kivu conflict Ituri conflict Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi declares a "state of siege" in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu due to a spate of violence from armed groups in those areas. (News24)
President Moon Jae-in receives his second dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Yonhap News Agency)
Pro-democracy protest leader Parit Chiwarak is hospitalized over concerns for his health due to his continued hunger strike since March 15. The corrections department states that he was transferred to a hospital over concerns about his condition worsening to the point where he required specialized care. (Reuters)
2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict Thirty-one people are killed and 154 others are wounded in Kyrgyzstan, while 10 people are killed and 90 others are wounded in Tajikistan, as the fighting between the two Central Asian countries enters its second day. (Al Jazeera English)
2021 Meron stampede At least 45 people are killed and at least 150 others are injured in a crowd crush during a Lag BaOmer celebration in Meron, Israel. It is the deadliest peacetime disaster in the country's history. (The Times of Israel)
2021 NFL Draft, 2021 Green Bay Packers season Amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the future of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the team trades up to select Clemson wide receiver Amari Rodgers with the 85th pick. (ABC News) (Packers.com)
2021 Puli Alam bombing A suicide car bombing kills 30 people and wounds 91 others in Puli Alam, Logar. (BBC)
A suicide car bombing kills 30 people and wounds 91 others in Puli Alam, Logar. (BBC)
A United States Federal court upholds a New Jersey Catholic school’s right to fire a teacher under the Ministerial Exception doctrine. The teacher was terminated from Saint Dominic Academy the day after she returned from a leave due to a motor vehicle accident. (Religion Cause) (Catholic World News)
Albania approves the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters)
Amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the future of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the team trades up to select Clemson wide receiver Amari Rodgers with the 85th pick. (ABC News) (Packers.com)
At least 45 people are killed and at least 150 others are injured in a crowd crush during a Lag BaOmer celebration in Meron, Israel. It is the deadliest peacetime disaster in the country's history. (The Times of Israel)
Colombian peace process The leaders of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia acknowledge their responsibility for tens of thousands of kidnappings during the Colombian conflict. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Albania COVID-19 vaccination in Albania Albania approves the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in California Disneyland, the second most visited amusement park in the world, reopens with a limited capacity and guidelines for social distancing face masks in effect after more than one year of closure due to the pandemic. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Albania COVID-19 vaccination in Albania Albania approves the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters) COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany administers a record 1.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the last 24 hours. (Bloomberg) COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a record 394 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 40,131. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany administers a record 1.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the last 24 hours. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in India India reports a new global record of 386,486 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 18.76 million. (CNBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority grants an emergency use authorization for the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine, where the vaccine will be used as part of a mutual vaccination scheme. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan receives its first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, Lineage B.1.617 Michigan reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first discovered in India in a person from Clinton County. (WDIV-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, COVID-19 recession Sri Lanka's GDP contracts 3.6% in 2020, its worst economic performance since gaining independence in 1948. (RTL)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in California Disneyland, the second most visited amusement park in the world, reopens with a limited capacity and guidelines for social distancing face masks in effect after more than one year of closure due to the pandemic. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, Lineage B.1.617 Michigan reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first discovered in India in a person from Clinton County. (WDIV-TV) Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lineage B.1.617 The White House announces that the United States will begin restricting travel from India beginning on May 4 due to an increase in the number of cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant of COVID-19, which originated in India. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a record 394 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 40,131. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships Japanese authorities announce that they are disembarking passengers and crew from the MS Asuka II cruise ship after one passenger tested positive for COVID-19. The passenger is in isolation in a cabin and is in stable condition. (Reuters)
COVID-19 vaccination in Albania Albania approves the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters)
COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority grants an emergency use authorization for the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine, where the vaccine will be used as part of a mutual vaccination scheme. (CNA)
COVID-19 vaccine The World Health Organization grants an emergency use authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Al Jazeera)
Disneyland, the second most visited amusement park in the world, reopens with a limited capacity and guidelines for social distancing face masks in effect after more than one year of closure due to the pandemic. (The Japan Times)
Germany administers a record 1.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the last 24 hours. (Bloomberg)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on The Walt Disney Company COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in California Disneyland, the second most visited amusement park in the world, reopens with a limited capacity and guidelines for social distancing face masks in effect after more than one year of closure due to the pandemic. (The Japan Times)
India reports a new global record of 386,486 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 18.76 million. (CNBC)
Japan receives its first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (The Japan Times)
Japanese authorities announce that they are disembarking passengers and crew from the MS Asuka II cruise ship after one passenger tested positive for COVID-19. The passenger is in isolation in a cabin and is in stable condition. (Reuters)
Michigan reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first discovered in India in a person from Clinton County. (WDIV-TV)
Numerous British sports teams, athletes, sports governing bodies, and companies participate in a social media boycott from 3:00 p.m. BST to 11:59 p.m. on May 3 to demand action from social media companies against online abuse. (CNBC)
Sri Lanka's GDP contracts 3.6% in 2020, its worst economic performance since gaining independence in 1948. (RTL)
The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority grants an emergency use authorization for the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine, where the vaccine will be used as part of a mutual vaccination scheme. (CNA)
The leaders of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia acknowledge their responsibility for tens of thousands of kidnappings during the Colombian conflict. (Reuters)
The World Health Organization grants an emergency use authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Al Jazeera)
The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, Arouca 516, is completed in North Region, Portugal, with local residents being the first people allowed to cross it. (The Guardian)
Thirty-one people are killed and 154 others are wounded in Kyrgyzstan, while 10 people are killed and 90 others are wounded in Tajikistan, as the fighting between the two Central Asian countries enters its second day. (Al Jazeera English)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lineage B.1.617 The White House announces that the United States will begin restricting travel from India beginning on May 4 due to an increase in the number of cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant of COVID-19, which originated in India. (AP)
Afghan peace process The United States formally begins withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan to mark the final phase of the end to its longest war. Additionally, NATO also starts withdrawing their troops. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta lifts the lockdown imposed in Nairobi and surrounding counties, allowing bars, restaurants, schools, and religious services to reopen and revising the evening curfew to 10:00 p.m. (U.S. News & World Report)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism Italian cruise line Costa Cruises returns to service for the first time in nearly five months following a ban of cruises by the Italian government due to the pandemic. Several Costa ships had reported cases on board in the previous year. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta lifts the lockdown imposed in Nairobi and surrounding counties, allowing bars, restaurants, schools, and religious services to reopen and revising the evening curfew to 10:00 p.m. (U.S. News & World Report)
COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore The Singaporean government bans all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have been in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the last two weeks from entering or transiting through the country. It also tightens its social distancing rules in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism Italian cruise line Costa Cruises returns to service for the first time in nearly five months following a ban of cruises by the Italian government due to the pandemic. Several Costa ships had reported cases on board in the previous year. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
ISIL insurgency in Iraq Seven members of the Kurdistan military force Peshmerga are killed in an ISIL attack in the Kirkuk Governorate. (Macau Business) (Rudaw)
Italian cruise line Costa Cruises returns to service for the first time in nearly five months following a ban of cruises by the Italian government due to the pandemic. Several Costa ships had reported cases on board in the previous year. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta lifts the lockdown imposed in Nairobi and surrounding counties, allowing bars, restaurants, schools, and religious services to reopen and revising the evening curfew to 10:00 p.m. (U.S. News & World Report)
Seven members of the Kurdistan military force Peshmerga are killed in an ISIL attack in the Kirkuk Governorate. (Macau Business) (Rudaw)
The Singaporean government bans all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have been in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the last two weeks from entering or transiting through the country. It also tightens its social distancing rules in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
The United States formally begins withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan to mark the final phase of the end to its longest war. Additionally, NATO also starts withdrawing their troops. (AP)
War in Afghanistan Afghan peace process The United States formally begins withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan to mark the final phase of the end to its longest war. Additionally, NATO also starts withdrawing their troops. (AP) Taliban insurgents overrun an Afghan National Army base in Ghazni Province, capturing dozens of troops and killing a "number of others". Acting Defense Minister General Yasin Zia confirms the fall of the security installation to the Taliban. (VOA)
2021 Kentucky Derby The 147th Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs at a 50% capacity, with Medina Spirit winning the race. (CBS News)
